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Events Fri Apr 05 2013
The Chicago Children's TV Show @ Gallery Cabaret
This weekend, Chicago historical reenactment group Pocket Guide to Hell honors children’s entertainment past and present with an afternoon of acts that will knock your big, floppy shoes off! Join Pocket Guide performers Fred Sasaki (the Magician); Kenneth Morrison (the Clown); Professor Justin Amolsch and his Big Brass Band; and Martin Billheimer (the Star) in their second installment of The Chicago Television Project: a variety hour homage entitled The Chicago Children’s TV Show. The 50’s-era-style revue, which includes everything from music to magic to mischief, goes up at Gallery Cabaret (2020 N. Oakley Ave.) on Sunday, April 14.
Amidst retrospective themes, Pocket Guide also aims to honor those groups in Chicago that educate and entertain children today. These include special guests from the Chicago History Museum, Chic-A-Go-Go, Adventure Sandwich, Barrel of Monkeys, Elephant & Worm, and Aloft Loft circus. And the festivities don’t stop there. The showcase will also feature music from Old Town School of Folk Music’s children’s group the Young Stracke All-Stars, alongside cartoons by acclaimed local artists Lilli Carre, Drew Dir, and Emily Kuehn.
Pocket Guide’s owner and proprietor Paul Durica says of the retro style and revue format, “Many early children’s shows, such as Super Circus, used the variety show format, which allowed for the program to stay fresh and flexible but also to highlight the talents of a range of groups and individuals… Each contemporary group will be linked to a historic show, such as Kukla, Fran, & Ollie or Garfield Goose, so that past and present will meet at this event. We want the event to be a celebration of local creativity and imagination.”
As if that weren’t enough incentive, there will also be an assortment of kids’ prizes, generously donated by Busy Beaver Button Company; Derek Erdman; Kathleen Judge; Hansen Mansion; Barrel of Monkeys; Poetry; Drinking & Writing Theater; the Haymarket Pub & Brewery; Victory Gardens Theater; Wee Hairy Beasties; Uncle Fun; and the Chicago History Museum.
So embrace your inner child and make your way to the Hideout for either of two performances: a 3 pm family-friendly run, and a 5 pm showing for everybody else. Free! RSVP to pocketguidetohell@gmail.com.