February 24, 2005

CHICAGO – Hallmark Channel will broadcast "Davey and Goliath Happy Easter" – a 30-minute, stop-motion animation television special from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) – on March 27 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Times and at 11:30 a.m. Central Time. Viewers in the Mountain Time zone are asked to check their local listings.

Davey Hansen and his talking dog Goliath starred in the classic television series "Davey and Goliath" that aired on commercial television in the 1960s and 1970s. The ELCA's mission with Davey and Goliath is to bring "moral and religious faith-based values to a new generation of children in lively and engaging ways."

"‘Davey and Goliath Happy Easter' is the restored, classic Easter special broadcast in 1967," said the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director, ELCA Department for Communication.

"In this production Davey visits his adored grandmother on the Wednesday before Easter. They play baseball, bake a cake and plan to attend the Easter pageant together at church on Sunday. But, grandma dies on Thursday. Davey is overwhelmed with sadness until he learns about Jesus' resurrection, that his grandma will be raised just as Jesus was raised," said Shafer.

A study guide for the Easter special will be available at the official Davey and Goliath Web site – http://www.daveyandgoliath.org/– maintained by the ELCA. Downloadable coloring and activity pages based on the Easter special are available at the site.

According to Kristi S. Bangert, director for marketing and interpretation, ELCA Department for Communication, the ELCA is in the process of restoring all 65 episodes and six specials of the original Davey and Goliath television series.

"The restoration brightens the film without losing the charm of the original look," said Bangert. "It's a manual, frame-by-frame process requiring much care and detail. The restoration is not an inexpensive process, but well worth the investment to protect this original property for the future," she said.

Once completed the restored Davey and Goliath episodes and specials will be made available on DVD, Bangert said.

ELCA News Service