Dandelion

thumbnail of Dandelion
This content has not been digitized. Please contact the contributing organization(s) listed below.
This record is featured in “National Educational Television.”
Program
Dandelion
Producing Organization
Educational Broadcasting Corporation. NET Division
Contributing Organization
Library of Congress (Washington, District of Columbia)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip/512-9g5gb1zb9z
NOLA Code
DADL
If you have more information about this item than what is given here, or if you have concerns about this record, we want to know! Contact us, indicating the AAPB ID (cpb-aacip/512-9g5gb1zb9z).
Description
Program Description
produced in 1970 by the NET Division of the Educational Broadcasting Corporation.
Program Description
An hour long color holiday special from the NET Childrens Theatre, this program is an adaptation of the Paper Bag Players fantasy trip through evolution, Dandelion. The play, which The New York Times called an absolute delight, is a series of nine short skits that humorously describe in simple childlike terms such evolutionary phenomena as reproduction, race, culture and communication. Props and costumes are constructed from paper, cartons, lampshades, and cardboard, objects familiar to childs play. Illustrative of the Players fanciful treatment of evolution is the brief episode depicting how life moved from water to land. A fish is forced to become a frog because of crowded living conditions in the ocean. Three Paper Bags holding various colored cut-outs sing of the uncomfortable state in their habitat (a 15 foot square sheet of blue paper): Too many fishes, too little water, somethings gonna happen soon. Finally one is forced out onto land, his gills turn into lungs and his fins turn into legs. And in a mere million years ... the fish has become a frog. Mel Gussow of The New York Times described the play as an absolute delight, visually, vocally, musically, comically ... I cannot think of a better way to introduce youngsters to history, biology, and sex. Emory Lewis of the Bergen Record in New Jersey wrote that the production was a small miracle and called the Paper Bags the best childrens theater group in America. Four actors -- Judy Martin, Pilar Garcia, Irving Burton, and Douglas Richardson -- and a harpsichordist, Donald Ashwander, make up the troupe which has been entertaining children and adults since 1959. NET Childrens Theatre: Dandelion is a production of NET Division, Educational Broadcasting Corporation. Dandelion was conceived, designed, and staged by Judith Martin. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Broadcast Date
1970-12-28
Asset type
Program
Genres
Special
Children’s
Drama
Media type
Moving Image
Credits
: Richardson, Douglas
Actor: Garcia, Pilar
Actor: Burton, Irving
Actor: Martin, Judy
Composer: Ashwander, Donald
Director: Nocks, Arnee
Executive Producer: Polk, Lee
Performer: Ashwander, Donald
Performing Group: Paper Bag Players
Producing Organization: Educational Broadcasting Corporation. NET Division
Writer: Martin, Judith
AAPB Contributor Holdings
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2058395-1 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 2 inch videotape: Quad
Generation: Master
Color: Color
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2058395-2 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 1 inch videotape: SMPTE Type C
Generation: Master
Color: Color
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2058395-3 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: U-matic
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: Color
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2058395-4 (MAVIS Item ID)
Generation: Master
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2058395-5 (MAVIS Item ID)
Generation: Copy: Access
If you have a copy of this asset and would like us to add it to our catalog, please contact us.
Citations
Chicago: “Dandelion,” 1970-12-28, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed May 31, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-9g5gb1zb9z.
MLA: “Dandelion.” 1970-12-28. Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. May 31, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-9g5gb1zb9z>.
APA: Dandelion. Boston, MA: Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-9g5gb1zb9z