First Row Features
British children's films introduced to U.S. audiences on Nickelodeon.
First Row Features was an anthology program on Nickelodeon that ran from February 1980 to January 1982. It mostly showed British television films for children and families, many from the Children's Film Foundation and originally produced in the 1950s and 1960s. The show’s opening credits used claymation, made at Nickelodeon’s temporary Buffalo, New York studio. This series was a forerunner to Special Delivery, which started later in 1980 and eventually took its place.
Quick Facts
- Runtime
- 1 hour
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Network
- Nickelodeon
- First aired
- 1980
- Last aired
- 1982, 1
Facts from the source article.
Background
The program featured made-for-TV films from the United Kingdom, selected by employees at Nickelodeon. In January 1982, the Gannett newspaper The Times described the show as a collection of 'one hour feature films for children ranging from comedies and adventures to dramas and semi-documentaries.' Although most of the content had been filmed and released in Europe decades earlier, the films were marketed as new to U.S. viewers. New films premiered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. At the time of its creation, First Row Features was one of only five programs that were aired in a loop to fill the entire Nickelodeon schedule. It was non-commercial and advertisements were never played between features.
Did You Know?
- Its claymation title sequence was created in-house at Nickelodeon's temporary headquarters in Buffalo, New York.
- The show mainly carried British television films from the Children's Film Foundation, most filmed in the 1950s–60s.
More in 1980s American Anthology Television Series
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