Long ago there used to be this magical set up on television called UHF stations. These were extra channels that complimented the 3 big networks that you picked up on the antennae. The best part of UHF was that you had the local networks that featured such great entertainment like Creature Double Feature, Cartoon Cavalcade, and of course Kung Fu Theatre.
Early Saturday mornings was devoid of life until afternoon. That’s when young boys flew out of their homes and squared off with each other. “Huh! Hung-si Quan, you bastard. Show me your tiger-claw,” would emanate from boys lip syncing like their heroes on Kung Fu Theatre. “My dragon-strike will finish you,” would be the reply.
Yes Kung Fu Theatre was a staple in the 70’s and 80’s. Every Saturday you would be tuned in to watch such greats as, The Five Deadly Venoms. Or Master of the Flying Guillotine. Chinese Super Ninjas was an all time favorite with their tricked out weapons and various levels of villains.
Oh this was a simpler time. A more peaceful time. Kung Fu Theatre was a window to a strange and mystical land. Where everyone you met was a bastard that you would have to fight to the death for whatever reason. And everyone could leap half a mile and fight with one arm falling off and blood spurting from your body like Niagara Falls in the spring.
On Kung Fu Theatre, old masters would beat their most promising pupil senseless and then endow them with the skills to avenge their imminent death at the hands of an evil rival – usually a former student gone bad.
The poor, but decent young pupil would suffer a merciless beating by Lung-wa, the most evil man in the providence. Only to be saved, beaten, and trained by a kindly master. And then avenge that master’s death.
Some poor woman would be attacked by several evil men. Saved by the young, tortured pupil. Then she would fight for his love, losing out to his need to avenge the death of his master.
The main villain would beat people up for no reason. Savagely attack the young pupil, but not kill him. Kill his former master. And then be dispatched by the young pupil who learned a really cool move from the great master before he died.
Yes Kung Fu Theatre was a plethora of kung fu movie magic. Saturdays were a golden day where a young man could be entertained by exaggerated martial arts violence. And then go outside and attempt the very same moves on his friends. Oh if only Kung Fu Theatre was still around.
Comments
It wasn't just young boys! I have such fond memories of Kung Fu Theatre. I'd stopped getting out of bed for Saturday morning cartoons, but I would get up at noon for the chance to see my heros defeat the vicious killers and look good doing it! It was a bonus if a female character was kicking butt, too!
I agree Kung Fu Theatre was awsome! I have been looking for more info and list of movies. I want to start building a dvd collection of all those great movies.
Which website is the best to purchase Kung Fu movies?
sun li, chow yu, hyang lo, hien fat ! Yes si foo, it is time, that was the greatest times watching on sat. no one could beat the white haired old guys
Thanks for the memory. I loved Kung Fu Theater back in the day but I can't watch it now. I feel like I'm watching an action-packed snail race.
USA channel's Kung Fu theatre was what I grew up watching in the mid 1980's. That is what none of the networks have in there channel lineups. It would be a very welcome surprise to turn on tv and see kung fu theatre, or a horror/scifi/thriller show like when they had " does anyone remember commander usa's groovy movies?".
In place of some of these reality shows.
What ever happened to entertaining television.
I agree with all previous comments. Please Networks reconsider bringing back the Kung Fu Theater on Saturdays or Sundays. We are now getting flooded with all these stupid and worthless reality shows, enough of the madness. Bring some real entertainment back into our lives.
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