During the early 1950's, amid the run of SUPER CIRCUS, series co-star Mary Hartline had her own show out of Chicago. In PRINCESS MARY'S MAGIC CASTLE, she plays the princess in charge (sort of) of a magic kingdom peopled by magicians, puppets, talking animals etc. In this installment, they perform a Muppets-style parody of SOUTH PACIFIC (then one of the hottest musicals running) called NORTH ANTARCTIC, which includes take-offs of several popular songs from the show ("You've Got To Wash That Snow Right Out of the Air" etc.)
In THE MARY HARTLINE SHOW, from WENR in Chicago, Mary and pianist Chet Roble bring young guests on from the Chicago area, who compete for prizes (including puppies, dolls, Revell Circus Sets, Quilt Sets, and tool kits) for themselves and their best friends, who are called live on the air. The show also includes a cartoon presentation of the early 1930's black-and-white Ub Iwerks cartoon "The Brave Tin Soldier," set in a toy shop at night and including parodies of Laurel and Hardy and other pop-culture fixtures of the time.
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