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The Children's Museum will be featuring authentic screen-used characters from the hit television series Time for Beany and Beany and Cecil.
“Fun and imaginative meets family learning and establishing memories... that, in part, is what the old Beany and Cecil puppets and cartoons epitomize,” said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “We are excited to resurrect some of those family memories while showing young people how the imagination can play a part in creating something fun for the whole family.”
The hit television series, Time for Beany (1950’s puppet show) and Beany and Cecil (1960’s Cartoon), pioneered the parallel plots of children’s outlandish cartoon humor with implied adult satire. A new display at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will transport older fans and curious new ones out to sea where the famous adventures started. Along with The Jetsons and The Flintstones, Beany and Cecil was one of the first three color television shows on ABC television network. Beany,the jolly boy,and Cecil,the seasick sea serpent, undertake grand adventures to find ancient artifacts and civilizations. Beany tends to find himself in trouble, but with his trademark yell, “Help Cecil, help,” loyal Cecil saves the day with, “I’m a-comin’, Beany-boy!”Visitors will be able to see some of the iconic collections pieces on Saturday, December 7th 2013.
This special museum display will include the authentic screen-used Cecil, Dishonest John, and Clowny puppets. A video screen will show clips of both the black and white puppet show and the color animated cartoon. Other pop culture merchandise includes comic art, books, coloring books, comic books, a music box, and a Beaniecopter, Beany’s propeller hat.
The puppet show aired from 1949 until 1954 with personal communication between the puppets as its main message. Beany and Cecil transitioned into an animated cartoon that quickly filled Saturday evening primetime television with cartoon slapstick and puns about current political issues as its message. Although Beany and Cecil was among the very first shows made specifically for a children’s audience, the transition brought in a large adult audience. Albert Einstein reportedly ended an important meeting at The California Institute of Technology because it was, “Time for Beany.”
The Beany and Cecil artifacts are a donation to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis from Joe Maddalena, owner of Profiles in History based in Hollywood, California. He is recognized as the nation’s leading authority on entertainment memorabilia and historical documents.
This special display offers a great representation of puppetry, television production, and original comic and cartoon artwork. The baby boomer toys and merchandise resonate with children and show how television influences American popular culture. Come and see how Cecil the seasick sea monster and Beany the cheery boy shaped what American entertainment television looks like today!
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary learning experiences across the arts, sciences, and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org, follow us on Twitter @TCMIndy, Facebook.com/childrensmuseum and YouTube.
