Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas's on-screen appearances in the TV series were developed by Britt Allcroft. The first series of 26 stories premiered in October 1984 on the ITV Network in the UK, with former Beatles drummer/vocalist Ringo Starr as storyteller. The stories were featured as segments as part of Shining Time Station in the US beginning in 1989 with Starr as the show's Mr. Conductor character. From 1991 to 1993, George Carlin replaced Starr as both the storyteller and as Mr. Conductor for Shining Time Station. Carlin also told the Thomas stories for Shining Time Station in 1995.
Frankie Thomas
The TV series reappeared on DuMont, alternating Saturdays with "Secret Files of Captain Video" for 30 minutes, before going off the air in May 1954. Thomas became a regular on the soap opera "First Love", but in December 1954, "Tom Corbett" began on NBC, running until June 1955. By this time Tom Corbett's rivals Captain Video and Commander Buzz Corry of "Space Patrol" had been off the air for several months. None of the science fiction series was ever revived, though there was talk of doing so in 1957, in the aftermath of Sputnik.