Windmill (programming strand)

Windmill was a Jetanie programming strand which aired on JT1 from 1974 to 1979. It ran during the channel's afternoon lineup on weekdays from 3:30p.m. to 5:00p.m. The strand was targeted towards children between the ages of 4 and 9, and was created so children could watch both educational and entertaining programming after school (though the strand ran all year long - even on school holidays).

Format
Windmill was divided into four different segments - the strand's supposedly magical windmill had four different colours for its blades; one of the coloured blades would glow and take the audience into its "world", where a programme of a certain theme or nature would be broadcast. Originally random, starting in 1975, it would always be in a set order; red, blue, green, then ending with yellow.
 * The "red" section aired from 3:35p.m. to 3:55p.m., and would broadcast a popular American cartoon. These were usually from the Hanna-Barbera catalogue. This was followed by an advertisement break.
 * The "blue" section lasted from 4:00p.m. to 4:20p.m., and would air a live-action, in-house clip. These ranged from live performances, to documentaries, to stories read by a then-popular celebrity. Like the red section, it was followed by an advertisement break.
 * Although the "blue" section was originally supposed to "offer something new and unique, every week", in later years, it was not uncommon for old clips to be reused.
 * The "green" section ran from 4:25p.m. to 4:40p.m. This is the section where at least one children's series from another European country would air. Unlike the red and blue sections, the green section was not followed by an advertisement break.
 * The final section, the "yellow" section, was shown from 4:40p.m. to 4:55p.m. This section was dedicated to then-new programming created for JT1.

Discontination
Windmill ended its final run on 28th December, 1979 as it was considered dated, and was stated to have "ran its course". It was replaced by an unbranded children's programming block on JT1, which many of Windmill's programming moved to.

Since its discontinuation, most of the clips from the "blue" section were, as they were considered "useless". Because of this, a majority of the clips have became lost, rare, or are only available in poor quality. Only a few master tapes are known to have survived.

The "Yellow" section
Windmill is mostly remembered for its lineup of programmes from its "yellow" section. Unlike the other sections, this one had a set structure, as each day had a certain programme associated with it.

1974 lineup
When the strand began in 1974, the "yellow" section lineup consisted of the following programmes: Both Sphero and Gravy and Spider had began airing in 1969 and 1972 respectively, but were ultimately included into the lineup and had their runtimes changed in order for each programme to run under a 15-minute segment.
 * Sphero for Mondays.
 * The Terrible Tins for Tuesdays.
 * Storytime with the Treets for Wednesdays.
 * Gravy and Spider for Thursdays.
 * Xya's Friends for Fridays.

1975 lineup
Following criticism that led to The Terrible Tins getting pulled from the lineup, it was replaced with a new show called Crazy Cade.
 * Sphero for Mondays.
 * Crazy Cade for Tuesdays.
 * Storytime with the Treets for Wednesdays.
 * Gravy and Spider for Thursdays.
 * Xya's Friends for Fridays.

1976 lineup
A new show, Meals on Wheels, was introduced in 1976, replacing Gravy and Spider.
 * Sphero for Mondays.
 * Crazy Cade for Tuesdays.
 * Storytime with the Treets for Wednesdays.
 * Meals on Wheels for Thursdays.
 * Xya's Friends for Fridays.

1977 lineup
Gravy and Spider returned to the schedule in 1977, replacing Sphero. The schedule also received a bit of a shuffle when this happened, with Meals on Wheels now showing on Mondays and Crazy Cade now airing on Thursdays.
 * Meals on Wheels for Mondays.
 * Gravy and Spider for Tuesdays.
 * Storytime with the Treets for Wednesdays.
 * Crazy Cade for Thursdays.
 * Xya's Friends for Fridays.

1978 lineup
The final lineup was introduced in September 1978, with a new show, Mr. Lister, replacing Crazy Cade. The schedule also got another shuffle, with only Xya's Friends retaining its original timeslot.
 * Storytime with the Treets for Mondays.
 * Meals on Wheels for Tuesdays.
 * Mr. Lister for Wednesdays.
 * Gravy and Spider for Thursdays.
 * Xya's Friends for Fridays.

The "Red" section
Below is a list of cartoons that were shown during the "red" section throughout the strand's run. Originally, one show would be aired on a particular day of the week, although in later years this was ignored.


 * Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
 * Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines
 * Hong Kong Phooey
 * Scooby-Doo
 * Laff-A-Lympics
 * Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
 * The Scooby-Doo Show
 * The Great Grape Ape Show
 * The Inspector
 * The Mumbly Cartoon Show
 * The Perils of Penelope Pitstop
 * The Pink Panther Show
 * The Yogi Bear Show
 * Tom and Jerry
 * Top Cat
 * Wacky Races

The "Green" section

 * Bagpuss
 * Bod
 * Bolek and Lolek (dubbed and retitled "Bobo and Lolo")
 * Camberwick Green
 * Chorlton and the Wheelies
 * Clangers
 * Hattytown Tales
 * Ivor the Engine
 * La Linea (dubbed and retitled "The Line Man")
 * Mary, Mungo and Midge
 * Mr. Benn
 * Paddington
 * The Herbs
 * The Magic Roundabout
 * The Wombles
 * Tip and Tap (redubbed with Jetanie narration)
 * Trumpton

Legacy
Windmill is often associated with 1970s culture in Jetania.

Animator Ashley Maverick has referred to some of the shows from the "yellow" section of Windmill as one of her main influences.

Tone Riddles sampled the strand's theme tune for his single "Over the Rainbow". It was the official charity single for Kuboian Children's Day in 1999.

A VHS titled Classic Children's Programmes: The Best of Windmill was released in 1989, and featured several episodes from the strand's "yellow" section.

Album releases
Windmill: The Official Album was released in 1976, and featured several songs from the strand's "yellow" strand. It was rereleased in 2004 for Windmill's 30th anniversary.