Hearing that theme song for the first time in years, and I get a little bit of a lump in my throat, from the memories that coming flooding back instantly. I'm in grade school and upstairs laying on the living room floor of my grandparent's and watching "Family Classics" on their small B & W tv with grandma on the couch next to me and great-grandma on her favorite chair. This show introduced a young kid to the classics, instead of just comic books and kid's books.
Thank you for this. A 57 year old today, reflecting on his childhood in NW Indiana. I’d replace all the “crap” on cable for our channels 2, 5, 7,9, 11 and 32 again. We had it pretty good back then. Loved the values back then.
59 year old here. From South Bend Indiana. Yeah...I absolutely loved this show. Wish they would bring it back...with Frazier doing the intros. What a time.
Oh my God, it's a cold winter day, 3:00 pm Sunday afternoon, I'm inside nice and cozy...Dad's reading the Sun-Times, mom's cooking dinner..me in front of the tv with my tv guide!...now they are all gone...but this brought back those wonderful Sunday late afternoon's in Chicago...
I heard that back in the 70s WGN had the smallest budget of all the local networks, yet they DOMINATED the airwaves with inexpensive but outstanding family friendly programs like Family Classics. I think of what WGN is now and I almost want to bawl my eyes out.
@@pauloconnor5931 they had 1960-74 Ray Rayner weekday mornings, Bozo Circus at 12:00 and many children shows 2:00 or 3:00 to 5:00. Channel 32 became good too post 1969 with B.J. AND DIRTY DRAGON (Bill Jackson) and many shows too
It's sad that today's generation, and every generation to come, won't have something like this to remember. With 1000 stations to watch 24/7, dvr's, streaming, etc, how often do families sit down together to watch something?I can remember every Sunday, my family gathering at my grandparents house for Sunday dinner, and my cousins and I would gather around the tv to watch Family Classics, and the Wonderful World Of Disney.In fact, I have very vivid memories of see War Of The Worlds for the first on Family Classics. I remember watching that with my grandfather.Seeing this, hearing that theme, seeing Frazier Thomas, just opens the floodgates to so many wonderful memories.
Yes, the weekend was over, and school was tomorrow----for me, it was watching Lassie on CBS, Sunday evenings; the traditional "whistling" theme was also bittersweet. Those were the days---when we were kids, the world seemed simpler---maybe it was.
Ooo...That Sunday night sinking dread....I remember that as well...After Frazier Thomas and Disney...Then Ray Raynor with our cereal, and Mom in the kitchen....oh sigh....How have the decades just flown away?
I'm 65 and yearn to be quantum leaped back to then, don't it aways seem to go... the communists and the globalist have seen to make sure we never have that again!
I keep coming back to this. The old WGN logo, the Family Classics theme, and those great old movies, like Mysterious Island, Sink the Bismark, Boys Town, etc. And this may be my favorite comments section on all of youtube. People from Chicago, sharing stories, remembering the days gone by. Great memories, shared by all.
I forgot that he was from Lagrange. I graduated highschool in 1983 so no. I read that the Marx Brothers/parents had a farm in Lagrange during WW1 or after? I don't know if it's true.
8 місяців тому+1
@@Marcg-b4n I heard the same. That it ended near Joliet Rd.
Wow. This takes me back to my childhood back in the late 60's and early 70's. I'd watch this every Sunday with my dad. Saw some great movies on Family Classics. I'd pay a million bucks to go back to 50 years ago.
The good old days....when people actually had something called a LIFE!!! Frazier Thomas was the living embodiment of what everybody thought Jimmy Savile was. Thank you Frazier for taking time out of your life to give all of us some good and decent memories, RIP
Stevie that's pretty harsh. they're just someone looking back on very fond memories of childhood, as we all are when we hear this music. we all look on our memories as the best.
I feel blessed to have experienced things like this. My late mother and I spent many Sundays watching Family Classic and listening to the wonderful intro music. Young people don’t know how wonderful it was in Chicago back then.
Yes it was so easy going. When I was a child we would be looking forward to the Marshal Fields nutcracker window displays Chicago was very special place in the 70s and 80s.
I absolutely loved watching Family Classics! There was something about Frazier Thomas’s voice that was so relaxing to me as a kid. We didn’t have much but these shows provided an escape from poverty. Thank You WGN!
that's the one I remember too! the theme song reminds me of my mom cooking Sunday dinners (roast beef and roasted potatoes were my favorite. it made the house smell so good). but it also made me sad to hear it too, because I had to go to school the next day. LOL!
Yes this weighs heavy on my heart as well, grew up in Lockport, Ill, was a kid in the sixtys and early 70,s what a special time, it was the only time everyone was togather as a family durring the week and the movies were spectacular, Fraser Thomas was my hero on Garfeild goose and then FamilyClassics as i was a preteen in early 70,s this video brought a tear or two to my eye as well,
I'm 55 years old and I remember this like it was yesterday. I remember watching Family Classics many times, but Mysterious Island was always my favorite.
Takes me back.....Sunday afternoons watching "Family Classics" on WGN-TV on our old B&W 13" tv with my twin sister in our tiny apartment in Pilsen while mom was at work.....Now sis is in Canada and mom is gone.....really miss those days...... Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to upload all these video clips. I'm sure I'm not the only one who appreciates it.
Such wonderful memories. Watch at 2:13 of this clip as Frazier says "Good Night" --- his warm smile shines brightly as he walks off the screen. He put his hole soul in every word he shared with meaning and depth. Oh to step back and relive those times.
I always had the feeling that he had a deep love for the books that the movies were based on, that he had read and cherished them, and took great care to present these films thoughtfully and respectfully. He encouraged me to check out these books from my local library and read them (which I did), and helped set me off on a lifelong journey through a life of reading books. Frazier Thomas, a true gentleman.
We lived moved from Naperville (suburb of Chicago) to Long Island in 1983 and we were so happy that the cable company on Long Island streamed WGN Channel 9 into our area in Manhasset. We'd get home from Church, have a home-cooked meal and then the children would watch "Uncle Frazier" his films. It was one of the few things that made Chicago special. Our kids loved his grandfatherly style and the films were always selected that were appropriate from family viewing. I remember the day in 1985 when I told our kids that Uncle Frazier died, some of them cried. I explained to them that God needed more people like him and that's why he was called home. To this day, I miss him. What puzzles me is that with all of the channels that are in existence, why isn't some program manager not thinking of classically introducing these films on broadcast TV somewhere. TCM does with Ben Mankiewicz, Alicia Malone and Dave Karger. Thanks TCM for getting rid of Vasquez. She was out of place. We need an older, grandfatherly person who introduces films, the same way Frazier Thomas did. Do it now!
“Until then I’m your host Frazier Thomas, wishing you all a pleasant evening and good night” That phrase is like a comfortable old arm chair by the fire on a chilly winter evening. :)
Mike Field Your so right mike! I always felt that wrapped up another week in my young life.Id turn off the tv after this and watch the glow of the televisions vacuum tubes dissipate and cool down to darkness.Almost as though the tv was a kind of living thing! I couldn't wait to hear what next Sundays feature would be.Always hopin for war of the worlds or something. Only bad thing after family classics was that terrible anxious feeling of going to school for a new week, and having to do last minute homework that I should of done friday.Never learned my lesson. Never!
I lived close by Chicago when I was a kid and remember this so well. Long before cable tv. Channel 9 WGN. Antenna TV. If you really think about it the guy could host a program like Family Classics on Sunday night and then Monday morning set and talk to puppets who didn’t even talk back! Amazing!
I feel soo sad and nostalgic to see this. I was like 5 years old and watched wonderful movies. Some other comment mentioned that it was at 3pm this aired. Soo wonderful memories that make me remember my mom. She passed away back in 2020 year.
I am 52 years old, and yes I truly miss this classical program!!! Watching, it every Sunday afternoon, after coming from church and eating my mothers ' Sunday dinner!!! This generation is stuck on the negatives of social media and dumb down with disgusting rap music and the Kardashians!!! They will never know the appreciate of having a pure imagination for true Family Classics!!!
all rap music isn't bad, not the rap I listen to at least, I'm turning 50 this year...on Christmas believe me or not but I remember the reruns in the early 80s I loved this show and honestly it brings tears to my eyes hearing the theme music, I'm a nostalgic type I wish they'd bring these on Blu-ray id definitely buy them
I am one of the sons of Anthony and Jo Ann Sulla. Nice to see dad's name on a screen again. At this writing (May 9, 2015) Dad is very much still with us. My father and Frazier Thomas had a long and warm friendship. Frazier admired my Dad's artistic talent. My father always admired Mr. Thomas for his warmth, kindness and passion for creating shows for children and families. Mr. Thomas was gentleman of the first order. Dad was, I believe, responsible for all of the book covers during the shows run during his tenure at WGN. There was one that did not make deadline as Dad had taken it home to work on before the storm of '67. There was no way to get the book to WGN from our home in the suburbs. I do not remember what happened to that week's show.. Dad left the company in 1984, and continued to create, letter, illustrate and design until the late summer of 2013. Thank you for posting this ending as it contains my fathers name in the credits. according to wikipedia, Roy Brown did the covers, this may have been true after dad left the company but until he did the covers were designed and lettered by Anthony M. Sulla.
Thank you for the info. I always wondered who did those book covers and how exactly it was done. It looks like they kept past issues on the shelf too because you can see the edge of another one in the empty space.
My mother watched this with me while my Dad had his afternoon nap on Sunday. I remember it well. It was a quiet and slow Sunday. Mom and I had Cold Iced Tea and enjoyed the film. Mom, Dad and Frasier Thomas are long gone, but the memory of that enjoyable quiet day, lives on.
Ahhh,.take me back to the 60's and 70's when I had few worries and GREAT childhood television of Chicago,....Ray Rayner, Frazier Thomas,,Captain Kangaroo,.and Bozo's Circus,.........and my Grandma !!! It will never be how it was ever again !!
We watched this at my grandparents farm in SW Michigan. It came across the lake clear and in color. We had old bw tv still. The best of times. Grandma bought me the book. Helping to fuel my interest in literature and science. In my late 50s now. God I missy grandparents.
wow, nice to see these comments from folks that were from back then (including me :) ) Our family - 4 kids, mom & dad, 1200 sq foot home, happiness. The old Naperville. Sundays - church, mom's cooking, play out side, and a little tv, and then it was turned off. Watched the 'glow dot' till it faded. I enjoyed the Sunday quiet, new the house sounds - furnace, outdoor wind, rain, a car slowing coming down street. Sundays were the best.
Born in 1967 & absolutely blessed to have been able to grow up in Chicagoland with WGN & their family oriented programming like this! This was an era that sadly will never be repeated. The current narrative is to have government replace family. Soak up the good memories here!
Oh yes. Sunday's afternoons with Family Classics.."until then, I'm your host, Frazier Thomas, wishing you all a pleasant evening (pause to put book back on shelf)... Good Night"....good night to you Mr. Thomas and thanks for all those wonderful films you turned a whole new generation onto.
hearing this Music always makes my tears Fall... Wonderful memories of My Childhood, My Mother making food, and we would eat, watching whatever movie they played
I always keep an eye open for movies from this show. Brings back so many memories. Boystown, Sink the Bismarck, Young Tom Edison, Edison the Man, Pride of the Yankees...
The perfect winter evening for me includes: A howling blizzard outside. A yummy pot roast or an eye of round roast with plenty of vegies in the oven, wafting its heavenly aroma thru out the house. The house should be just a touch chilly in order to better enjoy the warmth of the crackling fire in the hearth. Being dressed in your most comfy P.J’s and perhaps that frumpy old house cardigan. Using candles in various corners of the house to transform the gloomy to the comforting. And lest I forget plenty of retro T.V. shows such as Family Classics, The Mary Tyler Moore Show & the Old Bob Newhart Show. The holiday and winter episodes are recommended.
I was always a little sad when I would watch family classes on Sunday afternoon, because school was the next day. Looking back some 40+ years later I was i could do it again.Life was so much easier!!!
I enjoyed watching Family Classics on Sundays with Frazier Thomas but I always hated the theme music because it reminded me that it was Sunday afternoon and getting into the evening hours which means that it was close to going back to school the next day on Monday mornings, something that I really didn't want to do. Today, the theme music reminds me of Frazier Thomas, a very nice man with whom I had a chance to interview for the Schurz Times Newspaper in 1977. This music still makes me sad because Frazier is no longer with us. He brought a lot of happiness to a lot of children in the Chicago area. May he rest in peace.
I have basically stopped watching ANYTHING on TV with the exception of old Match Game reruns and its ilk....stuff to make you smile and laugh. I sure wish these were available in full! I would watch them all. I was born in 1963 in the chicago northern burbs and this show was something I always watched.
I miss these Sunday moments with the family. We always made sure everyone was home to watch Family Classics every Sunday. Frazier Thomas was a pure Gentleman.
I owe Frazier Thomas for much of my love of films: Mysterious Island; Journey to the Center of the Earth, Moby Dick and War of the Worlds I saw first here.
I have always found the Family Classics opening & den setting very comforting. If Family Classics were being produced today I would put a crackling fireplace in the back ground somewhere just to take it to that next level of comfort. :)
The pull of nostalgia is unequaled. It rivals that of love and grief. The 1970s were a turbulent time with many highs and lows. But one island of Chicago-area peace and tranquility was "Family Classics." How I long for a type of programming that equals (not mimics) this on Sunday afternoons at the local level. Imagine if cities across this great land could innovate and air programming that suits this need in their locations? How different our culture might be now. I remember these broadcasts (I was a young teenager) as if they were only yesterday and hearing the opening and closing theme music again simply tugs at my heart. Nostalgia: I recognize thee in all of your many faces. Deep sigh...
That theme song and Frazier Thomas introducing this weeks Family Classic brings tears to my eyes. To this day if I see (Island of the Blue Dolphin, War of the Worlds, Robin Hood, or Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) I think about Family Classics.
theylied1776 Wow. Now you've got me thinking back. In addition to the movies you've mentioned, I can remember them showing The Time Machine, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Song of Bernadette every year. At Christmas, they always seemed to show the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol. I can remember the promo they used to run, with Gene Lockhart knocking Reginald Owen's "topper" off his head with a snowball. I can't speak for anyone else, but as a kid, after watching Captains Courageous, followed by Family Classics' sorrowful theme song, it was tough to keep it together. :)
MisterUptempo I'm actually from the south, but when I think about my favorite childhood memories it has to be my time in Chicago. The weekend television alone was amazing. The Bowery Boys, Ma and Pa Kettle, Blondie and Dagwood, Son of Svengoolie, American Bandstand, Soul Train, Monster Rally, Creature Feature, Kungfu Theater... and the whole family would wrap the weekend up with Frazier Thomas and Family Classic. Needless to say, WGN Channel 9 and Channel 32 were my favorite as a kid.
That came on at 6 o'clock Sunday evening just after we had finished dinner. When I was a kid that was one of my favorite movies along with Journey to the Center of the Earth with James Mason. A long time ago in a childhood far far away.
Good afternoon and thank you for posting Tears falling Brings back memories no school Sunday dinner miss those days and I Thank Mr.Thomas he was a Wonderful Man who is truly missed never forgotten Continue to Rest in perfect peace Mr.Fraizer Thomas
I still miss seeing this show and many other shows from the 70s and 80s. They were some great memories.. Thank you WGN our local TV station here in Chicago.
Many fine movies on Sunday after lunch. Us kids dreaded Sundays because what followed....a whole new week of School. Thanks to Frazier Thomas and Family Classics,we at least got a couple of hours of enjoyment to help ease the depression School brought on us. Some of my favorites were Mystery Island, The Time Machine, Robin Hood, Sink the Bismark, When worlds collide, Boys Town just to name a few.
T Buchanan: I went to school with someone by your name....Hhmmm.:) It is good to share the same warm and fuzzy memories of Sunday afternoon and evenings of my past with you. I absolutely agree and miss those old shows so very much.
Family Classics were cool (mostly). WhenI was a kid my brother and I would watch these without fail, especially for the real good ones like "Sink the Bismarck". Mr. Thomas passed in 1985: God bless him.
Family Classics with Frazier Thomas was so popular when I was a kid in the 60's and 70's that on Monday all the playground chatter would be about the movie he showed on Sunday. Especially memorable was when Sink The Bismarck was shown, there was to be sure some kid doing his best (or perhaps worst) Churchill imitation: "WE MUSHT SHINK THE BEEZH-MAHK!" There aren't many things like that anymore that are common touchstones for such a broad swath of folks. But then again, there were only about 6 or 7 channels in the Chicagoland area then (more if you count UHF).
Holy Crap!! This brought back a TON of memories. I was a kid in the 70's in chicago. Every Sunday morning or noon this use to come on and my brother and I would sit in front of the 27 inch color tv. Mom use to make breakfast for us while we watched. Good memories. 😃
![LAVROV's interview with Tucker CARLSON 😁 [Parody]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mbMemqc-QEk/mqdefault.jpg)
Hearing that theme song for the first time in years, and I get a little bit of a lump in my throat, from the memories that coming flooding back instantly. I'm in grade school and upstairs laying on the living room floor of my grandparent's and watching "Family Classics" on their small B & W tv with grandma on the couch next to me and great-grandma on her favorite chair. This show introduced a young kid to the classics, instead of just comic books and kid's books.
Thank you for this. A 57 year old today, reflecting on his childhood in NW Indiana. I’d replace all the “crap” on cable for our channels 2, 5, 7,9, 11 and 32 again. We had it pretty good back then. Loved the values back then.
59 year old here. From South Bend Indiana. Yeah...I absolutely loved this show. Wish they would bring it back...with Frazier doing the intros. What a time.
Oh my God, it's a cold winter day, 3:00 pm Sunday afternoon, I'm inside nice and cozy...Dad's reading the Sun-Times, mom's cooking dinner..me in front of the tv with my tv guide!...now they are all gone...but this brought back those wonderful Sunday late afternoon's in Chicago...
Sounds like a treat.
I know the feeling all to well,
Our of 4 of us, Mom,Dad and brother,
I'am the only one left, I love the memories, but it sure makes me miss my family.
me too early 60's northside. what sweet memories...
I heard that back in the 70s WGN had the smallest budget of all the local networks, yet they DOMINATED the airwaves with inexpensive but outstanding family friendly programs like Family Classics. I think of what WGN is now and I almost want to bawl my eyes out.
@@pauloconnor5931 they had 1960-74 Ray Rayner weekday mornings, Bozo Circus at 12:00 and many children shows 2:00 or 3:00 to 5:00. Channel 32 became good too post 1969 with B.J. AND DIRTY DRAGON (Bill Jackson) and many shows too
It's sad that today's generation, and every generation to come, won't have something like this to remember. With 1000 stations to watch 24/7, dvr's, streaming, etc, how often do families sit down together to watch something?I can remember every Sunday, my family gathering at my grandparents house for Sunday dinner, and my cousins and I would gather around the tv to watch Family Classics, and the Wonderful World Of Disney.In fact, I have very vivid memories of see War Of The Worlds for the first on Family Classics. I remember watching that with my grandfather.Seeing this, hearing that theme, seeing Frazier Thomas, just opens the floodgates to so many wonderful memories.
Brings back bittersweet memories. Hearing that theme song meant that the weekend was over and school tomorrow.
The ending of "The Lawrence Welk Show" on Sunday evenings also meant school on Monday LOL
The best every sunday sfter church and dinner
Yes, the weekend was over, and school was tomorrow----for me, it was watching Lassie on CBS, Sunday evenings; the traditional "whistling" theme was also bittersweet.
Those were the days---when we were kids, the world seemed simpler---maybe it was.
When it was done it was time to get ready for church evening services
Ooo...That Sunday night sinking dread....I remember that as well...After Frazier Thomas and Disney...Then Ray Raynor with our cereal, and Mom in the kitchen....oh sigh....How have the decades just flown away?
I'm 55 and this hit me hard...I understand why my dad yearned for the past.
Nice to know I'm not the only one who feels that way.
I'm 71 . What a different time it was and sorely missed.
I'm 65 and yearn to be quantum leaped back to then, don't it aways seem to go... the communists and the globalist have seen to make sure we never have that again!
YES!!! Memories of the good ole days. 😊
i;m a 60 year man crying like a 6 year old. great memories. yes Brett we had it so good...................its time for dinner
I'm closing my eyes and pretending I'm watching this with my grandpa 😭😢😭
I'm 47
i also miss this.
OH MY, ME TOO! I Can Smell Meat and Potato's and the anticipation of another wonder movie night...Tears flowing now.......
52yr dude here. Same
Absolutely loved watching Frasior Thomas and Family Classics each week on WGN!
I keep coming back to this. The old WGN logo, the Family Classics theme, and those great old movies, like Mysterious Island, Sink the Bismark, Boys Town, etc. And this may be my favorite comments section on all of youtube. People from Chicago, sharing stories, remembering the days gone by. Great memories, shared by all.
Introduced me to classis movies. I remember watching boys town with my Dad, early 1970s. I grew up in La grange and Hinsdale .
Grew up in Oak Park. Remember creature features, ray rainer and WLS boogie check.
@@Marcg-b4n
did you go to school with david hasselhoff?
I forgot that he was from Lagrange. I graduated highschool in 1983 so no. I read that the Marx Brothers/parents had a farm in Lagrange during WW1 or after? I don't know if it's true.
@@Marcg-b4n
I heard the same. That it ended near Joliet Rd.
Wow. This takes me back to my childhood back in the late 60's and early 70's. I'd watch this every Sunday with my dad. Saw some great movies on Family Classics. I'd pay a million bucks to go back to 50 years ago.
The good old days....when people actually had something called a LIFE!!!
Frazier Thomas was the living embodiment of what everybody thought Jimmy Savile was.
Thank you Frazier for taking time out of your life to give all of us some good and decent memories, RIP
This is NOT when people had a life. Stop being so blindly idiotic.
That intro music just takes you back.
Stevie that's pretty harsh. they're just someone looking back on very fond memories of childhood, as we all are when we hear this music. we all look on our memories as the best.
Damn, your Statement is Gospel.
@@sillygoose635 Your parents must have given you a horrible house to grow up in.
I feel blessed to have experienced things like this. My late mother and I spent many Sundays watching Family Classic and listening to the wonderful intro music. Young people don’t know how wonderful it was in Chicago back then.
agreed!!!!! different times, different place!!
Yes it was so easy going. When I was a child we would be looking forward to the Marshal Fields nutcracker window displays Chicago was very special place in the 70s and 80s.
Amen!!!
@@erikapayne9348 The Sears Christmas Catalog.
WGN would be smart to show the movies that were part of Family Classics again, especially with the introductions by Frazier Thomas.
Hands down, Family Classics with Frazier Thomas is a crown jewel of Chicago!
I absolutely loved watching Family Classics! There was something about Frazier Thomas’s voice that was so relaxing to me as a kid.
We didn’t have much but these shows provided an escape from poverty.
Thank You WGN!
I grew up in Garfield Park, I enjoyed the show too.
Family Classics was a Sunday tradition in our house in the 70's and 80's after church.That was the first time i.saw Boys Town with.Mickey Rooney
Byron Benguche' same for my family!
that's the one I remember too! the theme song reminds me of my mom cooking Sunday dinners (roast beef and roasted potatoes were my favorite. it made the house smell so good). but it also made me sad to hear it too, because I had to go to school the next day. LOL!
Yes this weighs heavy on my heart as well, grew up in Lockport, Ill, was a kid in the sixtys and early 70,s what a special time, it was the only time everyone was togather as a family durring the week and the movies were spectacular, Fraser Thomas was my hero on Garfeild goose and then FamilyClassics as i was a preteen in early 70,s this video brought a tear or two to my eye as well,
I'm 55 years old and I remember this like it was yesterday. I remember watching Family Classics many times, but Mysterious Island was always my favorite.
Loved the movies shown. Saw them a million times and never got bored. Now I have them on DVD. Thank you for the memories.
Takes me back.....Sunday afternoons watching "Family Classics" on WGN-TV on our old B&W 13" tv with my twin sister in our tiny apartment in Pilsen while mom was at work.....Now sis is in Canada and mom is gone.....really miss those days...... Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to upload all these video clips. I'm sure I'm not the only one who appreciates it.
What a comforting sight & sound to see that Channel 9' spinning logo, followed by Family Classics. I want to go to there.
The best television memories of my childhood. Sundays was spent with my Dad and Mom watching Frazier Thomas Family Classics.
Such wonderful memories. Watch at 2:13 of this clip as Frazier says "Good Night" --- his warm smile shines brightly as he walks off the screen. He put his hole soul in every word he shared with meaning and depth. Oh to step back and relive those times.
+Bill McHugh his whole soul..sorry for the typo
Same. Seeing his face and hearing that music brings tears to my eyes. He was a truly wonderful man.
I always had the feeling that he had a deep love for the books that the movies were based on, that he had read and cherished them, and took great care to present these films thoughtfully and respectfully. He encouraged me to check out these books from my local library and read them (which I did), and helped set me off on a lifelong journey through a life of reading books. Frazier Thomas, a true gentleman.
A Chicago icon.
This is when television was tv and tv was worth watching. So sad to see that those days are gone.
We lived moved from Naperville (suburb of Chicago) to Long Island in 1983 and we were so happy that the cable company on Long Island streamed WGN Channel 9 into our area in Manhasset. We'd get home from Church, have a home-cooked meal and then the children would watch "Uncle Frazier" his films. It was one of the few things that made Chicago special. Our kids loved his grandfatherly style and the films were always selected that were appropriate from family viewing. I remember the day in 1985 when I told our kids that Uncle Frazier died, some of them cried. I explained to them that God needed more people like him and that's why he was called home. To this day, I miss him. What puzzles me is that with all of the channels that are in existence, why isn't some program manager not thinking of classically introducing these films on broadcast TV somewhere. TCM does with Ben Mankiewicz, Alicia Malone and Dave Karger. Thanks TCM for getting rid of Vasquez. She was out of place. We need an older, grandfatherly person who introduces films, the same way Frazier Thomas did. Do it now!
“Until then I’m your host Frazier Thomas, wishing you all a pleasant evening and good
night” That phrase is like a comfortable old arm chair by the fire on a chilly
winter evening. :)
Mike Field Your so right mike! I always felt that wrapped up another week in my young life.Id turn off the tv after this and watch the glow of the televisions vacuum tubes dissipate and cool down to darkness.Almost as though the tv was a kind of living thing! I couldn't wait to hear what next Sundays feature would be.Always hopin for war of the worlds or something. Only bad thing after family classics was that terrible anxious feeling of going to school for a new week, and having to do last minute homework that I should of done friday.Never learned my lesson. Never!
Reminds me of the days me & my family spent in front of the TV watching Family Classics on WGN-TV Sunday nights.
I lived close by Chicago when I was a kid and remember this so well. Long before cable tv. Channel 9 WGN. Antenna TV. If you really think about it the guy could host a program like Family Classics on Sunday night and then Monday morning set and talk to puppets who didn’t even talk back! Amazing!
I feel soo sad and nostalgic to see this. I was like 5 years old and watched wonderful movies. Some other comment mentioned that it was at 3pm this aired. Soo wonderful memories that make me remember my mom. She passed away back in 2020 year.
I am 52 years old, and yes I truly miss this classical program!!! Watching, it every Sunday afternoon, after coming from church and eating my mothers ' Sunday dinner!!! This generation is stuck on the negatives of social media and dumb down with disgusting rap music and the Kardashians!!! They will never know the appreciate of having a pure imagination for true Family Classics!!!
all rap music isn't bad, not the rap I listen to at least, I'm turning 50 this year...on Christmas believe me or not but I remember the reruns in the early 80s I loved this show and honestly it brings tears to my eyes hearing the theme music, I'm a nostalgic type I wish they'd bring these on Blu-ray id definitely buy them
My favorite show when I was a young kid. I used to watch this with my father. May he rest in peace, okay, now. I want to cry.
"And now, if you're quite ready, let us begin." I had forgotten that. Great to see and hear it again.
Omg,it brings back a lot of memories, I loved this show. I'm now 55 years old.
I am one of the sons of Anthony and Jo Ann Sulla. Nice to see dad's name on a screen again. At this writing (May 9, 2015) Dad is very much still with us. My father and Frazier Thomas had a long and warm friendship. Frazier admired my Dad's artistic talent. My father always admired Mr. Thomas for his warmth, kindness and passion for creating shows for children and families. Mr. Thomas was gentleman of the first order. Dad was, I believe, responsible for all of the book covers during the shows run during his tenure at WGN. There was one that did not make deadline as Dad had taken it home to work on before the storm of '67. There was no way to get the book to WGN from our home in the suburbs. I do not remember what happened to that week's show.. Dad left the company in 1984, and continued to create, letter, illustrate and design until the late summer of 2013. Thank you for posting this ending as it contains my fathers name in the credits. according to wikipedia, Roy Brown did the covers, this may have been true after dad left the company but until he did the covers were designed and lettered by Anthony M. Sulla.
I liked the lettering style on the book cover!
Thank you for your post..miss those day's...
Thank you for the info. I always wondered who did those book covers and how exactly it was done. It looks like they kept past issues on the shelf too because you can see the edge of another one in the empty space.
Were the books the actual books or just random books with covers done by your father? Wonder if any of the books survive today? Wonderful information
Dan Sulla ‘ I remember every Sunday we watched Sunday matinee! Loved the movies back then .
the good old day's. miss the old WGN.
rss2105 yes you and me both
This aired on my 14th birthday in 1979 - WOW!!
My mother watched this with me while my Dad had his afternoon nap on Sunday. I remember it well. It was a quiet and slow Sunday. Mom and I had Cold Iced Tea and enjoyed the film. Mom, Dad and Frasier Thomas are long gone, but the memory of that enjoyable quiet day, lives on.
Ahhh,.take me back to the 60's and 70's when I had few worries and GREAT childhood television of Chicago,....Ray Rayner, Frazier Thomas,,Captain Kangaroo,.and Bozo's Circus,.........and my Grandma !!! It will never be how it was ever again !!
+SilkySlim Amen, really good times.
+santa croce101 So true. A really wonderful way to grow up.
+SilkySlim Hardrock, Coco and Joe!
...yeah, plus Suzy Snowflake,.and Frosty !!!
Don't forget "The Pretty Little Dolly"! Hahaha
R. I. P. Frazier-thomas ned-locke & bob-bell all of Chicagoland will miss you always.
I was a little kid when I watched this .The tvs back had tubes in them.
boy I wish I was a kid again
Only if I could know the things that I know now and avoid a few major mistakes.
You are now what you are becauseb of what you experienced then
We watched this at my grandparents farm in SW Michigan. It came across the lake clear and in color. We had old bw tv still. The best of times. Grandma bought me the book. Helping to fuel my interest in literature and science. In my late 50s now. God I missy grandparents.
My has America come a long way since these times. Sad really. But great memories, and feelings from 'Family Classics', with Frazier Thomas.
Amazing man. Miss him.
Now that was one awesome man, and very missed by all
wow, nice to see these comments from folks that were from back then (including me :) ) Our family - 4 kids, mom & dad, 1200 sq foot home, happiness. The old Naperville. Sundays - church, mom's cooking, play out side, and a little tv, and then it was turned off. Watched the 'glow dot' till it faded. I enjoyed the Sunday quiet, new the house sounds - furnace, outdoor wind, rain, a car slowing coming down street. Sundays were the best.
Born in 1967 & absolutely blessed to have been able to grow up in Chicagoland with WGN & their family oriented programming like this! This was an era that sadly will never be repeated. The current narrative is to have government replace family. Soak up the good memories here!
Oh yes. Sunday's afternoons with Family Classics.."until then, I'm your host, Frazier Thomas, wishing you all a pleasant evening (pause to put book back on shelf)... Good Night"....good night to you Mr. Thomas and thanks for all those wonderful films you turned a whole new generation onto.
hearing this Music always makes my tears Fall...
Wonderful memories of My Childhood, My Mother making food, and we would eat, watching whatever movie they played
You completely called it. I am 62 Y.O. now, and still miss this Sunday early evening favorite.
Didn’t realize until now that opening music was from Bette Davis classic “Now Voyager”….
Great memories of growing up in chicago .
I always keep an eye open for movies from this show. Brings back so many memories.
Boystown, Sink the Bismarck, Young Tom Edison, Edison the Man, Pride of the Yankees...
Thank you for sharing this video clip. Brings back wonderful memories of youthful, better times. Loved the theme music of Family Classics.
The memories of watching this at grandma's house, on that old black n white t.v. those sunday afternoons..
OMG! I used to sit and watch these with my dad. Great memories.
The perfect winter evening for me includes:
A howling blizzard outside.
A yummy pot roast or an eye of round roast with plenty of vegies in the oven, wafting its heavenly aroma thru out the house.
The house should be just a touch chilly in order to better enjoy the warmth of the crackling fire in the hearth.
Being dressed in your most comfy P.J’s and perhaps that frumpy old house cardigan.
Using candles in various corners of the house to transform the gloomy to the comforting.
And lest I forget plenty of retro T.V. shows such as Family Classics, The Mary Tyler Moore Show & the Old Bob Newhart Show. The holiday and winter episodes are recommended.
I was always a little sad when I would watch family classes on Sunday afternoon, because school was the next day. Looking back some 40+ years later I was i could do it again.Life was so much easier!!!
Back when TV had class. I sure miss that.
I do miss these old Sunday show on our Channel 9. Nice. I love the music theme song. Great
Memories.
I enjoyed watching Family Classics on Sundays with Frazier Thomas but I always hated the theme music because it reminded me that it was Sunday afternoon and getting into the evening hours which means that it was close to going back to school the next day on Monday mornings, something that I really didn't want to do. Today, the theme music reminds me of Frazier Thomas, a very nice man with whom I had a chance to interview for the Schurz Times Newspaper in 1977. This music still makes me sad because Frazier is no longer with us. He brought a lot of happiness to a lot of children in the Chicago area. May he rest in peace.
This music kinda gets me choked up. Never thought I miss family classics.
I have basically stopped watching ANYTHING on TV with the exception of old Match Game reruns and its ilk....stuff to make you smile and laugh. I sure wish these were available in full! I would watch them all. I was born in 1963 in the chicago northern burbs and this show was something I always watched.
I miss these Sunday moments with the family. We always made sure everyone was home to watch Family Classics every Sunday. Frazier Thomas was a pure Gentleman.
This was all the tv we had back then, and it was enjoyable.
Me, too. Loved that show; and the theme music, so nostalgic. Our innocence. One of my favourite FAMILY CLASSICS movie was the Prince and the Pauper.
This was television at it's greatest.
I hear you, brother.
No, it wasn't.
you couldn't be more accurate on that!
As it was meant to be.
Wow, that really does bring back memories. I also remember many Sunday afternoons sitting in front of the TV to watch Family Classics.
I owe Frazier Thomas for much of my love of films: Mysterious Island; Journey to the Center of the Earth, Moby Dick and War of the Worlds I saw first here.
Time Machine Too.
I have always found the Family Classics opening & den setting very comforting. If Family Classics were being produced today I would put a crackling fireplace in the back ground somewhere just to take it to that next level of comfort. :)
The pull of nostalgia is unequaled. It rivals that of love and grief. The 1970s were a turbulent time with many highs and lows. But one island of Chicago-area peace and tranquility was "Family Classics." How I long for a type of programming that equals (not mimics) this on Sunday afternoons at the local level. Imagine if cities across this great land could innovate and air programming that suits this need in their locations? How different our culture might be now. I remember these broadcasts (I was a young teenager) as if they were only yesterday and hearing the opening and closing theme music again simply tugs at my heart. Nostalgia: I recognize thee in all of your many faces. Deep sigh...
Amen, brother. Unequaled fantastic times.
That theme song and Frazier Thomas introducing this weeks Family Classic brings tears to my eyes. To this day if I see (Island of the Blue Dolphin, War of the Worlds, Robin Hood, or Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) I think about Family Classics.
theylied1776 Wow. Now you've got me thinking back. In addition to the movies you've mentioned, I can remember them showing The Time Machine, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Song of Bernadette every year.
At Christmas, they always seemed to show the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol. I can remember the promo they used to run, with Gene Lockhart knocking Reginald Owen's "topper" off his head with a snowball.
I can't speak for anyone else, but as a kid, after watching Captains Courageous, followed by Family Classics' sorrowful theme song, it was tough to keep it together. :)
MisterUptempo I'm actually from the south, but when I think about my favorite childhood memories it has to be my time in Chicago. The weekend television alone was amazing.
The Bowery Boys, Ma and Pa Kettle, Blondie and Dagwood, Son of Svengoolie, American Bandstand, Soul Train, Monster Rally, Creature Feature, Kungfu Theater... and the whole family would wrap the weekend up with Frazier Thomas and Family Classic.
Needless to say, WGN Channel 9 and Channel 32 were my favorite as a kid.
That came on at 6 o'clock Sunday evening just after we had finished dinner. When I was a kid that was one of my favorite movies along with Journey to the Center of the Earth with James Mason.
A long time ago in a childhood far far away.
That music. The memories. OMG! 😭😭😭💛💛💛
I actually teared up!🥺 Childhood memories. Missing my Mom now!😢
UH MY OH MY!!! I'm a kid again in Chicago and I'm really choked up about it and can hardly see to write this through glassy eye's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Terrific show and wonderful memories.
Im 45. Grew up in Gary IN. Now live and work in South Tex. I remember these reruns
Good afternoon and thank you for posting Tears falling Brings back memories no school Sunday dinner miss those days and I Thank Mr.Thomas he was a Wonderful Man who is truly missed never forgotten Continue to Rest in perfect peace Mr.Fraizer Thomas
I miss Family Classics on Sundays on Channel 9. They should really bring them back. I'm serious!!!
As TCM gobbled up the classic movies, it is unlikely that Family Classics will make a comeback.
This movie was such a staple film of Family Classics. Sunday afternoon memories
How I can remember this show. Great classic movies and Frazier Thomas after all these years I miss him so great show and great memories
OMG that takes you back to good ole days I miss them
Yeah, when America was America.
this brings back the best memories of all, the end to a perfect weekend as a kid.
I still miss seeing this show and many other shows from the 70s and 80s. They were some great memories.. Thank you WGN our local TV station here in Chicago.
Oh the nostalgia is thick with this video...memories come flooding back...thank you.
I can just smell that Sunday roast in the oven. Good memories
Marlene Flanagan hey marlene,I know what you mean.. that sunday roast was so good...where did the time go!....
I remember this. Not this episode in particular, but I remember that this is how I was introduced to "The War of the Worlds".
Brought back fond memories of Childhood and Chicago. Closest I’ve seen to Frazier was Robert Osborne of TCM.
Many fine movies on Sunday after lunch. Us kids dreaded Sundays because what followed....a whole new week of School. Thanks to Frazier Thomas and Family Classics,we at least got a couple of hours of enjoyment to help ease the depression School brought on us. Some of my favorites were Mystery Island, The Time Machine, Robin Hood, Sink the Bismark, When worlds collide, Boys Town just to name a few.
I was always eager to see The Canterville Ghost!
Frazier Thomas Family Classics....Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom....Walt Disney.
Rounded out the weekend.
Exactly, we had it good !!
T Buchanan: I went to school with someone by your name....Hhmmm.:) It is good to share the same warm and fuzzy memories of Sunday afternoon and evenings of my past with you. I absolutely agree and miss those old shows so very much.
Johannah Patterson where did you ho to school?
I graduated from Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana.
back during a time when TV was TV. Those were the days.
I'm 54 and remember this as a kid. It had a solemn feel of dignity to it. You wanted your living room to look like this.
Great memories from a great time.
If not for Family Classics, I wouldn't have developed a love for cinema!!! What a great memory of TV for me in Chicagoland, from 1963 to 1985.
Family Classics were cool (mostly). WhenI was a kid my brother and I would watch these without fail, especially for the real good ones like "Sink the Bismarck". Mr. Thomas passed in 1985: God bless him.
Family Classics with Frazier Thomas was so popular when I was a kid in the 60's and 70's that on Monday all the playground chatter would be about the movie he showed on Sunday. Especially memorable was when Sink The Bismarck was shown, there was to be sure some kid doing his best (or perhaps worst) Churchill imitation: "WE MUSHT SHINK THE BEEZH-MAHK!" There aren't many things like that anymore that are common touchstones for such a broad swath of folks. But then again, there were only about 6 or 7 channels in the Chicagoland area then (more if you count UHF).
What a superb man.
this is when tv was good!
Great Show and Good Movie.
Family Classics was bittersweet. It meant there was school the next day and the weekend was ending......
I miss being a kid in the 60s and 70s living in Chicagoland. The adult world was on fire, but kid world was great.
We watched Family Classics every week growing up in Waukegan.
Holy Crap!! This brought back a TON of memories. I was a kid in the 70's in chicago. Every Sunday morning or noon this use to come on and my brother and I would sit in front of the 27 inch color tv. Mom use to make breakfast for us while we watched. Good memories. 😃