Do you remember Skippy the Bush Kangaroo?
After recent gobsmacking news you can’t blame me for reminiscing about the things I got up to when I was just knee-high to a grasshopper.
One of my favourite pass times as a kid, besides giving grief to my younger sister, was getting stuck into a bread roll filled with nothing more than Smith’s Potato Chips and a very good splash of tomato sauce in front of our black and white television watching “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo”.
Amazing enough, several days ago a documentary on the making of this Australian TV series "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" popped up on the television. The series ran from 1966 to 1968 with the support of James Packer’s grandfather, the late Sir Frank Packer, who was one of Australia’s first media moguls.
What I didn’t know until the doco showed up was that the series was taken up worldwide, with the only exception being Sweden. Apparently the powers to be didn't want their ankle biters watching it because Skippy may have given them “a misleading impression of an animal’s abilities”.
You see, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo could talk, just like Flipper. Not that I could understand them of course, as it all sounded like gobbledygook to me, but at least I could play a mean gum leaf just like Garry Pankhurst who played the young boy, Sonny Hammond in the series.
Mister Ed, the talking horse, however was an entirely different matter as he spoke the Queen’s English with an American accent!
Now that you have read one of my “from the womb to the tomb” stories, what more can I ask of you? Well here goes, ”Do you remember Skippy the Bush Kangaroo?”
To be continued…
One of my favourite pass times as a kid, besides giving grief to my younger sister, was getting stuck into a bread roll filled with nothing more than Smith’s Potato Chips and a very good splash of tomato sauce in front of our black and white television watching “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo”.
Amazing enough, several days ago a documentary on the making of this Australian TV series "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" popped up on the television. The series ran from 1966 to 1968 with the support of James Packer’s grandfather, the late Sir Frank Packer, who was one of Australia’s first media moguls.
This YouTube video may jog your memory – Google Reader’s etc click here
What I didn’t know until the doco showed up was that the series was taken up worldwide, with the only exception being Sweden. Apparently the powers to be didn't want their ankle biters watching it because Skippy may have given them “a misleading impression of an animal’s abilities”.
You see, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo could talk, just like Flipper. Not that I could understand them of course, as it all sounded like gobbledygook to me, but at least I could play a mean gum leaf just like Garry Pankhurst who played the young boy, Sonny Hammond in the series.
Mister Ed, the talking horse, however was an entirely different matter as he spoke the Queen’s English with an American accent!
Now that you have read one of my “from the womb to the tomb” stories, what more can I ask of you? Well here goes, ”Do you remember Skippy the Bush Kangaroo?”
To be continued…
21 comments - care to make one?:
Indeed I do, I watched it as a child along with Flipper and Mr Ed.
I remember watching Flipper and Mr Ed, and there was Francis, a talking military mule, but I can't say that I ever saw Skippy.
Skippy is surely a lot cuter than our "Captain Kangaroo," who regaled us as children in the USA, with his morning TV show.
Peter, by 1968 I was already a "grown-up"! :)
Hi Windyridge! It's great to see you back again! If I remember correctly the only things worth watching when I was a kid, besides Skippy and a few other things, were American TV shows.
Now let me see, F Troop, Combat, Petty Coat Junction, Beverly Hillbillies and Lost in Space. I could go on but I think you get the general idea of what I was subjected to!
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Moonshadow! I remember Francis very well. What a stubborn creature and what a attitude he had!
So you can't recall watching Skippy! Did you click on the video to see if it jogged your memory at all?
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Lynda! My long term memory is pretty good but I can't recall ever watching Captain Kangaroo. But with a name like that you'd think I would have.
1968? I was almost fully grown-up, if you consider 12 a young man!
Take Care,
Peter
I don't think we ever got Captain Kangaroo here in Oz, Peter, but I certainly remember Skippy, Mr Ed, Flipper, Gentle Ben (the tame bear), Francis, Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, The Littlest Hobo, etc, lol.
Hi Jayne! Those were the days, alright! Remember "The Sullivans"? I predict "Packed to the Rafters" will be just as famous!
Take Care,
Peter
OMG that was the best and no I don't remember that however, I saw the simplicity and innocence of those times and I wish we could take our children back to those days.
Great post my friend
Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com
I have never seen this! Thanks for sharing the video..
Peter, what a darling post about Skippy The Bush Kangaroo!!! You know, I just picked up a Mr. Ed DVD at Wal-Mart. My inlaws are watching it. :D It was soooo great hearing Mr. Ed speak again.
Hugs, JJ
Hello Peter,
So, you used to give grief to your younger sister, eh? *nodding*....brothers....lol ;)
I couldn't watch the video (unfortunately; it says that the video has been removed by the user) :(...
Yes, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo was on even here in Portugal (although I didn't watch it - yes, it was on during the 80's here).
LOL I didn't like Mr Ed (don't know why).
Peter, thanks for sharing a bit of your childhood with us :D!
Have a superb week!
Cheers
Hi Novice Writer! Thanks for watching it as it brought a heap of happy memories back for me like you wouldn't believe!
Take Care,
Peter
Hi JJ! Mr Ed was a favourite of mine too! I just couldn't get enough of him and "My Favourite Martian". If only they would bring them back to television!
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Max! Unfortunately my sister still wears the scar that I gave her after throwing a rock that was supposed to hit my younger brother! She still laughs about funny enough.
Sorry about the youtube clip not showing but if you click on the word, "here" under the clip you'll get the video running.
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Everyone! After Max mentioned that the Youtube video wasn't working after clicking on the image, I republished this post using Windows Live Writer, as I normally do, and I was able to keep my comments to my great delight.
This gives me an idea for my next post thank heavens, as of late, coming up with ideas for my next story is like getting blood out of a stone.
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Dorothy! Please accept my apologies for not commenting on your comment sooner.
At the time I was watching this some 30 years ago, life was much simpler and any ideas of being exposed to violence on TV were quashed by my parents. Yes, if only the same happened now.
Take Care,
Peter
Hey Peter,
Now I was able to watch the video: yep, I remember the song and the cute kangaroo (but like I said, I don't think I ever watched a whole episode when I was little).
Thanks for having fixed the video issue: you are a gem :D!
Cheers
Hi Max! All I can say, is to stay tuned for the next thrilling episode!
Take Care,
Peter
Sorry Peter, never heard of it. But I used to watch 'I love Lucy' like crazy, and sometimes I feel like I resemble her a lot, especially when I am at home, lol. Thanks for sharing your story, cute one! Anna :)
Hi Anna! They've just started to replay, "I love Lucy" down here on a free to air TV channel. Both shows had and still do, a down to earth sense of humour without the need for violence or foul language we get these days.
Take Care,
Peter
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