Shazam Saturday Morning TV Facts
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- On this video we remember the classic Saturday morning Shazam TV series from the 1970’s with some cool facts of the show you may not have heard anywhere else and some facts you probably know by heart, but it's fun to reminiscence about.
Shazam, of course, was based off the comic book series that featured Captain Marvel as a Superman like hero. Comic fans probably know the story how Captain Marvel was so big back in the 40’s he got as popular as Superman for a time before DC Comics decided to sue and ended up taking the rights of Shazam. Captain Marvel even had a black and white movie serial just like Superman.
The 70’s were kind of a revival for Captain Marvel. DC was printing a new Shazam comic series at the same time the tv series was running.
The story revolves around Billy Batson traveling the country in a motor home with his mentor named Mentor. That really was the name they went with. In the comics he would have been known as Uncle Dudley. Any kid who grew up in the 70’s likely loved this show back in the day. For it’s time it was amazing.
Mentor was played by actor Les Tremayne. Did you know he once played Boss Hogg’s Dad on the Dukes of Hazzard season 5 episode, Big Daddy in 1982? Turns out Boss’s dad was even more crooked than he was.
Tremayne had played on a number of movies and shows before Shazam and after Shazam he went on to do a lot of voice work on Saturday morning series like Godzilla, Gobots, Scooby Doo, and the Smurfs.
In the show Billy is just like the comic version he gets his powers from classic heroes from the ancient world like wisdom of Solomon, strength of Hercules, speed of mercury, and so forth. In the show unlike the comics, Billy is always talking to these ancient heroes known as the elders on the series.
Jackson Bostwick played Captain Marvel until he was fired after missing a day after sustaining an injury. The producers believed he was just holding out for more money.
After that John Davey took over as Captain Marvel for 11 more episodes.
Michael Gray played Billy Batson. I was very surprised to see him do a cameo on the new Shazam movie sequel wearing his classic TV shazam shirt. Did you know he also appeared on a episode of the Brady bunch on the episode, "Marcia Gets Creamed" in 1973.
Did you ever notice that the Shazam logo was right on the face of the motor home even though Captain Marvel’s identity was supposed to be a secret?
They explained that the reason Billy and Mentor were traveling the country was that Billy Batson's radio show had sent him on a roving assignment, to do stories about American youth, with Mentor as an advisor.
Every episode ended with a moral segment where Captain Marvel or Billy Batson would explain that episode’s life lesson. The moral was always something basic and simple like listen to your parents and don’t lie. Simple morals that may sound corny by today’s standards but still very powerful morals.
Surprisingly for a Saturday morning series, they didn’t shy away from dealing with the difficult subject of drugs in the first season episode, “The Lure of the Lost”. I can remember a few other Saturday morning series that warned against drugs back then. After all, there was a drug epidemic going on at the time.
The wizard is never mentioned in the series, but some folks think that perhaps Mentor was the Wizard due to one scene where seems to pop up in a tree without explanation, and a line from Billy where he states that Mentor has a way of popping up when you least expect him, and then there was line Mentor gives jokingly that he has mystic powers in the episode, The Lure of the Lost” .
Here's some guest stars that appeared on Shazam.
Jackie Earle Haley from other comic book related properties like the Watchmen, and the Human Target was on the on the episode, "The Delinquent" season 1 ep 12 in 1974.
On that same episode, Hilly Hicks guest starred. He went on to do the voice of Brock on the 70’s Hanna Barbera Godzilla cartoon and played Robbie Robertson on an episode of the Amazing Spider-man.
JoAnna Cameron guest starred as Isis on Shazam at least 3 times and had her own Saturday morning show.
Isis and Captain Marvel did the occasional crossover and their shows were combined into an hour as the Shazam Isis Hour.
Carol Anne Seflinger was on two episodes of Shazam. You may remember her as Susan on the Krofft Supershow’s Wonderbug.
Danny Bonaduce from the Partridge Family was on the episode, Speak no evil.
Dabbs Greer who was the pastor from Little House on the Prairie guest starred on the episode, Shazam episode, Fools, Gold.
You can get the entire series on DVD at Amazon. I’ll put a link in the description below. I get a commission from any purchases through my Amazon links.
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#shazam #superhero #superheroes #saturdaymorning #classictelevision #classictv #70s
Shazam as always great video bud 😀
Thanks so much Pratman. 😀
They saved them for the laater animated series. If the rumors are true, had Filmation not bogarted through rights, Captain Marvel and Dr. Suvana would've replaced Superman and Lex Luthor on Challenge of the Superfriends. They did appear in Hanna Barbera advertising art and were a part of the live-action NBC specials (as well as Aunt Minerva).
Sivana...
@@tvcrazymangreat info huge Wonder Woman and bionic woman fan im also a fan of six million dollar man and Incredible Hulk too😊
Oh I was there for the Shazam Isis hour. With some Electra Woman and Dyna Girl thrown in for good measure.
Let me tell you, Deidre Hall was awesome. There was a remake of the show a few years ago, but it just didn't have the same appeal. The chemistry wasn't the same. Even as a little kid, I knew these shows were morality stories. I even thought that was cool.
"Any kid who grew up in the 70s likely loved this show back in the day." I'm one of those kids! I loved the show. Never missed an episode. ❤
As a kid, Saturday morning TV is what I lived for and this show is one of the ones I loved most.
Sometimes, even now 50 years later, I can feel that special 'zing' that Saturdays had when I was a kid. Something about the day still feels special to me. But in the 70s it was morning cartoons, probably a game to play if it was during a sports season, playing outside all afternoon, probably either Emergency! or Wonder Woman at 8pm then CBS TV from 9pm until 11pm. When we got The Muppet Show in Atlanta, later in the 70s, it came on on Saturday nights, too, just to make the day even better
agreed I do recall that Capt Marvel looked different and lost faith in the show and wasn't a "must see" anymore.
Those morals kept my black ass out of trouble in the 70s as a youth so sometimes corny can be cool👍🏽BTW Both Captains were definitely cool⚡️
Yeah, old fashioned morals are definitely cool when it keeps you out of trouble. 😀 A lot of the old shows, especially on Saturday mornings used to have some kind of good moral at the end.
I used to love Shazam, Isis and Spider-Man. Watched them faithfully
Brian Sullivan-I imagine you watched The Superfriends as a boy growing up, didn't you?
Along with Lynda Carters Wonder Woman
Loved the live action Saturday morning shows growing up in the 70s Especially Shazam, Isis and Land of the Lost
I used to watch Shazam every Saturday morning when I was a kid. Even though it was corny, I still love to watch this even as an adult! I especially liked the messages each episode brought.
There was nothing corny about this this was a great show I wish both series would have lasted longer I have Shazam and Isis on Blu-ray.
Watched both Secrets of Isis and Shazam as a kid. What a great childhood I had. 🤗
I never missed an episode as a kid. I’d be glued to the TV with a bowl of cereal 🥣 and those are my best memories of childhood. I found them on DVD a few years back too.
I watched shazam on a Saturday morning when I was 8 years old.and I remember Les Tremayne In the movie the war of the worlds
I forgot about War of the Worlds. It's been a while since I've seen that movie. Definitely a classic.
I was so addicted to this show and the Secrets of ISIS as a kid. Shame it only lasted a few seasons.
Marsha Gets Creamed ?! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I wasn't even aware that the actor who played Billy Batson was still alive until I saw him in the Shazam sequel. My girlfriend didn't understand what I was so excited about, but whatever...she wouldn't get it.
Hmmm..didn't know he was in the new movie. Will have to check it out.
I remember the 1974 saturday morning line up from bugs bunny-road runner to shazam and isis to superfriends to Ark II to Fat Albert. You can throw Hong Kong Phooey in there as well. Watched them all like a part time job with pancakes. Jackson Bostwick really wore that suit, the camera liked him, and he had some of the best take-offs since George Reeves. John Davey was ok despite the belly. Joanna Cameron was a specimen of a woman. The seventies. What a time to be a kid. What a time to be alive.
Hey you all Post your memories of the Shazam TV series. I actually met Captain Marvel Jackson Bostwick years ago at a comic book convention. It was a small convention and I remember he talked to me for a while. It was so cool talking to my childhood hero like that. I wish I would have gotten some pictures. Some day I would love to get a chance to talk to Lee Majors or Lou Ferrigno.
I hope you get to meet these 70s Saturday Morning stars soon! It was my pleasure to meet Stan Lee and William Shatner about ten years ago in Honolulu!
My wife and I cosplay as Shazam Isis Power Hour at the local cons. 70s Saturday Morning TV shows represent!
"Marsha gets creamed". LOL! You got to love the innocence of the 70s.
This program needs to be brought back every Saturday morning in fact during the week
I watched it as a kid. When Shazam had to fly ahead of the RV to solve a problem, the RV shows up seconds later. I could only figure shazam had a maximum air speed of about 80 mph.
They should have brought in his classic villains like Dr Sivana,Mr Mind, Black Adam etc etc
That would have been interesting. I have to wonder what that might have looked like. I wonder if they could have pulled it off with their low budget. Black Adam vs Captain Marvel back then would have been epic!
@@tvcrazyman Probably one reason the classic Villains didn't show up.
They had no money
There was no point. Children's programming wouldn't allow for physical confrontations in the 1970's.
@@ChrisLawton66 Maybe but having the Power of the Gods and fighting mundane villains gets old fast.
I was born in 64. Loved Shazam on Saturday mornings. When I was in my early twenties I got to have a long conversation on the phone with Jackson Bostwick. Lol, when the show was on I remember drawing and coloring a not so great looking lightning bolt on one of my red sweatshirts. Wore it to school a couple of times and got some strange looks and comments, lol.
Cool!
If no one caught it, in the lastest SHAZAM movie, Michael Gray is in there, like it is mentioned. You can hear him yelling out "Captain Marvel" in the oe scene. The only person to do it.
I loved Captain Marvel when I was a kid, especially when portrayed by Jackson Bostwick. It really went downhill when the other guy took over the role. Very little violence and lots of trying to teach understanding/proper behavior/good choices. "SHAZAM!!"
Jackson Bostwick got royally screw*d by the production co. The 2nd guy was terrible.
I was born in the Mid 1970s. Before I was old enough for public school, I loved it. Back then the producers made shows that boys actually wanted to watch, adventure stories. In the 70s people smoked pot like it was their job.
Love the show...glad that billy had a cameo in the new shazam movie
I absolutely loved this show. Even though I was more of a Marvel fan growing up, I loved everything Superheroes so for me I was just happy being able to see anything superhero related on tv. With that being said, It’s great hearing about all the facts on this gem of a show. As a big fan of the channel I always look forward to seeing your next video! Take care!
Thank you very much
Yes! THIS! I watched this as a kid, so when the recent movies came out with Shazam being ONE character and Captain Marvel being a DIFFERENT character, I was like, 'WAIT...WHAT?!"
Great Shows Back In The Days.. 👍👍👍😁😁😁💯💕💕💕
I loved Shazam when I was a kid. I even had a Shazam doll
I loved this show! Great superhero and minimal violence!
God I was so in love with Michael Gray when this show came out. I got to meet him at the Anaheim Convention Center in 1975 or 76 and he looked so little plus he had a face full of zits. He signed an autograph picture of himself which my brothers eventually drew a mustache on him and other things that made him look goofy. I
was so mad I cried and cried. I had to chuck it in the trash because it was completely ruined. Still those memories were grand and I loved Saturday morning shows and cartoons. That era really was a good time to be a kid.
Shazam was and is a great show. The cast are all personal friends of mine.
Awesome!
I remember when I was a kid watching these Saturday morning cartoons. I’m in my over 50”s. It still gives memories.
This was such a great show love hearing the facts
Thanks! This show was one of my favorites growing up.
Your welcome awesome shows like these are hard to beat man
@@cadeevans4623 Yeah, they were really creative back then and just plain good old fashioned fun.
They sure we're man I agree yes shows today are missing old fashioned fun
"Shazam!", where kids learned valuable life lessons. With the notable exception of "don't get into an RV with an old man and another kid you just met."
I am just old enough to remember this and Isis.
Loved that show!
whoa! I never made the connection between the Little House pastor and his appearances on the old Superman show
Great video and a great show back in the day. I loved all of the Superhero shows in the 70’s!! A great time to be a kid. 😎
Thanks. It was a fun time for television shows.
That kills me. He’s hiding his secret identity, but the Shazam logo is right on the front of the RV. I never noticed it.
Ah, superheroes in the 70s. A strange era when TV networks wanted to attract viewers by bringing comic books to life, yet without the budget necessary for the epic storylines. So Captain Marvel, Isis, the Hulk, Wonder Woman & Spider-Man were using their superpowers to...help people with their personal issues, mainly. Well, I watched them religiously anyway.
This was my favorite Saturday morning show. I believe it was the second season that Shazam and Sigmund the Sea Monster, which was my sister's favorite show, came on at the same time. The biggest fights I ever had with my sister was over who got to watch their favorite show.
The fact is that his hero name is not Shazam, is Captain Marvel. Shazam is the magic word for the transformation.
I watched "The Shazam!/Isis Hour" every Saturday.
I miss being young.
I was born in 75. Never knew Shazam had a show.
I was 12 in 1975, and SHAZAM 🌩 🌩 lasted from 1974 to 1977. I had the comics , coloring books , action figures. I became a fan in 1973 before the show even started. They should go back to television this time , with a decent budget (for special effects) and make it a full hour. So younger people like yourself can enjoy the show. Hopefully they would have great plots too.
Always Enjoyed Saturdays, Especially Watching Shazam, Irish. Never Missed Them.
I watch that old shazam caption marvel with my dad long ago
I didn't know this existed! I was born in 1973, but I was a bit young. I always considered myself a child of the 80s. The best decade ever!
Yeah, the 80's was the best decade, but the 70's had a lot of great superhero shows.
You are. I was born in 70 and squarely a teen - 18 in 1988 - in the 1980's. A great time to be a young man. Good times!
yeah, I got the dvd as soon as it came out. just a side point.. the commercials, and commercials- bumpers, really solidify the feeling of being back in time.
I hate the present Shazam he acts too bufoonish but I love this version he looked more respectful and trustworthy.
Thanks for the memories! I'm 57, & Isis was my favorite show! The FX animated show "Archer," now on Netflix, is clearly enamored w/old TV shows/cartoons, & its agency, Isis, is clearly named for this show. They'd later not mention that when the real-life Isis got in the news. I'm not wrong, b/c later eps have Michael Ray/Billy Batson play prominent roles. Johanna Cameron, who's since passed, appeared in more TV commercials than anyone, as far as I know. I just learned this. She mentioned it on some talk show, found on TH-cam. I don't remember which one, or if she's in the record books. I, too, bet the original Shazam, & he made it out that the studio screwed him, but he sued & won, I guess. He said his replacement was paining houses & had a 'stache & had to shave it, etc. I liked the 2nd one better, but I always wondered what happened to #1. He was very nice tho. Thanks again for the memories!
I may have to watch Archer sometime. It sounds neat. I'll have to get netflix again though.
@@tvcrazyman It should be on FX or FXX, but w/commercials. Seasons 1-9 were the best, I thought, b/c there's so much background info from '70s cartoons/TV shows. There's a nod to a '74 cartoon, Jeannie, which I loved in 1st grade, b/c an ocelot is named Babu, right from that cartoon! A lot of otr refs I get on 2nd or 3rd viewings. Season 8, Dreamland, is an awesome nod to Phillip Marlowe stories, & the thug is clearly copied from '75's "Farewell, My Lovely." Within those best 9 seasons I twice laughed so hard I blacked out! I've been rewatching Seasons 10+ and they're not that bad, but coming from the richness of the previous 9 they're not the same, but they're still fun b/c you grow to love the characters. I hope you like it as much as I do! :-)
The library might also have it. There are plenty of things about it on TH-cam, but I don't think any full eps. Have fun! :-)
The REAL Captain Marvel!
Shazam was one of my favourite Saturday morning shows back in the 70s
I have this DVD box set. My favorite episodes is when SHAZ and ISIS used to be on the same epi.
I loved this show
I watched this as a little kid. Captain Marvel was ok but I loved Isis. 😍
Classic I loved this show every saturday
Many thanks for this one, Tim. Les Tremayne was great, and in so many various things. Remember him as General Mann in the original War of the Worlds from 1950s. That played on TV frequently in 1970s. DC won the character on dubious grounds it's always seemed to me, as Shazam is supernatural hero, whereas Superman is strictly science fiction.
Anyway, let's have the video on Isis soon.
I think it was Captain Marvel's power set that DC picked on as being too similar to Superman. I've never been too happy with the old school DC guys for doing that, though. It was obviously designed to kill competition. I was happy to see the character pop back up in the 70s, though, but will always regret that they lost the ability to call him Captain Marvel.
Would like to add William Campbell (Trelane and Klingon Captain Koloth in Star Trek) also guest starred in 'The Contest' episode of Shazam!
one of my all time favorite shows! I still love it to this day!
I still have Joanna Camerons autograph on an ISIS photo. Major crush on her back in the day!
I watched it as a boy back in the 1970s and recently in the past year saw it again on tubi TV. I wish tubi TV had Isis her own show.
The Shazam logo appeared in the winnebago because on some of the earlier comics of SHAZAM, the same Winnebago had the logo in the same exact place.
Future Charlie's Angel Cheryl Ladd was also a guest on the show.
One goof that seemed to be in every episode (yet wasn't mentioned here) was that every time Captain Marvel flew, his capelet never seemed to be affected by the wind that was generated by his flight.
the actress who played Susan on Wonderbug also guest stared on a Episode of Happy Days as a Girlfriend of Fonzie's in the episode where Fonz teaches Ritchie to be Tough and stand up to a bully.
I remember this show
JOANNA CAMERON Was DROP DEAD GORGEOUS 😍 ♥️
I love the newer remake!! With Zachary Levi. He's my favorite comic book character ⚡ I didn't know about this 70s series, of course I was born in the 70s :) 👊
Grew up watching the old Superman series in reruns. While I always enjoyed Superman, something about Shazam had great appeal to me. I actually like Shazam Jr. the best!
Shazam was new to me as a kid, then I discovered the Adventures of Superman show in re-runs after Shazam had been cancelled by a couple of years I think it was.
watched it as a kid and still re-visit eps sometimes.
Supernan is a Captain Marvel kind of hero. Shazam was first with all the superpowers
Jackson Bostwick was the best Captain Marvel! He was fit and filled the persona of The Big Red Cheese!
i love these shows as a kid
I might remember that tv show 😍 😄 ❤️ 🤣 😀 ♥️ 😍 😄 ❤️ 🤣 😀 ♥️ 😍 😄 ❤️ 🤣 😀 ♥️ 😍 😄 ❤️ 🤣 😀 ♥️ 😍 😄 ❤️ 🤣 😅❤❤
As a child, in the 50's I always went to the Palace Theater on King Street in Charleston to see CAPTAIN MARVEL yell out 'SHAZAM'.
Shazam And ISIS hour right before Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. Then you turned to channel 11 for Soul Train... Electric times.
Just a year or two later there was a Filmation cartoon - with the same music! It featured the whole Marvel family, including Talky Tawny.
I always loved thos show and still do, Isis as well
Jackson Bostwick is my favorite
Personally, I think there were two serious mistakes in regarding the history of the "SHAZAM!" franchise: First, DC Comics had filed a lawsuit against what used to be Fawcett Comics for the unexpected success of "SHAZAM!/Captain Marvel" in the 1940's and early 1950's, which led to its cancellation because of its other popular rival, "Superman," at the time. Second, Marvel Comics was responsible for having STOLEN the name of "Captain Marvel" for their own superhero as well.
I also want to point out that I did not like the NEW "SHAZAM!" movies because they were based on what is called by DC Comics as the "New 52" or something like it. After having seen the two recent "SHAZAM!" movies, I HATED the new costumes for the leading "SHAZAM!" family characters and plot concepts, which in other words, they were NOT like the "SHAZAM!" franchise of the past BEFORE the so-called "New 52" anyway. I hope that I explained this clearly for the comic book and pop culture enthusiasts of different generations as well.
Yeah, I don't think it was right for DC to sue Fawcett over Captain Marvel. I think the two characters were different enough. I also wonder how it is that Marvel Comics could just use the name if DC had the rights to Captain Marvel. I know it has something to do with usage, but I'm kind of foggy on that. As far as the movies go I didn't like having too many characters with the same powers. I would have stuck with the original core group from the original comics. I also didn't like the idea of replacing the name Captain Marvel with just Shazam. He can't even tell people his name without transforming. That being said I also thought Zachary Levi made Captain Marvel or Shazam, I should say, a lot of fun to watch. They may have overplayed the immature bit on the second movie, but they were still fun to watch overall. But yeah, too many characters with the same powers just kind of took away time from the main character and they only had a short time to work with anyway. That would be my biggest complaint. I do hope we haven't seen the last of Captain Marvel though, and I hope Zachary Levi gets another chance. He's a good actor. Oh, and speaking of the New 52, I was never a fan of that reboot. That was way too grim and dark for my taste. They sucked the fun right out of the DC Universe with that one.
Thanks for confirming my choice not to see any of those movies.
And because Jackson Bostwick managed to prove otherwise, he was future royalties.
I didn't know they had those show bac on 70 I remember one them on 80
Great video. I loved this show as a kid. thanks for putting this together.
Glad you enjoyed it
Yes I love this show.... As a kid I couldn't wait....
Can we agree that JoAnna Cameron was a hottie back in the day?
Watched the show religiously. Always found it comical that Mentor's bame was Mentor.
Oh yeah....Isis was hot.
Les Tremayne was also on quite a few Perry Mason episodes during its run from 1958 to 1966.
Frank Coghlan Jr. appeared in the Braggart. He was the first Billy from the serial.
Awesome! I wished I would have caught that one for the video. I've got the serial on DVD too.
Michael Gray said Adam West voiced Hercules. He only spoke in one episode.
Awesome job dude! Pre-Crisis Shazam is still my favorite💯👍🏽
Thanks 😀
Have to agree..the original version of Captain Marvel before being owned by DC was the best. .this garbage of Shazam in the movies is utter and total garbage nothing like the comics
New subscriber here. 😁 Thanks for sharing this entertaining video. 🤩🎥🍿
Thanks for subscribing
Classic.
Never forget the 1st episode of Shazam without Jackson Bostwick. I was like WTF?!
So is Mentor Uncle Dudly or the Wizard, sheeez! To me, it's just creepy, an old man traveling with a teenager in a van, and they aren't related!
I had to laugh bcz you said the mentor actor was on S5 of Dukes of Hazzard and i thought "ohhh no wonder i dont remember." I didnt watch that season without Bo & Luke and i thought "did ANYone watch S5 of DoH??" 😂
I watched it, but i don't remember what was on the other channel at the same time so maybe there was nothing else on. Of course, there still the General Lee car jumps and Rosco to watch.
What a handsome fella also.
I don't remember the second shazam ,but def the first one. I had the Shazam halloween costume. There's a picture of it somewhere. ha
The Marvel Family (Captain Marvel, Cap, Jr., and Mary Marvel) were THE inspiration for heroes like Sailor Moon and other "magical child" heroes.
Loved this show as a kid....didn't think John Davy fit the part. Still confused on how they lost the "Captain Marvel" name.