© 2025 NPR Illinois
The Capital's Community & News Service since 1975
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
REMINDER: Attend Radio That Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois
Sept. 18, 6 p.m. (registration closed)

Encore: 50 years ago, 'The Electric Company' used comedy to help kids' reading skills

50 years ago, The Electric Company premiered its first broadcast. The public broadcasting show aimed to use sketch comedy and animated shorts to teach kids to read.

Copyright 2021 NPR

Elizabeth Blair is a Peabody Award-winning senior producer/reporter on the Arts Desk of NPR News.