I have been trying to find various kids TV shows from my childhood (1980's) and had some success. One I have been looking for or I should say remember the flipin name of was answered by a friend. The show was about an alien conscience speaking to a boy. The alien was called "Chocky" as was the TV show.

Another was the midnight garden which I missed the end so never got to find out what happened.

I also remember another more sinister kid’s show about a village encircled by ancient stones. The stones were alive in some way but that’s about all I can remember. Does anyone else remember this show at all?

Does anyone remember any of these odd shows from the 80's too? There is nothing like them these days it would appear. We all remember the rentaghosts etc, but some of the more obscure and in a lot of ways scary shows (to kids) I have forgot .. or maybe blocked out :)

i remember the one with the ancient stones in the village ,but cant for the life of me think of its name - i can see it now

i remember the one with the ancient stones in the village ,but cant for the life of me think of its name - i can see it now

Frustrating isn’t it ... It has taken me years to find the name “chocky” and it was only by chance over a Chinese in the Wong Ting I asked a friend who told me.

let’s hope someone else from SF can remember :)

haha, I may have jsut found it.

Was it this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_the_Stones

Children of the Stones (1977) - Intro - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRaA3Hef9Mw

All three seasons of Chocky (by John Wyndham) has been released on DVD so you can watch it at your pleasure any time.

Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chocky-Complete-Collection-James-Hazeldine/dp/B000AQQHUG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1244757751&sr=1-2#

As for the other show, if it had the Watcher in the Wood, then it was the creepy: C.O.T.S. (Children of the Stones) Check out the first episode for your nostalgia, and wonder how a show with such scary opening music was ever made: http://embedr.com/playlist/cotslotlu

You can thank me later :)

Next?

And, of course: Into the Labyrinth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PamsjWoJxc&feature=related

(how did this stuff get made? Nowadays it'd be cancelled in a heartbeat)

I've been checking the Midnight Garden and I’m not sure if there were two shows.

Is the 1988 show called “Moondial” the one with the boy staying with his relatives in a big house turned into flats in the Second World War? The clock would strike 13 and he would be back in the time and be able to wonder around the house or gardens. A girl could see him too. Unfortunately the last one I saw was when he got stuck somewhere and couldn’t get back. It was a huge cliff-hanger I somehow managed to miss the end of :(

haha, I may have jsut found it.

Was it this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_the_Stones

Children of the Stones (1977) - Intro - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRaA3Hef9Mw

thats the one :thumbsup:

You are absolutely correct.

Moondial was a much later show about a teenage girl, but the show you're thinking of was the excellent Tom's Midnight Garden (where the clock struck 13), and was based on the book by Philippa Pearce.

I work for a horror mag so I should know this stuff :)

TMG is available on VHS, so you should be able to catch it very cheaply

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toms-Midnight-Garden-Christine-Secombe/dp/B00008T5IU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1244758762&sr=1-4

I loved Chocky! My favourite was Children of the Dog Star :)

And Moonfleet, Ulysses 31, Willie Fogg, Mysterious Cities of Gold, Dogtanian, The Children of Green Knowe, Chockablock, The Adventure Game, Knightmare, First Class, Micro Live, etc...

My favourite was Children of the Dog Star :)


Good God that's a blast from the past! I miss all those fantastically atmospheric old shows.

And, of course, The Tomorrow People!

You are absolutely correct.

Moondial was a much later show about a teenage girl, but the show you're thinking of was the excellent Tom's Midnight Garden (where the clock struck 13), and was based on the book by Philippa Pearce.

I work for a horror mag so I should know this stuff :)

TMG is available on VHS, so you should be able to catch it very cheaply

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toms-Midnight-Garden-Christine-Secombe/dp/B00008T5IU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1244758762&sr=1-4

I've just been watching Moondial and you're right it’s a girl not a boy. So is the 1999 movie a scene for scene reimaging of the 1974 version or am I getting confused. The trailer seems to show almost everything I remember but it seems a little too new.

So you work for a horror mag ... that’s a bit of a coincidence. I’m procrastinating as I’m meant to be writing the first draft of a horror screenplay right now :)

I loved Chocky! My favourite was Children of the Dog Star :)

And Moonfleet, Ulysses 31, Willie Fogg, Mysterious Cities of Gold, Dogtanian, The Children of Green Knowe, Chockablock, The Adventure Game, Knightmare, First Class, Micro Live, etc...

OOh, I bought the entire series of Ulysses 31 as I was thinking of developing it into a screenplay, but then someone else sold one very similar and I gave the box set to a mates 5 year old :) has to have the best intro to any kids TV show I have ever heard.

Ulysses 31

for some reason as a kid always watched this just for the opening song and credits but never watched the program:confused:

can remember one i think called the magic box?!? boy went into a box and got transported somewhere or something like that!

(how did this stuff get made? Nowadays it'd be cancelled in a heartbeat)

Yes, its a shame as they were awesome and some of what interested me into the whole writing horror/fantasy/scifi.

Good God that's a blast from the past! I miss all those fantastically atmospheric old shows.

And, of course, The Tomorrow People!

yep, use to love that as well as chocky:thumbsup:

Hi

No, Moondial is just another show of the Tom's Midnight Garden ilk, with new writers. It don't even think it was based on Pearce's books. It was a bizarre show that didn't really do very well...

And, why are you on here when you should be finishing your script?

I can't talk, this is preferable to the Torchwood book I have to hand in by 1st August.

for some reason as a kid always watched this just for the opening song and credits but never watched the program:confused:

can remember one i think called the magic box?!? boy went into a box and got transported somewhere or something like that!

That could be the excellent Box of Delights?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BxxdE9GvZc

Hi

No, Moondial is just another show of the Tom's Midnight Garden ilk, with new writers. It don't even think it was based on Pearce's books. It was a bizarre show that didn't really do very well...

And, why are you on here when you should be finishing your script?

I can't talk, this is preferable to the Torchwood book I have to hand in by 1st August.

You must understand, it’s all about getting into the right frame of mind and freaky kids TV shows discussion works for me :)

Here is another one and this is going to be hard. I remember a show that was dubbed. It was about the adventures of two kids, one short and the other a lot taller. They rode around on horses a lot and I think it was based in Germany or Belgium at about the 1900. That’s about as much as I can remember.

That could be the excellent Box of Delights?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BxxdE9GvZc

wow thats the one:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

i have randomly looked for it a few times but always looked for the magic box:rolleyes: the music intro just pricked hairs on the back of my neck:hihi:

just been on wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_of_delights and remember the last episode xmas eve 1984 like yesterday as it was also set at xmas and always think that time is when xmas must have been really special not like the crap it is today (sour adult?!?)

i simply loved it at the time and have always wanted to see it again.

Thanks again:thumbsup:

edit - just found it on amazon!!

That's it!

That's ALL you remember!

It could be Silas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xWGz0mNuo4

Need more info, really.

wow thats the one:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

i have randomly looked for it a few times but always looked for the magic box:rolleyes: the music intro just pricked hairs on the back of my neck:hihi:

just been on wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_of_delights and remember the last episode xmas eve 1984 like yesterday as it was also set at xmas and always think that time is when xmas must have been really special not like the crap it is today (sour adult?!?)


You're welcome. It really was a fantastic show.

They are (surprise) remaking it at the moment. I'm sure it won't at all be rubbish or schmaltzy

You must understand, it’s all about getting into the right frame of mind and freaky kids TV shows discussion works for me :)

Here is another one and this is going to be hard. I remember a show that was dubbed. It was about the adventures of two kids, one short and the other a lot taller. They rode around on horses a lot and I think it was based in Germany or Belgium at about the 1900. That’s about as much as I can remember.

cant remember this one but i do remember one german series where a boy sells his very enthusiastic smile/laugh to a rich powerful man and in return he could have whatever he desired. very obscure!

That's it!

That's ALL you remember! It could be Belle and Sebastien. But without more info...

Yeah, it’s one that’s almost faded from memory now. The only other thing I remember is they were really blond kids and the tall one was a bit thick, but don’t worry, it’s not important. You've already answered all the others, oh guru of kids TV from yonder year :)

You do know that I’m going to have to go out and buy all these retro TV shows now .. This screenplay is never going to be finished at this rate :)

Here's another bloody creepy show from the mid '70s.

King of the Castle...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fUgsBzS0qM&feature=related

You're welcome. It really was a fantastic show.

They are (surprise) remaking it at the moment. I'm sure it won't at all be rubbish or schmaltzy

Spielberg may be making Chocky soon too. His company bought the rights last year I think.

Do you know the series order of Chocky at all?

Did they go:
Chocky
Chocky's Children
Chocky's Challenge

I’ve been re-watching Chocky courtesy of Youtube for a while now.

cant remember this one but i do remember one german series where a boy sells his very enthusiastic smile/laugh to a rich powerful man and in return he could have whatever he desired. very obscure!

Yay. That's easy; Tim Tyler (from the German Timm Thaler)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0GKvbmrG1w

Oh enjoy the '80s outfits in the Broom Cupboard!

It would seem THV West has a lot to answer for :) ... although in my opinion, Bring back HTV West :)

Spielberg may be making Chocky soon too. His company bought the rights last year I think.

Do you know the series order of Chocky at all?

Did they go:
Chocky
Chocky's Children
Chocky's Challenge

I’ve been re-watching Chocky courtesy of Youtube for a while now.

You are absolutely correct. Chocky was fantastic. I've not seen it in years.

Anyone remember Ace of Wands?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVwOjHow42M&feature=related

And if you had a sister she probably watched Follyfoot :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVgyxhe849k

There was also The Tomorrow People but it was a bit before my time being a child of the 80's not the 70's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xez4o1ujOPI

Ahem. Yes. I'm way too young to <coughs> remember the TP...

... moving swiftly onward

Yay. That's easy; Tim Tyler (from the German Timm Thaler)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0GKvbmrG1w

Oh enjoy the '80s outfits in the Broom Cupboard!

haha yeah thats the one. i remember the programs from growing up from the music

remember this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExC6OEQazrc star fleet, i use to think it was amazing!!

wonder of this got me into scfi and star trek as a kid:huh:

another puppet program, cant remember the title but the baddie was Zelda and at the end of every episode they played noughts and crosses. i guess you know that? lol

It would seem THV West has a lot to answer for :) ... although in my opinion, Bring back HTV West :)

i was thinking that:thumbsup:

another puppet program, cant remember the title but the baddie was Zelda and at the end of every episode they played noughts and crosses. i guess you know that? lol

That ones easy, Terrorhawks :)

Of course. That was the amazing Terrahawks. Which was a supermarionation show - and, incidentally, one of the most expensive kids' tv shows to be ever made.

It aired on Sundays, and I remember watching it at dinner time. Check it out on Youtube and see the cool naughts and crosses games after each episode with the cubes and the zeroids.

Incidentally, Fabulous Films have just released a DVD boxed set of Star Fleet - I bought it. It's completely fantastic. But the show is appallingly written, which must be a flaw in the translation from the original Japanese.

They were going to make a second season, but there was a fire in the studio and all the models were destroyed :(

That ones easy, Terrorhawks :)

yep, come back to me now!!:thumbsup:

Incidentally, Fabulous Films have just released a DVD boxed set of Star Fleet - I bought it. It's completely fantastic. But the show is appallingly written, which must be a flaw in the translation from the original Japanese.

They were going to make a second season, but there was a fire in the studio and all the models were destroyed :(

just copied this off amazon. i cannot believe it was 1982 and Brian May did the music!!lol

When most people think about puppet shows they automatically go to the myriad Gerry Anderson series and most miss out one of the greatest and arguably the best sci-fi puppet series ever made - Star Fleet.
Shown on ITV in the early 80's, Star Fleet was made in England with help from JIN International to give us the first Anglo-Japanese puppet show. Coupled with a fantastic soundtrack and a theme song performed by none other than Queen member Brian May, the show was a highlight of children's television.
Unlike most children's shows of the time, Star Fleet is essentially a 24 part epic which has one long continuous story. Each episode ended with a great `next time on Star Fleet' teaser trailer and whetted your appetite for the following week - as if you needed that!
The story starts when an alien battle cruiser commanded by the evil Makara, and her inept lieutenant Orion, comes out of the Thalian Zone and attacks Earth Force command. They demand that Earth turn over the F-01 and then they will leave.
General Kyle of Earth Command has no idea what Makara is talking about but she believes he is lying and presses her attack. Kyle's, and Earth's only chance of survival is in Doctor Benn's untested X-Bomber project, a new and powerful fighting ship built on the moon.
Benn recruits Shiro Hagen, Barry Hercules and John Lee as crew, along with his assistant Lamia, her bodyguard Kirara and the robot PPA (Perfectly Programmed Android) to help fight off the aliens.
As the plot unfolds, the X-Bomber and Makara's ship battle across the solar system and into uncharted space (courtesy of a black hole in episodes 6 and 7) and the revelation of the F-01 changes the lives of the X-Bomber crew forever.
They receive occasional help from the mysterious alien sailing ship, The Skull, commanded by Captain Halley. The show moves onto a dramatic and action-packed finale which really delivers the goods!
Unlike Anderson shows, the puppets were controlled from underneath which eliminated the need for strings and greatly enhances the production values. The sets are to die for and the bridge of the X-Bomber is great.
There are myriad space battles and planet bound ones too, especially when the pilots take the robot Dai-X to go and trash Makara's termoid armies. The special effects are excellent with lasers and massive explosions and the space battles have been beautifully choreographed. In one episode the X-Bomber executes a flip and roll manoeuvre and I can't see how they did it without tangling the wires up at all - amazing.
There are no episode titles officially but the ones on my now very worn out video releases are: 1) Invasion 2) Crashdown 3) Friend Or Foe 4) Battle On Jupiter 5) Missing In Action 6) Outmanoeuvred 7) The Black Hole 8) Ambush On Allaria 9) The Trial 10) The Sea Of Trees 11) The Forever War 12) The Defector 13) Remembrance 14) Revelation 15) Starship Down 16) Captured 17) Imprisoned 18) Search And Rescue 19) A Death In The Family 20) Reunion On Kallinion 21) The Siege 22) Race Against Time 23) The Beginning Of The End and 24) Final Battle.
An absolute must for any sci-fi collection and a great piece of 80's nostalgia - and it's about time too!
So, set engines to `quantum level' and engage!

Well, the common misconception (on Amazon, too) is that Brian did the music, but in reality he did not.

What he did was re-record it after seeing the show - he was such a huge fan, he released a single and a 12 inch (which is worth big bucks now if you have one) and I think it made the lower end of the charts...

The show really was fantastic, but the script and some of the episodes are awful. In the middle of the 24 episodes they just stop and decide to have a TWO episode recap on what has happened previously. I guess they needed to pad out the show and ran out of money...

Apart from that and the no sense plot, it's fantastic!

Well, the common misconception (on Amazon, too) is that Brian did the music, but in reality he did not.

What he did was re-record it after seeing the show - he was such a huge fan, he released a single and a 12 inch (which is worth big bucks now if you have one) and I think it made the lower end of the charts...

The show really was fantastic, but the script and some of the episodes are awful. In the middle of the 24 episodes they just stop and decide to have a TWO episode recap on what has happened previously. I guess they needed to pad out the show and ran out of money...

Apart from that and the no sense plot, it's fantastic!

well until tonight i never knew about brian may having any input or not!!

i'll end up getting just to remember those saturday mornings!! lol. god i make myself sound old!!

Go buy it tomorrow! And Mysterious Cities of Gold!!!

Mysterious Cities of Gold was another of the animated series that had some depth. Bloody awesome and yet another I managed to miss the ending of.

I remember the golden flying condor and the golden pendant and the kid with the worst bowlcut you ever saw :)

Well, the ending was great!

It's damn expensive on DVD, though...

Not kids TV but written by a kids author. I have managed to find a copy of a few episodes of Tales of the Unexpected too :)

Go buy it tomorrow! And Mysterious Cities of Gold!!!

little memory of that to be honest but it can come as a bundle with star fleet and dungeons & dragons...another favourite!!! i wasnt really a nerd growing up:hihi: apparently on the dvd there is philip schofield and gordon the gopher singing along!

i mentioned great music intro's earlier, what about this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B_FQKHQDYk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSDeoO-j3G0&feature=fvw

right off to bed now...enough reminiscing for one night!! lol

Well, the ending was great!

It's damn expensive on DVD, though...

Mysterious Cities of Gold (DELUXE EDITION) (2009) - $79.95 .. crikey!

Not kids TV but written by a kids author. I have managed to find a copy of a few episodes of Tales of the Unexpected too :)

haha intro use to scare me:hihi:

Mysterious Cities of Gold (DELUXE EDITION) (2009) - $79.95 .. crikey!

£39.98 on amazon:thumbsup:

£39.98 on amazon:thumbsup:

Great :) and just below it:

Dungeons & Dragons - The Complete Animated Series - £9.48 :D

Great :) and just below it:

Dungeons & Dragons - The Complete Animated Series - £9.48 :D

hahaha methinks i'm going to be making one or two dvd orders when i get a job!!:hihi:

grr recession:rant:

hahaha methinks i'm going to be making one or two dvd orders when i get a job!!:hihi:

grr recession:rant:

Good luck! You should organise a retro TV convention in Sheffield. I know loads of people that would love to see those old shows again :)

And I still haven't got Mysterious Cities of Gold. It's been over 20 years since I saw it...

Although, how many of the old shows have you seen again and been disappointed as they weren't as good as you remembered...

Good luck! You should organise a retro TV convention in Sheffield. I know loads of people that would love to see those old shows again :)

And I still haven't got Mysterious Cities of Gold. It's been over 20 years since I saw it...

Although, how many of the old shows have you seen again and been disappointed as they weren't as good as you remembered...

hahah i know what you mean. I have seen loads of old stuff from childhood like films and thought huh:huh: cant remember it being like this!!:hihi:

After last night, I watched a bit of Chocky on Youtube and it really was a very well written show.

Was impressed.

After last night, I watched a bit of Chocky on Youtube and it really was a very well written show.

Was impressed.

obviously not seen chucky for years so may check that out. can remember only watching it occasionally.

just thought of another which i dare you know:D it was, i think something like tripods invading, i'm guessing the planet. seem to think it was based in the welsh valleys:confused:

That's another book to kids' TV show written by John Christopher. The Tripods was hailed as the super show that would run and run - and which was promptly cancelled after the first season.

Unsurprisingly, it's being remade again by Hollywood.

The full season is available on Youtube to watch! But be warned: it's not nearly as good second time around!

That's another book to kids' TV show written by John Christopher. The Tripods was hailed as the super show that would run and run - and which was promptly cancelled after the first season.

Unsurprisingly, it's being remade again by Hollywood.

The full season is available on Youtube to watch! But be warned: it's not nearly as good second time around!

haha sounds about right and figured it would be called tripods..maybe i should have looked myself!! lol

is there anything you dont know about 80's kids television?!?!?!?

I'm sure there are loads.

I couldn't think of the dubbed show with the cowboys (although fairly sure it was Silas)...

Do you remember The Little Vampire? That was a great show (which, worryingly, is also being remade by the stumped-for-ideas Hollywood).

Do you remember The Little Vampire? That was a great show (which, worryingly, is also being remade by the stumped-for-ideas Hollywood).

That was one of my favourite books, I never saw the TV version though.

Here's a clip of the original show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2zTDkJDfow

And the not awful remake http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2JWsb8q5O0

Ahhh, memories. Check out 1:47 onward for the eerie theme toon!

Do you remember The Little Vampire? That was a great show (which, worryingly, is also being remade by the stumped-for-ideas Hollywood).

no i dont remember that at all!!!lol

It was great. About a family of vampires being evicted from their crypt.

I've been watching a bit of kids TV these days and it doesn't seem to have the same atmosphere. If you watch shows with vampires in these days, they all seem watered down and about the special effects...

Can anyone remember any of the school educational films we used to have to watch? I remember one in particular called Cloudburst, that was quite a sinister programme if i remember rightly, and another about some newspaper thing set in Hastings???

I remember the Sheffield, Threads, but I don't recall any others...

I must have missed those at school (thankfully).

Can anyone remember any of the school educational films we used to have to watch? I remember one in particular called Cloudburst, that was quite a sinister programme if i remember rightly, and another about some newspaper thing set in Hastings???

I remember ZigZag :)