Call It Macaroni

Call It Macaroni is an American children's television series that premiered on January 24, 1975.[1] It was produced by Group W (Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, Inc.) with executive producers Gail Frank and Stephanie Meagher.[2][3] Prior to its release, Donald McGannon, the chair of Group W, announced the show was a call to action for children to have a specific slot for their television.[4] Intended to be a 12-part series of children's specials to be aired once a month, due to its popularity, another 12 specials were produced.[5][6]

For the song lyric "called it macaroni", see Yankee Doodle. For the television episode, see Chicago P.D. (season 2) § Episodes.

Its goal was to show 10-12-year-olds different things they could experience in the United States.[7] It follows a different group of children each episode as they go to different places within the country, learning about a culture, city, environment, job, or hobby.

The first season was sold to 100,[5][8] 103[9] or 104[10][11] stations in syndication.[12] It was well received[5][10][13] and won a Peabody Award in 1975.[14][15]

Episodes

There are 24 half-hour episodes of Call it Macaroni.[10] Air dates listed below may be later than the first airing. One episode, "Gym Dandys", is viewable on YouTube.

EpisodeAir dateSynopsis
It's a Long Way UpJanuary 24, 1975[16] Three teens climb Mount Hood in Oregon.[17]
Give the Circus a TumbleFebruary 19, 1975[3][18] Three 11-year-olds spend a week with Circus Vargas as it tours and performs in Colorado.[3]
Fly like a BirdMarch 19, 1975[19] Two San Franciscans take glider and hang gliding lessons.[19]
Once Upon a HorseApril 20, 1975[20] Two 12-year-olds get horse riding lessons and participate in a riding competition.[21]
Sail on the Winds of TimeApril 24, 1975[22] Teens learn aboard a replica of a 19th century schooner.[22]
Texas TenderfootMay 30, 1975[23] Three teens from the San Francisco Bay region become wranglers, helping to drive horses from Big Bend National Park in West Texas to a ranch 60 miles (97 km) away.[23]
Exploring YesterdayJune 6, 1975[24] Three children get to experience how the Native Americans of northern Minnesota lived.[25]
A Seaful of AdventureJuly 22, 1975[26] Three youngsters from the Boston area take a cruise on the Florida shrimp boat Lady Gin.[26][27]
The Boys and Girls of SummerSeptember 4, 1975[28] A boy and a girl from Philadelphia go to the Philadelphia Phillies spring training camp in Florida.[28]
Path of PapagosNovember 16, 1975[29] Three youngsters experience the Native American way of life.[29]
Puppets and Other People[30]December 6, 1975[31] Three children from Boston construct a puppet under the supervision of puppeteer Kermit Love.[31][32] Kevin Clash, the best known puppeteer to perform as Sesame Street's Elmo, saw this episode as a teen and asked his mother to help him contact Love;[33] she succeeded, and Love eventually became his mentor.
Where Do we Sign Up, When Do We Leave?December 15, 1975[34] Three kids from the San Francisco area spend a week on a racing schooner exploring the Channel Islands of California.[35]
Nashville: Over the Rainbow April 18, 1976[36] In the first episode of the second year,[9] a 13-year-old Dobro guitar player goes to Nashville and gets to perform with Bobby Bare.[37]
Lights, Camels, ActionMay 21, 1976[38] Three New Yorkers join a production company working on the film Hawmps!, a comedy about the United States Camel Corps, on location in Arizona and become extras in one scene.[39]
And That's JazzJune 11, 1976[40] Two budding musicians from New York go to New Orleans and join a jazz session.[41]
Rogue RunnersJuly 23, 1976[42]Some youngsters go on a five-day rafting trip on the Rogue River.[42]
Some of My Best Friends are DolphinsAugust 20, 1976[43] Two children work with dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium.[44]
It's Really MagicSeptember 21, 1976[45] Two 11-year-olds from New York travel to Hollywood to work with the magician Shimada and perform at the Magic Castle.[45][46]
How Do You Make a Moose Smile?October 1, 1976[47] Three New York 11- and 12-year-olds are taught by a professional how to photograph wildlife in the wilderness.[48]
North of the ArcticDecember 4, 1976[49] Two youngsters from Portland, Oregon, become acquainted with an Eskimo family in Alaska.[49][50]
Dance to the MusicDecember 5, 1976[51] Two teens spend a week at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York.[51][52]
When Bold Knights LancedJanuary 10, 1977[53] A boy and a girl attend the annual Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan.[53]
Gym DandysFebruary 11, 1977[54][55] Two girls from San Francisco receive lessons from gymnasts training for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.[54]
Sing, West Virginia, SingMarch 15, 1977[56] Two young Philadelphians learn about the music and culture of Appalachia.[56]

References
  1. Willey, George (January 18, 1975). "A Closer Look: A new try at children's programming". The Argus – via Newspapers.com. open access
  2. Beals, Kathie (January 27, 1975). "It's New and just for kids". The Daily Item – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. "'Give the Circus a Tumble'". Daily Breeze. February 16, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "McGannon ups the ante" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 13, 1975.
  5. "Everyone liked our "Macaroni" so much, we're giving them a second helping" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 30, 1975.
  6. "Call it renewed" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 7, 1975.
  7. Brown, Les (1977). The New York Times Encyclopedia of Television (PDF). p. 66. ISBN 9780812907216.
  8. Call it macaroni : a series of 12 half-hour television programs for young people, aired once a month, since January 1975 by 100 stations throughout the U.S. WorldCat. OCLC 318535716.
  9. "Through the Eyes of Children". Cashbox. July 5, 1975.
  10. "We're Busy!" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 16, 1976.
  11. "Look what we're up to!" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 13, 1977.
  12. Brown, Les (June 5, 1975). "Children's Fare Taking a Giant Step on Local TV". The New York Times.
  13. O'Connor, John J. (December 28, 1975). "TV View". The New York Times.
  14. "Call it Macaroni - Peabody Awards".
  15. "Seton Hall Radio Station Wins A Peabody Award for 'Poetry'". The New York Times. March 29, 1976.
  16. "Television Today". Oakland Tribune. January 24, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  17. "Designed for Discovery". Kenosha News. April 26, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  18. "Best Bets". San Francisco Examiner. February 19, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  19. "Wednesday March 19, 1975 Evening". The Baltimore Sun. March 16, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  20. "Sun. TV Hilights". Statesman Journal. April 20, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  21. "Friday May 23 Evening". Redlands Daily Facts. May 23, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  22. "TV Hi-lites". The Reporter – via Newspapers.com. open access
  23. "'Texas Tenderfoot' Teaches City Children to Wrangle". Missoulian. May 24, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  24. "Sunday". The Morning Call. June 6, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  25. "TV Highlights". San Antonio Express. August 9, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  26. McLean, Robert A. (July 22, 1975). "Dial-Log". Boston Globe – via Newspapers.com. open access
  27. "TV Previews". Bridgeport Telegram. July 25, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  28. "Tonight's Movies and Highlights". Ellwood City Ledger. September 4, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  29. "Friday Evening". The Boston Globe. November 16, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  30. "Today's Highlights". Lincoln Journal Star. 21 December 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  31. "'Call It Macaroni': Puppets". Edwardsville Intelligencer – via Newspapers.com. open access
  32. Engle, Murry (11 July 1975). "The World's a Better Place With Love". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com. open access
  33. "Kevin Clash: The Man Behind Elmo (interview)". NPR. 15 December 2011.
  34. "Tonight". San Francisco Examiner. December 15, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  35. "Taking the New World to Explore Remote Islands". San Francisco Examiner. December 14, 1975 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  36. "Highlights". The Cincinnati Enquirer. April 18, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  37. Wilson, John S. (April 18, 1976). "Guitarist". The New York Times.
  38. "Tonight". The Portsmouth Herald. May 21, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  39. "'Lights, Camels, Action'". Sunday News. May 30, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  40. "Tuesday Evening". The Press Democrat. June 11, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  41. "Sunday Morning". Chicago Tribune. July 25, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  42. "Friday Evening". Boston Globe. July 23, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  43. "Friday: Tops Today". The Boston Globe. August 15, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  44. "Sunday Afternoon". South Bend Tribune. June 26, 1977 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  45. "Call It Macaroni It's Really Magic TV listing". The Morning News. September 21, 1976. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  46. "Sunday Afternoon". South Bend Tribune. September 21, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  47. "Thursday Night". The Wichita Beacon. October 1, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  48. "Series, Debate, 'Puzzle Children' and lesser events to fill out week". Peninsula Times Tribune. October 16, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  49. "Saturday". Orlando Sentinel. November 28, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  50. "Sunday Afternoon". South Bend Tribune. July 24, 1977 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  51. "Sunday, Dec. 5". Omaha World-Herald. December 5, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  52. "Boy, girl visit dance center". Dayton Daily News. November 9, 1976 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  53. "Afternoons, Monday through Friday". The Republic. January 8, 1977 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  54. "Kids Train with Champs". The Weirton Daily Times. February 11, 1977 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  55. "TV for Children, Sunday". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 18, 1977 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  56. "Tuesday Evening". Boston Globe. March 15, 1977 – via Newspapers.com. open access
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