This show was BRILLIANT. I have searched for YEARS for an archive of early TV programs that has these shows and found none. I've phoned CBS, left numerous messages on Marshall Efron's answering machine, written lots of archives and gotten nowhere. If anyone knows where these programs can be found, please let those of us who adored this brilliant television know. It would be fantastic to have a DVD available. Efron and his writer did do a book of bible stories which I found a used copy of, but it's not the same as having the CBS broadcasts. So. . . somebody needs to rattle somebody's chain and get them to release these programs on DVD or video. We need them.
9 Reviews
alternative approach to Sunday school
scarr-64 August 2008
This ran as part of the "Lamp Unto My Feet" program Sunday afternoons, when all us kids were bored with the absence of cartoons. Happily there was still entertainment from Mr Efron - always wondered how he got this past the censors and blue noses. The method was minimalist acting-out of bible stories, with just one person and a minimum of props. I don't know how many episodes there were, and I guess we all remember different elements. I can still see the Creation of the World: black out on stage, the voice intones: "And the spirit of God moved upon the waters" (slosh slosh slosh). Then there was the famous Harl - Ot case, with Marshall playing King Solomon as well as Ms Harl and Ms Ot, fighting over a dolly. I think I learned to lighten up on bible stories, and not take them for gospel.
Wonderful
richard.fuller11 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
The superlatives are a given. Marshall Effron told wonderful Sunday school stories and they were fun.
Now, let's remember, shall we? He did the story of Joseph and since that would require Jacob and the other 11 brothers, he simply got small dolls dressed up as the brothers and we looked at them as he told the story, much like a little girl might do.
He would hold up the doll who was talking, usually Joseph was the moved doll, but one doll would get very upset one time. He was very amusing in this story, Effron was.
Another one was the Jews crossing the desert out of Egypt, was it? So we see the mannekins standing there, the camera spans across them, then suddenly we see Marshall, glasses and moustache, standing among them, he looks at the camera, raises his hand to speak to us, . . . . . . and screams upon seeing a giant black rubber spider on his hand.
Yes, the Jews had many hardships and dangers they had to encounter in the desert as well.
Adam and Eve. Roly poly, pudgy Marshall would tell the story in long johns that never really ventured beneath his waist anyway, and he wore a flowing blonde wig when he was Eve.
He ended this story so wonderfully by pointing out that if Adam and Eve hadnt eaten the forbidden fruit, none of us would have been here today.
He would do the Jews having the dance and celebration to the golden calf. We would see four images of Marshall, all in different attire, all parading and dancing across the screen, one with a tambourine and so on, but they were so hilarious, all four of them wearing the glasses and the moustache.
But I suppose the one I remember best was the parable of the the two guys, one who was rich and the other who was a tax collector.
The rich man gives the beggar woman (Once again, Marshall as a woman, with the glasses and the moustache) who clutches her ill son (a mannekin of a grown man) a gold coin then looks to Heaven for a blessing.
Then Marshall is the tax collector and takes the money away from the woman.
They both then go to pray and the rich man calls out 'see what good I did, Lord? See how good I am?' and Marshall gives it his all as the tax collector begs for forgiveness.
They were grand, truly grand. Thus endeth that lesson! Years later, I would see a program about the Knights of the Algonquin Round Table who met for a game of cards in New York City, and immediately I recognized Effron's voice.
From there he would do one of the burglars in Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories, "Family Dog."
Now, let's remember, shall we? He did the story of Joseph and since that would require Jacob and the other 11 brothers, he simply got small dolls dressed up as the brothers and we looked at them as he told the story, much like a little girl might do.
He would hold up the doll who was talking, usually Joseph was the moved doll, but one doll would get very upset one time. He was very amusing in this story, Effron was.
Another one was the Jews crossing the desert out of Egypt, was it? So we see the mannekins standing there, the camera spans across them, then suddenly we see Marshall, glasses and moustache, standing among them, he looks at the camera, raises his hand to speak to us, . . . . . . and screams upon seeing a giant black rubber spider on his hand.
Yes, the Jews had many hardships and dangers they had to encounter in the desert as well.
Adam and Eve. Roly poly, pudgy Marshall would tell the story in long johns that never really ventured beneath his waist anyway, and he wore a flowing blonde wig when he was Eve.
He ended this story so wonderfully by pointing out that if Adam and Eve hadnt eaten the forbidden fruit, none of us would have been here today.
He would do the Jews having the dance and celebration to the golden calf. We would see four images of Marshall, all in different attire, all parading and dancing across the screen, one with a tambourine and so on, but they were so hilarious, all four of them wearing the glasses and the moustache.
But I suppose the one I remember best was the parable of the the two guys, one who was rich and the other who was a tax collector.
The rich man gives the beggar woman (Once again, Marshall as a woman, with the glasses and the moustache) who clutches her ill son (a mannekin of a grown man) a gold coin then looks to Heaven for a blessing.
Then Marshall is the tax collector and takes the money away from the woman.
They both then go to pray and the rich man calls out 'see what good I did, Lord? See how good I am?' and Marshall gives it his all as the tax collector begs for forgiveness.
They were grand, truly grand. Thus endeth that lesson! Years later, I would see a program about the Knights of the Algonquin Round Table who met for a game of cards in New York City, and immediately I recognized Effron's voice.
From there he would do one of the burglars in Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories, "Family Dog."
Wonderful, wish I could get it on DVD
anaa1083 February 2002
I was a kid when it came out, but it was really funny, corny with low budget props similar to Dr. Who. The only actor was Marshall Efron (who often appeared on PBS's Great American Dream Machine). Each weekly half hour showed two bible stories--one from the Old Testament, one from the New. I remember he was Noah, wearing striped pj's with cutout animals walking onto the ark. He also was Daniel in the Lion's Den, fighting off a giant stuffed lion obviously thrown at him, intercut with footage of a lion attacking a man. At the time it was pretty funny stuff, Marshall always sporting a big handlebar moustache. When he did the Tower of Babel, he went to the UN and showed a list of all current recognized languages, nearly 200 of them, making funny asides and puns. I loved it, but I don't remember that it was on regularly.
a rare treat
worldlygoods6 August 2006
I gave it a 10 because I remember it so well and so fondly. I think I watched it every Sunday that I wasn't traveling overseas, where it was never discovered. It was remarkably clever and way ahead of its time. I hated to see it end. Through Marshall I learned about the Ephron family. I met Nora before she became famous and have been a devoted fan ever since. Oh, to be a fly on the wall at the Algonquin. I would dearly love to attend Marshall's Simplified and Painless Sunday School again. A DVD would be ideal. The time is right for it to be brought back and shared with another generation. I wonder how one might go about getting a copy. This show gets a star on my list of treasured TV moments. Lately, I've been recalling the John and Marsha commercials for Crisco (I think it was Crisco). They, too, were gentle and clever and I think we could use a bit more subtlety these days.
One of the Best I have ever seen.
gramanel27 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Marshall Effron's Sunday School series was fantastic. I never missed it. I told everyone I knew to watch it. About 10 or 15 years ago, I called our local CBS station who gave me a number to call in New York City, I actually spoke to the man who produced it. I was interested in buying the series if it was available. He told me that the whole series was on film someplace in New Jersey in archives. He was also surprised that some TV station like a PBS or A & E did not buy it and have it on for folks to see. He gave me a number to call, which I did, I spoke to them about the series and they said I could buy a copy of it for about $1500.00, as someone would have to go there and make a copy for me, this was when we had VHS tapes. I was really thinking of doing this and thought, I will pay this money and a couple of months later it would be on a TV station. If anyone knows of this ever being on TV, please let me know. It is a shame that this series has fallen on the wayside. My children who are in their 40's still remember him and his painless Sunday School. Anella from Pennsylvania
Marshall Efron memories
claire-43824 July 2009
I was well into my 30's when I first saw Efron's Sunday School lessons on TV. And I was instantly captivated. I, too, have a great memory of the Solomon segment. The women, Mrs. Harl and Mrs. Ot, named the baby in question respectively: Karl Harl and/or Scott Ot. I had despaired of ever seeing these bits again, but God bless (no pun intended) YouTube. I'll continue to check periodically and perhaps someone will put the Solomon story up. The writing was always clever and ingenious, frequently hilarious--painless indeed. Though some lines may have been over the heads of young children, he never talked down to them. In his various roles Efron, by turns, was charming, rude, bombastic, simple, mean, kindly,wise, unaware, generous, greedy, silly, etc. He was everyone and everything. The only adjective I have never applied to him is unenthusiastic. He just seemed to be having so much fun. I wonder what his 'real life' persona is?
Great fun and educational
headhunter4624 January 2010
A few days ago I was pondering a story for the kids at our church. Somehow I remembered Marshall Efron and his comedic and fun way of telling stories. I was thinking I was just a kid when I saw his show. Imagine my surprise when I looked it up at IMDb and learned I was in my twenties. I always enjoyed the show and came away with some new learning. I would love to incorporate some of the things he did into my stories for the kids. I would love even more to get all of the shows onto DVD. I bet some of the more open minded networks would show them and I would be willing to wager my favorite Boy Scout knife that today's kids would enjoy the show too!
WE should establish a fan club, donate money to it and get the company that has the films to dig them out and get them run onto DVD.
WE should establish a fan club, donate money to it and get the company that has the films to dig them out and get them run onto DVD.
Loved this show!
lbross19 March 2005
This show was on when I was in my late teens, and I loved it. I think it was originally on CBS. My father used to make me go to church, but after his death, I preferred to stay home from church on Sunday mornings and learn from Marshall's bible story show instead. Marshall's humor was great. He played female biblical characters, mustache included, but I didn't find the show sacrilegious. However, I thought he was filmed over and over for the humor, not because of the show's budget. It worked because that's what made the show humorous along with simplified and painless. I could watch in my PJs too. If more churches/preachers would do what Marshall did, their pews wouldn't be empty on Sunday!
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