Davey and Goliath

We are told and constantly reminded you can never go back. However, if there is a cycle to our nostalgia for fashion, I only hope and pray that television shows like this, with their wonderful messages, come back into fashion. Can anyone remember a show from our kids' generation that they can look back on and feel as we feel about this one? I can't. Let's just keep reminding everyone what a profound difference it made for us as adults to have been raised on shows like this one.

It aired as a segment of the children's show "Boomtown" in the Boston area. Boomtown was hosted by Rex Trailer, and he sang (and played guitar) for his own special intro to Davey And Goliath. I still remember the words:

This is the story of The Lord This is the story of The Lord The way they tell it may be new But every word is true This is the story of The Lord

Imagine a children's show host getting away with that in today's world!

I'm happy to report that those of you who subscribe to Comcast Cable in the Boston area can find the show playing occasionally on the Boston Catholic Television Channel, which is also known as the Religious Channel, usually Channel 56 on the listings.

Watching "Davey and Goliath" today is almost sad because it's the type of decent and moral program that today's "entertainment industry" wouldn't bother to create. Indeed, it would probably be scorned because it is decent and tells a moral with each story. We can't have that today thanks to political correctness.

The soft drink, Mountain Dew, of all things reminded me of this show as they are currently running ads featuring characters from this series. As a kid in the mid to late 70s, I watched "Davey and Goliath" on Saturday afternoons and I'm glad I did. The stories were entertaining and made me understand the value of friendship, community and faith.

Thankfully, you can buy "Davey and Goliath" on DVD & VHS and I am looking forward to watching this fine program with my kids. The best thing about it is that you don't have to hesitate to do so unlike with many of today's programs on TV.

I can recall waking up super early on Saturday mornings and this was on from 6:00AM-6:30AM. I never thought about it as being overly religious, I was so busy enjoying the adventures of Davey, Goliath, Davey's family and friends that this never seemed to cram anything down my throat, but some early morning fun. Now, years later, I sit and watch the one DVD I have with three episodes, including the thirty minute Christmas special and while I recognize a bit more of the moral theme, I still don't feel like I'm having anything forced on me....but pure nostalgia and fun. I remember watching the holiday specials for Easter and Christmas and much like the Rankin & Bass holiday specials, my holiday wouldn't be complete without a dose of Davey & Goliath and now enjoying a few episodes, again, I will probably feel the same way, come this Christmas!

"A Mighty Fortress is Our God" (Martin Luther, circa 1529) serves as the theme song for this well-received children's series, produced by the Lutheran Church in America, and often written by children's book author Nancy Wible, who initially would also voice this program's female characters.

But while the message remains constant, times do change. Beginning at a time when ladies, gentlemen and children would continue to wear their finest clothing to Sunday services, difficult choices may lie between selecting a dress or blouse and skirt, hat or veil, or between a suit and blazer, necktie or bow-tie, and fedora, which gentlemen were expected to remove upon entrance, whereas the ladies were expected to retain hair coverings indoors. Today, while few fellowship retain such mandates, this series helps to reminisce upon changes reflected by society, while politeness toward others remains, of course, virtuous.

Between 1960 and 1965, the series of 314 fifteen-minute episodes would gain in recognition and popularity, to air across network lines for broadcast to a height of a 90% market share on Saturday mornings or sometimes on Sunday mornings between presentations of church services or sermon programs.

For a period, the fifteen-minute format was set aside in favor of recurring 30-minute "Davey and Goliath" specials, before resuming in its regular format for several additional seasons.

Vocal Talent for this clay animation (or Claymation) series is provided by an assortment of performers in the roles of parents (voice), John Hansen (Hal Smith, 1961-1976) and Elaine Hansen (Ginny Tyler, 1961-1962, also doubling as Sally), daughter Sally Hansen (Nancy Wible, 1960-1968), son David 'Davey' Hansen (Dick Beals, 1960-1964; Norma MacMillan, 1965-1975), and various friends, neighbors and community leaders. Goliath the pet dog stands nearly as tall as Davey, who is able to hear his voice whereas nobody else in the cast may.

Davey's peers would differ in configurations, usually three friends, including an African-American buddy, as the youth would learn a moral lesson of the day, initially regarding a topic of respect or reverence, then segueing into topical concerns of the period, whether they apply these lessons immediately or learn by episode's ending.

But the presentation would remain non-didactic, but open to connect with audiences of all faiths and creeds in beneficial manner, suitable to manners then and now, for "Davey and Goliath" remains a Classic from age to age, and for audiences of all ages.