The Magic Circle club was transfered to the ABC and showed up as Adventure Island, the reason it was axed was due to all sorts of behind the scenes issues and I also think I remember Nancy was in a car accident and was unable to work full time.
This was the best kid show ever. I still have very fond memories of all the characters, but I could only remember the names of Fred Bear and and Nancy Cato. I am surprised that it only went for a couple of years.
There was another great show where the characters are dolls and they are in the outback. It was so cute, but I don't remember the show's name.
I use to watch this all the time when I was little and loved it so much and now it makes me all fuzzy inside...We did make good kids shows back then....Thank you for posting this on here will have to show my 19 year old son the programmes that I use to watch and enjoy....:)
The thing you notice most olf all is Nancy had such impeccable diction. I used to just love this show when I was little. This would have been one of the first eps I ever saw since we only got the telly in 1966. Why it was ever cancelled I still don't know. Huge kudos to the poster.
@zapkvr It was cancelled due to its inability to recoup its HUGE production costs through advertising. It was one of five programmes simultaneously axed by Channel O in May 1967.
@auspete So nothing has really changed in forty years. The television stations are handed a licence to print money and simply shaft the viewer when the beancounters come in. Perhaps we need to reinstate television licence fees and revoke their licences. They don't have any social responsibility anyway.
OMG! Wher did you get this clip? I adored this when little and am astonished that it finished when I was 5! It had a huge effect on me and I still remember all the puppets and most of the character names. I loved Fredd Bear so much that I cut out a picture of him from the Women's Weekly that I have to this day. Does anyone know where Fredd and Fifi are now ? Hopefully in a museum somewhere. Thanks for posting!!!!
I remember visiting the Royal Melbourne Show as a kid , and my twin brother and I being lifted up by Fred Bear himself , he held each of us under his arms while we had a photo taken with him.
@bobdowne4real For my money, Nancy Cato was the most mesmerising person ever to appear on television. You cannot take your eyes off her in these clips, she had a charisma and an ability to talk right through the lens TO children (rather than AT them) which in my 40+ years of TV viewing has never been equalled let alone bettered.
I'll be commenting some more on this fabulous show, later on. But for the moment, I feel compelled to say that, in hindsight, & with the passing of several decades - wow, Nancy Cato sure was some sexy lady. She somehow put out a very alluring, seductive 'vibe' .. not for the littlies, of course, but for the male grown-ups. Wasn't she the same Nancy Cato who appeared in that famous "SpyForce" Aust'n TV series, around 1970 or so, which starred the great Jack Thompson in his very early days.
I loved this show SO MUCH. And does anybody in the world but me remember Leonardo de Fun Bird? (I was shattered to see him just lying there, a puppet, when I was part of the audience). And I know that the reason I love the internet so much is because of IKAN the computer: "The instantaneous knowledge, the superlative network, it's IKAN to you, IKAN to you, I-KAN to you!" Oh yeah. I was fed the concept of internet from an early age.
Of course I remember Leonardo de Fun Bird! After MCC, he (and Cassius Cuckoo) lived on in Fredd Bear's Breakfast-A-Go-Go (on Channel 0 in Melbourne, anyway). I am so envious of you being in the audience. All the shows from mid-1965 onwards were pre-recorded (with no audience) so it must have been early 1965 - the show went out live in those days. Your recollection of the IKAN song is so close to spot on... it was the Instantaneous Knowledge Accumulating Network! Great post! Thank you.
Oh THAT'S what the "A" in IKAN stood for (I've been trying to figure it out for days, and wondering about the whole mispronunciation of "superlative" in my mind, I had them pronouncing it "super-LAY-tive".)
I was totally obsessed with that show and remember once going to play with friends after school. They lived a long way from my place but I was PROMISED I'd be home in time for MCC. We drove past the Channel O studios and I knew I was going to miss it. Do you have an IKAN clip? Love to see it
Notice the old name and logo for what is now Network Ten - "ITS: Independent Television System" - the name used for the network until 1970 when they became "0-10". Also, I heard that Nancy actually had an accident when she was trying to ride on one of the rising props used for the show which suddenly collapsed; apparently it left her in a wheelchair for a year so she would've had to stay sitting down when hosting the later episodes.
i believe she actually had to leave the show after the accident happened as she was confined to a bed for a long time after it happened. Judy Banks and later Sue Donovan (McIntosh) were Fredd Bear's later on-air companions on Breakfast A Go Go and Adventure Island.
This must have been the very first memories I have because I was only 2 years old. It was the door that did it for me and that creepy looking bear - I was really scared of it.
"Creepy looking"? Fredd Bear was lovely, he was my favourite - apart from Nancy of course. It's strange the things that traumatise children for no apparent reason. It may have been the overall dark atmosphere of the show that scared you, watching it was quite an "adult" experience, considering it was a children's show.
That was Adventure Island. On The Magic Circle, the story usually resolved on Thursday with Friday being reserved for a special "toy shop" based story.
Definitely kinescope. It's believed that the first 140 episodes went out live, the rest were pre-recorded on videotape. After their first airing on ATV0 they were kine'd and the videotapes reused (because of their high cost). The kines were distributed for broadcast on other capital city and country stations.
ok not literally EVERY story...but i would have seen the non-live episodes many many times. MCC was repeated for years after it ended, and i would never miss it. i have a few eps on vhs. it was fantastic , but i dont need to tell you that!!
Wow lifesabeeech.. you remember EVERY character and storyline!?! That's some feat. There were 555 episodes, and the first 140 went to air live and weren't preserved. I would love to hear more from you, and as much as you can remember!
thanks auspete this is also my favourite all time show. i still remember every character and storyline. pls post more of the nancy cato eps...she is surely the best kids hostess ever.
that creaky old door leading into darkness used to scare the sh-t out of me
bluesmanalbert 1 week ago
The Magic Circle club was transfered to the ABC and showed up as Adventure Island, the reason it was axed was due to all sorts of behind the scenes issues and I also think I remember Nancy was in a car accident and was unable to work full time.
Tish1023 4 months ago
This was the best kid show ever. I still have very fond memories of all the characters, but I could only remember the names of Fred Bear and and Nancy Cato. I am surprised that it only went for a couple of years.
There was another great show where the characters are dolls and they are in the outback. It was so cute, but I don't remember the show's name.
99forfun 10 months ago
I use to watch this all the time when I was little and loved it so much and now it makes me all fuzzy inside...We did make good kids shows back then....Thank you for posting this on here will have to show my 19 year old son the programmes that I use to watch and enjoy....:)
elvenwishes 1 year ago
When I was watching this show as a kid I never realised that Nancy was so pretty.
sp1midholm 1 year ago
The thing you notice most olf all is Nancy had such impeccable diction. I used to just love this show when I was little. This would have been one of the first eps I ever saw since we only got the telly in 1966. Why it was ever cancelled I still don't know. Huge kudos to the poster.
zapkvr 1 year ago
@zapkvr It was cancelled due to its inability to recoup its HUGE production costs through advertising. It was one of five programmes simultaneously axed by Channel O in May 1967.
auspete 1 year ago
@auspete So nothing has really changed in forty years. The television stations are handed a licence to print money and simply shaft the viewer when the beancounters come in. Perhaps we need to reinstate television licence fees and revoke their licences. They don't have any social responsibility anyway.
zapkvr 1 year ago
I sorta remember this song
lozzarattiii 1 year ago
LOVED THE DOOR.....the whole show was fab
julierice100 1 year ago 2
I remember her sitting on a mushroom, which I thought was so cool at the time lol
Blissbomb2 1 year ago
OMG! Wher did you get this clip? I adored this when little and am astonished that it finished when I was 5! It had a huge effect on me and I still remember all the puppets and most of the character names. I loved Fredd Bear so much that I cut out a picture of him from the Women's Weekly that I have to this day. Does anyone know where Fredd and Fifi are now ? Hopefully in a museum somewhere. Thanks for posting!!!!
kashigata 1 year ago
@kashigata
Yes, I wonder where the costumes are now. Ted Dunn died recently. However, John Michael-Howson (Fifi) is still around. Maybe he would know.
Werribeesteve 1 year ago
Great memories, of one of my favourite TV shows when I was a kid - Magic Circle Club and Lost in Space. Thanks very much for posting
gardnerra2 2 years ago
I remember visiting the Royal Melbourne Show as a kid , and my twin brother and I being lifted up by Fred Bear himself , he held each of us under his arms while we had a photo taken with him.
DBH62 2 years ago
Loved this so much !! Sang all of the song from the memory of the 11 yr old boy I was in 1967.Hadn't heard this in 40 yrs!!
fordlandau 2 years ago
Nancy Cato was DIVINE - so sweet and engaging. I was madly in love with her...
bobdowne4real 2 years ago 2
@bobdowne4real For my money, Nancy Cato was the most mesmerising person ever to appear on television. You cannot take your eyes off her in these clips, she had a charisma and an ability to talk right through the lens TO children (rather than AT them) which in my 40+ years of TV viewing has never been equalled let alone bettered.
auspete 1 year ago 2
i've got a smile from ear to ear. i remember being a huge fan of this show.
prismaticmarcus 2 years ago
Wasn't the other bear, Fifi, played by John Michael Howson?
longhairedlayabout 2 years ago
I'll be commenting some more on this fabulous show, later on. But for the moment, I feel compelled to say that, in hindsight, & with the passing of several decades - wow, Nancy Cato sure was some sexy lady. She somehow put out a very alluring, seductive 'vibe' .. not for the littlies, of course, but for the male grown-ups. Wasn't she the same Nancy Cato who appeared in that famous "SpyForce" Aust'n TV series, around 1970 or so, which starred the great Jack Thompson in his very early days.
colindominy 3 years ago
I loved this show SO MUCH. And does anybody in the world but me remember Leonardo de Fun Bird? (I was shattered to see him just lying there, a puppet, when I was part of the audience). And I know that the reason I love the internet so much is because of IKAN the computer: "The instantaneous knowledge, the superlative network, it's IKAN to you, IKAN to you, I-KAN to you!" Oh yeah. I was fed the concept of internet from an early age.
featherfour 3 years ago
Of course I remember Leonardo de Fun Bird! After MCC, he (and Cassius Cuckoo) lived on in Fredd Bear's Breakfast-A-Go-Go (on Channel 0 in Melbourne, anyway). I am so envious of you being in the audience. All the shows from mid-1965 onwards were pre-recorded (with no audience) so it must have been early 1965 - the show went out live in those days. Your recollection of the IKAN song is so close to spot on... it was the Instantaneous Knowledge Accumulating Network! Great post! Thank you.
auspete 3 years ago
Oh THAT'S what the "A" in IKAN stood for (I've been trying to figure it out for days, and wondering about the whole mispronunciation of "superlative" in my mind, I had them pronouncing it "super-LAY-tive".)
I was totally obsessed with that show and remember once going to play with friends after school. They lived a long way from my place but I was PROMISED I'd be home in time for MCC. We drove past the Channel O studios and I knew I was going to miss it. Do you have an IKAN clip? Love to see it
featherfour 3 years ago
Back when TV was worth watching, haven't watched TV for 12 years now.
39RatRodCoupe 3 years ago
This tv series scared the living daylights out of me when I was a kid, still freaks me out...Mr squiggle? what the hell was that about???
meozzy 3 years ago
I was six and it brings back lotsa memories. Thanks for posting.
djoser 3 years ago
aaaaw thankyou so much auspete
brings back lots of warm fuzzy feelings.
I can't believe i remembered the song and could sing along with it!! hahaha
i so loved those characters.
thanks for posting
CrystalCitadel 3 years ago
Notice the old name and logo for what is now Network Ten - "ITS: Independent Television System" - the name used for the network until 1970 when they became "0-10". Also, I heard that Nancy actually had an accident when she was trying to ride on one of the rising props used for the show which suddenly collapsed; apparently it left her in a wheelchair for a year so she would've had to stay sitting down when hosting the later episodes.
autismbass 3 years ago
i believe she actually had to leave the show after the accident happened as she was confined to a bed for a long time after it happened. Judy Banks and later Sue Donovan (McIntosh) were Fredd Bear's later on-air companions on Breakfast A Go Go and Adventure Island.
andjb1 3 years ago
This must have been the very first memories I have because I was only 2 years old. It was the door that did it for me and that creepy looking bear - I was really scared of it.
missjeanbrody 3 years ago
"Creepy looking"? Fredd Bear was lovely, he was my favourite - apart from Nancy of course. It's strange the things that traumatise children for no apparent reason. It may have been the overall dark atmosphere of the show that scared you, watching it was quite an "adult" experience, considering it was a children's show.
auspete 3 years ago
Brilliant stuff.. thanks for posting !!
aussiebeachut 3 years ago
I grew up in Ripponlea and remember quite a few trips to the studios to see the show.
bunyipgirl 4 years ago
Thanks for this. I remember how every Friday, the story would come to a happy conclusion, so I'd run home from school to make sure I didn't miss it.
youssefm1 4 years ago
That was Adventure Island. On The Magic Circle, the story usually resolved on Thursday with Friday being reserved for a special "toy shop" based story.
auspete 4 years ago
Thanks so much...memories come flooding back...I can remember the words after all these years! What a treasure; more please!
GreenDistantStar 4 years ago
THANKYOU SO MUCH for this!!! You have made my day and finally I've had a chance to watch it again after all these years!!!
Excellent and please keep sharing your treasures!
Bless you!
DJaney 4 years ago
Great clip,thanks for sharing this with us all
btvgmv6 4 years ago
This looks like a Kinescope, Can somebody confirm that or am I wrong?
RobinMetrocolor 4 years ago
Definitely kinescope. It's believed that the first 140 episodes went out live, the rest were pre-recorded on videotape. After their first airing on ATV0 they were kine'd and the videotapes reused (because of their high cost). The kines were distributed for broadcast on other capital city and country stations.
auspete 4 years ago
ok not literally EVERY story...but i would have seen the non-live episodes many many times. MCC was repeated for years after it ended, and i would never miss it. i have a few eps on vhs. it was fantastic , but i dont need to tell you that!!
lifesabeeech 4 years ago
Wow lifesabeeech.. you remember EVERY character and storyline!?! That's some feat. There were 555 episodes, and the first 140 went to air live and weren't preserved. I would love to hear more from you, and as much as you can remember!
auspete 4 years ago
thanks auspete this is also my favourite all time show. i still remember every character and storyline. pls post more of the nancy cato eps...she is surely the best kids hostess ever.
lifesabeeech 4 years ago
Thanks, Pete, for continuing to promote the genius of Godfrey Philipp/John Michael Howson.
misstinsley 4 years ago