The Case for Kiddie Nostalgia - Part 2

There are plenty of shows from childhood that I do dimly recall, but have obviously not made that huge an impression on me. Thanks to those who, in Part 1, reminded me of some other "classic" shows from the past, ones that I had almost forgotten, though with your prodding, I now have glimmerings of recognition:

4. Secret Valley

Okay, so I will admit that I always kind of remember Secret Valley, the kiddie drama where bad boy Spider and his gang picked on the namby pamby do-gooders in the Secret Valley. It was tribal warfare in 80s Australia, with ignorant parents running around unaware of the sly deceptions and intrigues going on around them.

Well, at least, that is how I remember it. Unfortunately, I think I more accurately recall the theme song, which was sung to the tune of "Waltzing Matilda" by a bunch of screaming children - nowhere near as cult classicy as the Lost Islands theme song.

Influences: Well, I think at the time I thought it was a super cool show full of super cool kids doing super cool things. I don't think I ever started an underground resistance cell to battle other kids though.

DVD: No sign. And I don't think I will go out looking

5. Voyagers!

Until Morgan pointed this one out, I had forgotten I ever knew it. Voyagers was basically Quantum Leap for kids. A man with a time travel device shows up one day and whisks a young boy away back in time in space. Today, this kind of show would come with parental warnings that one should never let small children be whisked away by strangers of any persuasion, time travelling do gooders or no.

I seem to recall this was a fairly entertaining series, though tended to get stuck in the pioneering USA, though that perhaps is really not that surprising.

Influences: Again, none that I can recall (I loved Dr Who way before I remember liking this one), though I do recall the lead actor died after the creation of the first season by accidentally shooting himself with blanks (which are still lethal when playing Russian roulette), so a second series was never made.

DVD: Voyagers is available from Amazon at a fairly reasonable price, though considering my nostalgia priorities, I may save up for one of the more unreasonably priced series.

6. The Kids from O.W.L.

Right, let me be honest here and say I recall almost nothing about the Kids from O.W.L. and not even the power of the Internet was really able to jog memories other than people with walking stick guns, and that the series was Kiwi made. And that's all I really have to say.

Influences: I always love a good secret society with nifty gadgets and a sense of humour. No idea if any of these joys were in any shape formed by this show, but I just thought I would mention it.

DVD: Are you kidding? TVNZ has only just released a version of Under the Mountain (I am still waiting for Children of the Dog Star), so a really obscure show that did not have a global kidult following has very little chance of ever ending up on DVD (Dare! Dare!). And yes, those two other shows will be mentioned in a later edition of this post...

Verdict: Some more obscure shows that I really have little chance or perhaps even desire to really relive. It would be interesting to see them again, but I am in the camp that these ones will really not withstand a cynical, jaded view from a person no longer under the age of 10. 45 reminiscences out of 80.