Shazam! clip from Warner Archive

[madmarva]

Amazon has a deal to sell the VODs that Warners produces and sells on their website. From the ones I've checked, there's not difference in the price. Might be able to get free shipping on them from Amazon if you are a member of their premium service for streaming and expedited and free two-day delivery.

[mego73]

The artwork cover version is exclusive to getting the set from Warner Archive, I heard.

[MIB41]

I've already watched two of three discs since I went down when a bad cold after Halloween. I have to say these stories were far more enjoyable than what I had remembered and that's a nice surprise. Some of the flying perspectives were actually pretty cool (for it's day). They tried alot of different ideas, so it wasn't all just him dangling from a wire in front of a blue screen. Nice to see some slow motion in there as well. Made for nice dramatic effect pre-Six Mill era. Without question Jackson Bostwick is the definitive Shazam. Funny thing though. I kept looking and looking for the moral statement at the end of the first four or five episodes and never saw one. Then I noticed at the bottom of the menu, under special features, you had to make that selection to watch them WITH the moral lesson attached. Interesting they didn't restore that footage along with the rest. But it's been very enjoyable. Too bad we don't have shows like that today. Timeless lessons in those episodes. I'm awfully glad I picked this up while it was available. One of the few times when my memory betrayed me on the final results. This IS (was) a very good show. Simple in construct, but thoughtful in execution. Better than what you typically got for Saturday morning television.

[The Toyroom]

^ Yeah I've been pleasantly surprised as well. I half-expected to cringe at what I remembered as corny but this is one time where my memory was wrong.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Watched a few episodes this morning and thought the same thing. It occurs to me that we could use a show like this now. I can't think of a kid's show (beyond the preschool crowd) nowadays that has a moral lesson every episode.

Chris

[Brue]

I watched the first 2 episodes with my almost 6 year old daughter, She loved it even though I thought in episode 2 - how completely unecessary it was to tell the blind kid who cap marvel was.

episode one very dated - a little slow - but a good message and a cool homage to teh comic characters job.
episode 2 very dated - a little slow and ridiculous use of marvel

[UnderdogDJLSW]

I watched the whole set through. Even now I prefer Jackson as Captain Marvel. I wish that they could have had a bit more with the disks, but considering that it has been a 38 year wait for me to see some of these shows again, I cannot be disappointed. My 7 year old and I just started watching an episode each before bedtime this week. He loves it and uttered "wow" the first time he saw Billy transform into Cap. His Retro-Action figure has been "flying" around the house, too, and I've been told that Captain Marvel is more powerful than Superman.

After my son said that to me, it also dawned on me that Captain Marvel, long before the new 52, was a superhero who did not wear trunks on the outside

[mego73]

I prefer Jackson too, even though I think John Davey resembles the comic a bit more.

[PNGwynne]

...and I've been told that Captain Marvel is more powerful than Superman.

Some of us have known that for decades .

I was touched by you sharing this--as long as a character lives in the hearts of children & fans, it never truly dies.

No amount of litigation or mishandling can truly dispel the magic of Shazam!

[UnderdogDJLSW]

^Yeah, I wish there were more shows in format or style of these Filmation and Saturday 70s shows. My son loves this and he doesn't care if it is an old show, only that it talks to him at his level and not down to him.

[MIB41]

My son loves this and he doesn't care if it is an old show, only that it talks to him at his level and not down to him.

I think that really sums it up. This show knows it's audience and speaks to them in an intelligent and thoughtful manner. I think that surprised me more than anything I retained from my own personal memories. And as an adult with kids I can appreciate the value of those messages, especially in today's world. I turn on the cartoon network and it's besieged with adult laced language and humor. And where it does have programming for young kids, it's so dumb down it's unwatchable. Kids are exposed too early to the shadier side of living. So it's comforting to have a program that can put some of that in the proper perspective for them. The only question I have left about this show is what was that communication device with the elders was made from? It looks like a bowling ball with Christmas lights drilled into it.

[Earth 2 Chris]

After watching a few episodes, I dug out my Back Issue magazines with Bostwick, Davey and Gray interviews. My son saw me looking at them, and asked if "the good Captain Marvel" was still alive. I said, "Yes, and he's even going to be at the Lexington Comic-Con in the spring".

"We have to get his autograph!".

So the show is still winning fans over, nearly 40 years later.

http://www.lexingtoncomiccon.com/guests.html

Chris

[MIB41]

I'll have to meet you there Chris. I actually emailed him about a question I had from his website and he responded! Seems like a nice guy.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Let's do it! Last year's con was far better than I expected, and this one seems to be even better already. Great guest list. This con is growing quickly.

I'll have to check out Bostwick's website. I missed a chance to meet him in Metropolis, IL several years back and regretted it since.

Chris

[PNGwynne]

I just received my set--the show is much better than I remembered. Surprisingly deft in its writing, it doesn't talk down to kids IMO.

Despite its frugal production values, I don't feel it is "cheesy."

Bostwick is still impressive--I had forgotton how really good he looks as Cap. Next to Carter's WW, I'd have to say he's the best TV superhero.