Newly re-mastered original audio from Garfield Goose. Click below to listen:

Click here to listen to 'Garfield-Goose-opening-and-closing'

Click here to listen to 'Frosty-The-Snowman'

Click here to listen to 'Hardrock-Coco-and-Jo'

Click here to listen to 'Suzie-Snowflake'

Click here to listen to 'Funny-Company-Theme'

On September 29, 1952, Garfield Goose & Friend premiered on channel 4 at 4:30 in the afternoon directly opposite WNBQ Channel 5 and NBC's Howdy Doody Show.  Opponents of the long-running children's series starring Buffalo Bob Smith were glad to see a better alternative.  Right from the beginning it was evident that Thomas was not your ordinary kid show host buffoon.  Television critic of the time Jack Mabley praised Thomas and the series for the use of the well respected Encyclopedia Britannica films.  With Newton operating Garfield from behind a scrim, early regular features of the program were "the magic drawing board" (another Newton creation), which was used to illustrate the stories and songs narrated by Thomas.  Slapstick silent films were also the order of the day as on  "The Little Theater"  where Thomas would often narrate a animated cartoon. 

When the show premiered it was just Garfield and his friend Frazier.  Fans of the 1960s version of the show will recall that it was Romberg Rabbit that usually translated for Gar.  How did Frazier communicate with the goose in the days before Rom?  By typewriter!  Whenever Gar had something to say (which was always), he went down in the castle and tapped out a message on the old Remington.  A typewriter tapping/paper being ripped out sound effect was used after which Gar would immediately reappear at the window to hand Frazier his message.  Ever wonder what that doorbell was used for?  Only on a few rare occasions was the doorbell ever used in the 1960s version.  When it was, it usually called up the show's theme song.  But in the early days, the show opened with a main title card which dissolved to a book where upon the camera closing in, a hand would open the book to show the story and movie of the day.  Then Frazier would appear introducing himself and the show, and ring the bell for Garfield.

copyright 2000-2003 Steve Jajkowski and his www.chicagotelevison.com website

Garfield Goose and Romberg Rabbit

Hardrock, Coco and Jo

Frosty The Snowman

Suzie Snowflake

A wave "Goodbye" from the very last show!