Billy Bean

Billy Bean and His Funny Machine

1953 - United Kingdom

"Billy Bean built a machine to see what it could do. He made it out of sticks and stones, and nuts and bolts and glue. The motor sang Chuffaty Bang, Rattata Rattatarator, And all of a sudden a picture appeared on the funny old cartoonerator Billy Bean built a machine to see what it would do, It did the funniest things he'd seen, So he called it his fun machine, machine, Billy Bean and his fun machine."

Like the title song suggests the puppets Billy Bean and his friend Yoo-Hoo the cuckoo operated a machine, which featured such devices as a windmill, a Dorset-Faucet and a cartoonerator which drew magic pictures. The voice of Yoo-Hoo was supplied by Ivan Owen, who later went on to voice one of the Britain's best loved puppets of all time, Basil Brush. 


Published on November 29th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

The Adventures of Superman

Classic US television series shot at a rapid rate with four episodes being turned out every ten days at a cost of $15,000 each.

Also released in 1953

Arabian Knights

Animated series of stories set round the ancient city of Baghdad which is under the rule of the evil Sultan Bakaar, who has usurped the throne from the rightful inheritance of the young Prince Turham

Also tagged Childrens Television

For the Children

Just a year after experimental BBC television began broadcasting to a few hundred homes in London, a ten-minute show called For The Children made its debut.

Also tagged Childrens Television

Action in the Afternoon

Action in the Afternoon was television's first live outdoor Western, originating in the wide-open spaces of suburban Philadelphia and telecast five afternoons a week.

Also released in 1953

All Your Own

BBC hobby programme for children.

Also tagged Childrens Television

Robin Hood

Early TV outing for Sherwood Forest's famous outlaw.

Also released in 1953

Panorama TV series

In its early days Panorama tended to be a mixture of the arts, human-interest and scientific or medical studies. A BBC chief felt that the show should leave current affairs to other programmes.

Also released in 1953

H.R. Pufnstuf

Short lived but lively musical series based on The Wizard Of Oz.

Also tagged Childrens Television

Biggles

Crack pilot James "Biggles" Bigglesworth leads a team of investigators who solve crime around the world.

Also tagged Childrens Television