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The Alvin Show
The Alvin Show logo.svg
Genre
Created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr.
Written by
  • Ross Bagdasarian Sr.
  • Jack Cosgriff
  • Al Bertino
  • Tedd Pierce
  • Bill Danch
  • Chris Jenkyns
  • Jan Strejan
  • Dale Hale
Directed by
  • Osmond Evans
  • Rudy Larriva
  • Alan Zaslove
  • Gil Turner
  • Hal Ambro
  • Jack Kinney
Voices of
Theme music composer
  • Ross Bagdasarian Sr.
Composer(s)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 26 (104 segments)
Production
Executive producer(s) Herbert Klynn
Producer(s) Ross Bagdasarian Sr.
Running time 25:40 per episode (7 minutes for The Chipmunks and Clyde Crashcup each, 3–4 minutes for both musical segments each)
Production company(s)
  • Bagdasarian Film Corporation
  • Format Films
Release
Original network CBS
Original release October 4, 1961 (1961-10-04) – March 28, 1962 (1962-03-28)
Chronology
Related shows

The Alvin Show was a fun American animated television series. It first aired on CBS in the early 1960s. This show was the very first to feature the famous singing characters, Alvin and the Chipmunks!

It ran for one season, from October 4, 1961, to March 28, 1962. Big companies like General Foods (who make Jell-O and Post Cereals) sponsored it. Even though it was made in color, it first aired in black and white. Later, from 1962 to 1965, CBS showed it in color on Saturday mornings. NBC also showed it again in color on Saturday mornings in 1979.

The show was created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr.. He made the Chipmunks famous with their unique singing voices. The series showed Alvin as a mischievous kid. His brother Simon was tall and smart. Theodore was a bit chubby and loved to eat. Their manager and father figure, David Seville, often had to deal with their antics. Format Films produced the animation. The opening animation was done by Bobe Cannon and Iwao Takamoto.

Each episode had two main parts. One part featured the Chipmunks. The other part was about a character named Clyde Crashcup. Both parts were about seven minutes long. After each story, there was a musical performance. Dave and the Chipmunks sang many songs. These songs came from their popular albums. Some songs included "Alvin for President" and "Maria from Madrid." They also sang covers like "Clementine" and "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair." Later, in 1983, a new Chipmunks series started. It was called Alvin and the Chipmunks and aired on NBC.

The Chipmunks' Story Continues

After its first run, CBS showed reruns. These aired on Saturday mornings after 1962. Later, in the 1960s, the show's parts were grouped. They were sold as Alvin and the Chipmunks to other stations. In 1979, NBC also aired these original episodes.

Sadly, Ross Bagdasarian Sr. died of a heart attack on January 16, 1972. Many thought this would be the end of the Chipmunks. However, his son, Ross Jr., brought them back! In 1980, he made the album Chipmunk Punk. This led to a brand new cartoon series in 1983. It was called Alvin and the Chipmunks. Ross Jr. voiced Alvin, Simon, and Dave Seville. His wife, Janice Karman, voiced Theodore and The Chipettes. The show ran until 1990.

Around the same time, The Alvin Show reruns were shown again. Many local stations and superstations like WGN and WTBS aired them. The show was also popular in other countries. It aired in Australia, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.

Clyde Crashcup also appeared in A Chipmunk Christmas in 1981. Sometimes, this part is cut from modern airings. In 1990, the original Chipmunks and Clyde Crashcup returned. They were in an episode of The Chipmunks Go To the Movies. This episode was called "Back to Alvin's Future," a fun nod to the movie Back to the Future.

Many songs and clips from The Alvin Show were used. They appeared in Alvin and the Chipmunks Sing Along Songs VHS tapes in the 1990s. Some songs were updated, but "Alvin's Orchestra" kept its original sound. Nickelodeon started airing The Alvin Show in the US on March 7, 1994. They added their logo to the opening theme. It was part of Nickelodeon's morning shows for about a year. Later, parts of the show were even used in Weinerville. By 1996, Nickelodeon stopped showing the segments. Since then, the original Alvin Show has not aired on TV.

The Voices You Heard

Episode Guide

The show had 26 episodes for both the Chipmunks and Clyde Crashcup. There were also 52 musical segments.

# The Chipmunks Musical Segment 1 Clyde Crashcup Musical Segment 2 Original air date
1 Stanley the Eagle Oh Gondaliero Clyde Crashcup Invents Baseball I Wish I Could Speak French October 4, 1961 (1961-10-04)
2 Sam Valiant, Private Nose August Dear Clyde Crashcup Invents the Bathtub Alvin's Orchestra October 11, 1961 (1961-10-11)
3 Squares Swanee River Clyde Crashcup Invents the Wife The Magic Mountain October 18, 1961 (1961-10-18)
4 Ostrich The Brave Chipmunks Clyde Crashcup Invents the Baby Yankee Doodle October 25, 1961 (1961-10-25)
5 Good Neighbor The Little Dog (Oh Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone) Clyde Crashcup Invents Electricity Old MacDonald Cha Cha Cha November 1, 1961 (1961-11-01)
6 Fancy Japanese Banana Clyde Crashcup Invents Music When Johnny Comes Marching Home November 8, 1961 (1961-11-08)
7 Alvin's Alter Ego The Pidgin English Hula Clyde Crashcup Invents the West Chipmunk Fun November 15, 1961 (1961-11-15)
8 Sam Valiant, Real Estate Working on the Railroad Clyde Crashcup Invents the Stove Stuck in Arabia November 22, 1961 (1961-11-22)
9 Camping Trip Good Morning Song Clyde Crashcup Invents Jokes I Wish I Had a Horse November 29, 1961 (1961-11-29)
10 Overworked Alvin Witch Doctor Clyde Crashcup Invents Flight The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) December 6, 1961 (1961-12-06)
11 Dude Ranch Home on the Range Clyde Crashcup Invents First Aid Alvin for President December 13, 1961 (1961-12-13)
12 Jungle Rhythm Lily of Laguna Clyde Crashcup Invents Egypt Row, Row, Row Your Boat December 20, 1961 (1961-12-20)
13 Bentley Van Rolls Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Clyde Crashcup Invents Self-Preservation Comin' Thru the Rye December 27, 1961 (1961-12-27)
14 Good Manners Bicycle Built for Two Clyde Crashcup Invents Physical Fitness Ragtime Cowboy Joe January 3, 1962 (1962-01-03)
15 Little League Buffalo Gals Clyde Crashcup Invents the Chair While Strolling in the Park One Day January 10, 1962 (1962-01-10)
16 Hillbilly Son Spain Clyde Crashcup Invents the Bed Pop Goes the Weasel January 17, 1962 (1962-01-17)
17 Alvin's Cruise Alvin's Harmonica Clyde Crashcup Invents the Telephone If You Love Me (Alouette) January 24, 1962 (1962-01-24)
18 Lovesick Dave Coming 'Round the Mountain Clyde Crashcup Invents the Time Machine The Three Blind-Folded Mice January 31, 1962 (1962-01-31)
19 Eagle In Love Sing a Goofy Song Clyde Crashcup Invents Do it Yourself Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star February 7, 1962 (1962-02-07)
20 Theodore's Dog Clementine Clyde Crashcup Invents the Shoe Maria from Madrid February 14, 1962 (1962-02-14)
21 Haunted House Whistle While You Work Clyde Crashcup Invents Glass My Wild Irish Rose February 21, 1962 (1962-02-21)
22 Alvin's Studio Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair This is Your Life, Clyde Crashcup! The Band Played On February 28, 1962 (1962-02-28)
23 The Whistler The Alvin Twist Clyde Crashcup Invents the Boat The Man on the Flying Trapeze March 7, 1962 (1962-03-07)
24 Sir Alvin Git Along, Little Dogies Clyde Crashcup Invents Crashcupland Down in the Valley March 14, 1962 (1962-03-14)
25 Disc Jockey Funiculì, Funiculà Clyde Crashcup Invents Birthdays Polly Wolly Doodle March 21, 1962 (1962-03-21)
26 Eagle Music On Top of Old Smoky Clyde Crashcup Invents Self-Defense America the Beautiful March 28, 1962 (1962-03-28)

General Foods was a big sponsor of the show. Dave Seville and the Chipmunks even appeared in funny commercials for Jell-O and Post Cereals.

Where to Watch at Home

In the 1990s, Buena Vista Home Video released Alvin and the Chipmunks Sing Alongs. These videos featured songs from The Alvin Show. These specific videos were not released on DVD.

Later, on September 8, 2009, Paramount Home Entertainment released the first episode. It came with two newer specials. In 2014, "The Brave Chipmunks" song was a bonus on The Chipmunk Adventure Blu-ray. In 2015, three full episodes of The Alvin Show were released on Blu-ray and DVD.

The Show Around the World

The show was also broadcast in many other countries around the world.

  • Australia
  • Canada
    • CBMT (1966)
  • Chile
    • TVN (1969–1973 & 1975–1979)
  • Russia
  • United Kingdom
    • BBC (1962)
    • Nickelodeon (1995–1997)
    • Cartoon Network (1997–2000)
    • Toon Disney (2000–2004)
  • Italy
    • Hiro (1980)
    • Italia 7 (1980)
  • Brazil (Unconfirmed)
    • TV Rio (1968)
    • Record TV (1969)
    • TV Piratini (1970)
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