In the early 1970’s, Marlo Thomas (“That Girl” & National Outreach Director for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital) was reading bedtime stories to her young niece and she was getting increasingly frustrated at the types of stories being told to young girls. With the collaboration of the Ms. Foundation for Women, Marlo Thomas created “Free to Be…You and Me“.
How I found it: I was raised by hippies.
For a long time, I didn’t realize that not everyone was raised around child psychologists, lawyers, doctors and elementary school teachers. My early television viewing included a steady diet of musicals, plays and anything blessed by Children’s Television Workshop.
Why I love it: I was raised by hippies.
And…it’s just a really great message and collection that was well before its time. Covering topics like fragile masculinity, gender stereotypes and gender equity in all areas of life while still being accessible and interesting to kids?!
Tell me another program that can do that.
And it stands the test of time.
My favorites
The “Boy Meets Girl” sketch is a classic. Written by Carl Reiner and Peter Stone and featuring the voices of Mel Brooks and Marlo Thomas, this segment is word-perfect comedy at its finest. The fact that it also obliterates gender stereotypes in under 2.5 minutes is *chef’s kiss.
As a child, I was convinced that this playground was just around the next corner and one day, my parents would take me, and these cool cats would still be singing “Sisters and Brothers”.
In 2020, as part of Stars at Home, Marlo Thomas was joined by Gloria Steinem and many others to talk about what Free to Be meant to them and how much they enjoyed the broadcast. Sara Bareilles (a Sphinx favorite) released an update of the theme song and Broadway Inspirational Voices recorded a new version of “Sisters and Brothers”.
Related
- Watch episodes of “That Girl”, a pivotal series for its time.
- Danny Thomas, father of Marlo Thomas, founded St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The amazing story behind the hospital is that Danny Thomas was struggling to make ends meet and right before his first child was about to be born, he put his last $7 in the offering plate and prayed to St. Jude that he’d have enough to support his family. A week later, he got a gig that paid him 10x what he put in the offering plate. He went on to have a very successful acting career, but never forgot about his answered prayer. St. Jude is the shrine that he built in thanksgiving for his blessing. At St. Jude’s, no family ever receives a bill for their care.
- Purchase the 2020 music: Sara Bareilles’s “Free to Be…You and Me” theme song | Broadway Inspirational Voices “Sisters and Brothers”