In the early days of children's television, the networks relied mostly on game shows (i.e. Goodson-Todman's Choose Up Sides) and educational programs that went under the heading of public affairs programming, which suggests that it was meant for the whole family.
One such show was Let's Take a Trip, which bowed on CBS in 1956, and subsequently spawned a comic book spin-off from Pines Comics. Neither lasted all that long.
Sonny Fox, three years before Wonderama made him a NYC legend, served as host/tour guide. Fox had previously piloted The $64,000 Challenge for a few weeks before his inexperience as a MC cost him the gig. In this sample, Sonny and his two, ah, students, for lack of more appropriate description, visit a rubber factory.
It would be 20 years before Fox returned to CBS (Way Out Games, another 1 year wonder) before moving to NBC to program their moribound Saturday block. Fox passed away in 2021 from complications due to COVID at 95.
Rating: A.
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