Reading Rainbow, the PBS television series and first thing children of the ’80s think of when they hear “LeVar Burton,” airs for the last time today after 26 years. The reason? Contract expiration. My most vivid memories of the ‘bow are the old-school opening credits, which I usually watched with my sister before wandering away to go read a book. As I haven’t watched them since, I’m in a mild state of shock and awe right now because now I know why, whenever we learned about explorers in social studies or history class, I pictured a giant sand castle next to, like, Vasco da Gama. (Totally the best explorer by the way.)
I’d like to issue both a tip of my hat and a wag of my finger to singer Tina Fabrique for ensuring that the theme song will soothe/haunt me all weekend. You can watch the first-ever episode, in which Burton reads the ever-applicable Picture Puffins book Tight Times, here. WARNING: The updated opening credits may freak you out.
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE Reading Rainbow. It solidified my love of books as a kid. Too bad it won’t go on, but at least it has a long legacy of showing kids how enjoyable and fun reading is. And old-school credits will always win in my book!
SO SAD…. I LOVED RR as a kid & would write down titles & find them at the library. Thank you RR for many great memories.
The theme song has been in my head since I heard it on NPR this morning, and it will probably stay there all weekend. Love it!
great show. awesome theme song (old version anyway. that new version was a little weird).
I too loved watching RR and after it was over I would get my mom drive me to the Library to check out books.
I remember our elementary school had a teacher named Mrs. North. She taught one of the third grade classes. She would make her own reading rainbows with the students, each would pick a book, read an excerpt, and it would be amaturely edited with the credits of the opening theme song…ahh memories
heard about it on NPR this morning and got SO upset. RR was such a great show and really made me care about reading as a kid.
and yes, that song will forever live on in the recesses of my consciousness and i TOTALLY agree about the sandcastle deal.
RR was one of my favorites as a child – I always wanted to be one of the kids giving a testimonial for a book. Later in life, I worked at a PBS station and saw some of the newer episodes. Levar & RR team: thanks for all your work on publicizing the love of reading.
How very sad. Fortunately my 4 year old daughter has been able to enjoy RR for the last, well, 4 years, and she already has a strong love of books…thanks Levar!
RIP my childhood.
Wow. RR is only 1 year older than I am…I always just assumed it would be on forever and ever until Levar Burton died of old age and no one dare fill his hallowed shoes. You know, like Mr. DressUp or Mr. Rogers or something. That’s kind of pathetic that they feel unable to fund a show about how to read in the “book appreciation” sense because apparently kids are no longer taught phonics at school (???).
Wow, talk about a flashback to my childhood! So sad to hear about RR, that show definitely helped me appreciate reading and brings back memories! Thanks LeVar and company!
My introduction to LeVar Burton was through Star Trek: TNG, not RR (RIP) — but I distinctly recall my six-year-old self being so confused as to why Geordi wasn’t wearing his visor.
i always loved the episode that went behind the scenes of ‘Cats’
I remember that! Whoah…how long ago was that???
Loved this show so much as a kid! I wasn’t an 80s kid, but I was born in ‘90 so I watched the RR with the old school credits. That show definitely had a role in making me love to read as a kid. Too bad kids today won’t have it anymore to learn the samething. :’(