CBS CARTOON THEATRE with host DICK VAN DYKE (1956)

In 1955, CBS bought out the entire Terrytoons library and rights to their characters for $3.5 million dollars and wasted no time in recouping their investment. Almost immediately in 1955 CBS released to TV "The Mighty Mouse Playhouse" as well as "The Farmer Alfalfa Show" (both shows consisting of old cartoons with new bumpers and intros added). Then, in 1956, CBS ventured into night time cartoon programming with the introduction of the summer show 'CBS Cartoon Theatre." Dick Van Dyke (then not a famous celebrity), was the live-action host who chatted and exchanged jokes with the animated characters. A simple concept, but well enough done. This show lasted 13 weeks and presented here is show #1. Care seems to been used in picking out which cartoons to show because they are all above average and include: "Flying South" with Heckle & Jeckle (1947), "Welcome Little Stranger" with Dinky Duck (1941), "Wide Open Spaces" with Gandy Goose (1950) and "Cat Happy" with Little Roquefort (1950). I used to think that my print was missing the TV commercials until I realized that this show's running time was over 28 minutes long. For some reason, the show's only commercials were the ones that Dick Van Dyke only talked about (but didn't show any clips from) and this was for various other CBS kid shows. I find the lack of ads in a 1956 show like this to be puzzling because you would have thought this would have been ripe grounds for various sponsors that manufactured breakfast cereals, toys, candy, sneakers and etc., but this is how the show went out on the air. For those of you that don't have time right now to watch the classic cartoons, you can watch Dick Van Dyke's segments at the very start of this show and as well as 8:28, 13:22, 19:19 and 26:01. Enjoy!