Nickel Flicks - Nick Knacks Episode

[@johnmoschitta9830]

BTW ... In the piece you mentioned Nickel Flicks was one of the 1st five shows on the new Nickleodeon network and the 1st one canceled. It was canceled because Nick billed itself at the time as non-violent programming for kids and Nickel Flicks was yanked due to complaints about the violent nature of many of the serials. It was great fun to do and I was sorry to see it go. Working at QUBE was a baptism of fire .... we went on the air December 1, 1977 with 11 hours of live programming a day. No easy feat ...especially in Columbus,Ohio! Everyone there had incredible work ethics and our work days were very often 20 hours long. It was a great education and I will always cherish the time I spent with so many talented and dedicated pros ...many of whom went on to do great things in the industry.

[@ragnakak]

Thank you for taking the time to share this John.

[@ChuckD79]

John, had no idea you were one of Nickelodeon's first on-air personalities...thanks for the info!

[@lopezbiglos]

Wow so you created Knickle Flicks!!! Crazy!!! 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@tyguy2936]

Wait, are you THE John "Motor Mouth" Moschitta???

[@johnmoschitta9830]

A friend emailed the link to this video and I loved it. Besides saying nice things about me (which I really appreciate) it was very informative and really brought me back to my days in Columbus Ohio 40 years ago! Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane. John

[@tvguy1979]

Thanks @John Moschitta! It's awesome to hear your memories about making Nickel Flicks. I'm part of a a small blog called A New Beginning of Classic Nickelodeon (at classic-nickelodeon-fan-blog(dot)blogspot(dot)com/), where we discuss Nickelodeon's earliest shows for the sake of nostalgic purposes and discuss the history of the channel. There is little knowledge regarding Nickel Flicks, and footage of the show is non-existent, so we would like to ask you some questions about the creation and production of the show to learn more about it. If you would like to participate in an interview, please contact us at your earliest convenience. Thank you Andy Anderson

[@samfeldstein4498]

Out of curiosity do you know what happened to the footage of this show?

[@WesleyWhiteside]

Nickel Flicks: *is considered lost media and only ran reruns of public domain serials* Pop Arena: "It existed on Nickelodeon, therefore, here's an in-depth documentary on it."

[@PlatformerFan]

"Failing doesn't make you a failure." Thanks for the sage words.

[@chubbiMommi]

Ah! The legend himself! John!!!!This is a great video series! I love this kind of stuff💕 Mr. Tesavertii!!!!!

[@carmineknight9123]

Clutch use of Smashing Pumpkins, I must say. And I was fascinated to learn more about Moschitta as I only knew him from Transformers as Blurr! And now I respect him more than ever. Another wonderful entry. I'm enjoying this series a lot.

[@ColinLooksBack]

I'm just getting started on this retrospective series, but I'm loving it so far! There's a lot of research and love put into this, and it shows!

[@djmutt2000]

"Children's programming that's fit for children" *Ah yes. The floor is made out of floor.*

[@abraveastronaut]

More like "the floor actually works as a floor" in this case.

[@m56214]

That's why you take risks kids llove that

[@ZyxthePest]

Huh, interesting. I know Nick had a similar thing, called Nick Flicks, in the 90s where they'd air bottom of the barrel Paramount and Universal movies to fill up air time on Sundays. I forgot what the block was called, but you could watch such classics as The Wizard, Prehysteria...R-Remote Control...and uh...Bruno The Kid. Wow.

[@garyneilrichardson]

I FREAKING LOVE YOUR WORK! I’m coming off of a 6 hour binge and I’m so impressed with your style of storytelling. So well done. Please don’t stop.

[@Snakie747]

Definitely on board with this series for as far as it goes. Your often stated passion for research really shows through when you're covering these obscure shows.

[@Powerstars321]

I also came from Pie Guy! I'm really enjoying this series so far, your style's very engaging. Also gotta commend your music choices. Hearing 1979 and Flash made me smile. :)

[@shanecotier]

I absolutely love this series. I'm telling everyone I know.

[@scarycleve4266]

I'm finally getting caught up on these videos, and these are so good! Both entertaining and educational. I hope this series boosts your subscribers soon.

[@ANewShadeOfBlue]

Great message at the end there. Thanks for that.

[@ShadowWingTronix]

NBC also aired a Flash Gordon cartoon, which was also done in serial format...at least for season 1. It's my favorite Saturday morning cartoon and one of the reasons I like serials.

[@raocow]

man this series is so good. please keep it up!

[@MisterH37]

The ending hit me right in the feels, Greg. Dang.

[@fogpumas]

See also: Night Flight

[@Anithusiast]

This is a great series! I can't wait for the next episode.

[@Lurker1979]

It is kind of weird it did not stay on air. Considering how many other TV channels who did similar stuff.

[@Furore2323]

Dang this is fascinating history.

[@ilselindberg6557]

I can not get over how much I enjoy this series- you pack so much in, I really come away feeling like I've learned about something- I'm also working my way through your animorphs vids, those I devour like m&Ms, 3 or 4 at time, so I don't think I leave a comment on each one (I should tho) thanks for all your excellent work!

[@tannith_toyart]

Loving this seriess

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

Nickelodeon went from Buster Crabbe to Mr. Krabs in a period of forty years...

[@simplyjuannie5128]

The fast talking guy is from Saved By The Bell

[@MadsAboutYou]

I’m always fascinated to learn about pop culture that was absolutely massive at the time, but has since become little more than a blip in the public consciousness. Like Buck Rogers? I can't believe I'm just putting together that that was the inspiration for Duck Dodgers--and even more shockingly--Captain America! The back story for Buck Rogers and Steve Rogers is almost identical! How have I not heard about that before?

[@MrTheevilmage]

excellent I got a bag of weed and new a poparena video is uploaded this is a good day :)

[@stephenholloway6893]

One could argue that Rin Tin Tin also saved Warner Brothers at the time. Since they were struggling to say the least.

[@BOBKESSLER48]

No argument, Rinty did indeed save Warner Bros. several times from bankrupcy. All they did was make a Rinty movie, make money and stay in business.

[@darktetsuya]

to be fair I did love old felix the cat. :P don't have a lot to say on these old specials, but I had no idea gene autry was such a stand-up guy! shout-out to john moschitta jr. though, love how the clip of the interview he's just doing his thing, haha.

[@DrCorndog1]

Well now I really want to know what happened to rose tapes. What did the buyer think when they found them? Did they even realize what they had?

[@sayhibobbi]

I've always wondered if the inclusion of The Phantom Empire in Nickel Flicks was influenced by the short-lived NBC series Cliffhangers, a show which included a segment called The Secret Empire, which was clearly inspired by the Autry serial. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffhangers_%28TV_series%29?wprov=sfla1

[@PepsiWithCoke]

I know this is probably several years late, but on the subject of the show not being re-released, it's highly likely that Nickelodeon never actually archived any of it's early material, it was standard practice for most TV stations to wipe and re-use tapes, the BBC was wiping episodes of Doctor Who as late as 1978, and if a marquee show like that was getting erased, a niche show on a small cable channel stood no chance.

[@meyerj75]

Every network has to start somewhere. Nickelodeon started off with only 6 programs when it was launched in 1979 with Nickel Flicks being one of them along with Pinwheel of course. Nickel Flicks was also the first one cancelled (By The Way would follow as the second later on) because young viewers compared this to the type of style of B&W content that was on TV at the time. I mean, I would be bored as heck in front of a TV screen watching Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy, & The Three Stooges as opposed to cartoons & kids related programs. As an insurance policy, Nickelodeon knew this wasn't going to work out so they dropped it in favor of another program. At the time, the network was experimenting with what would work or not. Obviously, Nickel Flicks didn't work but it wasn't a total failure. It just felt out of place for a then-young adult network. As long as Pinwheel was under their belt, they would continue to experiment with a variety of programs nationwide & overseas before setting with "the big three" that would change their fortunes forever a few years later: You Can't Do That On Television, Danger Mouse, & Double Dare.

[@m56214]

Why didn't they start making their own sitcoms and dramas in the late 70s

[@meyerj75]

@@m56214 My guess is that Cy, head of Nickelodeon at the time, was more interested in the educational aspect side of things than the more comedic and dramastic side, though he would visit both genres later on beginning in 1982 with YCDTOT and several other imported dramas such as Adventures in Rainbow Country and Black Beauty. However, they were not original programs but adaptions for Nickelodeon to air. Gerry Laybourne whom followed Cy in 1984 did bring a couple of shows first shown on Nickelodeon in that comedic format (i.e. Out Of control and the abysmal Turkey Television), but it wouldn't be until 1989 when the network's own sitcoms and dramas would come the fruition starting with Hey Dude and Fifteen as would continue to grow the following decade with Pete & Pete and All That. What was inside Cy's head is a mystery, more PBS oriented than say, major network (i.e CBS, ABC, NBC). By the way, the network's first comedic show was Out Of Control in 1984 and Fifteen in 1990 which was far long overdue for the network to explore its horizons.

[@stephenholloway6893]

Plus it cost money to do any original programs which back then Nickelodeon didn't have a lot of from Warner Bros. So all they could do was package shows or talk shows far as original programs at the time.

[@kaptnhowdy3269]

Nice to hear something about those old serials. I'll have to check out the one with Lugosi. And was this Mock Up of Moschitta the White Guardian?

[@poparena]

It was indeed the White Guardian, good eye. :)

[@daltonriser1125]

the theme to the flash gordon movie has aged much better than the movie itself

[@racepace9955]

Dale earnhardt's cameo

[@userofscience1000]

Love your work, keep doing this and your guaranteed 1,000,000 SUBSCRIBERS. Also, where are you? From where I live, (Texas) you posted this at midnight.

[@userofscience1000]

yep

[@JetstreamGW]

"... under gas for a tooth extraction!" Oh, that's where the Dick Van Dyke show got that.

[@only257]

Interesting 🧐

[@sparklespark]

4:17 Inn's pace!

[@CNFunnyJon]

Quite interesting. I want cereal now. XD

[@SunnysFilms]

Then, one day, while combing the shelves of a thrift shop, KZbinr Brutal Moose comes across some tapes and brings them home, only to discover the lost media that is - Nickel Flicks. (Shh. Let me have this dream.)

[@JellyBeantheCorgi]

That would be GLORIOUS. Glad to see another Brutalmoose fan here

[@SunnysFilms]

@@JellyBeantheCorgi Same. Brutalmoose deserves more subscribers. His Mystery Tapes series is some of the best content to be found on YT.

[@abraveastronaut]

You know what they say about assuming: it makes an ass out of u and Ming, and you don't want to make an ass out of Ming, because he'll be merciless when he responds.

[@TheSchmuck2]

That was a really nice message at the end. You seem two steps removed from the Illuminati yourself! 😉

[@redwaytoo]

What's the name of the song at the beginning?

[@Musicradio77Network]

Vladislav Eskov It was the intro to "Flash Gordon" from the 1936, the first of three "Flash Gordon" serials for Universal.

[@redwaytoo]

I was looking for 1979 by THe Smashing Pumpkins Found it already, but thanks!

[@jaggerguth4391]

Flash Gordan Also Fought Other Villains Not Related the Moguls. Like Baron Dak-Tula, The Red Sword, Prince Polon, and Pyron to Name a Few. It a Shame They are Not Use in The TV Series. I Would Like Having The Red Sword Being The Villains in Multiple Arcs or Having Baron Dak-Tula as a Minor Threat.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Nobody really works their way up like they used to.

[@poparena]

Thanks for pointing me to that Laserdisc footage, btw. :)

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Glad to help! I know that "Silver Ball" footage I've sent may help out greatly too!

[@lonedragon3261]

Sorry for the late notice but Razyel Kayne Reviews on youtube has a live interview with John Moschitta Jr. tomorrow at 4pm ET. I've asked him to ask if Mr Moschitta has anything he'd like to say about Nickel Flicks. If you have any more specific questions you'd like asked, you could request in the live chat or try sending Raz a message on IG.