I can agree with most of the comments posted here. It was a great and fun show to watch. As a child,I didn't discovered "Villa Alegre" until the late seventies.
"Villa Alegre" was one of the few PBS children's show where you didn't have to stay home sick from school to discover it. Examples of shows that ran only during regular school hours would be "Inside Out", "Metric System", and "Self Incorporated". These shows and so many others never played in the late afternoons, weekends, or in the summertime. As a adult now, I wonder what schools had television sets in their classrooms as learning aids? Sadly, a whole generation of seventies's kids missed out on these entertaining educational programs that were especially designed for them!
In New York City, "Villa Alegre" ran on the three local PBS stations which were Channel 13, 25, and 31. I remember the show playing in the afternoons as well as the weekends.
The show worked so well due to it didn't hit the viewer over the head with it's message. It just centered around a Mexican community dealing with the universal aspects of everyday life. Yes, one could come away knowing how to count to ten in Spanish and how to say various words in the language as well.
As a young Afro-American who was lousy at sports, but would loved to read and watch television a lot, it was always a treat to view this show. Again, pointing to the low key approach it took, I being a quiet child, loved to watch "Villa Alegre" all by myself.
Another important element is now looking back at it, the show gave a glimpse into the Mexican community that I wasn't exposed to. As a child then, my only references would be the westerns and cartoons that played on television. But "Villa Alegre" showed real people and that was important to my development in learning about other cultures.
I would love to mention characters and plots, but because it's been a dozen and more years since viewing a episode, I don't want to commit a error of sorts. But I do remember various scenes taking place in the town's bakery and neighborhood square. As I look back now, the one character who comes to mind would be the little girl. I would loved to say her name was Maria, but I would most likely be wrong. But I do remember her in most of the scenes. If she wasn't talking, she was always listening and learning. I do remember one scene where one of the adults bought her into a store or the bakery. The adult explain that the little girl was having a bad day due to none of the other kids were allowing her into their circle of fun for that day and that she was very hurt and lonely. The baker or shop keeper allowed the girl to help out so she wouldn't feel sad. Who as a child didn't have a experience of being ignored by their friends?
Another standout of the show would be the theme: 'La,la,la,la,la,Villa Alegre!' If you brought up the show to my friends back then, the theme would be the first thing they would recite. It no surprise that most adults who remember the show will mentioned the theme.
I would loved to see this show again. To those who left similar comments about trying to find copies somewhere, one place would be the Museum of Radio and Television in Manhattan. They keep copies of old shows on file for viewing. But be forewarn, many years ago I went there in my senior year in high school looking for the PBS math show "Infinity Factory" and they didn't have it on file. All the shows mentioned here come from the same time period of the seventies. Maybe as a time factor, check their web site and see if "Villa Alegre" is a show they have copies of.
In hindsight, it's a shame of sorts there were no video recorders back then for the public home market. But maybe one day, "Villa Alegre" and so many other show will be available for viewing. It will be great to see them once again!
"Villa Alegre" was one of the few PBS children's show where you didn't have to stay home sick from school to discover it. Examples of shows that ran only during regular school hours would be "Inside Out", "Metric System", and "Self Incorporated". These shows and so many others never played in the late afternoons, weekends, or in the summertime. As a adult now, I wonder what schools had television sets in their classrooms as learning aids? Sadly, a whole generation of seventies's kids missed out on these entertaining educational programs that were especially designed for them!
In New York City, "Villa Alegre" ran on the three local PBS stations which were Channel 13, 25, and 31. I remember the show playing in the afternoons as well as the weekends.
The show worked so well due to it didn't hit the viewer over the head with it's message. It just centered around a Mexican community dealing with the universal aspects of everyday life. Yes, one could come away knowing how to count to ten in Spanish and how to say various words in the language as well.
As a young Afro-American who was lousy at sports, but would loved to read and watch television a lot, it was always a treat to view this show. Again, pointing to the low key approach it took, I being a quiet child, loved to watch "Villa Alegre" all by myself.
Another important element is now looking back at it, the show gave a glimpse into the Mexican community that I wasn't exposed to. As a child then, my only references would be the westerns and cartoons that played on television. But "Villa Alegre" showed real people and that was important to my development in learning about other cultures.
I would love to mention characters and plots, but because it's been a dozen and more years since viewing a episode, I don't want to commit a error of sorts. But I do remember various scenes taking place in the town's bakery and neighborhood square. As I look back now, the one character who comes to mind would be the little girl. I would loved to say her name was Maria, but I would most likely be wrong. But I do remember her in most of the scenes. If she wasn't talking, she was always listening and learning. I do remember one scene where one of the adults bought her into a store or the bakery. The adult explain that the little girl was having a bad day due to none of the other kids were allowing her into their circle of fun for that day and that she was very hurt and lonely. The baker or shop keeper allowed the girl to help out so she wouldn't feel sad. Who as a child didn't have a experience of being ignored by their friends?
Another standout of the show would be the theme: 'La,la,la,la,la,Villa Alegre!' If you brought up the show to my friends back then, the theme would be the first thing they would recite. It no surprise that most adults who remember the show will mentioned the theme.
I would loved to see this show again. To those who left similar comments about trying to find copies somewhere, one place would be the Museum of Radio and Television in Manhattan. They keep copies of old shows on file for viewing. But be forewarn, many years ago I went there in my senior year in high school looking for the PBS math show "Infinity Factory" and they didn't have it on file. All the shows mentioned here come from the same time period of the seventies. Maybe as a time factor, check their web site and see if "Villa Alegre" is a show they have copies of.
In hindsight, it's a shame of sorts there were no video recorders back then for the public home market. But maybe one day, "Villa Alegre" and so many other show will be available for viewing. It will be great to see them once again!