ELCA NEWS SERVICE
February 24, 2005
ELCA's Davey And Goliath Easter Special To Air On Hallmark
05-031-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Hallmark Channel will broadcast "Davey and Goliath
Happy Easter" -- a 30-minute, stop-motion animation television special
from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) -- on March 27 at
12:30 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Times and at 11:30 a.m. Central Time.
Viewers in the Mountain Time zone are asked to check their local listings.
Davey Hansen and his talking dog Goliath starred in the classic
television series "Davey and Goliath" that aired on commercial television
in the 1960s and 1970s. The ELCA's mission with Davey and Goliath is to
bring "moral and religious faith-based values to a new generation of
children in lively and engaging ways."
"'Davey and Goliath Happy Easter' is the restored, classic Easter
special broadcast in 1967," said the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director, ELCA
Department for Communication.
"In this production Davey visits his adored grandmother on the
Wednesday before Easter. They play baseball, bake a cake and plan to
attend the Easter pageant together at church on Sunday. But, grandma dies
on Thursday. Davey is overwhelmed with sadness until he learns about
Jesus' resurrection, that his grandma will be raised just as Jesus was
raised," said Shafer.
A study guide for the Easter special will be available at the
official Davey and Goliath Web site -- http://www.daveyandgoliath.org --
maintained by the ELCA. Downloadable coloring and activity pages based on
the Easter special are available at the site.
According to Kristi S. Bangert, director for marketing and
interpretation, ELCA Department for Communication, the ELCA is in the
process of restoring all 65 episodes and six specials of the original
Davey and Goliath television series.
"The restoration brightens the film without losing the charm of the
original look," said Bangert. "It's a manual, frame-by-frame process
requiring much care and detail. The restoration is not an inexpensive
process, but well worth the investment to protect this original property
for the future," she said.
Once completed the restored Davey and Goliath episodes and specials
will be made available on DVD, Bangert said.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
