Shenanigans (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Shenanigans is a children's television game show
that aired on ABC
Saturday mornings from September 26, 1964 to March 20, 1965, and again from September 25 to December 18, 1965. The show was a revival of Video Village
, produced by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley
, and also featured a life-size game board. The series began as local programming in New York City
and later aired nationally on ABC
.
Stubby Kaye
, dubbed "the Mayor of Shenanigans", hosted the program, and Kenny Williams
, known as "Kenny the Cop", was the announcer. Williams portrayed a similar role on Video Village.
s that could be traded for items from the Top Value Stamp Catalog. Possible prizes were also suspended from the ceiling in the studio.
Most of the spaces on the game board were references to popular board games by Milton Bradley
(such as Operation
), who served as the show's sponsor. In 1964, a board game was published by Milton Bradley as a companion to the show.
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
that aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Saturday mornings from September 26, 1964 to March 20, 1965, and again from September 25 to December 18, 1965. The show was a revival of Video Village
Video Village
Video Village is an American television game show produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions which aired on the CBS network in daytime from July 11, 1960 to June 15, 1962 and in primetime from July 1 to September 16, 1960....
, produced by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley
Heatter-Quigley Productions
Heatter-Quigley Productions was an American television production company that was launched in 1960 by two former television writers, Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley....
, and also featured a life-size game board. The series began as local programming in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and later aired nationally on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
.
Stubby Kaye
Stubby Kaye
Stubby Kaye was an American comic actor. He was born Bernard Kotzin in New York City on the last day of the First World War, at West 114th Street in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan to first generation Jewish-Americans originally from Russia and Austria...
, dubbed "the Mayor of Shenanigans", hosted the program, and Kenny Williams
Kenny Williams (announcer)
Kenny Williams was an American television announcer from the late 1940s to 1980s. He was best known as the announcer of many game shows produced by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley . He also appeared on screen as "Kenny the Cop" on Video Village and Shenanigans...
, known as "Kenny the Cop", was the announcer. Williams portrayed a similar role on Video Village.
Game play
Much like Video Village, children stood on a giant game board. A button was pressed that stopped a set of flashing lights with the numbers one through four, and the children advanced on the game board that number of spaces. After landing on a space, the children answered a question or performed a stunt, earning "Shenaniganzas", scripScrip
Scrip is an American term for any substitute for currency which is not legal tender and is often a form of credit. Scrips were created as company payment of employees and also as a means of payment in times where regular money is unavailable, such as remote coal towns, military bases, ships on long...
s that could be traded for items from the Top Value Stamp Catalog. Possible prizes were also suspended from the ceiling in the studio.
Most of the spaces on the game board were references to popular board games by Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley Company
The Milton Bradley Company is an American game company established by Milton Bradley in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1860. In 1920, it absorbed the game production of McLoughlin Brothers, formerly the largest game manufacturer in the United States, and in 1987, it purchased Selchow and Righter,...
(such as Operation
Operation (game)
Operation is a battery-operated game of physical skill that tests players' hand-eye co-ordination and fine motor skills. Originally made by Milton Bradley, and currently made by Hasbro it has been in production since 1965, the year in which the game was invented by John Spinello.The game is a...
), who served as the show's sponsor. In 1964, a board game was published by Milton Bradley as a companion to the show.