MovieChat Forums > Babes in Toyland (1934) Discussion > I miss WPIX, BABES in TOYLAND, and KING...

I miss WPIX, BABES in TOYLAND, and KING KONG!

posted 10 years ago by sniktakssup
10 replies | jump to latest

Gawd, there are so many things I miss since I left NJ for VA. For instance, real Italian food, real rolls and bread, bakeries, SUBS, PIZZA, and of course "Babes in Toyland".
I have programmed my DirecTV receiver to record "Babes in Toyland"/"The March of the Wooden Soldiers" since 2005, and it has been aired only once!!!! Can you believe it?! Still every year I frantically search the guide and set the receivers to record the movie... just in case.
My husband once asked," Why can't you just buy the DVD and watch it every year?". I yelled in disbelief, "Are you kidding? This is a tradition, it isn't the same as watching it on tv!" He just couldn't understand.
I'm sure there is someone that has moved out of the metro area that can relate to my feelings. It's very frustrating not be able to find a channel that airs this holiday classic! I just can't understand why this great movie is only aired for the NY audience! It's a wonderful, holiday classic, and everyone will enjoy it!

[–] Taylorfirst1 10 years ago

I left NY years ago. I got Babes in Toyland/March of the Wooden Soldiers and King Kong on VHS and I have since gotten them both on DVD. Nowadays the TV channels edit them so much, it is not even worth watching.

With great power comes great responsibility.

[–] Underdog_73 7 years ago

Not only can I relate, it's as if you described my life! :-) The only difference is I moved from NY! The only things I'd add to your list are, specifically, Italian Delis (parsley/cheese sausage), good Chinese food, Drake's Cakes (they showed up finally, but are now Hostess and not the same), and the WPIX Thanksgiving showing of Mighty Joe Young. More spefic of the bakeries would be black and white cookies, though I miss all of it!

I personally bought the DVDs of all the movies shown on WPIX, but you're right, the tradition is not the same!

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I have a version of King Kong and a version of March of The Wooden Soldier that I taped onto VHS back in the 1980s. I have since transferred them to DVD and watch them every year. Since they have all of their commercials it feels as if they are airing on television.

[–] Underdog_73 (756) 6 years ago

I used to have March of the Wooden Soldiers on VHS, taped from the WPIX showing on Thanksgiving in the 80s, but it either got lost or tossed during several moves. I miss the nostalgia of the commercial breaks, but I do have the DVD.

One thing I'm curious about is the title. It seems everywhere other than the Northeast, this is known as Babes in Toyland. For years I thought everyone else was crazy, but we seem to be the oddballs. Maybe it was just WPIX?

A little off topic, but does anyone remember the Intellivision games callers would play on screen in the afternoons after school? The player would say PIX, PIX, PIX, to fire at the enemies or for any action pretty much. I'm sure it was someone on the other end simply hitting the button when they said it!

[–] Taylorfirst1 (107) 6 years ago

Yes, I remember watching that game being played on WPIX.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

A lot of those commercial breaks are on youtube.

I think that there are slight variations between March of the Wooden Soldiers and Babes in Toyland. Since WPIX (at the time ) was an independent station they probably had the rights to air whichever version was cheaper. I am just speculating though.

Yes, I remember the Intellivision callers. And you are right there was simply someone in the studio hitting the fire button as soon as the child on the phone said PIX. I can't remember where I read that, but that's how it was done.

[–] Enigmaticocean77 (2122) 4 years ago

And so, in 2019 the tradition continues. So far they have played the black and white version of this film followed by the colorized version of "The Live Ghost". Now WPIX is airing old Honeymooners episodes until 3 PM. After that they will be airing this classic again. I am so glad that at least one station has the intelligence to keep old traditions alive :)

[–] Bloodworth79 (5563) 4 years ago

Got to watch babes and toy land every Christmas.....I caught the colored version and it looked great.

[–] Enigmaticocean77 (2122) 4 years ago

Hi. It's good to know that there is life out here. I got to watch it yesterday too. Unfortunately, I didn't get to watch any of the Honeymooners marathon that aired after it, but it was still a good day regardless.

[–] rateater (9226) 3 years ago

those were the days.