The Wonderful Room 222

1969. The year of Nixon's first inauguration,the year of the first landing on the moon, Woodstock, and the breaking up of the Beatles. Then in September, ABC premired this great, this wonderful new program called "Room 222". That was the year I started eighth grade at Johnson High School in Savannah, Ga., and the first year I'd been at a fully intergrated school. Sad to say, Savannah didn't have a ABC affiliate at that time, had to wait til July of 70' before that event took place, but it was fun catching up on the episodes of this breakthrough, breakout show. Never before in the history of telivision had a black man been shown in a regular role of teacher in an intergrated school. Pete Dixon was a gem of a teacher,and Lloyd Haynes played him superbly.All the rest of the cast, including Karen Valentine as student teacher Alice Johnson, were quite good also. One question, was the role of Pete Johnson based on real life role model Richardo Braithwaite, the author of the best selling " To Sir, With Love" which was based on his teaching experiences at Greenslade School in the East End of London during the late 40's? Oh, must go now, but just think how wonderful it would have been to have been a student at Walt Whitman High and been in Pete's history class!

[Tiger32]

The Beatles actually broke up in 1970, not 1969. But they had stopped touring by 1969, however they were still making music. They released the Long and Winding Road in 1970 marking the end of the group. But Paul McCartney was the one who offically called it quits in April 1970, when he announced that he was leaving the group to embark on a solo career.

The rest of the historical events you had right on the money!

[James28]

Room 222's first season episodes garnered weak ratings, and ABC was poised to cancel the program after one season. But the show then earned several nominations at the 1970 Primetime Emmys and ABC relented. The show was cancelled at the 1973-74 midseason.

[OH Nuts!]

Indeed, the VERY wonderful Room 222. I watched it as a teenager. Pete Dixon was SOOO COOL. The kind of teacher you always wanted. God how I wish this show would come out on DVD.

[Tiger32]

Originally Posted by carol

1969. The year of Nixon's first inauguration,the year of the first landing on the moon, Woodstock, and the breaking up of the Beatles. Then in September, ABC premired this great, this wonderful new program called "Room 222". That was the year I started eighth grade at Johnson High School in Savannah, Ga., and the first year I'd been at a fully intergrated school. Sad to say, Savannah didn't have a ABC affiliate at that time, had to wait til July of 70' before that event took place, but it was fun catching up on the episodes of this breakthrough, breakout show. Never before in the history of telivision had a black man been shown in a regular role of teacher in an intergrated school. Pete Dixon was a gem of a teacher,and Lloyd Haynes played him superbly.All the rest of the cast, including Karen Valentine as student teacher Alice Johnson, were quite good also. One question, was the role of Pete Johnson based on real life role model Richardo Braithwaite, the author of the best selling " To Sir, With Love" which was based on his teaching experiences at Greenslade School in the East End of London during the late 40's? Oh, must go now, but just think how wonderful it would have been to have been a student at Walt Whitman High and been in Pete's history class!

Indeed, 1969 was a great year, I was in the First Grade that year, and can remember many things from that time period. Mr Dixon was a lot like Sidney Poitier's Character from "To Sir With Love", however the kids were much more well behaved at Wal Whitman High School. How about ABC's Friday Night Lineup during the early 70s.
8:00 PM The Brady Bunch
8:30 PM The Partridge Family
9:00 PM The Odd Couple
9:30 PM Room 222
10:00 PM Love American Style