Tara: It was so nice to see these again, I got a bit teary. And I still knew some of the words! They remind me of Saturdays in front of the tube, eating my breakfast of caramel Saunders cupcakes and cold glasses of milk. (Yes, I did have cavities, and no my Mom wasn’t into cooking. I so wish they still made those cupcakes though. They were the best evah!)
Michael: Schoolhouse Rock, for me, was all about the music and my fascination with Bob Dorough. The dude is a genius. Remembering these little educational ditties fondly, I accidentally stumbled upon a track (“Blue Xmas“) where he played with the great Miles Davis and I recognized his voice immediately. I couldn’t believe it was the same guy who voiced many of the Schoolhouse Rock spots.
Tara: Strangely enough, these helped me in my grade school English classes. Later, when I taught second grade for a year, I remembered to employ a lot of music and puppets and rhymes. They do stick in kids’ minds. Upon reflection, I think I not only did that because it was fun, but because I remembered Schoolhouse Rock.
Tara: See! When you’re excited, an interjection starts the sentence right! They said so! Plus! How witty is the writing of these? I’m going to start saying “Rats!” again, that’s for sure. Who wrote them Michael? You google. Go on.
Michael: Don’t need to google these, Tara. I have an excellent memory when it comes to music.
It was the self-same Bob Dorough who was contracted to originally do the music and lyrics for Schoolhouse Rock. Let me tell you a bit about Bob: He was instrumental in the creation of the first incarnations of these pieces, contributing music, lyrics and voicing many of them.
I completely forgot about him until, in 2000, I made a wonderful discovery: I happened upon a brand, spankin’ new copy of “Too Much Coffee Man,” a wonderful compilation of spiffy tunes by none other than (you got it, the man himself) Bob Dorough! I’d forgotten about him, thought he’d passed on actually … but here he was! With a new collection of songs! I remember going on for weeks about him and his new album to all my friends and acquaintances and anyone who would listen: “Hey! This is the dude that voiced Schoolhouse Rock … !!!”
Tara: That must have been a “special” time for your family and friends.
Anyway … we used to show up at school on Monday singing these tunes to each other. How archaic is that? And that makes me sad. Back in the day, when there were limited channels, you knew your friends were watching the same thing. It was a way to connect. And these Schoolhouse Rock snippets not only managed to get some knowledge into your brain, but entertained everyone at the same time. Dang, I want a Saunders caramel cupcake!
Michael: Everyone has their favorite Schoolhouse Rock episode, Tara. And this last one is dedicated to my wife. She’ll know why when she watches it …
(Side Note: I tried mightily to look for a “Saunders cupcakes” link regarding the cakes Tara mentioned above … and could find nothing. Maybe you will be more successful.)
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on Mar 05, 2011 @ 11:39 EST5EDT
Ahhh, Saturday mornings. Before cable; before Internet. Getting annoyed when Mom ran the vacuum and it messed with the TV reception. I kinda miss those days.
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I forgot about that!
Mom … firing up the vacuum … no school … cereal bowl still on the living room floor beside me … Banana Splits blaring …
Those mornings were marvelous …
Ah, yes. I’m a child of Schoolhouse Rock as well. I remember my 6th grade constitution class – when we had to write out the preamble everyone in the room was singing the Preamble song silently as we wrote. Good times.
I saw a wonderful play, Schoolhouse Rock Live. I was seated between two of my companions, both science geeks with degrees in engineering and comp sci, who were highly amused that I burst out with “Marconi didn’t invent radio, Tesla did!” during Mother Necessity.
Now I am indoctrinating the next generation by way of SHR on DVD. ;-)
Teresa we must have been in the same 6th grade class because I have the same memory! Whenever I hear a Schoolhouse Rock tune, I’m instantly 10 years old again. Now I share the videos with my students and my daughter who learn from them too.
Well, how fun is this!? *Interjection-question*…… I’ve never heard of SchoolHouse Rock…… honest….. Everything I know I learned from Rocky and Bullwinkle. SchoolHouseRock must have come on AFTER my time and my kids were hooked on Sesame Street. Gosh, I feel like I missed out on something.
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*faints*
*trying to sidestep your body*….. Would it help me remember 8 times 7??? I always get stuck on 8 times 7…. :o/
Well, I’ve been sucking oxygen for almost 51 years, but I remember Schoolhouse Rock fondly, and even more vividly because we bought the DVDs when they first came out for our own kids. Now you have to understand that I was a kid that never stopped watching cartoons, even through high school, college and married life.
Lately I’ve fallen off the weekly cartoon wagon except for some Spongebob and Shaun the Sheep, and it makes me sad that I might be missing out on some animation destined to become a timeless classic, but if I’m going to watch a cartoon it has to be one aimed at kids with the sensibilities to keep an adult entertained. That’s what makes all the old Bugs Bunny, et al, cartoons so timeless and enjoyable, at least in part.
I’m pretty sure we had to learn the Preamble before the song came out because I remember having to drill it into my head over and over. Now, I can still remember the darned thing all thanks to a brilliant song and nobody’s suddenly and randomly quizzed me on it in decades. My wife and I did thoroughly annoy our kids with our ability to remember it when they had to memorize it, but we just let them learn the song and it was simply the best way to learn!
Thanks, guys, for following through and bringing this post to us! I’m going to have to go dig in my overstuffed closet, a la Mr. Whoopee, find my Schoolhouse rock, fire up the DVD player and travel back in time. You guys rock as much as the schoolhouse does.
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Tom:
If you dig Schoolhouse Rock‘s music, I highly recommend Bob Dorough’s “Too Much Coffee Man”.
I bought the DVD of the whole collection and use them with my high schoolers. :-) They get “annoyed” but they remember.
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Oft times, Kwizgiver, we must foist on kids what is good for them.
But, being a teacher, you know this well …
Arrgh! Upon further research, I put a “U” in Sanders …. !
Here’s a link.
https://www.sanderscandy.com/
I had to search their site, but it seems they no longer make cupcakes of any kind.
WHY DO THEY KEEP STEALING OUR CHILDHOOD?!!! (Sorry, Abby Normal brain)
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE School House Rock!!!
Ok Michael in the video was it the fruit – since I sell it all day long?! Was it the multiplication – since I suck at math?! OR was it the HUCKLEBERRY PIE – since I grew up in MT and love to tell everyone I was crowned the Huckleberry Queen?! Nice, thank you.
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It was all about the huckleberries …
This was a great way to learn! I get together weekly with some other gals in school and we form a study group. Learning the trickier medical terms is so much easier when we employ word association, rhyming, or a short jingle. School House Rock still rocks!
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There may have been general weirdness in the 70’s, but there was good stuff that came out of them …
I’d like to see an adult update called something like “Scotchouse Rock” that extols the virtues of great scotch. I could learn all about some other good distilleries I have yet to try. I think in a couple of years we’re going to visit Scotland and Ireland. I might make a few educational videos while I’m there, but I don’t think you’ll like my singing.
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Tom?
Right. There. With. You.
… and I’m certain you’re singing will be fine …
You’re probably right. After a few (dozen) drams everybody’s singing is just fine. I’m not a big drinker, but I have a true love of good single malt scotch.
When you feel like parting with about $110 try The Glenmorangie Extremely Rare 18 Year. I had always purchased 12 year scotch running around $30-$40 a bottle, but always wondered if those extra years were really worth it. I was skeptical, but one night we were at a restaurant waiting in the lounge for our table. I got to chatting up the bartender who also loves scotch and he suggested it. The price for one glass was $25 and I told him that was a bit steep for my wallet, but the guy told me he’d charge me for the 12 year Glenlivet ($10 a glass) so I gladly accepted. Let me tell you I’ve never sipped a finer glass of anything in my life. That Glenmorangie was so different from any scotch I had previously tried and was so smooth it just glided over your tongue and down your throat unbelievably smooth.
I don’t buy anything else now. I’m not a man of means by far, but a bottle will last me 6 months to 2 years or more so my “bar tab” at home is really quite cheap overall. I ordered a bottle from a New York based liquor outlet, but I’m going to search for a local place when my bottle’s gone. Still got about half right now.