Summertainment: Little Lulu (ABC Weekend Special, 1978-91)

With summer right around the corner, thoughts for kids turn from school to summer camp.

Marjorie Buell's Little Lulu is brought to life in this ABC Weekend Special entry, which was first shown in 1978, and last aired, as this video implies, in 1991. We know this based on the commercials, including an ad for the ABC Western, The Young Riders. Capt. O. G. Readmore is no longer a puppet, but strictly an animated character by this point. Neil Ross is heard as Readmore in the open, but a 1984 interstital appears to have Frank Welker, who voiced the puppet version of Readmore, in place of Ross.

Back to Little Lulu. This first offering is set amidst the equal rights movement of the 70's. Lulu and her friends get to join the boys at summer camp for the first time.

Personal note. I spent two seasons at a summer day camp in the hometown. Said camp has long since closed, but back in the day, my brother & I would hike up the hill to get to the camp, then walk home. The camp, like Camp Wackadoo, was co-ed, but at the time, I wasn't interested in finding a girlfriend. That would come later. Much later.

The cast includes Laurie Hendler, Tim Reid (WKRP In Cincinnati), Robbie Rist (ex-Big John-Little John, The Brady Bunch), Beverly Archer (later of Major Dad), and Billy Jacoby, the latter of whom appeared in a few more Weekend Special episodes. The program ends with a promo for the sequel, The Big Hex of Little Lulu, with narration by Dick Tufeld, who was the studio announcer for ABC's Saturday morning shows for a few years.

Here's Little Lulu:



As most fans know, Lulu was a brunette in the comics, but not here. Meh.

Rating: B-.