Billy Bean and His Funny Machine (lost British puppet TV series; 1954-1956): Difference between revisions
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{{InfoboxLost | {{InfoboxLost | ||
|title=<center>Billy Bean and His Funny Machine</center> | |title=<center>Billy Bean and His Funny Machine</center> | ||
|image= | |image=Billybeantitle.jpg | ||
|imagecaption= | |imagecaption=Title card. | ||
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Billy Bean and His Funny Machine''' was a puppet TV series that aired on | '''''Billy Bean and His Funny Machine''''' was a children's puppet TV series that aired on BBC from 1953 to 1957. The show was created by Chuck Luchsinger based upon his American children's show ''Jolly Gene & His Fun Machine'', with episodes being produced by Vere Lorrimer.<ref name=GE1>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/eb8bf601a2514e57ac708ad4408ab21d BBC Genome page on the final episode of ''Billy Bean and his Funny Machine''.] Retrieved 7 Aug '23</ref><ref name=WG>[http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/children/other/billybean.htm Details of the programme from whirligig-tv.co.uk.] Retrieved 7 Aug '23</ref> | ||
== | ==Premise== | ||
The show involves Billy Bean (who was part of a train company) and a machine he made. | The show involves Billy Bean (who was part of a train company) and a machine he made. Other characters included Yoo-Hoo the Cuckoo, a cuckoo bird who would lay an egg every episode, and Lester, an engine room operator who is always off screen. Billy Bean would also operate what was called the "cartoonerator", where he could draw cartoons which often led to mixed and oftentimes humorous results.<ref name=GE2>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d48de545e45a420baf8becc46c445c7e BBC Genome page for the first episode of ''Billy Bean and his Funny Machine''.] Retrieved 7 Aug '23</ref> | ||
The lyrics for the theme song go as follows: | |||
"Billy Bean built a machine to see what it could do. | <blockquote>"Billy Bean built a machine to see what it could do. | ||
He made it out of sticks and stones, and nuts and bolts and glue. | He made it out of sticks and stones, and nuts and bolts and glue. | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
So he called it his fun machine, machine, | So he called it his fun machine, machine, | ||
Billy Bean and his fun machine." | Billy Bean and his fun machine."<ref name=WG/></blockquote> | ||
==History== | |||
After Chuck Luchsinger created the American children's show "Jolly Gene & His Fun Machine", the show was brought over to the UK to air on the BBC, with many of the original elements remaining in the show. The equipment was handled by John Wright, writing was done by Lisa Lincoln, and Jane Tyson and Elizabeth Donaldson were the main puppeters.<ref name=GE2/> | |||
The first series would air for six episodes broadcast twice per month between July 9th, 1953, and September 14th, 1953 with Dick Vosburgh as Billy Bean and Gaylord Cavallaro as Yoo-Hoo. The series was renewed five more times between 1954 and 1957, with famed voice actor Peter Hawkins taking over as Billy and Ivan Owen playing Yoo-Hoo.<ref name=GE1/> | |||
==Availability== | |||
''Billy Bean and His Funny Machine'' never had any VHS or DVD releases, hence, the show has not surfaced to this day. Whether or not the show is truly lost is unknown however only one screenshot and some production materials remains as visual proof of its existence. | |||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px> | |||
Billy_bean.jpg|The only known image from the show. | |||
Billybeanpic.jpg|"Key to the Machine" illustration. | |||
Billy_bean2.jpg|Billy Bean toy by Sacul #1. | |||
Saculbilly.jpg|Billy Bean toy by Sacul #2. | |||
Billybeanillus.jpg|An illustration of Billy and Yoo-hoo in the style of a children's book page. | |||
Billyyoohoo.jpg|A photo of Billy and Yoo-hoo, along with Jane Tyson, one of the two puppeteers. | |||
</gallery> | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Lost TV]][[Category: | [[Category:Lost puppetry]] | ||
[[Category:Lost TV]] | |||
[[Category:Completely lost media]] | |||
Latest revision as of 22:51, 23 September 2023
Title card.
Status: Lost
Billy Bean and His Funny Machine was a children's puppet TV series that aired on BBC from 1953 to 1957. The show was created by Chuck Luchsinger based upon his American children's show Jolly Gene & His Fun Machine, with episodes being produced by Vere Lorrimer.[1][2]
Premise
The show involves Billy Bean (who was part of a train company) and a machine he made. Other characters included Yoo-Hoo the Cuckoo, a cuckoo bird who would lay an egg every episode, and Lester, an engine room operator who is always off screen. Billy Bean would also operate what was called the "cartoonerator", where he could draw cartoons which often led to mixed and oftentimes humorous results.[3]
The lyrics for the theme song go as follows:
"Billy Bean built a machine to see what it could do.
He made it out of sticks and stones, and nuts and bolts and glue.
The motor sang Chuffaty Bang, Rattata Rattatarator,
And all of a sudden a picture appeared on the funny old cartoonerator
Billy Bean built a machine to see what it would do,
It did the funniest things he'd seen,
So he called it his fun machine, machine,
Billy Bean and his fun machine."[2]
History
After Chuck Luchsinger created the American children's show "Jolly Gene & His Fun Machine", the show was brought over to the UK to air on the BBC, with many of the original elements remaining in the show. The equipment was handled by John Wright, writing was done by Lisa Lincoln, and Jane Tyson and Elizabeth Donaldson were the main puppeters.[3]
The first series would air for six episodes broadcast twice per month between July 9th, 1953, and September 14th, 1953 with Dick Vosburgh as Billy Bean and Gaylord Cavallaro as Yoo-Hoo. The series was renewed five more times between 1954 and 1957, with famed voice actor Peter Hawkins taking over as Billy and Ivan Owen playing Yoo-Hoo.[1]
Availability
Billy Bean and His Funny Machine never had any VHS or DVD releases, hence, the show has not surfaced to this day. Whether or not the show is truly lost is unknown however only one screenshot and some production materials remains as visual proof of its existence.
Gallery
The only known image from the show.
"Key to the Machine" illustration.
Billy Bean toy by Sacul #1.
Billy Bean toy by Sacul #2.
An illustration of Billy and Yoo-hoo in the style of a children's book page.
A photo of Billy and Yoo-hoo, along with Jane Tyson, one of the two puppeteers.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 BBC Genome page on the final episode of Billy Bean and his Funny Machine. Retrieved 7 Aug '23
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Details of the programme from whirligig-tv.co.uk. Retrieved 7 Aug '23
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 BBC Genome page for the first episode of Billy Bean and his Funny Machine. Retrieved 7 Aug '23