The Magic Door

I remember "The Magic Door", too; it was on WBBM-TV2 immediately preceding "Project Head Start", a "Romper Room" sort of show for inner-city kids hosted by Miss Felice Mooney. Another thing I remember about "The Magic Door": every Hanukkah, Tiny Tov would appear in costume, but not miniaturized, and would play his guitar and lead the boys and girls in songs about the Festival of Lights. The highlight of the show would be the reading of the Hanukkah story from the Talmud. Sunday mornings weren't too bad, TV-wise, at least in the late 60's; WMAQ-TV5 had the early "Astroboy" cartoons followed by "By Gemini", set aboard a lunar module (it was the Christian equivalent of "The Magic Door"), WBKB/WLS TV7 (via the ABC network feed) aired Saturday-morning "weak sisters" like "The Smokey Bear Show" and "Curiosity Shop", then the evergreen "Bullwinkle Show" and the public-affairs show "Discovery"; while WGN aired "Superman" and "Flash Gordon" reruns. It didn't beat weekdays on WGN, WFLD and WCIU, but they served rather well. Chicago kids had so much to watch in those days!

Thank you to all for posting your comments. I, too, was Catholic watching this show in the south suburbs of Chicago. The song has never left me. I couldn't wait for it to come on, and I loved Davy and Goliath. The New Testament was taught in Catholic school, but the Old Testament was virtually a mystery and Tiny Tov gave me a wonderful look into the rich history of Christianity. We knew who the bible heroes were, but we weren't taught why they were significant (at least I don't remember being taught that - I wasn't an over achiever...) I now live in the Milwaukee area and no one here knows what I am talking about and they think I am crazy when I wax nostalgic and sing the song! Anyone know where Tiny Tov is now? Is he still around? It would be interesting to see what the show meant to him and what he has heard throughout the years regarding the impact the show had on the Jewish community and Christians alike.

I really enjoyed "Magic DOOR" while growing up in Chicago. I remember gathering together with my brother and sisters in front of the TV weekly just to watch Magic DOOR and Tiny Tov. It was one of our favorite programs.

When I returned to Chicago after serving in the military from 1969-1973, my first job was at CBS in Chicago where I worked as a cameraman. So, guess what?

I had the special privilege to videotape Magic Door every week at WBBM Channel 2 Studios on McClurg Court in Chicago. So, I want to give a BIG THANKS to all of you who remember watching this program and am happy to hear you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed filming it. Shalom to all of you who remember this program.

I remember Magic Door also. I would go to 6:30 Mass with my parents on Sunday mornings and watch Tiny Tov with my brothers and sisters after that. It is a favorite childhood memory, so safe and calming. It helped me understand how Christianity evolved from such a rich tradition and also made me admire the Jewish people. It was a very fine contribution that helped provide a bridge of understanding.

I did not realize it ran until 1982 either. I wonder if there are DVD copies available of it? My children are too old for it, but I would love the warm fuzzies I get when I think of it. Just hearing the song would spark a memory when the world didn't turn so fast and childhood was an easy, happy place.

I found the Magic Door on DVD; it's via Cragslist. $8 buys you a Walter E Smith sponsored "Magic Door" & "Kukla, Fran & Ollie" DVD. The link is: http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/emd/509105184.html

I used to watch it as well and still have that crazy song (which means nothing to me--I'm Catholic) in my head at age 42. We would watch it because, like the other poster said, there was nothing on besides Bert Weinman Ford commercials and The Cisco Kid on Sunday mornings. The pseudo CGI little man appealed to every kid, and it is proof that good entertainment is good entertainment, regardless of the roots of the subject.

Chicago TV had a lot of classic stuff to watch, and now as an adult working outside of the Chicago area I often tell people stories about some of the crazy traditional shows. "Hardrock, Coco & Joe" & "Frosty the Snowman" (the old black and white version) were terrific to watch...