E is for Electric Company Spider-Man!
After the 1967 animated series, Spider-Man had been relegated to the pages of comic books only for several years.
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| Spider-Man 1967 animated style |
But his popularity grew, and in 1974, Spider-Man returned to television in live action - on the children's show The Electric Company.
Across the show's fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons, something like 28 or so episodes of Spidey Super Stories were produced. Actor/dancer Danny Seagren played Spider-Man, who in this incarnation is never seen as Peter Parker, but instead apparently lives as Spider-Man, because he is often drawn into the adventure in an episode while he is just hanging out doing real life things in costume.
Spidey also never speaks in this version, instead having his speech appear above his head in word balloons to encourage reading in the show's young viewers. The Spidey segments also had a rockin' theme song.
Let's take a look at a few of these goofy segments:
Here's the very first adventure:
This next episode features Morgan Freeman in his "Vincent the Vegetable Vampire" getup - but here he's actually playing Dracula! So, you have Electric Company Spidey vs a character some kids might have been forbidden to watch - and someone Spider-Man fought in the regular comics once!
Lastly - for the nostalgia factor - here's a longer segment that also features some of the cast as some of their regular series roles - like Jennifer of the Jungle (Judy Graubart), Paul the Gorilla (Jim Boyd), Fargo North, Decoder (Skip Hinnant), and Easy Reader (Morgan Freeman)!
Funny thing - that last comic panel is not Spidey and Paul the Gorilla off to look for cake - that's the final panel of a previous adventure with Spidey meeting The Yeti reused!
Spider-Man may have gone on to bigger adventures in live action later - but Electric Company Spider-Man will always be the first!
By the way, "F" you come back tomorrow - you might find another post to enjoy! Until then, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
I LOVED the Electric Company. The music was funky and sort of makes a Spiderman-Shaft crossover. Morgan Freeman looked awesome. ;) Super post, Craig. You are the Megamind of Pop Culture.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was very fond of Sesame Street - but I LOVED the Electric Company too. Thanks for the kind words, pal!
DeleteThat appearance by Morgan Freeman was awesome. Made my day.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
Glad I could help MF help you to a better day! Cheers!
DeleteThe Electric Company spent many days in my house. :)
ReplyDeleteTeresa
And mine too! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteWas that really Morgan Freeman? ;-p
ReplyDeleteI've never seen this but it looks a hoot - thank you for sharing! (even if I shall, from now on, look at Morgen Freeman in a different light!)
Happy A-Z'ing!
SueH I refuse to go quietly!
It was indeed! And as his character Easy Reader - Mr. Freeman got the added bonus of appearing on the cover of every issue of the comic book Spidey Super Stories - in a little blurb with a cool caricature of him that proclaimed "Easy Reader says this comic is easy to read!"
DeleteAwww I loved this post. Anyone who manages to get Spider Man, Morgan Freement and the Electric company into a post is ...super. Hope to read more! Loved the sign off!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! Yeah, we run the gamut here in LGOOH - hope you check out some more!
DeleteCertainly brings back many memories. Great post!
ReplyDeleteIt did me too as I put this one together! Thank you!
DeleteLOL that's what I call hilarious :-) They never showed any of those Spiderman series on Austrian or German TV which is a pity because I'm 100% sure I would have loved them as a kid.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was pretty fun! It's too bad they didn't run over there - a little dubbing, and some new word balloons, and voila! Austrian Spidey Super Stories!
DeleteI loved the Electric Company as a kid. Now my kids watch the new version. Great to see another generation enjoying the show and having fun learning.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the show is back - but the little bits I've seen of the new show lack a bit of the safe anarchy the old show had - but maybe I've just become an old fogey. Cheers, Mr. Tremp!
DeleteSpidey on educational television. Wow.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think we've gotten a little too slick with our TV. There's a certain appeal, and safety, to campy shows. Miss that.
Yeah - and Marvel didn't even charge a licensing fee for his use!
DeleteAnd I agree - the newer shows sometimes are a little too hip, ironic, and snarky to have any heart.
Always a pleasure to see you Joe!