"Matinee at the Bijou" (1980) TV series 1980-1988

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Directors:

John Galbraith
Sam Harrison

Writer:

Bob Campbell (written by)

Release Date:

15 September 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Matinee at the Bijou is like a cinematic time machine

Plot:

In the 1930s, 40s and 50s, going to a movie matinee was an event. In those days, moviegoers were treated to more than a movie: there were coming attractions, cartoons, newsreels, comedy shorts, serials and feature films.

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Filming Locations:

Oregon, USA

Company:

Bijou Productions

"Matinee' At The Bijou" (bee-shoo) : A popular , yet forgotten,PBS TV great.

In Spetember of 1980,"Matinee' At The Bijou" made it's PBS debut. A few months before that my family arrived here in Phoenix and I discovered it on our local PBS station on that 1st weekend afternoon.

With an open mind to new things,like most young people have (as well as an unusual interest in things before my time)I got easily hooked on the kind of movie-going my grandparents & my parents experienced when they were kids.

I didn't know the names or the history of some of the actors I was watching but I did know that I found it very entertaining. From the short cartoon features,newsreels & "short subjects" to the serial/continued dramas,westerns and mystery movies presented.

I did already know the likes of "Abbott & Costello","Laurel & Hardy" and "The Marx Brothers" but this show further fueled my interest in classic Hollywood films. So much,I have now seen every film that's won "Best Picture".

It also provided an interesting look at what the feeling was in era of World War 2. One short film had a cowboy singing,"I'm a gonna get the Furher (Hitler) sure as shootin' !" I certainly would love to see this emerge on DVD sometime. It's to good to keep locked up in a storage library in the halls of PBS back east.

No doubt in my mind at all on this one,ten stars. It's entertaining and educational as well. If anyone at PBS happens to read this..home video,please! (END)