When I was growing up in Oglesby, Illinois in the late 60s and early 70s, late Sunday afternoons (at least from September-May) were reserved for Family Classics, a weekly movie program hosted by Frazier Thomas on WGN-TV Channel 9 out of Chicago.
It became a Chicago-land tradition (and also for those of us just outside of the city in the early days of cable TV) to watch these films on those cold, gray, fall and winter Sunday afternoons until we knew these movies by heart (most of the same films were shown every year). To be sure these films became old friends to any child sitting down in from of the television set and watching Family Classics every Sunday.
Frazier Thomas personally picked and edited the movies to be shown on Family Classics to insure they were safe for children to watch, but the films—many classic Hollywood productions—were equally enjoyable for adults. As host of the show, Thomas introduced each week’s film with a short commentary, and then, during commercial breaks provided additional commentary and getting us ready for the exciting climax/conclusion.
The show, which ran from 1962 until 2000 (Frazier Thomas was the host until his sudden death in 1985) was noted for many of its classic and family oriented Hollywood movies from The Adventures of Robin Hood and Lassie Come Home to holiday favorites like Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Carol. 
You know, life seemed simpler and more innocent back then if you were a child growing up—even though it was a turbulent time in America. Many of the movies shown fueled our imaginations and gave us celluloid heroes to admire from fictional ones like Robin Hood and Huckleberry Finn to real life heroes like Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln and Alexander Graham Bell. Some films like Sink the Bismarck! and Yellow Jack (a film about the doctors who tried to eradicate Yellow Fever in Cuba) taught us about history and other heroes. However, what I think these movies instilled in us—at least what they instilled in me was this whole notion of a simpler time. It was a time when kids could still just be kids.
So, yeah I am waxing a little nostalgic today and thinking about one of the films that I remember watching on Family Classics so many years ago, Mysterious Island.
This is a splendid adventure story adapted freely from the Jules Verne novel. A group of union soldiers in a Confederate prison hijack a weather balloon during a storm, which, due to some very strange climatic conditions, takes them across the United States and over half the Pacific ocean. Miraculously, they land on an island, where they soon encounter, among other things, a giant crab, bees the size of cows, and a smoking volcano as well as another Jules Verne character Captain Nemo (played by a young Herbert Lom). 
The story is too good to give away, and much of the pleasure of the film is the way it unfolds, chapter by chapter, as it were, without seeming episodic or forced. Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion creatures are breathtaking, and movie is overall beautiful to see, very imaginative, managing to walk a fine line between the fantastic and the realistic, with just enough artifice in some of the exterior shots to make it seem larger than life, but not so much as to come off as contrived. Director Cy Enfield deserves his share of credit for keeping the focus on the story, not the special effects, and maintaining a deliberate pace with veteran actors like Gary Merrill.
It was the perfect film to be shown on Family Classics and one that you looked forward to seeing again and again.
And that’s exactly what I intend on doing today—watching Mysterious Island.
What was the theme song to family classics?
Is there a list somewhere of all the movies that were played on “Family Classics?
Found the opening theme to “Family Classics”
http://www.toontracker.com/kidra/kidra.htm
there used to be another version of a chistmas carol that used to be played on family classics. I think it may have been called just Schrooge . there was a particular scene where Bob Crachet is throwing snow ball back at these kids that are throwing snow ball at him . and then he start to show these kids how to make snowballs better then one of the kids tells him someone is coming . so Bob Crachet gets ready to throw the snowball and when the person gets there he throws the snowball and knocks the person’s hat . the person turn out to be Mr.Scrooge and then the hat get ran over by a horse carriage bugy after that Schrooge demanded that Crachet pay Schrooge for the hat . that after wards Crachet is walking down the sidewalk sad. there is smeone walking in front of him carrying a turkey or some type of a bird home for dinner. Crachet is lookin at the bird then all of sudden he starts to smile as if he was getiing in to the christmas spirit . then he start saying merry chritmas to everyone and laughing. does anyone remember that version of a christmas carol. like i said it maybe called schrooge. anyway i wanted to know where i could find it. I sick of seeing the other one they show every year with: Alastair Sim, Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, i think that one was made in 1950 . not thato don’t like it i just get sick of seein that version.
My #1 movie on Family classics was Snowfire…anyone remember that one..
Anyone remember the movie Snowfire…
You’re looking for the 1938 “A Christmas Carol” with Reginald Owen as Scrooge, which was the version Frazier Thomas showed on “Family Classics.”
Some of you posted asking about the movie Snowfire. I grew up watching Frazier Thomas until I moved out of state in 73. I still miss that show. At any rate I am trying to remember what that movie is about. Could someone post a quick synopsis, please.
about the theme to family classics,do you have any idea who wrote it?
Thanks for your comments, Smokie. I have no idea who wrote the theme song but it is one of those themes, that if you grew up watching Family Classics and listening to that theme, it is hard to get out of your mind.
Thanks again for your comments.
Try this for a quick list
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Classics
We watched these every Sunday growing up in Elmhurst…any one remember a strange one about a ghost who died behind a brick wall (ala Poe style)? Strangely enough, it was a comedy.
The 1960s would have been the golden years of television, had it not been for that terrible announcement during Bozo on November 22nd, 1963, by Walter Cronkite. Only through the efforts of great men like Frazier Thomas, Ned Locke and Ray Rayner were we, the last of the baby-boomers saved for another half of a decade. These men would give us good advice, and make us feel like someone cared. Once the liberals took over the networks, nothing would remain sacred. I still remember Frazier Thomas reminding us to” tell our parents to take us to Church or Temple over the weekend”, at the end of Garfield Goose on Friday afternoon. May God rest their souls, and may we never forget their love and good advice.
Does anyone know if WGN is going to release any DVD’s of these shows? It would be a real shame if they didn’t!!
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Family_Classics.html
@Duane: many boomers from the era have asked WGN this question. The deal is that the original tapes were taped-over, and the family owns the rights. Whatever we remember of Fraze et al exists only in our heads.
I was a very sick little boy when Frazier Thomas and his invention kept up my spirits, and love everything about him. I wish I could reproduce it all. I’ve searched the web forever.
I appreciate all the comments on Family Classics. It is amazing how many people remember this show and the memories they have watching it. Sunday afternoons were always a special time for us kids back in the 60s and 70s when we would watch this show. In a way, it carries us all back to a time of innocence in our lives even though the 60s and 70s were a turbulent time in America. Thank you again for all your comments. It just shows how important Family Classics was to us all.
Great memories, for sure.
I believe I read somewhere that the Family Classics theme came from a stock music library…possibly music from the BBC library if memory serves me.
One of my favorite childhood Family Classic selections was “Tobor the Great,” a 1950s-era robot movie. “Tobor” was “robot” spelled backwards. It’s now on DVD if anyone shares my nostalgia for that particular movie.
On another note, when Frazier Thomas was doing Garfield Goose (oh how I wished I had some unusual hobby that would allow me to appear on the “Hobby Corner” segment back then), I wrote and requested an autograph. A few days later I got a nice color postcard with Frazier’s autograph on the back. Long ago lost of course, as is often the case with childhood memorabilia.
Nice to share the memories with you guys…
I no longer live in Chicago, the Air Force took me ’round the world and we settled in Boise. Trying to explain to my wife how wonderful WGN was growing up in the 60s and 70s is difficult. Explaining Ray Rayner and Fraser Thomas is difficult at best. They even sound weird coming out of my mouth these days.
But how lucky we were! Ray every morning doing the weather and traffic, the whole family in the room at one time or another. My Gramma lived with us and LOVED Garfield Goose. She’d yell “Hotdogs, Hamburgers, Spaghettie and Meatballs” to wake up the dog with me.
Thanks for the memories.
RW,
Thanks a million for the Family Classics theme song .mp3 file; I’ve been looking for it for a long time! Now, if I can only find the name so I can look for the entire piece.
Hello all – I’m amazed at how many people have remarked on the theme music used to Family Classics. I live the UK and had never heard of the show until very recently when I received an email from an American man who was so enamoured with the theme that he decided to track down the details regarding who wrote it.
The piece of music is called “Moviescope” and is a piece of what is known as ‘library music’ – music written and then catalogued with a number of descriptive tags so that someone can pick it out from the catalogue and already have a general idea of what they will hear. It’s accessible and cheap to use and so that’s probably why library music is popular for television soundtracks. Moviescope is from the Berry/Conroy label, library number BM-292, and is most certainly out of print.
However, my main reason for writing here is because it was written by my grandfather – Dennis Alfred Berry. He was a self-taught composer who originally worked as a floor sweeper at music publishers Boosey & Hawkes. At the height of his career he was the head of the entire Peer-Southern Music library and often wrote and published his own library music – just like Moviescope. Some other music he has written has found its way into television, and you can hear it in shows such as Spongebob Squarepants, The Osbournes and even in-hotel resort videos at Disneyland.
I’m so thrilled that my grandfather’s music has brought you all so many happy memories and I hope that you found what I’ve said interesting.
I think it is amazing how so many people remember Family Classics and the theme music. It has been really nice reading all the comments here about the show and what it means to so many people. Thank you all for commenting.
The theme song from family classics haunted me for 30 years. I wondered what it was. I even sang it to my music theory professor in college to see if she recognized it. I thought maybe it came for the opera repertoire or something, but no. NOW I know! Thanks
please help this is driving me crazy…does anyone remember an animated movie shown yr after her…all I really remember is that I think the main character was a grasshopper or some kind of insect and the only other thing I remember is something about rain….don’t know if I imagined this or if it truly was a movie…if you can give me info thanks in advance
Wow!
Those were the days, I sure miss going to my grandparents and can’t wait for Family Classics to come on. All my brothers and sisters and cousins would get around the TV and watch.
Loved all the movies!! Thank you for the memories
I think you are thinking of “Hoppity Goes to Town”. That movie was by the Fleischer brothers, who also did “Popeye” and “Gulliver’s Travels”.
Born in 76 and Frazier Thomas is a HUGE part of my early memories. Yes, cuddling up in a homemade afghan on a dreary Sunday afternoon to watch him after church was tradition. He warmed my soul then and I never knew everyone else felt the same way until I started searching the internet. I was sad when he passed and felt like I had lost a piece of me though I was only 9. I relied on routine I guess and it just wasn’t the same for me on Sunday after that. I wonder if he could have ever guessed at the heritage he left behind in all his viewers. I can’t even leave my children alone with the TV now for fear of commercials. I’m so thankful to have been born in a time when innocence was still celebrated. Thank you Frazier Thomas.
I grew up with Frazier Thomas and all his movies were a treat to watch and wholesome, and when I came on this web site to look for a movie there were some comments already there. I am looking for the movie snowfire for my sister who seen this movie when she was a child and asked if I can look for it, if there is anyone with this movie that can help me please contact me. thank you
Does anyone have the movie Snowfire? I want a copy of this movie to share with my daughter. It was such a feel good movie.
has anyone identified the song used for theme of “Family Classics” with host Frazier Thomas? Or whether it was written for the show?
Dave, scroll down the comments and you will see a post written by one of the family members of the man who wrote the theme music as well as a link to hear it.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Jeffrey
I was born in 1964 & remember watching “Family Classics” from the time I was about 5. My father would build this roaring fire on Sunday afternoons and as I got older, would share some “Mogen David” or Blackberry Brandy with us while we watched good old Frazier. Even as I got older friends would come over and watch with us too or I’d be watching at their house. I went to college in the Fall of 82 & watched at Christmas (always Christmas Carol) & Easter (Song of Bernadette) when I was home. A friend I worked with at Strack’s in Schererville had me video tape it so I could send to him in Korea as there was a contingent of people from the Chicago area who missed the show as well.
It makes me sad though that kids today won’t have the memories that obviously so many of us today cherish, even if we complained about having to watch every single Sunday.
Sometimes when I’m stressed the music pops into my head as well. Glad to see I’m not the only one.
I have been searching for a title and composer of the Family Classics theme song for years. It has driven me, and several of my siblings mad for a long, long, time. I hear that song, and instantly, I’m thrown back to a Sunday afternoon, deep into Autumn, in which my brother and I are in my parents living room (occasionally, my older sister would join us) watching the show. The music would start, the credits would roll, and then there was Frazier in his “film library.” He would pull a volume from a shelf, and then begin to tell us about that afternoon’s film presentation. I may have the sequence of the show’s opening wrong, but that’s how I remember it; and it is fond to recall, and is a strangely comforting memory. The power of music amazes me. The theme song from that show is haunting and dramatic, and slightly melancholic; and has the power to stir in me many a fond childhood memory. I’m so glad (relieved) to finally have found out its origination. Thank you.
Rick
Glen Ellyn
I remember Snowfire! It was a favorite of mine too. I want to see if Netflix has it. Family Classics was such a bright spot in life back then..
Many thanks, Howard Berry, for the interesting information about your very talented grandfather!
“Moviescope” was an incredible piece of music, and simply unforgettable (you can see the proof here, after so many years). It certainly rose far above the term, “library music.”
Here are the entries now on Wikipedia about both Family Classics and Dennis Berry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Classics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Berry
Also, for anyone living near Chicago or planning a visit, the Museum of Broadcast Communications has props from Family Classics as well as other popular Chicago television shows:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Broadcast_Communications
http://www.museum.tv
To see a nice tribute video about Frazier Thomas, go here and sign up for a free archive viewing account:
http://archives.museum.tv
Then search for “Frazier Thomas Highlights”
In addition, there are lots of other great videos of your favorite Chicago TV personalities and shows.
Great musings and info, folks. I too grew up watching this beloved show. I miss those times sitting in rapt attention as swashbucklers, paupers, thieves, and historical figures help fuel my imagination and made Sundays more bearable. (Well, you know, school on Mondays, ugh!).
There is one movie which I vaguely recall whose title I am seeking. Perhaps if I describe it someone can help. The premise, so far as I can remember, is 2 Japanese boys, who are good friends, have a falling out, then try to reunite at the end of the movie. I believe one of the children’s name was “Tomatsu”. Does this ring any bells for anyone?
BTW the movie with the walled up character was “The Canterville Ghost”, which starred Robert Young and Charles Laughton. Made in 1944, I believe.
Lee,
Thanks so much for stopping by and for commenting! That Japanese movie you referred to sounds very familiar. I recall watching this B&W Japanese one hour show on a Saturday afternoon at least once or twice about two Japanese boys–one was overweight and the other one was skinny. The overweight boy had all kinds of problems at school but was befriended by the thin boy. Well, one day the overweight boy moves away from the village and his friend is sad. However, his friend goes to see him in another village and he is doing much better.
Thanks again for your comments.
Jeffrey
Lee,
The film I was referring to and the one I think you were thinking about was Chibideka Monogatari (1958) also known as “Skinny and Fatty.”
I remembered this one quite well as a child and how much that it moved me.
I grew up in southern Wisconsin, and WGN was one of the few stations we could get with our rooftop antenna. “Family Classics” was a Sunday tradition!!!I loved all the movies he showed. But now, I have a question about one of them. I need a title. The movie was British, late 50’s early 60’s, in color. It was a variation of the “Robinson Caruso” (pardon my spelling) theme with an English girl becoming shipwrecked. She thinks she is alone on a tropical island until she meets a “native” girl the same age. The movie is about their adventures and in the end, the girl is, somewhat reluctantly, rescued.
Does anyone remember this film? I can only remember seeing it once. Which, for “Family Classics”, is rather odd. I saw it in the early 70’s, during the “classic” period. I have been racking my brain, and the internet, for the longest time trying to find it. Any help would be dearly appreciated.
Go Cubs!!!!!!!!