Did TV Guide have an article on Astro Boy in 1963-64?

[AprilSeven]

I seem to remember that in the fall of 1963, there was a small article in TV Guide magazine announcing that Astro Boy was coming to TV. I can't recall the article's content other than there was a B&W still of him in flight, they described his powers, and that it was created in Japan.

Before it's premiere in NYC I recalled pulling it in from a TV station that I THINK was in Connecticut (this would have been the autumn of 1963). The reception was very snowy, but you could kinda get the gist of what was happening and I also remember it was sponsored by non other than MacDonalds (back before Ronald MacDonald existed).

I'd love to find out if I'm remembering that correctly. There don't seem to be TV Guide archives online - but maybe I'm not looking in the right place. Anyone out there have any info on this?

[AprilSeven]

Does anyone know if there was ANY kind of media coverage to the public prior to the release of the first (1960's) Astro Boy anime in the US? I seem to remember something, but I'm hoping someone out there might know, or have a direction to go looking...Thanks!

[ASTROBUDDY]

I seem to remember that in the fall of 1963, there was a small article in TV Guide magazine announcing that Astro Boy was coming to TV. I can't recall the article's content other than there was a B&W still of him in flight, they described his powers, and that it was created in Japan. Before it's premiere in NYC I recalled pulling it in from a TV station that I THINK was in Connecticut (this would have been the autumn of 1963). The reception was very snowy, but you could kinda get the gist of what was happening and I also remember it was sponsored by non other than MacDonalds (back before Ronald MacDonald existed). I'd love to find out if I'm remembering that correctly. There don't seem to be TV Guide archives online - but maybe I'm not looking in the right place. Anyone out there have any info on this?

Now let's see! Officially "Astro Boy" first aired in the U.S. in Sept. of 1963, according to both F. Schodt and Fred Ladd on what was then WNEW-channel 5, a local VHS station broadcasting out of New York (and that's where I remember watching the show.) The program was then sold to other stations on a regional basis. For ex. while it first aired in N.Y.C. beginning in Sept. 1963 it premiered in Los Angeles in Sept. of 1964. While I don't know for sure if an article on "Astro Boy" itself appeared in "TV Guide" magazine, I do know that articles on Saturday morning cartoons were featured in the magazine and therefore "Astro Boy" may have been mentioned as part of an article on animated programs being shown on television of the day. I tried googling and yahooing "TV Guide" and "Astro Boy" (1963/4), but unfortunately came up with butkis. Now this is a suggestion (and it worked for me). When I was looking for a showing of a listing for when the 1980s "Astroboy" series aired in the U.S., all I had to go on was a station that did air the program (WTGI-channel 61 broadcasting out of Philadelphia which aired regular programming beginning in 1986 before becoming a shopping channel then converting to a Spanish language channel.) So I went searching eBay until I found a seller selling a TV Guide" from Sept. 1986. I asked what region the edition was from and I got lucky. The "TV Guide" they were selling was the Philadelphia edition and it showed that "Astroboy" had aired that week in 1986, weekdays @ 10:30am on WTGI--channel 61 and there I had my confirmation that the 1980"Astroboy" had indeed aired in the U.S.

My suggestion is (and I know this is a kind of hit and miss way, but again it worked for me) is that you search eBay for "TV Guide" magazines for sale that date near August of 1963 through the end of 1964, read the description and then contact the seller. Unfortunately as I already tried this, I searched eBay for a "TV Guide" with an article on "Astro Boy" and there were no matches. The other thing you may try is writing "TV Guide" magazine itself (the address is listed in every issue) and asking your question there. They may be able to tell you a better source for finding an answer to your question. I hope I was helpful. Good luck!

I

[ASTROBUDDY]

Does anyone know if there was ANY kind of media coverage to the public prior to the release of the first (1960's) Astro Boy anime in the US? I seem to remember something, but I'm hoping someone out there might know, or have a direction to go looking...Thanks!

Sorry! The only material I am aware of, is what is in F. Ladd's book and (a Japanese magazine, that I just bought on eBay titled "Osamu Tezuka World
'91) that is the ads used to sell the program to the different channels considered part of the syndication market. (The ad in "O.T.W '91" is from a U.S. magazine, titled "TV Age" and is dated 4/63.)

Again I hope this is helpful.

I

[AprilSeven]

Thanks so much, Astrobuddy -- I'm going to see what I can find out. I don't know why this suddenly popped up in my head, but I seem remember "seeing" Astro Boy before it came to New York -- although that doesn't seem logical (maybe it was a UHF station coming through - I used to like to try and pull in far away stations). You've made some great suggestions, and I'm going follow up, and will report back!