Summer fun for those staying at home: The legendary ZDF holiday program!

Summer fun for those staying at home: The legendary ZDF holiday program!

In the 1980s, summer was not always a cause for joy for many children in Germany. If the vacation trip was canceled, the only alternative was often the bathing lake or the outdoor pool. A creative way of dealing with these disappointments was required. Children enjoyed magical ice cream cones, especially the cult “Brown Bear” ice cream, and found variety in funny radio plays or with their colorful ones Yps Magazine.

But what was the big hit on TV? The ZDF holiday program, a beloved format that ran from 1979 to 1989! It was broadcast daily between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and was a real leisure activity for children who stayed at home or were sick. The title tune, a happy cancan Jacques Offenbach's “Orpheus in the Underworld”, echoed through the living room and immediately put you in a good mood. Moderators such as Anke Engelke, Benny Schnier and Sabine Noethen led through a colorful program of interviews, games, musical interludes and advice reports.

A program full of variety

The ZDF holiday program offered young viewers insights into the world of adventure and creativity. Popular sections such as the “origami craft instructions”, which were presented by “Frau Scheele”, were very well received. In addition, viewers were able to get to know interesting personalities with “Star Guest of the Week” from Monday to Thursday and, after an exciting program, immerse themselves in an exciting feature film on Fridays.

The program included not only handicraft instructions, but also tips on traffic education. The show's mascot, the Bobtail Wuschel, ensured additional sympathy and joy among the audience. The television played a central role in the 80s, not only in entertainment, but also in imparting knowledge through formats that addressed everyday problems. The program was perfect for children who couldn't enjoy a seaside holiday as it kept them occupied with exciting content.

TV experience and envy among friends

What particularly pleased the children: After the summer holidays, they were able to tell their friends about the great program highlights, which often caused envy among those who preferred to spend their time on the beach. And let's not forget: the "Ted" televoting system, which was introduced back in 1979, allowed viewers to actively participate by voting by postcard on which film should be shown on Saturday evening. It was an exciting time when private television provided new impetus with programs like “Tutti Frutti” and other entertainment shows and suddenly changed television in Germany.

The ZDF holiday program not only became a reliable summer activity for many children, but also an important part of northern German television culture in the 1980s. Many of us remember with nostalgia the colorful hours in front of the television and the joy that the programs brought us.