User:DoctorHT/Sonic Man

Sonic ManSonic Man was a live-action, super-hero character who introduced children's shows, gave basic life-instruction to children and hosted phone-in and postcard correspondence games on the Charlotte, NC, TV channel WCCB (TV 18) in the late 1970's and early 1980's. He was promoted as an alien super-hero from the planet Utor who often spoke short phrases such as in his native language

"The Fabulous Funnies" Block
A 4-page, promotional pamphlet for "Sonic Vocabulary" dated 1978 indicates that Sonic Man first appeared on WCCB July 7, 1978. The pamphlet further describes him as hosting a block of programs called "The Fabulous Funnies" from 2:30pm until 5:30pm. Consulting a TV Guide "Carolina-Tennessee" edition for the week of July 1-7, 1978 demonstrates that the show did indeed debut that week, as WCCB lists its programming in that time block as "To Be Announced" for the week. Consulting a TV Guide for the same area for the next week (July 8-14, 1978) demonstrates that "The Fabulous Funnies Block" is represented by individual, 30 minute cartoon shows such as "Spiderman" and "Ultraman" filling the 2:30-5:30pm block. The shows included in this block varied greatly over the years as various TV Guides from the "Carolina-Tennessee" area indicate. A sample page from August 27, 1979 demonstrates that shows such as "Batman," "Marvel Superheroes" and "Krofft Superstars" had entered the block and replaced earlier shows.

"Gotcha!" Phone-in and Correspondence Game
The same "Sonic Vocabulary" flyer from 1978 indicates that Sonic Man hosted a game called "Gotcha!" on-air. According to the flyer, the game could be played via postcard or by phone (or, presumably both).

Sonic Man Promotional Materials
WCCB promoted Sonic Man with several free marketing items. The first was a four-page pamphlet which translated many of Sonic Man's "Sonic Vocabulary" (words that he uttered on the show in his supposed native Utorian language) into English (printed in 1978). There was also a free, color poster of Sonic Man that WCCB distributed in the Charlotte area. Finally, the Charlotte Observer newspaper included a free iron-on of Sonic Man in one of its Sunday editions.

Sonic Man Christmas Parade Footage
Sonic Man appears briefly in footage from the 1979 Charlotte Christmas parade. He appears in minutes 1:19-1:27 in the footage.