First Row Features

First Row Features
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time1 hour
Original release
NetworkNickelodeon
ReleaseFebruary 1980 (1980-02)[1] –
January 1982 (1982-01)

First Row Features is an American anthology series that premiered on the television network Nickelodeon in February 1980[1] and continued to air until January 1982. It mainly carried British television films (mostly from the Children's Film Foundation) for children and family audiences, most of which were filmed in the 1950s–60s. It featured a claymation title sequence created in-house at Nickelodeon's temporary headquarters in Buffalo, New York. First Row Features was a predecessor to the similarly formatted Special Delivery, which debuted later in the same year and eventually replaced it.

Overview

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The program featured made-for-TV films from the United Kingdom, which were selected by employees at Nickelodeon.[2] In January 1982, the Gannett newspaper The Times described the show as a collection of "one hour feature films for children ranging from comedies and adventures to dramas and semi-documentaries."[3] Although most of the content on First Row Features had been filmed and released in Europe decades earlier, the films were marketed as new to U.S. viewers.[4] New films premiered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. At the time of its creation, First Row Features was one of only five programs that were aired in a loop to fill the entire Nickelodeon schedule.[5] It was non-commercial and advertisements were never played between features.

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Title Year of film Nickelodeon airdate Reference
Title sequence 1980 August 27, 1980 (1980-08-27) [6]
What Next? 1974 November 9, 1980 (1980-11-09) [7]
Cup Fever 1965 December 30, 1980 (1980-12-30) [8]
The Rescue Squad 1963 December 31, 1980 (1980-12-31) [8]
Anoop and the Elephant 1972 January 1, 1981 (1981-01-01) [8]
The Kid from Canada 1958 January 2, 1981 (1981-01-02) [8]
All at Sea 1969 January 10, 1981 (1981-01-10) [9]
Juvenile Justice Unknown July 12, 1981 (1981-07-12) [10]
Lone Wolf Unknown July 13, 1981 (1981-07-13) [11]
Mischief Unknown July 15, 1981 (1981-07-15) [11]
Operation Third Form 1966 July 17, 1981 (1981-07-17) [11]
The Hunch 1967 July 20, 1981 (1981-07-20) [12]
Adventure in the Hopfields 1954 August 5, 1981 (1981-08-05) [13]
Bungala Boys 1961 December 6, 1981 (1981-12-06) [14]
The Christmas Tree 1966 December 25, 1981 (1981-12-25) [15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "At Last. Children's Programming That's Fit for Children". Toledo Blade. February 21, 1980. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  2. ^ Ogilvy & Mather (1981). Ogilvy & Mather cable fact book. WPP plc.
  3. ^ "TV Times: Daytime Television". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana: Gannett Company. January 3, 1982.
  4. ^ "Some of this week's highlights". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon: Gannett Company. November 16, 1980. Nickelodeon: First Row Features. Enjoy many new and exciting features in November.
  5. ^ Hendershot, Heather (February 1, 2004). Nickelodeon Nation: The History, Politics, and Economics of America's Only TV Channel for Kids. New York University Press. p. 135. ISBN 0814736513.
  6. ^ "Wednesday Television". Galveston Daily News. Galveston, Texas: Southern Newspapers. August 27, 1980.
  7. ^ "Sunday, November 9". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Iowa City, Iowa: Gannett Company. November 8, 1980.
  8. ^ a b c d "Weekdays". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Iowa City, Iowa: Gannett Company. December 27, 1980.
  9. ^ "Saturday listings". Newspapers.com. McHenry, Illinois: The McHenry Plaindealer. January 9, 1981.
  10. ^ "Cable/Pay TV". Newspapers.com. Detroit, Michigan: Detroit Free Press. July 12, 1981.
  11. ^ a b c "Weekdays". Newspapers.com. Iowa City, Iowa: Iowa City Press-Citizen. July 11, 1981.
  12. ^ "Tele-Pulse schedule". Newspapers.com. McHenry, Illinois: The McHenry Plaindealer. July 17, 1981.
  13. ^ "More Wednesday Evening". Google News. Boca Raton, Florida: Boca Raton News. July 31, 1981.
  14. ^ "For the children". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York: Gannett Company. November 29, 1981.
  15. ^ "December 25/Friday". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio: Black Press. December 20, 1981.
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