Classic Nickelodeon Wednesday – Black Beauty

This week I would like to look at one of literature's most beloved, and well known, characters of which several book series, movies, two television shows and a stage play have been based. Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Black Beauty, a beautiful, intelligent, lightning fast, black horse.

The Adventures of Black Beauty was originally produced by London Weekend Television and shown by ITV in the United Kingdom between 1972 and 1974 and was distributed internationally by London Weekend International. William Lucas stars as Dr. James Gordon, a widower who is raising his two* children on his own.

In a continuation of the Anna Sewell novel we first meet Black Beauty in the series premier “The Fugitive” where Samson Ryder is breaking in his uncle’s horses. Beauty throws Samson then runs away. Later he is discovered by Vicky and Kevin Goren while they are exploring their new surroundings. Beauty has been badly beaten, his eye is infected and he has the chills after his long run.

The children take him home for their father, widower Dr. James Gorden, to mend but when Samson discovers that the Gorden family have his horse he attempts to reclaim him only to find out that the horse must recover before the Dr. Gorden will allow him to be moved. Naturally by this time the children have fallen in love with him and beg their father to buy him from Mr. Ryder, which he is unable to do because of the horse’s great value.

By the end of the first episode Dr. Gorden saves the life of old Mr. Ryder and in return Mr. Ryder gives the black horse to the Gorden family. It is at the end of this first episode that Vicky names him claiming that his name should, describe him, thus settling on the name “Black Beauty”.

From that point on the series focuses on the Gorden family and their everyday life as they do their best to help their friends and neighbors always with the aid of Black Beauty.

As stated above Dr. James Gorden is a widower but has employed a strong, but kind-hearted, woman named Amy Winthrop as his housekeeper. Very little is known about either of these characters but in the second season we are introduced to Ned Lewis who is Amy’s nephew. It is also in this second series where we are introduced to Dr. Gordon’s second daughter *Jenny, “who has been away at school and has only just returned” however we do not see Victoria again.

The show was cancelled in 1974 but in 1990 new life was breathed into the series with the arrival of “The New Adventures of Black Beauty” which, like its predecessor, lasted a full two seasons from 1990-1992 however it is only the first season which is directly tied to the original series picking up 20 years after the first series. It stared Stacy Dorning and William Lucas reprising their roles as Dr. Jenny (Gordon) Denning and Dr. James Gordon with both actors appearing in the first season only from 1990-1991 for a total of 26 episodes.

Both series featured the theme song, "Galloping Home", which was written by Denis King and performed by the London String Chorale and both are currently available on DVD.

Personal Note:

I remember watching this on Nickelodeon in the very early 1980’s so I was around twelve or thirteen. Back then I liked it because Beauty was a beautiful black horse, Vicky and Jenny were young girls who I wanted as my friends or sisters, Kevin, Ned and Albert were kinda cute and Dr. Gorden was so handsome. It was the perfect show for girls of that age but now that I’m an adult I still think all of those things are true but now I can see what I didn’t back then.

This show wasn’t just entertaining, it was educational as well. It taught children how to respect their elders (something that they are very lax in these days), it taught them not to lie no matter what the consequences, it taught them to always be kind to animals and not to be afraid to get involved and help your neighbors. This is one of the most wholesome shows that I would personal allow my children, whenever I have some, to sit and watch all day if they wanted too because of the strong moral values it contains.

Original Series Main Cast

William Lucas as Dr. James Gordon – (52 episodes, 1972-1974)

Charlotte Mitchell as Amy Winthrop – (52 episodes, 1972-1974)

Michael Culver as Squire Armstrong – (31 episodes, 1972-1974)

Judi Bowker as Vicky Gordon – (26 episodes, 1972-1973)

Roderick Shaw as Kevin Gordon – (51 episodes, 1972-1974)

Stacy Dorning as Jenny Gordon – (25 episodes, 1973-1974)

Kenneth Thornett as Police Constable Dickins – (16 episodes, 1972-1974)

Tony Maiden as Albert Clifton – (14 episodes, 1972-1974)

Stephen Garlick as Ned Lewis – (11 episodes, 1973-1974)

Main Cast – New Adventures of Black Beauty

Dr. Jenny Denning – Stacy Dorning (26 episodes, 1990-1991)

Manfred Groenwald – Gedeon Burkhard (26 episodes, 1990-1991)

Dr. James Gordon – William Lucas (26 episodes, 1990-1991)

Victoria 'Vicky' Denning – Amber McWilliams (26 episodes, 1990-1991)

Frank Coats – David Bradshaw (24 episodes, 1990-1991)

Hilda Burton – Ilona Rodgers (24 episodes, 1990-1991)

Samuel Burton – Bill Kerr (24 episodes, 1990-1991)

Isambard –  Claire Chitham (9 episodes, 1990)

Constable Carmody – Andrew Robertt (5 episodes, 1990-1991)

Lewis Duncan – Timothy Raby (3 episodes, 1990)

Farmer – Bruce Hopkins (3 episodes, 1990-1991)

Lord Fordham – Frederick Treves (2 episodes, 1990)

Nigel – Christian Burgess (2 episodes, 1990)

Classic Nick Wed.– Pinwheel

Last week I told you a bit about the history of the Nickelodeon Network, this week I would like to tell you about one of their longest running and one of the most popular programs “Pinwheel”.

If you will remember Nickelodeon Network began life as the Pinwheel Network then in 1981 the network re-launched as Nickelodeon – The Young People’s Satellite Network. The name “Pinwheel” was taken from a children’s television show by the same name and aired every morning in 3-5 hour time slots and ran from 1979–1999.

Like the Sesame Street program Pinwheel featured both human and puppet actors interacting with each other to teach basic everyday good manors as well as teaching children how to use their imagination, play games and so forth. One of the most beloved and well-remembered games to come from Pinwheel was the “Gottcha Last” game played by (puppets) Plus & Minus. Much like “tag” one would tap the other and say “gottcha last” and run off while the other tries to catch him to “get him last”, back and forth they’d go all through Pinwheel House and the garden. What a fun game for children of all ages to play.

Other puppet actors who lived at Pinwheel House were Aurelia, a gypsy who lived and ran the house and used a special phone to dial the "Opposite City Operator". Then there was Silas the Snail who had an elderly-looking face and took an entire episode to go from one end of the garden to the other. He was a kind and gentle character who was forever on his way to the snails' convention but never made it on time.

Just the oposite could be said about the house’s green-faced equivalent to Sesame Street's "Oscar the Grouch", Ebeneezer T. Squint who was failthful to tend to his garden of weeds and whose one goal in life was to be on the front page of the Daily Noodle which was run by Sal & Smitty – but more on them in just a minute.

Then there was Luigi O'Brien who came from Italy and who ran a talking fruit & veggie stand. Molly O’Mole was an elderly mole who lived in a tree in the backyard. She was kind and made the most wonderful Root Tea. And last but certainly not last there were the Hobo Bugs Herbert and Lulu, we’re not sure what Hobo Bugs are or where they come from but these lovely creatures were a joy with their lovely little faces and bright smiles. (They’re two of my personal faves.)

As previously mentioned Pinwheel Puppets interacted with a variety of human characters as well, they included. A kind and very talented African-American young man named “Jake.” He collected small boxes which emitted various sound effects, he also played the guitar and sang. He was played by George James from 1981-1989 and helped write many of the songs sung on the show. I would also like to mention that Mr. James was kind enough to let me interview him for this blog. Read his interview here. 

One of the most remembered characters from the show was Coco the Mime but what most people do not know is that two different actresses played her. C.C. Loveheart originated the role in 1979 and played her until 1981 then from 1982-1989 she was played by Lindanell Rivera. Both actresses had the same makeup, white base with red lips and hearts on their cheeks, the only way to tell these ladies apart is that Ms. Loveheart had straight shorter hair and Ms. Rivera had curly hair. (See picture above.)

Early I mentioned Sal and Smitty the elderly couple who ran a newspaper called "The Daily Noodle"; they were played by Dale Engel (Smitty) and Betty Rozek (Sal). Too me it seemed as if they were everyone grandparents and lovelier grandparents you could not have found.

In every home there is always an artist and Pinwheel House was no different, their resident artist was Kim (played by Arline Miyazaki). A young Asian woman who was perhaps in ther early 20’s (about Jake’s age) who was always creating very beautiful paintings. Another fact about Kim that most people do not realize is that she also Aurelia’s niece. This fact was confirmed in the “Pinwheel Songbook” video which was released on VHS video and can be found on youtube, or click below.

Pinwheel was also famous for the variety of foreign cartoons and stop-motion puppet shorts which aired regularly though out the shows run. After many, many long hours of research here is a list of the Pinwheel Cartoons.

PINWHEEL CARTOONS

The Adventures of the Mole, Alfie Atkins, Bagpuss (maybe), Bod, Bugs, Bunny in the Suitcase, Charlie's Climbing Tree, Chapi and Chapo, Crystal Tipps and Alister, Curious George, Emily (Emilie), Flower Stories, Gumby, Hattytown Tales, Jim & Jam, King Rollo, Lilliputput, Madeline, Magic Coco, The Magic Roundabout, Mixometric, Mouse On Mars, Musti, Paddington Bear, Picture Pages, The Pilis, Professor Balthazar, Peelie and Poolie , Schnoodle, Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings, Teeny Little Super Guy, Tip and Tap

The last point I would like to touch on is the shows theme song, which was written by Jay Lee (music) with lyrics by Janet Gardner:

Pinwheel, pinwheel, spinning around.

Look at my Pinwheel and see what I've found.
Pinwheel, pinwheel, where have you been?

Hello, how are you, and may I come in?
Pinwheel, pinwheel spinning around.

Look at my Pinwheel and see what I found.
Pinwheel, pinwheel, breezy and bright.

Spin me good morning, spin me good night.