Wanderly Wagon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wanderly Wagon |
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Title card (1979)
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| Genre | Children's television, science fiction, fantasy |
| Created by |
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| Starring |
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| Voices of | Frank Kelly |
| Composer(s) | Jim Doherty |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
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| Original network | RTÉ |
| Original release | 30 September 1967 – 1982 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Fortycoats & Co. |
Wanderly Wagon was a super popular Irish TV show for kids! It aired on RTÉ (Ireland's main TV channel) from September 30, 1967, all the way until 1982. It was full of adventure, fun characters, and even some magic.
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Adventures of the Wanderly Wagon
The show followed a group of human and puppet friends. They traveled all over Ireland in their amazing wagon. Their main goal was to visit cool places, help people, and sometimes even rescue princesses!
The adventures weren't just in Ireland. The wagon could do incredible things! It could fly, taking the characters to magical lands from Irish mythology. It even went into outer space! Using special TV tricks (called chroma key), the wagon looked like it was really flying high in the sky or even traveling underwater.
Meet the Characters
The Wanderly Wagon had a fantastic cast of characters, both human and puppet. They each brought something special to the show.
Human Friends
- Rory: He was the main human character at the start of the show. Bill Golding played Rory.
- O'Brien: Played by Eugene Lambert, who also made and controlled many of the puppets. O'Brien was a bit clumsy but always kind.
- Godmother: She was the wise and caring grown-up of the group. Nora O'Mahoney played Godmother.
- Fortycoats: This character wore a coat made of many different patches. He owned a flying sweet shop! Fortycoats was an occasional visitor who later got his own TV show. Bill Golding first played him, then Fran Dempsey.
Puppet Pals
- Judge: A very smart dog who was the voice of reason. He always knew what was right. Many people who watched the show still remember his famous song, "I Am the Flying Dog"!
- Mr Crow: A sarcastic crow who lived in a cuckoo clock. He had a sharp sense of humor.
- Foxy: A fox who lived in a barrel on the side of the wagon. He spoke with a cool, American-style accent.
- Sneaky Snake: He was Doctor Astro's sidekick.
- Maeve the Witch: A mischievous witch who tried to cause trouble, but her plans always failed.
- Moon Mice: Four little mice who lived in the wagon's attic.
- Squirrels: Two friendly squirrels.
Villains
- Doctor Astro: A recurring bad guy in the show, played by Frank Kelly.
Making the Show
The idea for Wanderly Wagon came from Don Lennox and Eugene Lambert, along with Jim O'Hare. Jim O'Hare had been on a fun holiday in County Cork with a horse-drawn caravan. Don Lennox became the first producer, and Jim O'Hare designed the wagon and the costumes.
In the early days, each episode was filmed live. This meant there was no editing! If someone made a mistake, they either had to leave it in or start the whole episode again. Also, actors had to wear hidden microphones with wires, which made it tricky to move around the set.
Many talented writers helped create the stories for the show. These included Neil Jordan, Carolyn Swift, Pat Ingoldsby, Martin Duffy, and Frank Kelly. Frank Kelly also played several characters!
Every year, the show had a special Christmas Day episode. They would broadcast it live from a children's hospital in Dublin. The original Wanderly Wagon used in the show can now be seen at Tinahely Farm Shop in County Wicklow. A smaller model of the wagon, used for the opening scenes, is on display at The Little Museum of Dublin.
Spin-off Show
The character of Fortycoats became so popular that he got his very own show called Fortycoats & Co. Fran Dempsey continued to play Fortycoats. In his show, Fortycoats had two new friends: Sofar Sogood and Slightly Bonkers. They traveled in the Flying Tuck Shop, doing good deeds and battling villains like Whilomena the Whirligig Witch.
