The Alvin Show was the first television series to feature the singing characters Alvin and the Chipmunks, although a series with a similar concept The Nutty Squirrels Present had aired a year earlier. It lasted for just one season in prime time. The series rode the momentum of creator Ross Bagdasarian's original hit musical gimmick and developed the singing Chipmunk trio as rambunctious kids–particularly the show's namesake star–whose mischief contrasted to (and usually exasperated) his tall, brainy brother Simon and his chubby, gluttonous brother Theodore, as well as their long-suffering, perpetually put-upon manager-father figure, Dave Seville.
It was a hit with children and adults alike, and even today manages to inspire films that still feature the iconic yell of "Aaaaalviiiiin!" to the delight of fans old and new. Whether you were into the program as a child or your own children have taken to Alvin and his brothers, cheering for him, Simon and Theodore and try not to get sucked in yourself, it was a great era of television. Its appeal to Hollywood only cements this further.
Cast and Characters Voices
Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. as Alvin, Simon, Theodore, David Seville
Shepard Menken as Clyde Crashcup
June Foray as Mrs. Frumpington and other female voices
Bill Lee
Johnny Mann
Lee Patrick
The Chipmonks
Alvin
Simon
Theodore
David Seville
Clyde Crashcup
Mrs. Frumpington
Broadcast History First Telecast:SeptOctober 4, 1961 Last Telecast: September 12, 1962 Number of Episodes: 26
Number of Seasons: 1
Original Network: CBS
October 4, 1961- September 1962, CBS, Wednesday 7:30-8:00pm
Theme Song and Opening Credits
This is the Alvin Show,
The Alvin Show,
You'll positively gonna love the Alvin Show.
There's Dave Seville,
And what is more
Here's the boy we know as Theodore.
Now you see,
On camera three,
The brother known as Simon on the family tree.
And here's the star of the show,
Alvin, Alvin!
(musical interlude)
Spoken: I am Clyde Crashcup
Spoken: Clyde Crashcup, the great inventor.
Ready, here we go,
Here's the Alvin Show.