Nickel Flicks
Nickel Flicks | |
---|---|
Presented by | John Moschitta Jr. |
Country of origin | United States |
Production | |
Producer | John Moschitta Jr. |
Running time | 1 hour |
Original release | |
Network | Nickelodeon |
Release | 1979 |
Nickel Flicks is an American
Since the features on Nickel Flicks had been created prior to the advance of
It is a more recent example of a lost television program, due to the lack of recorded tape that exists.
Overview
Slapstick comedy serials made up the majority of the content on Nickel Flicks. Comic violence, which was rare in children's programming at the time, was not edited out of most of the films that were shown; it was even advertised as kids' programming "with no sugar-coating."[2] Cable executive Bill Riley stated that "any violence [on the program] is either less intense than that found on commercial television or is clearly intended as comedy."[2] Dated suspense films aimed at a family audience were occasionally shown as well.[3] The show was not just a showcase but a "public affairs program as well."[4] Moschitta, in his own words, played "a Sydney Greenstreet kind of character in a white suit", wearing a pith helmet or panama hat, and sat in a large rattan chair.[5] During Moschitta's host segments, public affairs issues related to the plots or stars of the showcased films were discussed.
Films
- The Galloping Ghost (1931)
- The Whispering Shadow (1933), starring Bela Lugosi
- The Mystery Squadron (1933)
- Junior G-Men (1940)
Featured artists
The following artists' works were featured on the program:
- Buster Crabbe (as Flash Gordon in the eponymous serial)[6]
- Tom Mix (as Tom Morgan in The Miracle Rider)[6]
- Roscoe Arbuckle[6]
- Gene Autry[6]
- Charlie Chaplin[6]
- Bela Lugosi[6]
- Roy Rogers[7]
- John Wayne[6]
- Rex the Wonder Horse
Reception
The Courier-Post described the offerings on Nickel Flicks as "wholesome."[7] The Philadelphia Inquirer labeled the series "a collection some of the best kids shows from previous years."[4]
References
- ^ poparena, Nickel Flicks - Nick Knacks Episode #003, retrieved 2019-01-04. Highlighted comment is posted by Moschitta.
- ^ Gannett Company. July 1, 1979. Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
- Gannett Company. August 12, 1979. Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
- ^ Philadelphia Media Network. December 14, 1978. Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
- ^ "John Moschitta Jr. podcast interview". Saturday Morning Rewind. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g "At Last: Children's Programming That's Fit for Children!". Times-Union. October 12, 1979. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
- ^ Gannett Company. November 20, 1980. Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-18.