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[Music] Come and meet The Letter People
Mr. M and Mr. T
Mr. N and Mr. H
and Mr. F, don't forget me.
[Narrator]: Since 1972, elementary school children have been introduced to the letters of the alphabet
and their sounds through "The Letter People."
For nearly 30 of those years, a major component of The Letter People Program was The Letter People TV Series.
[Music]
Come and meet The Letter People
come and visit the family.
Words are made of Letter People.
ABCD, follow me.
[Narrator]: Originally created as a locally based program in 1974 by the St. Louis PBS station KETC,
the program quickly spread to other PBS Stations across the country.
The final new episode was produced in 1976,
but the show remained on the air almost constantly up through the 1990s.
[Miss O]: Quiet! Now I need an egg, and egg to make my omelet.
[Narrator]: The show used what many people consider to be primitive puppets,
especially when compared to more complex puppets such as The Muppets.
When the show first debuted, The Letter People Land sets were extremely basic
with mostly dark backgrounds.
Over time however, new, not incredibly complex, but more colorful sets were introduced.
[Miss A]: Oh yeah? Well what about your music?
It made me wish for a pair of earmuffs!
[Mr. M]: Oh, now that wasn't nice Miss A.
[Mr. N]: I'm Mr. N with the noisy nose...
[Narrator]: A total of 60 episodes of the series were produced
26 of the episodes introduced children to each Letter Person.
This was done mainly by having the Letter Person sing their respective song
originally created for the classroom program.
[Miss A]: When I get happy, achoo...
[Miss E]: Cuz I exercise, exercise, exercise when I'm alone.
[Mr. Z]: Come see my zipping zippers, I'm Mr. Z.
Zipping my zip up slippers, coat, and hat and dungarees.
My hip zip flippers to float in the sea.
Zipping on, zipping off, zipping zippers Mr. Z.
[Mr. C]: Well hello friends, do you know me?
[Narrator]: 23 Letter People introduction songs as well as clips from the three Letter People
who for an unknown reason did not sign their respective songs in the TV series
have been uploaded to this profile.
[Mr. C]: For if you stick with me you'll find you will be stuck.
[Narrator]: 28 of the episodes dealt with The Letter People working together
to form new sounds, words, and sentences.
[Miss A]: That's right Freddie, a short sound and a long sound.
[Frantic Freddie]: I don't understand, you vowels already have one sound.
[Miss A]: Yes, our short sound.
Now we have a long sound too, it's the same as our name.
[Frantic Freddie]: Then, your long sound is A?
[Miss A]: Correct, my long sound is A.
[Music]
[Narrator]: A major feature of word building was "The Catching Game,"
which originated as a TV game show hosted by Monty Swell.
[Monty Swell]: I want you to sound out the word and tell me
which Letter Person are you gonna call out here to get into the starting clue box?
[Contestant]: Let me see...
Sap...sap...sap.
Well, the starting sound I hear is the same sound that starts super socks.
I'm gonna call out that super hero again Mr. S to get into the starting clue box.
[Monty Swell]: Sensational Slaw!
[Narrator]: As the episodes progressed however, The Letter People began playing the game
in various everyday situations, instead of just on TV.
Currently, more and more content from these episodes are being added to this profile as often as possible.
[Music]
The remaining 6 episodes, entitled "The Letter People Hall of Fame,"
were reviews of previously learned concepts using mostly footage from previous episodes.
Because these episodes do not highlight anything new,
there are no plans to post anything from them on this profile.
[Nardo]: ...super sleuth, seeker of truth
and part-time night watchman here at The Letter People Hall of Fame.
Yes, The Letter People Hall of Fame:
a place dedicated to the memory of great and sometimes silly
events that have taken place right here in Letter People Land.
At first, I took this job because I work alone.
That gives me the chance to practice wearing all the clever disguises I need for my detective work.
But I soon found out that The Letter People Hall of Fame is chuck full of great stories.
[Letter People]: Hey Pam hit a grand slam, the game winning home run.
Now we're the new...
[Narrator]: So, here's hoping that you enjoy revising some awesome memories from "The Letter People" TV Show,
right here on the letterpeopleland YouTube profile.
[Letter People]: Hey Pam hit a grand slam, the game winning home run.
Now we're the new world champs,
Letter People are number 1!