Manka Bros. Television Library




Specials 

2010-2020



You Call That Music? (2016) - Series of 6 one-hour specials in which famed music critic Harold Scherbin dissects the world's 'great' recordings.

Rudolph's Glorious Easter (2013) - Further adventures of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and a new group of friends including Lester, the Green-Footed Easter Bunny.

Daft Punk's Tales From The Arabian Nights (2012) - Seven-hour event series combining the literary masterpiece One Thousand And One Nights from the Islamic Golden Age with… Daft Punk’s DJ techno stuff. 

RIAAL Heroes! (2010) - Special that showcases the contributions of the RIAA.

2000-2009

The Paths Of Least Resistance (2006) - Two-hour special showcasing famous shortcuts throughout history.

The Kid Who Needed An Avid (2002) - Industrial Christmas video made on spec for the Avid Corporation in the hopes of attaining a free Avid editing machine.

1990-1999


VROOOOM!!! (1998) - Lifetime achievement award video produced for the NASCAR '95 Convention. The story of the man who created the sound of Volkswagen engines.

Video Doctor (Healing The Sick) (1997) - 10-part home doctor instruction course for people who don't have the money to pay a doctor and should attempt to heal themselves.

Benetton's Multi-Cultural Madness (1995) - Live concert from the Ben and Jerry's factory, hosted by Wavy Gravy and Kate Moss.

Kennedy Center Honors (1994) - Cut from the original broadcast in 1994, the Kennedy Center honored the three Manka brothers posthumously.

1980-1989

North Hollywood High School - Video Yearbook '84 (1984) - At one of the low points of the studio, Manka Bros. was hired on a work-for-hire basis and produced the video yearbook for North Hollywood High School.

Throngs Of Ecstasy (1983) - Famous novel about land baron witches in Hollywood turned into a daytime drama. [Considered too racy for the time - and, unfortunately, even too racy for home video.]

Vic Tayback's Wayback Machine (1983) - Relive the past with your host Vic Tayback. [Tayback quit after two episodes because his paycheck bounced.]

North Hollywood High School - Video Yearbook '83 (1983) - At one of the low points in the studio's history, Manka Bros. was hired on a work-for-hire basis and produced the video yearbook for North Hollywood High School.

Pray (1982) - Series of primetime specials offering inspiration to the downtrodden. [As the studio was nearing financial collapse, several Manka Bros. Executives appeared on the show.]

North Hollywood High School - Video Yearbook '82 (1982) - At one of the low points in the studio's history, Manka Bros. was hired on a work-for-hire basis and produced the video yearbook for North Hollywood High School.

Ginsu Cop (1982) - Hour-long Infomercial for a new set of Ginsu Knives disguised as an hour-long cop drama. [Another low point for the studio.]

Designer Label Jeans Challenge (1981) - Infomercial made to look like a game show. Contestants guess which designer jeans are cooler - Jordache, Sassoon, Sergeo Valente, Calvin Kleins - produced by Levis.

Pryor Commitment (1981) - After Richard Pryor's freebasing accident, Bill Cosby offered to stand in for him, performing stand-up material Pryor had written. [This special is no longer available for sale or to license because Mr. Cosby is a convicted rapist.]

Sitter In A Box (1980) - Produced for parents, this video babysitter entertains kids and sings them to sleep while the parents are at the movies or a bar.

Rip Van Pryor (1980) - Richard Pryor falls asleep in the green room of the Comedy Store and wakes up in the year 2000. He goes on stage and performs his act from 1980.

1970-1979

Your Guide To The Susan B. Anthony Dollar (1979) - Produced for the General Accounting Office (GAO), this video details all the fun advantages of the coin dollar vs. the annoyingly inconvenient paper dollar.

The Forgotten War (1978) - A televised Manka Bros. April Fools joke in which a war is recreated that was never fought and didn't exist.

Hansel and Gretel In Lollyland (1977) - One-hour holiday special. Further adventures of 'Hansel and Gretel' in the magical land inhabited by a race of puppets known as the Lollys.

The Gay Ark (1975) - Produced and narrated by Anita Bryant for the Baptist Church. How we might not have been here if The Ark was built in San Francisco in 1975.

A Moment Of Your Time... (1974) - Series of public service announcements. [Features included: An explanation of how the Fibonacci Series of numbers can be found within today's television programming and how Astroturf was created by Monsanto in 1964.]

Golden Triangle '73 (1973) - Rock concert for peace staged in the region where Burma, Thailand and Laos meet (The Golden Triangle - also know as the world's largest producer of heroin). [Even under threats of bombing by the Khmer Rouge, for some reason, many of top rock acts wanted to performer in this region.]

Happy Hanukkah, Mr. Manka (1970) - Televised special celebrating the life and career of Manka Bros. Studios chief Harry Manka.

1960-1969

Merry Christmas, Mr. Manka (1964) - Televised special celebrating the life and tragic death of Manka Bros. Studios co-founder Simeon Manka.

A Lick And A Promise (1963) - Produced for the U.S. Postal Service to assure the public that the Post Office will become more efficient with the creation of new mail regions called 'Zip Codes.'

1950-1959




Smith and Wesson Presents (1951) - At the height of the popularity of the movie Western, Smith and Wesson Presents was selling more guns than ever and called on Manka Bros. to showcase its products in new and exciting ways.

1930-1939

H.G. Wells' The Empire Of The Ants (1939) - Radio drama voiced by the Manka Radio Players. The location and year of the story was changed to modern day New York. [While the panic that resulted from the production wasn't as severe as it was during 'The War of the Worlds,' there were several deaths and suicides from people believed it was real and didn't not want to be ruled by giant ants.]

The Khan Awards (1936) - Award show honoring the best achievement in film. [After 'Classic Story' failed to get an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, studio chief Khan Manka attempted to launch his own award show. After Khan died later that year, the show was canceled by Simeon Manka.]