The Magic Door

I think "Booby Beaver" was supposed to be "Bubi Beaver," but kinda came out Booby after awhile. (Bubi is Yiddish a term of endearment.) I loved The Magic Door--and I'm not Jewish either. First, there was nothing else on TV for kids on Sunday morning in 1964--unless you could pull in Channel 4 from Milwaukee with its reruns of Davey and Goliath.

Tiny Tov flew back to the days of the Old Testament(Sp?)in the Feather Ship. There were crude pre-CG effects. He sat inside a bump on the quill end of the feather and would sometimes look over his shoulder to chat with us while working the controls. The puppets were simple plaster head and cloth body arrangements. No moving mouths or eyes. The show was produced by the Jewish Federation of Chicago, I think. The director/producer was a man named Henry Mamet. He was married to my third grade teacher Mrs. Mamet. I've often wondered if they were related to the play-write David Mamet. That's what I remember about The Magic Door.

I certainly do remember this show. Tiny Tov lived in an Acorn, and flew on a feather, and chanted "a room zoom zoom a room zoom zoom, gily gily gily gily gily asa sah, come through this magic door with me, come through this door and wondrous things you'll see." Then they had old testament stories, and a character named Booby Beaver! I was (and am) Catholic, and enjoyed it though it was clearly directed at Jewish kids. I think it was on Sunday morning. I remember a Moses puppet and an Aaron puppet. It clearly was a local show in Chicago, but I am not sure what station it was on. I am surprised to see that it ran for 20 years, from 1962 to 1982, from before I started Kindergarten in 1963 to when I was a second year law student! Anyone else remember any more details?

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 remember this show! I think it was on Sunday mornings on WGN, channel 9. I remember the song, and a little man dressed like an elf dancing around a big tree singing that song and that's about all. I didn't know it was a Jewish-based show, not that it matters. But I do remember watching it as a last resort because there was nothing else on so early. I also remember watching, "BJ And Dirty Dragon", and "Davy and Goliath". These shows sort of fell into the category of not much on. I hated Sunday morning TV, there just wasn't a lot on. Saturday mornings were the best though!! Scooby-Doo and Looney Toons! Josie & The PussyCats, Tom and Jerry!

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.