Boomers remember their childhood entertainment on radio and television. Send us your memories. Here are some memory joggers: Andy’s Gang, Captain Kangaroo, Soupy Sales, The 20th Century, Bob and Ray, The Shadow, baseball, Ed Sullivan, commercials, jingles...(if the show was local list city/state) Include your first name, city and state/province, & birth year.
				Check out these books all about classic television. Click on the book covers at the left. On the web, check out About.com’s Classic TV click here for the link-up.		We need your memories! Click the Mail-a-Memory button above to send your memories. Be sure you include your first name, city, state/province, and year of birth.

Branded and Hogan’s Heroes
"Wherever you go... for the rest of your life, you must prove..... you're a man." Intro to Branded, drums beating, horses. Television show with Chuck Conners as a Civil War veteran. He carried a Calvary sword that was broken when he was drummed out of the Army for some fictitious act of cowardice. Also, I don't think I saw anything about F-Troop. Comedy with Forrest Tucker as the Sarge, Larry Storch as Corporal Agarn. Ken Berry as Capt. Parmenter. And what about Hogan's Heroes? --- Barry, Youngstown, Ohio,1960

Werner Klemperer was never in a camp, Nazi or otherwise.  His family moved to Switzerland, then Austria in the early 30s, then fled to Los Angeles in 1935.  He was never imprisoned.  However, Robert Clary, who played LeBeau (the little Frenchman), WAS in a concentration camp as a child, and has borne the tattooed numbers in his forearm his entire life.

Prince Planet
I think my sister and I were the only one's ever to watch a cartoon in the late 60's called "Prince Planet". No one can ever seem to remember it but we watched every morning before going to school. When it was over we knew we had to start walking. He wore a medallion on a necklace with the letter "P" on it. He also had some sidekicks with him, one of whom flew on a flying carpet. I also remember "Gigantor" and "Tobar the Eight Man". This is a great site, so many memories come flooding back. --- Lori /Northern NJ,1960

The Pick Temple Show
I was born in the Washington DC area in 1955, and lived there until 1962. One of my fondest early memories is of appearing on the The Pick Temple Show in 1960. Pick Temple was a local TV host for a Western-theme kids show.

I still vividly remember that afternoon in 1960; sitting in the audience bleachers along with 50-60 other young kids-- including my older brother Bobby. There in living color were the well-known characters: Pick's sidekick (filling in that day in his absence), the pony, the dog, the puppets, etc. Wow! Despite all the distraction, I also remember being very focused on watching the studio monitors so as to not miss out on any of the Popeye or Bugs Bunny cartoons being shown throughout the show.

In keeping with the Western theme, I was all decked out in my favorite Wyatt Earp outfit and my brother's best jade-handled six-shooters! To my amazement, I was soon selected by the host to come down onto the studio floor and try to shoot one of several balloons set up along the top of a puppet stage. Despite the fact that my brother had made me "hip" to the fact that my guns were actually useless-- and that in reality a stagehand would pop the balloon from behind with a pin -- I was so proud of myself and of my display of marksmanship!

I also remember seeing Willard Scott as Bozo The Clown at a neighborhood event in Arlington, VA. In almost Santa style, each of the kids lined up to sit on Bozo's lap and receive a gift. Willard/Bozo gave me a suction cup "third eye" to be place on your forehead. Again, because all we'd ever seen were grainy black & white images on TV, the colors of Bozo's costume (and red hair!) were shocking. --- Bill , Long Island, NY, 1955

Colonel Bleep
I've always been a 'space cadet,' and in addition to all the great memories here, I remember the bubble-helmeted alien Colonel Bleep, with Scratch the Caveman, Squeak the puppet, and the evil Dr. Destructo. I also remember a New York , WCBS-TV show called Captain Jet. I still have a fan button of him. --- Mark, Livingston, NJ, 1963

Then Came Bronson, It’s About Time...
A guy on a motorcycle traveling different places every week, "Then Came Bronson", played by Michel Parks. And "Corronet Blue" which inspired Dodge to name a car after the first season, this was about a private investigator. And "The Imortal" it was about a man that wouldn't die, played by Christopher George. I can't jog my thinker to tell me who starred in "Corronet Blue". How about "Its About Time" a silly spoof about space and two men that got stuck up there. Time period for these shows was late 60's early 70's. Here's one or two I just thought of "I Spy" w/Robert Culp & Bill Cosby, and "Run For Your Life" w/ Ben Gazara. I need help on this one: A scientist invents a pill that is supposed to make men stronger, but healthy men get weak after they take it, so in comes "Stanley Beemish" played by Wally Cox a 90lbs. weakling, he takes it, and he gains superman abilites. I remember this much, but the title escapes me. --- Billy, Nashville, TN 1957

Milky the Twin Pines Clown
Sir Graves Ghastly and the Ghoul were my favorite movie hosts. I remember when you could watch "scary movies" all day long on saturdays. Also, Milky the Twin Pines Clown was my favorite clown. I remember when I was little....waiting day after day for Milky the clown to come out of my gramma's new, next door neighbors house....but he never did. You see....her new next door neighbor was a delivery man for the Twin Pines milk company....I saw those pine trees on the side of his delivery truck, and just knew Milky had to be in that truck or house somewhere! --- Linda, Mesa, AZ...grew up in Roseville, Michigan, 1955

Chicago TV
On Chicago TV in the 60's and 70's we had a cartoon, which only played during the week or so of the Christmas season. It was on the Bozo the clown show and was called Hardrock, Cocoa, and Joe. They were Santa's elves with a catchy tune. It was on the same time as Suzy Snowflake would play. How many remember that one. I actually recorded this about ten years or so ago WGN played a reunion show which aired Suzy Snowflake and Hardrock, Cocoa, and Joe. Another Chicago special. On the Ray Rayner show he would put on this skit of Diver Dan. He and Miss Minerva, a mermaid were real from what I recall, but only the audience could see her tail as she swam away. The remaining characters were puppets. Baron Barracuda with a monocle over his eye and his sidekick Triggerfish, with a cigaretter hanging from his mouth and would move up and down aas he talked, were the bad guys. I know there were some good ones but I don't recall all of them.--- Mike, Carol Stream, IL,1956

Afternoon LosAngeles TV
Tom Hatton (Popeye cartoons) was an artist and would draw various pictures between the cartoons. Skipper Frank (Cartoons) wore a captains hat and a blue blazer, white slacks. Don LaMon (3 Stooges) Channel 11, Lloyd Thaxton Show - The wackiest guy in LA. Lip Synched just about every hit of the day (loved the Beatle wig). Channel 9 (KHJ) Tempo shows - they had a morning, afternoon and evening version Where The Action Is - ABC network show with Dick Clark - Groovy (originally with Sam Riddle - KHJ later with Michael (?)) KHJ TV 9 had an afternoon movie show with a game that a viewer at home would give instructions to the cameraman who would aim a cross-bow mounted on the camera and try to shoot a bullseye on a target. They would get a $1000, if I remember correctly. --- Dave McCarroll, 1951

After School TV
Does anyone remember American Bandstand after school? The Monkees in the evening? Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday nites? Peyton Place also after school,Dark Shadows also after school? The Adams Family in the evening too? Those were some of my all time favorite shows............Those were wonderful shows and memories......Also dont forget the Mickey Mouse Club? M I C..Cee u real soon...KEY....Y, because we like u......M O U S E..........Fabulous shows. --- Lynn Staten Island, New York1953

Fury
Saturday morning Fury. Right before Sky King every Saturday was my very favorite show of all time was Fury. It was about a beautiful black horse and the boy who loved him. I would love to know more about that show and any information anyone might have. --- Martie Mc Morris, Danville, IL, 1950

Luci’s Toy Shop
This show aired on WBNS - 10 in Columbus. It was locally produced and in it's later years sponsored by Wendy's.. a little known restaurant in Columbus Ohio, known for it's neon spiked whirl/ball that rotated on a huge pole in the restaurant parking lot. I e-mailed WBNS recently and found out that "Luci" is still in Columbus, retired after many years at WBNS. Like most stations in the 60's and 70's, almost none of the wonderful Lucy Toy Shop shows exist today. many reels of magnetic tape were reused at that time to record network shows on a time delay. Lucy has a few copies however it's unknown if any will be released for us to enjoy. --- Richard, Quincy Illinois - 1961 (Note: Luci passed away in 2003)

Norelco, Ready Kilowatt and Nanny
When I was small, I would spend a lot of time at my Nanny's house. Weekends, summers (anytime I could, because Nanny never yelled at you) and sometimes after school. I remember watching lots of commercials, along with Westerns, Lawrence Welk (not my favoritie; but I liked the Lennon Sisters), and lot's of local T.V kid shows. Two that come to mind from Western Massachusetts were The Admiral and Swabby Show and The Wicky Wacky Cloud Club (no body remembers that one). I was a memeber of the club and got neat stuff in the mail. Phil Sheperdson was the host and there were cloud voices (or something like that). I loved the Norelco Shaver commercial at Christmas time. Santa would slide down the hill on the electric razor. I hated Ready Kilowatt, who was the symbal of the electric company ( I don't know if he was nation wide or not). I do know that his picture was on my Nanny's oil burner or something down cellar. If I had to go down there by myself and see his creepy looking smile with lightning bolts for his body, I would run up the cellar stairs so fast it would make my head spin. My grandmother would get a kick out of me and started to make a joke of it by saying "Ready Kilowatt will get you if you don't watch out." I loved all the old TV shows back then though. I remember watching Dark Shadows when it first came out, racing home from school and rushing over to my friend Donna's house to watch Barnabas Collins stalk Victoria - Something or other. That was the greatest show back then. It was creepy and kept you coming back. I recently saw some of the episodes of Dark Shadows and they are kind of corny; but at 7 or 8 years old it was really SCARY! Remembering all those shows really makes me miss being a kid again; but look at all the memories we all have. I have just touched the surface. --- Shelley, Western Massachusetts, 1954

Memorable Jingles
There are 1960 commercial jingles that I can't get out of my head even after forty or so years:
"You'll wonder where the yellow went When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent."
"Oh it takes Fluff-Fluff-Fluff To make a Fluffernutter."
Bonomo Turkish Taffy used to have a very jazzy jingle (listed on the food page)
Anybody remember the Bosco Bossanova?
Ad campaigns of more recent (mid sixties?) vintage: Remember those great ads for Hertz with the people descending down form the sky into a car ? The "Show us your Lark" ads for cigarettes. "I'd rather fight than switch" (another cigarette ad campaign).
"Aren't you glad you use Dial? Don't you wish everybody did?" --- Mary, Corning NY, 1956 (grew up watching TV near Philly)

Bay Area Shows... Horizontal/Vertical Hold Adjustments
I recently found your site, and spent a hour absorbed, reading about the old shows. I was raised in Concord, California (the Bay area), and remember Marshall J (I'm lonesome but happy, rich but I'm broke, and the good Lord knows the reason, I'm just a cowpoke). Captain Satellite, Mayor Art (Subsequently), Captain Delta, Catpain Sacto. Our first television was a Hoffman (my parents still have the maple cabinet which they use as an end table, you couldn't buy a cabinet as well made as that today from Sears or anywhere). We spent a lot of time adjusting the "horizontal hold" and the "vertical hold". Real McCoys (Pepina, Pepina), Maverick, Lawman, Sugarfoot, Bronco, Cheyenne (my favorite), and later, Chad (and his horse Cactus, I think), Joe, and Reese in Laredo (in my mind, a real classic that could sell today). We used to wonder who would be the last one standing in a knock down, drag out fight between Joe (William Smith), Cheyenne (Clint Walker), and Peter Lupus (Mission Impossible). I also remember a show, I think an hour long on Saturday, with two guys, called "The Crazy Guys". I remember one show where they were buried up to their necks in sand (it was a western). Or am I the one who is crazy? --- Tom, Sacramento, California, 1952

Remember these shows?
It was wonderful reading all the previous letters. I must admit I had forgotten some of the shows but did not take much to take me back . Nobody mentioned Phil Silvers, Bilko show, I always had such a laugh especially over the short fat fellow, he was always amusing. Does anyone remember December Bride? Another favourite of the 60’s was definitely Dobie Gillis and my favourite line that his good but lazy friend, Maynard G. Krebs would say: WORK??? How about soap shows like Edge of Night? Saturday morning had to be everyone’s favourite. All the other good shows have been mentioned Sea Hunt, Roy Rogers, Captain Kangaroo, My Little Margie, Father Knows Best, with Kitty, Bud and I think Princess? Who did not like that show. What a time to be brought up with television. And I thought everyone had only black and white sets. We did. I do not remember anyone with a coloured tv till the late 60’s. By the way my parents bought our first television set (piece of furniture) when I was 7 years old. So that was 1958 and I remember when I was 10 and my big brother 11, we would hide in the hallway on Sunday nights just to see what our parents were watching and he would try to get me to laugh so I would get in trouble. Does anyone remember a show that Ed Murrow did where he was interviewing someone. It was usually very political and fascinating. I also loved Topo Gigio . I was terrified of Twilight Zone and Outer Limits, my brother enjoyed them more. Television and movies had a different atmosphere back in the 50’s and early 60’s. Movies depicted a certain naivety and innocence as well as a quality of moral. Even the sitcoms like Jackie Gleason Honeymooner: I am aware that husbands did not speak with much respect to their wives but at the same time there was a simplicity that the set had that doesn’t exists now. Income level was simple, props were simple, comedy was real comedy and hilarious. Today young people in tv shows seem to talk to one another with such arrogance. There is too much of everything. The only tv show that I find really funny is Seinfeld. The characters are a riot. They are so true to real people. Anycase I enjoyed visiting this site. --- Sandy, Toronto Ontario Canada, 1949

12 Channels - Kept Us Entertained Just Fine...
Back in the old days when we only had 12 channels and had to walk across the rooms to change the dial there was still plenty to keep a kid glued to the set. Romper Room and Uncle Al were my favorites when I was really small. When an Apollo mission was set to launch my parents called to my brother and me to come watch history with them. We informed them we were engrossed in Lost in Space which was WAY more advanced than any plain old rocket. After school I ate my snacks watching Batty Hattie from Cincinnati. When I spent the night with my grandparents I got to stay up late with my teenage aunts watching scary shows including Twilight Zone and Night Gallery. One episode of the latter still remains in my memory. In an old mansion hung a painting of the grounds outside. Strangely, the picture would change periodically. A nephew had brought on the death of his uncle to speed up his inheritance and one night after the funeral he heard a noise outside. While he was checking on the noise he noticed in the painting his uncle's grave, which was in a nearby cemetary, was disturbed. Everytime he looked there was something more terrifying. The grave opening, the coffin opening, the uncle walking to the door and finally... THE DOOR OPENING! One of my aunts chose that moment to grab my leg. Another scary movie had something to do with a man thinking he had killed his wife and burying her when she was actually alive. An older lady, who was thought to be senile heard her cries and tried to get someone to help but no one would listen. Finally someone (may have been the old lady) started digging her out in the rain and suddenly the woman's hand shot out of the ground and grabbed her. I got another grab from an aunt when that happened. My dad loved to watch Gunsmoke which was okay but not my favorite. I remember two movies I saw once and would like to see again if I can ever find them. My Sweet Charlie and Mr. & Mrs. BoJo Jones. Of course in the 70's everyone watched The Waltons and no family went to sleep without someone saying, "Good night Johnboy". I always tuned in for The Flintstones, Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, Nanny and the Professor, Family Affair and Laugh In. --- Rebecca, Frankfort, KY, 1962

The Popeye Club (Atlanta)
Does anyone in the Atlanta area remember "The Popeye Club"? Officer Don was the host and he showed Popeye cartoons, as well as having puppets and contests featuring the kids from the audience. Also, what was the name of the mid to late-60's comedy about a mild mannered Superman type who had super powers but could not control them. His name was Stan if memory serves me right. I am not talking about William Katt's Greatest American Hero character. This was a 30-minute series. Please help me with this if you have a clue. --- Isaac M.,1959

Marionation
This site brings back a lot of memories. However, I was disheartened that no one mentioned the two shows I absolutely pine for: Stingray and Captain Scarlet, which were created in the sixties sometime (they were in color). I adored these shows, which were filmed in "Marionation," a type of animation in which they used puppets/marionettes. I believe it was invented by the creator of those two shows, whose name was Gerry Anderson (I think). A few years ago, one of the stations (Family Channel, maybe) showed them early on Saturday or Sunday morning. What a thrill! I enjoyed them as much as when I was a kid. Unfortunately, I was unable to tape them. I would give anything to have those shows on tape. I've searched the internet for years for info on the shows, and have found very little. I doubt if tapes of the shows even exist. --- Lisa R., Huntington, WV, 1963

I believe that Fireball XL& (?) was also done in Marionation. I have seen videos of these - they are probably available in the cheap rack at K-Mart or WalMart if you keep your eyes open. Or, try the public library's video collection. --- Tim, Shoreview, MN 1953

Hey all you Gerry and Sylvia Anderson fans, especially Lisa R. This upcoming year is a big one for us. Stingray, Captain Scarlet, among others will be released on dvd. Type Fanderson into any search engine for the link. --- kevin, west cape may, nj. 1960
Check out http://www.fanderson.org.uk

CBS Radio Mystery Theatre
I can still remember the last of the great radio dramas of the Old Time Radio era on CBS in late 1962. The last one I remember hearing was "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. I wouldn't listen to him again until I was an adult, stationed at Berlin, Germany. The Armed Forces Radio and Television Service would play OTR shows during TV prime time in Europe. It was much better than TV and most of the GIs loved them.

Anyway, when I was about in the fourth grade, a local radio station in San Bernardino began playing a five minute soap opera, which was really a commercial for Del Monte Pop (it wasn't called soda!) It was the adventures of DELbert MONTEgue, a mild mannered office boy who would turn into a superhero by drinking a 12 ounce can of pop. The program aired on KRNO (now KKLA-AM) from 7:00 to 7:05 am. I don't think the show was very popular. Not too many people remember it.

The best radio series of my generation was the CBS Radio Mystery Theater with E.G. Marshall. All those things that radio was to my parents in their growing up was mine through that show. It aired on KNX in Los Angeles about 9:05-10:00. I couldn't listen to it if I had band practice or I was busy with my homework. Local station KPRO (now KDIF) in Riverside aired the show from 11:05 to midnight. My dad had the radio fixed up so we could hear it all over the house and it would automatically go off after the midnight news (when the station would also go off the air.) You can buy old copies of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater on cassette tape from: Erstwhile Radio, P.O. Box 2284, Peabody, MA 01960-2284. --- Bill--Riverside, CA, 1957

Tobor the Eighth Man
I remember all the great (and violent) japanese b/w cartoons. prince planet, astroboy, eighth man there's a prehistoric monster, that came from outer space created by the martians to destroy the human race the fbi is helpless!, it's 20 stories tall! what can we do?, who can we call?????? call tobor the eighth man. (tobor, robot backwards, pretty sneaky, huh?). I grew up in philly with captain noah and his magical ark, pixanne, chief halftown, and of course gene london--come right on in to the general store. --- kevin, west cape may n.j. 1960 Hey folks, please use proper upper and lower case when you type. And please proofread your memories... we don't have time to proof your work before we post it. Thanks.

Johnny Jupiter Anyone?
Does any one recall a show with Johnny Jupiter as a character, probably a local show in the Detroit area. --- Barry, Lakemoor, IL, 1948
Check out this website: http://home.earthlink.net/~joesarno/tvscifi/johnny.htm

Flippo’s Early Show
I've been trying to get information on Flippo's Early Show (Bob Marvin was Flippo) that would come on right after school in the 60's . I believe that he would show movies on the program . The program that I'm interested had a character by the name of Henry Aldridge . I can remember , " Henry .... Henry Aldridge !!! Coming Mother !! What was the name of the show?? Also I remember Andy Hardy movies {Mickey Rooney} on the Early Show . --- Mark Brown, Ohio, 1957

Christmas Shows
Reading about the old TV shows and radio programs sure flooded this "old" boomer with loads of memories. We always had a tv from either '47 or '48. Ours was the only one in the neighborhood and everyone seemed to pile in to watch it and swear it would never "catch on". Does anyone remember a puppet type Christmas show sponsored by Ma Bell way before she had to break up. I believe it was shown every Christmas Eve, it was the First Christmas with Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem on this jerky moving donkey and the story of Christ's birth and the other was the Night before Christmas ? I loved it and wish that little kids got the opportunity today to view this, though they'd think it was weird I'm sure. Does anyone remember I think it was a movie about birds and monkeys? The song "AbbaDabba Honeymoon" was in it and it seemed as if it showed on Saturday afternoons that's why I'm not sure if it was a series or a movie. I remember a train in it that I think the monkey drove and the birds rode in ??? Thanks for the memories. --- Arleen, Connecticut 1948

Cadet Don in Houston, Astro Boy and Speed Racer
I watched Cadet Don & Seymour every morning before school in Houston. I believe his real name is Al Eisenman. There was a song they did that I had on 45rpm record called "Hole in the Bucket". I didn't realize that Seymour hosted horror movies. I would have liked that as I got older. Astro Boy was my hero. It was a really good Japanese cartoon. The characters had very similar faces to Speed Racer,( which was also one of my all time favorites) and Pokemon. --- Gaye B., Houston, Texas, 1959

Electric Company on PBS
Does anyone remember a show on PBS that was only on a few seasons called 'Electric Company'?
It would show you a letter or a number for the day, then say it out loud and show a picture of something that started with that letter, or a number of them for that number. Then it would dissolve and streak away from the tv set. Like you were on drugs, before you knew what drugs were (other than aspirin).
To me it was better than Sesame Street, which came out a few years later. --- BJ/Wahpeton ND/1955

Old Time Radio Sites on the Web
Check out these old time radio sites:
http://www.old-time.com/
http://www.mcn.net/~vlong/otr/index.htm
Old time Radio shows in MP3 and Real Audio
http://www.pkenney.com/pete.html
http://www.mgmemories.com/

Fantasmic Features
Early 60's, in the Boston area, there was a show on saturday nights called "Fantasmic Features". It was hosted by a little Robot Character named "Feep". They ran all the schlocky Black and white sci-fi movies that were made for the Drive-in's. For kids, these were great! (And they kept me out of Mom and dads hair for the evening. ) One movie stands out in Memory: It involved an alien who kept a creature in a box. The creature looked like a small umbrella, with a nasty face at the top. It would drop over the heads of it's victims, close up, and eat their brains (Or something like that).--- Bruce, Boston, MA 1957

Sherrif John Gets You to Drink Your Milk
Does anyone remember watching "Sheriff John" and how he use to get kids to drink milk? When he said "Green Light"..you drank your milk. When he said "Red Light" you'd stop drinking your milk. --- Martha, Oxnard Ca. 1958

It was EngineerBill who got you to drink your milk by saying red light green light NOT Sheriff John. --- John Howley, Jr.

"Sheriff John's Lunch Brigade" came on at 11:30 to 12:30, at lunch time on KTTV channel 11 in Los Angeles. Maybe he came on after school before 1966, but we were living in the San Diego area before that time. I remember the "Red Light, Green Light" game with the milk was on the "Engineer Bill Show," which was after school on KHJ-TV channel 9. His sponsor was the Ralphs Grocery Company and they were trying to get kids to drink their milk and to get moms to buy it at Ralphs.
Sheriff John had a special birthday song, which I still sing to my daughters on their birthday (and it's more fun than "Happy Birthday to You!").

Put another candle on my birthday cake,
My birthday cake,
My birthday cake;
Put another candle on my birthday cake.
I'm another year old today.

I'm going to have a party with my birthday cake,
My birthday cake,
My birthday cake;
Put another candle on my birthday cake.
I'm another year old today.

We'll have some pie and sandwiches
And chocolate ice cream, too.
We'll sing and play the day away;
There's one more thing I'm going to do.

I'll blow out the candles on my birthday cake
And when I do
A wish I'll make;
Put another candle on my birthday cake.
I'm another year old today.

"Happy birthday to you!"
I'm another year old today.

This program was on until I was in high school, maybe later. I would come home for lunch (even as a high school senior) and watch it. John Rovick, the man who played the sheriff, was a lot like my generation's Mr. Rogers. --- Bill, Riverside, CA, 1957

Men Into Space
Anybody out there recall Men into Space" circa 1958-1959 with, I believe, Richard Lundigan? I was only five at the time and do not remember much about the show, but about five years later all the space props were recycled for Outer Limits! --- John, Warwick, RI, 1953

I remember it as "Man Into Space", or possibly "Men Into Space" from the extreme early 60's, when we were still innocent. It was set some twenty to twenty five years in the future, and attempted realism. There was a small lunar colony and a very small space platform, about the size of MIR. I'm all but certain it was on Wednesday nights, early enough for me to watch (I was barely 10). And it was sponsored by Lucky Strike - "LSMFT - Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco". Like anyone in space would smoke. --- Bob, San Francisco, 1951

Men Into Space web site:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Nebula/9742/shows/meninspace.html
--- Dave, Palo Alto, CA, 1950

Crusader Rabbit
Here's one: The first cartoon show of any Saturday morning on some channel on Long Island, N.Y.: Crusader Rabbit. It was an early version of Rocky & Bullwinkle, turned out by Jay Ward and some of the same guys, only Crusader couldn't fly. His sidekick was Ragland T. ("Rags) Tiger, and the Boris Badenov role was taken by, I believe, Dudley Nightshade. (Not to be confused with beany & Cecil's Dishonest John, although he looked pretty much the same.) I've read that Ward et al quit producing this cartoon because they couldn't do the kind of humor they later got to do on "Rocky"--the kind of "Kirwood Derby"/"Ruby Yacht of Omar Khayam" puns that only adults could get--but I swear I remember "Hamlet" references. Anyway, it was funny enough to get me to sit through both a 20-minute test pattern and a half hour of farm report filller before the show came on. (Of course it was filler--by about 1957, there were maybe two farms left in the broadcast area of any New York station.) AND I owned the Crusader Rabbit Colorforms; that was true devotion. --- Brian, (now) Chicago, 1952

A Plethora of Media Memories
Wow ! What a fun site ! I remember early T.V. to be a wondrous thing. Given the times and our awarenesses (read:unawarenesses), it was largely if not wholly inoffensive and therefore "Mother Approved." Shortly after his Army Air Corps discharge, my Dad began working at Allied Radio and Television, then THE premiere place to buy all things audio or video in my home town of San Jose, California and consequently our family, though of modest financial means, was among the first to enjoy this fledgling medium, Television. (Mom tells me we actually had a set in '48 but returned it because it's greenish hue [and the noxious smell of frying foods from the various ethic neighbors' meals] made her so sick she miscarried). By the time I arrived in 1950, along with our new Hoffman (which my brother still owns), we Bay Area kids, even in those earliest T.V. days, were never at a loss for entertainment as some of the posts will bear me out. By the mid '50's the San Francisco market boasted KRON CH 4 (NBC) , KPIX CH 5 (CBS), KGO CH 7 (ABC), KQEC CH 60 (Du Mont). and KQED CH 9 (ED). KTVU CH 2 (IND) and others soon followed, each with a plethora of kid themed programing. One of the near and dear local shows that I didn't see mentioned in posts was Captain Fortune, who's very cool entrance would have him stepping off a 3 masted ship at Fisherman's Wharf and onto a Cable Car to ride to the studio. (nice commute, eh?) There was also Fireman Bill, Skinny and the Pit, Sydney the Sailor, and from nearby Concord, we had King Norman. ("sponsored" by King Norman's Kingdom of Toys store, hhmmm.) Also mentioned in previous posts was the most convincing Captain Satellite (another imaginative entrance and exit, plus his outfit was spot on), the wonderful Pat Mc Cormick's Charlie and Humphrey Show and of course Mayor Art (does anybody remember what word* he would ask the City Council to define at the end of most of the shows?)
Nationally speaking, (Was Brother Buzz national?) I finger-painted with Miss Francis at Ding Dong School, I drew on our TV with & without benefit of my Winky Dink kit (who say's interactive TV is new?), sang along with Andy's Gang and Pete Seeger on Educational's Stop, Look and Listen, I was a Mouseketeer (along with my younger brother, Cory) every weekday at 5 replete with ears and shirt, and to this day I still look up to see if that plane buzzing by low is a Cessna 310B like Sky's (2nd) Song Bird and check my 1st response each time I'm asked, "What time is it?" (What if Buffalo Bob had met John Cameron Swaze... Perish the thought.)

I remember:
Ernie Kovacs' Nairobi Trio,
Allen Hale Jr. as Casey Jones,
A blonde Mickey "The Monkeys" Dolenz as Circus Boy,
Walter Brennan & Richard Crenna as The Real McCoys,

Annually reviving Peter Pan's Tinkerbell (Mary Martin's of course)
Watching The Johnathan Winters Show and Steve Allen's Tonight Show (with Dad & Mom laughing till tears),
The Gary Moore Show(featuring Derwood Kirby and a very young Carol Burnett),
Mr. Disney switching networks, from ABC (which he now owns) to RCA's NBC (they had color) and nights, Saturday to Sunday,
Masquerade Ball, You Asked For It, The Art Linkletter Show, Jack Bailey's enthusiastic, "Would YOU like to be Queen For A Day?"
Hating having to watch The Lawrence Welk Show at Grandma's (except for when Alvino Rey & his talking guitar or [former Mouseketeers] Cubby and Bobby were on),
Being allowed to stay up to watch Edward R. Murrow's See It Now in the home of Harpo Marx,

That freaky Reverend Oral Roberts slapping people on the head and yelling HEAL!!!,
Wanting to be the kid with G.E.'s Mr. Wizard, The Today Show's J. Fred Muggs and that nice Mr.Dave
Not knowing who What's My Line's "mystery challenger" was even though I didn't wear an eye mask,
And never understanding why Jeff let Timmy have Lassie
Even the news was cool.
I remember watching: Pope Pius XII's Funeral (me, a parochial school 2nd grader) and thinking, "Hey,That guy's dead!"
The sinking of the Andrea Doria
The John Powers/U-2 crisis,
Nikita Khrushchev pounding his shoe on the desk at the U.N. It was a great time to be a kid, wasn't it? One might even say, magical. Heck, even Eisenhower kinda looked and sounded like JimineyCricket, didn't he? Indubitably. --- Curt Pavone/1950

Mr Jingeling
I remember watching Captain Penny, Romper Room, The Red Skelton Show, and Mr. Jingaling. Mr Jingaling was a Cleveland area show. If anyone is interested Mr. Jingaling just died the day after Christmas.
[Here is the article from NewsNet5, Cleveland: Wednesday January 03 02:30 PM EST "Mr. Jingeling Memorialized At Childhood Church" Man Remembered As Master Storyteller Earl Keyes, who was most commonly known as "Mr. Jingeling," was memorialized at a the Lakewood United Methodist Church Wednesday morning. NewsChannel5 reports that Keyes, who was the keeper of the keys on the seventh floor of the Halle Building during the holidays, was a legend. People who grew up visiting him and people who didn't know him remembered the man who brought great joy to many northeast Ohioans. Family, friends and fans went to the same church where he married his wife 57 years ago, to remember the man who was called a "master storyteller, whose smile could light up a room." Keyes started playing the role of Mr. Jingeling in 1965, as a part of "The Captain Penny Show" on WEWS. Keyes was one of the original employees when the station first signed on the air in 1947.
He died last week of congestive heart failure at the age of 81.] .
I also remember Gertrude and Heathcliff from the Red Skelton show. They sure don't make shows like they used to. --- Kathy, Ashland, Ohio, 1960

Another Mr. Jingeling Obit:

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Earl Keyes, who counted down the days until Santa's arrival for youngsters for more than 20 years as the television elf "Mr. Jingeling," died Tuesday. He was 81.

He died at the suburban St. John West Shore Hospital of congestive heart failure, according to a family attorney, Richard S. Koblentz.

Keyes was one of the original employees at Cleveland's WEWS-TV, where he went to work as a show director more than 50 years ago.

In 1965 he took over the role of "Mister Jingeling," hosting a daily TV show from Thanksgiving to Christmas, counting down the days until Santa Claus arrived. The show sponsored by the downtown Halle's department store stayed on the air until 1987.

Keyes, wearing a balding white wig and green outfit trimmed in red, regaled youngsters with the song: "Mr. Jingeling, how you tingeling ... Keeper of the keys ... On Halle's seventh floor."

Keyes was born in nearby Lakewood, graduated in 1941 from Ohio Wesleyan and served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. After starting out in radio in Atlantic City, N.J., after the war, he returned to Cleveland in 1947.

A memorial service will be held Jan. 3 at the Lakewood United Methodist Church, Koblentz said.

Survivors include Keye's wife, Nadine; a son, Dennis, of Easley, S.C.; a daughter, Pamela Gilliland, who lives in the Cleveland area, and six grandchildren.

Captain 11 (Sioux Falls, SD)
"...One man in each century is given the power to control time. This man must be carefully selected. He must be kind, he must be fair, he must be brave. We of the outer galaxies designate to you the wisdom of Solomon, and the strength of Atlas. You are Captain 11!" ---part of the intro to the Captain 11 show

Living in Southwestern Minnesota, the only TV channels we could get were from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On KELO TV Channel 11, there was a children's show every weekday that I would rush home from school to see. The intro featured a rocketship orbiting the earth (Later a large "11") and the narration above. It was called "Captain 11" and it featured the Captain and his crew of youngsters in the studio audience. The show gave kids a chance to be on TV and also to have their birthdays recognized by the Captain. The captain would ask each child's name and the town he or she was from. If it was a kid's birthday, he/she was allowed to flip a switch on the Captain's "Time Converter." For quite a few years, the captain would give kids a chance to send in an entry to pick a numbered key from a board which would be inserted into the lock on the "Captain 11 Treasure Chest." If the key opened the lock, the lucky youngster would win the prizes inside. For those watching at home, one of the main attractions were the cartoons that would be shown. To activate a cartoon, Captain 11 would go to his time converter (A set background with lots of lights, dials, and switches) and twist some dials, flip some switches, and then the camera would focus on one of the large rotating spirals at the top of the time converter which would
fade into the cartoon. Some of the cartoons I remember being featured in the sixties include Popeye, Roger Ramjet, Dudley Do-Right, and Hanna-Barbera cartoons such as Yogi Bear, Yakky Doodle, etc., and many more. Captain 11 wore a blue and gold uniform which included boots, a wide black belt, a jacket, and a cap with a large "11" in a circle on it. For a long time, he also wore headphones. The show started in the mid-fifties and lasted into the early 90's. Dave Dedrick (who was also the weatherman for KELO) was the captain throughout its run. He would also make personal appearances at community celebrations around South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa. For thousands of kids over several decades, the Captain 11 show provided hours of enjoyment. --- Ron Tyler, Minnesota, 1960

Syracuse, NY morning show
Growing up in, and around, Syracuse, NY, I remember a local "live" Saturday morning show featuring "Mr. Trolley", "Merilee" and "Eddie FlubDub" (or something like that). Can anyone elaborate? I also had one of the first Winky Dink kits among my group of friends. My wife of 30+ yrs., who grew up in Baldwin, LI, NY still feels deprived because her parents would never let her get one! I also remember sending away for my official Foreign Legion cap with the Heinz 57 emblem on the front. --- Bruce B., Sykesville, MD, 1947

Lucy’s Toy Shop
Does anyone else out there from central Ohio remember the "Lucy's Toy Shop" and Mr. Tree she had on the show? Each day they would sing to him so he would wake up and talk to them. At Christmas time Lucy had a toy making machine that would spit out new toys on a conveyer belt that she would hold up and describe to the kids. --- Pat, Caledonia, Ohio, 1960

Banana Splits
Someone help me!!! I'm trying to remember the name of all the BANANA SPLITS! Does anyone out there remember them? I swear I'm going to explode if I don't remember soon! The sad thing is that I was at a party and we were talking old time cartoons and kids programs and not one person remembered the Banana Splits! --- Liz Santa Rosa, NM, 1958

They were: Bingo, Drooper, Fleegle and Snorky.

Friday, That Was the Week the Was...
Rememer some of the most funniest comdey show... FRIDAY, came on Friday nights(of course) and had a star now Michael Richards, Laugh-in, with Goldie Hawn and Arte Johnson, starring Rowan & Martin, The Smothers Brothers, Mom always liked you best,Tom would say to Dick. And pre-SNL, That was the Week that WAS. Can't remember any of the cast. --- Lawrence,Phila,PA 1951

Clutch Cargo and Diver Dan
I used to watch Clutch Cargo and Diver Dan on TV. I really loved Sheriff John, Engineer Bill, Romper Room, Bozo the Clown and Chucko the Clown. Remember the Nestles Quick Dog, Farfel? Don't get me started.... --- Lisa, California, 1954

Shock Theatre
I remember watching Shock Theater on Friday nights. It was fun to lay out the sleeping bag in front of the t.v. watch Mike Nelson in "Sea Hunt" at 10:30, struggle with the boring 11:oo news and then finally at 11:30 shock theater would come on . Soupy Sales was the favorite. Lunch with Soupy, White Fang, Black Tooth, and Willie the Worm was always neat. I remember Soupy also had a late night show in Detroit. The show would feature guest entertainers who were in Detroit performing. The show had a small orchestra and soupy provided the jokes which were probably a little more edgy for the adult audience. I recall Milky the Clown and Twin Pines Milk which sponsored the show. Captain Jolly on CKLW with Popeye cartoons. Even though we only had three black and white stations somehow T.V. was just as entertaining and certainly more fun back then. Perhaps it was my age! --- Bill, Sault Ste. Marie, MI (birth year?)

Bring Ed Back!
It's a shame today's TV doesn't have a version of the Ed Sullivan Show. I sometimes believe I actually saw Julie Andrews and Richard Burton in Camelot, but I only saw a scene they played on Ed Sullivan. Today, kids don't get that exposure to great American theater from Broadway. What a shame! --- Laine Sweezey, Lawrenceville, GA, 1953

Milky the Twin Pines Clown and Scary Movies
Sir Graves Ghastly and the Ghoul were my favorite movie hosts. I remember when you could watch "scary movies" all day long on saturdays. Also, Milky the Twin Pines clown was my favorite clown. I remember when I was little....waiting day after day for Milky the clown to come out of my gramma's new, next door neighbors house....but he never did. You see....her new next door neighbor was a delivery man for the Twin Pines milk company....I saw those pine trees on the side of his delivery truck, and just knew Milky had to be in that truck or house somewhere! --- Linda, Mesa, AZ...grew up in Roseville, Michigan, 1955

Bronson
A guy on a motorcycle traveling different places every week, "Then Came Bronson", played by Michel Parks. And "Coronet Blue" which inspired Dodge to name a car after the first season, this was about a private investigator. And "The Imortal" it was about a man that wouldn't die, played by Christopher George. I can't jog my thinker to tell me who starred in "Corronet Blue". How about "Its About Time" a silly spoof about space and two men that got stuck up there. Time period for these shows was late 60's early 70's. Here's one or two I just thought of "I Spy" w/Robert Culp & Bill Cosby, and "Run For Your Life" w/ Ben Gazara. I need help on this one: A scientist invents a pill that is supposed to make men stronger, but healthy men get weak after they take it, so in comes "Stanley Beemish" played by Wally Cox a 90lbs. weakling, he takes it, and he gains superman abilites. I remember this much, but the title escapes me. --- Billy, Nashville, TN 1957

A Mess O’TV Memories
Wow...and we think today's kids watch too much tv.....some of my favorite cartoons were Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo, Quick-Draw McGraw and oh dear, i can't remember the little guy's name..Huckleberry Hound, Baby Huey, Uncle Herman (the mieces...), Sniffles the Mouse, Little Audrey, Wendy and Casper, Top Cat, Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse, The Archie Show, Betty Boop, Snagglepuss (exit...stage left), Ricochet Rabbit (Bing-Bing-Bing !!), Roger Ramjet, Pixie & Dixie (more mice), Auggie Doggie, Magilla Gorilla, Underdog, all those great "Follow-the-Bouncing-Ball" sing-along cartoons, Cocoa the Clown (drawn right out of the Inkwell), the Original Rocky & Bullwinkle, just to name a few....

Trying to remember shows other than those already mentioned, i watched Diver Dan, with the cigar-smoking Barracuda, The Little Rascals, The Sandy Becker Show (Hambone, Hambone where ya been and the Professor, Pomp and Circumstance playing in the background), Sonny Fox, the original Wonderama Guy, Officer Joe Bolton (3 Stooges show), and Cap'n _____ (Popeye cartoons), Shenanigans, a crazy life sized board game, with GREAT prizes, Art Linkletter, Candid Camera, Hazel, Topper, Leave It To Beaver, Father Knows Best, The Danny Thomas Show, Abbott & Costello, Jack Benny, My Three Sons, Patti Duke, Petticoat Junction, The Real McCoys (and later, the Guns of Will Sonnett), HR Pufnstuf, Daphne the Witch (MAKE-UP !!!)...

When I was older, I remember running home from school and rushing to do my homework in time to watch Dark Shadows and then The 4:30 Movie on ABC....At nite, we watched Love American Syle, That Girl, Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke, Land of the Giants, Lost in Space.

Anyone remember a children's music show with a woman who played piano as the kids sat on the floor in front of her???? She would pass out percussion instruments for the kids to accompany her as they sang...i absolutely loved the show, no one i know remembers it, and i'm beginning to think i dreamed it....please let me know....think it might have been out of Philly, not sure. cowboycat@hotmail.com

This is such a great site, the more i read, the more it makes me remember! --- Kate Tamburri, Toms River, NJ (1956)

TV was Batman, Lost In Space, Space Ghost, F-troop, It's About Time, Get Smart, Gilligan's Island, Captain Nice......I remember a time when every kid in America was sliding down poles in play-grounds, and maiming each other while playing Batman, and imitating the movements of Adam West and Burt Ward. OR they were the Robinsons and their trusty robot. --- Jim Kirk, 1960, Taft, Texas

Belts on the Side
In my school the guys who wore their belts on the left side were the ones who seemed to get in trouble. But a few of us us who didn't seem to get into trouble wore out belts that way too. I remember Peter Brown of "Lawman", Rory Calhoun of "The Texan", and Tony Dow of "Leave it to Beaver." They were "good guys", and wore their belts on the side. I still wear mine that way today. --- Tom, Aspen, CO, 1946

Ruth Lyons Fifty-Fifty Club
I remember growing up in Indiana and watching "The Ruth Lyons Fifty-Fifty Club" with my mother, nearly on a daily basis in the late 1950's. Being pre-school age, I was able to watch nearly every episode at lunch time where Mom and I would set up a card table in front of the old black and white and eat our tuna fish and crackers lunch. I still remember the words to most of the songs on their Christmas record that filled our home for many years. In fact, my Mom, who is 83, still has that very record; I hope to be able to transfer it to a cassette or compact disc so that I may once again, sing along with Ruth and the rest of the gang during this Christmas season, and many more to come. --- Jennie, Converse, IN 1954

Tulsa TV
Here's a site to reawaken your Tulsa TV memories: http://tulsatv.tripod.com

Ventriloquists
I loved Winchell-Mahoney, with the two marionettes, Jerry Mahoney and his cousin, Knucklehead Smiff. Yep, it was Smiff, not Smith. Paul Winchell was the ventriloquist. Knucklehead's hair was painted on. And his father was named Bonehead. There was also a little mouse, named Irving, who wore glasses, had one buck tooth and lived in a hunk of Swiss cheese on the table where Jerry and Knucklehead always sat. And I can't remember for sure if it was Knucklehead or Jerry who always sang a sad song about coming to the end of a lollipop. Jerry had a cousin named Tessie and Knucklehead was in love with her. --- Gigi, New York, 1957

I loved any ventriloquist I saw on television. The standouts were Paul Winchell, Jimmy Nelson and his dog Farfel (they did the Nestles commercials), and perhaps the strangest of all Señior Wincess (on Ed Sullivan frequently) with his little painted hand puppet (Johnny?) and the old guy's head in the box ("All right? S’all right... Shut the box!"). --- Tim, Shoreview, MN 55126

Bertie the Bunyip
Yo Philly! Does anyone remember Bertie the Bunyip? No I haven't been drinking! In the 50's a guy by the name of Dexter had a puppet show on Sunday mornings on a Philadelphia TV station. Bertie was a cross between an Australian plattapus and something else. There were two cousins, Fussy and Gussy and a bad guy named Sir Guy de Guy. Corny humor with no profound message in it. I also remember a Philly TV station had a live daily western drama on about 4pm. Does anyone remember this and what was it titled? Also the Big Top on Saturday afternoon. It was a live circus show that came from the convention center in Camden, NJ. The convention hall burned down in the early 50's. Pete Boyle and the Fun House, with Popeye cartoons and his drawings. Saturday morning TV with Any Devine and that frog. Mighty Mouse! Clutch Cargo! Loony Tunes! Woody the Woodpecker! Roy and Dale with the guy that drove the Jeep Nellie Bell (Pat?) and Gabby Hayes! Sky King with the Song Bird! Wild Bill Hickcock, Hey Wild Bill wait for me! (was that Andy Devine?) Gene Autry and Pat Buttrim? Rescue 8! Of course I would be amiss if I didn't mention Sally Star and Chief Halftown (easta sasassaway and onay). Hopalong Cassidy! Kit Carson! Cisco Kid (hey Cisco, wait for me!).
The Lone Ranger! A program my Mom watched on Friday nights, I Remember Momma. Riverboat with Darin McGaven! Comedy with Red Skelton, Uncle Milty, Pinky Lee, and Soupy Sales! Gunsmoke! Bonanza! Dragnet! Naked City! Highway Patrol with Broderick Crawford (2150 by and 10 foh)! Later it was Emergency (KMG 365). A morning daily TV show called Mr. Rivets. A robot with a bucket for his head. Car 54 where are you? There's a holdup in the Bronx, Brooklyn's broken out in fights, that traffic jam in Harlem that's backed up to Jackson Heights, there's a scout troop short a child, Kruschevs' due at Idlewild, Car 54 where are you? Words to the title song. As Edith always sang, those were the days! --- Dave from Oaklyn, NJ, 1946

Lockup
I remember a show on Friday night in the 50's named Lockup with MacDonald Carey as a defense lawyer. I think Bachelor Father with John Forsythe was also on Friday night.One of my favorites was Commando Cody (often mistakenly referred to as "commander" cody). Then there was National Velvet starring Laurie Martin upon whom I had one of my first major TV girl star crushes. Anyone remember the detective show Boston Blackie? And how about the science show on Saturday morning called Mr. Wizard where they would do all sorts of cool experiments? I also loved Spin and Marty and the Hardy Boys serials on the Mickey Mouse Club. My all -time favorite though was Superman with George Reeves. By the way, anyone who has studied the life of George Reeves knows that his "suicide" was probably murder. --- Russell Osmianski, Wilmington, Delaware,1951

Captain Midnight
Captain Midnight was a popular Saturday morning TV show in the 1950s. By mailing in three (I think!) Ovaltine proof-of-purchase labels to the show's producer, you received a decoder rink in the shape of a rocket ship. The ring had a dial with three points on the swivel pointer. At the end of each Captain Midnight show, a secret coded message appeared on the screen, which you could use the ring to decode. Every Captain Midnight kid had to have one! --- Larry Guin, Murray, KY, 1947

The Dectectives
How about the show "The Detectives" shown on Friday night @ 10PM. I would rush home from school dances to see Robert Taylor and his 3 detectives (My favorite was Mark ????) To the person who brough up the millionaire's name it was JOHN BARESFORD TIPTON. No on ever saw him just the delivery person. Keep this going - fun on a boring Saturday night. --- Barbara, Pennsylvania 1948

So many shows, so little time!
Puppets and marionettes were big. Paul Winchell with Jerry Mahoney and Mortimer Snerd; Shari Lewis with Lambchop; Kukla Fran and Ollie; even Soupy Sales had White Fang and Black Tooth (a lot of laughs in a couple of socks); and of course Howdy Doody with Buffalo Bob and Clarabell ("Hey kids what time is it?"); Fireball XL5 made the space shuttle look like a toy.
So many westerns too. Gunsmoke (with Festus and Miss Kitty - and a young Burt Reynolds); Bonanza (always liked Hoss); Maverick; Bat Masterson, Have Gun Will Travel (Palladin with a business card); Wanted Dead or Alive (young Steve McQueen as a bounty hunter); Sugarfoot; Wyatt Earp (Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp, Brave, Courageous and Bold, Long Live His Fame, and Long Live His Glory, and Long May His Story Be Told) - the things you remember.
Cops/robbers detectives etc were popular too. 77 Sunset Strip (Ephram Zimbalist Jr - before the FBI - and Edd Kooky Burns - Kooky, Kooky, lend me your comb); Untouchables (Elliot Ness was Robert Stack - before he started solving unsolved mysteries); Hawaiian Eye (one of the characters was named Pontsy Pontz); Surfside Six ("Where is it? - In Miami Beach"); Roaring 20's; The Naked City. and The Highway Patrol (Broderick Crawford "10-4").
When Saturday morning was more than cartoons: Fury (a boy and his horse); My Friend Flicka (which seemed to be a rip-off of Fury); Sky King (a man and his airplane - Songbird?).
Sitcoms - I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke (Mary was HOT), Joey Bishop (before he took on Johnny Carson in the late night spot); car 54 Where Are You? (There's a Holdup in the Bronx, Brooklynn's Broken Out in Fights...); Abbot and Costello.
Half hour dramas - If memory serves, not all 30 minute shows were sitcoms - Combat (Vic Morrow - "Checkmate King 2 This is White Rook Over"); Rescue 8 (precursor to Emergency and Squad 51); Steve Canyon (air force during the cold war); Whirlybird (helicopter looked like a Korean war leftover); Lincoln Vale of the Everglades (wanted to bulid an airboat - how difficult could it be); Superman (with George Reeves - who later would commit suicide); Real McCoys (farm life in the Sna fernando valley (?) - oil that door would ya).
Local kiddie shows - Pixanne, Gene London at his Cartoon Corners General Store ("Let's pretend that it's story time and I'll tell a tale to you. I'll tell you a story of make-believe and all your dreams will come true. And when the story's over and when we reach the end, we'll live happily ever after - Where? - In the land of let's pretend"); Bill Weber (called "Wee Willie" despite the fact he was 6-4 or so - also had Mister Mike - "You still owe me 5 bucks"); Happy the Clown (with the Marching Sticks); Pete Boyle; Sally Starr; Chief Halftown; Captain Kangeroo (not local but had to mention - Tom Terrific with Mighty Manfred the Wonder dog). Enough for now :-) --- Ted Lamparski, Lansdale, Pa 1952

Lassie!
When I was little my parents only had a black and white television. My next door neighbors always nvited us over on Sunday night to watch "Lassie". I remember refusing to leave until I saw Lassie get up on that rock and use her paw to wave good buy. --- Elaine, New Jersey, 1962

The Pick Temple Show
To Carol in Herndon, VA, 1950---Your memories of the westerns and dog shows brought me back to the Pick Temple Show. Does anyone remember it? The thrill on my life was when I got to be on his show (of course, when I was on it he didn't have the real pony yet, just a saw horse with a saddle). My parents bought me the entire "cowgirl" outfit, which I also took great pride in wearing to school. When my kids look at my treasured souvenir picture of me and Pick, I believe the word they use is "dork." I just tell them they don't know what fun is. --- Pat, Philadelphia, PA (grew up in Washington, D.C.), 1946

Jot and the Cliffwood Avenue Kids
Two shows I remember vividly but cannot seem to find any evidence of on the net are Jot the Dot and Cliffwood Ave. Kids. Jot was a Christian based cartoon about a white dot named Jot who often got into trouble. The strange thing about the show was the use of psychedelic animation whenever Jot was feeling bad. Very weird. The Cliffwood Ave. Kids which aired on Sunday mornings in the early 70s was not a cartoon but a show about these kids who were pretty poor, had no family, and lived in an abandoned building on Cliffwood Ave. Somehow or other they would have great adventures. --- Brian Aldrich, Valdosta Georgia, 1967

Mr. Jingaling / Cleveland
One of the happiest times of my life was when Mr. Jingaling would appear around Christmas time in the Cleveland area. He had "magic keys" that would open the toy shop up in the North Pole...he was one of Santa's elves...We used to see him on Halle's 7th floor downtown Cleveland and there's not much I wouldn't do to have one of those cardboard "keys" with the red string today...what a magical time and a magical man. Does anyone know who he was or what happened to him? Does anyone know how to obtain any of the paraphernalia? Remember Captain Penny? Barnaby? Romper Room? Nancy, now in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1958 (wishing I were still in Cleveland)

Nancy Yes I remember Mr. Jingaling! " On Halles Second Floor We'll Be Waiting For You To Turn The Key " What fun I remember every holiday season waiting for his show. Noon Lunch with Captain Penny ... "You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can't fool Mom." I think that was his his motto. I left Cleveland 20 years ago but still cheer for the old home town teams. --- Michelle in Arizona 1955

The Undersea Wedding
Back in the late fifties there was a animated movie that would come on T.V. every so often. I think it was called "The Undersea Wedding." There was only music (similar to Disney's Fantasia). I guess my fondest memory of this movie was how much my mother loved it, she still talks about it to this day. Does anyone else remember this animated movie? --- Pat, Philadelphia PA, 1946

Detroit TV Memories
Detroit. Here's a list, typed as it floods through my brain. Someone mentioned Captain Jolly....on Colorvision 9. Johnny Ginger on Channel 7, Captain Detroit with Sargent Sacto on Channel 50. Milky The Clown "Twin Pines" on Channel 4 ("WWJ, The Detroit News"). Sagebrush Shorty on Channel 2. ("Best In View") Shock Theater, fridays, Channel 7. Rita something's Starlit Stairway (local talent show) WAIT! It was Rita BELL!! She hosted "Prize Movie" too...on Channel 7. Bill Kennedy Showtime (channel 9) showed better movies. Mary Morgan. Carol Duvall on Channel 4....(she's on HGTV now...still looks the same!) George Pierrot and his travel movies on channel 4.
Highway Patrol, Cannonball (he was a truck driver) Dick Westerkamp and Jack Legoff (tv news) Sonny Elliot (weather) Van Patrick and that horendous toupee (sports). My Little Margie. A noble experiment on Channel 7...early mornings...called "FunNews". The screen divided into 3 sections...the top half showing wirecopy of the news....bottom left was the weather forecast and a clock....bottom right was a cartoon! Cartoons. Clutch Cargo, with his pals, Spinner and Paddlefoot...Beany and Cecil, COLONEL BLEEP! Whew. I'm exhausted. Thanks for a GREAT websight! --- Dave Morey, Detroit, 1951

WABC
You can never mention our baby boomer generation, without mentioning 77 WABC radio, or the Good Guys at WMCA. Since TV was still quite young, radio was an extremely important part of our day. And, those last of the big radio stars, gave us memories that will last a lifetime. Being from Brooklyn, Cousin' Brucie was; and remains my favorite. He was the 5th Beatle. he helped bring them into our lives and our hearts, during a time when Beatlemania was in its infancy. Then came The Rolling Stones. Then, a parade of British groups that would try to emulate the originals. They couldn't and didn't. These are some of the memories of our youth. Memories we seem to make much larger than life itself....but then.......the memories of youth always seem to be that way. I for one, am glad for that. --- Ralph Mauriello (originally from Bay Ridge Brooklyn) Hagerstown, Maryland 1957

When radio was king...
Who remembers Jack LaLane early every morning. Or, when Chubby Checker had his own TV show. We're the TV generation, so try to remember Romper Room. And, all those great Saturday morning cartoons. The Jetsons, who held our dreams of the future. The Flintstones (prime time at first), and our dreams of the past. And radio......W - AAAAAAAAA - BEATLE - C !!!!! I see that someone already mentioned The Cousin'. If it weren't for Bruce Morrow, I wouldn't be a radio broadcaster today. But what about the rest of the on-air staff at 77 WABC. Harry Harrison. Ron Lundy. Chuck Leonard. Man.....what a time in radio. When the guys on the radio truly were big stars. Sadly....today those types are few and far between. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Led Zeppelin. The Beach Boys. These are all music and memories that are very personal to me.....yet....they are shared by the multitudes. Sad memories too. The Kennedy Brothers. Martin Luther King. Malcolm X. All succumbing to the times and the ignorance. Vietnam. A legacy I'm sure we would like to forget. We are a great generation. A generation that has been a part of the greatest expansion of knowledge, technology; and prosperity the world has ever seen. And, though some are beginning to write us off as being over the hill, the oldest of us still have an average of 25 years to live, work; and be productive. Long live us Baby Boomers! --- Ralph Mauriello (originally from Brooklyn, New York), Hagerstown, Maryland. 1957

Charlie Horse and Humphrey Hambone
Does anyone out there remember the "Charlie Horse and Humphrey Hambone" cartoon show in San Francisco? It featured a horse and a dog (I think he was a bull dog) It was on right after Dialing for Dollars and showed George of the Jungle, Super Chicken, and Tom Slick cartoons. It was great after school entertainment. --- Barbara, from San Jose, 1958

Junior Frolics
Does anyone remember a live kiddie show from the early 50's called Junior Frolics? It was out of Newark NJ on channel 11. I think I was about 5 or 6 when my mom got tickets for me to sit in the kid's section. The MC was Uncle Fred and he had a glass eye which he showed all the kids before we went on the air. They showed Farmer Grey cartoons. This is all I can remember. --- Greg, Denver CO, 1948

San Francisco TV
I remember kiddie shows growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area...Mayor Art on ch 4; Captain Satellite on ch 2. I remember a kid show in Los Angeles called Engineer Bill. Anyone have memories of that one? I recall an obscure cartoon called QT Hush...anyone recall that one? Lots of memories watching Beany & Cecil (a truly inspired, brilliant show...great writing...funny and witty with great pop cultural references of its day). How 'bout the stay-at-home-sick-morning lineup watching I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith Show, Dick Van Dyke Show, The Real McCoys. Also watched Password, You Don't Say, Let's Make A Deal and The Galloping Gourmet (Graham Kerr). --- Jeff, Oakland, CA 1956

Soupy and Counts
I remember being glued to the TV set watching the antics of Soupy Sales and the rest of the cast. We would be literally in tears, laughing so hard! For it's time, it was a real standout for me. Wish there was something like it for today's kids. Does anyone remember with fondness all of the late-night horror flicks, hosted by various ghouls, vampires, etc.? Growing up around LA in the 60's, there was one fellow on Friday or Saturday night called "Count" who, with "Frankenstein" and a group of "dead" musicians, were absolutely hilarious. In one particular show that I remember, part of the action (between Cal Worthington's car commercials and the film) was when the Count had a flea circus he was planning on making money with. He called Frankenstein over to look at it, and with one quish of his thumb, he killed them! The look on the Counts face was a riot. Various shows of this type have come and gone. Last one I saw was back in the 70's in the Seattle area. --- Eddie, Grapeview, WA, 1949

Commander Cody
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Commander (or Captain?) Cody, Sky Marshall of the Universe! I used to watch it in the late fifties in New York. Take Buck Rogers and mix with superman He flew with a rocket pack (attached to a leather aviator jacket) but set it in current times. I believe this was originally a serial shown in the theaters. He (of course) had a space ship which he used to travel to wherever the bad guys might be. The space ship had a flashing thingy on the front which allowed the ship to fly in and out of the protective cloud which (I think) surrounded the earth. Oh yes, his favorite trick was to fly with his rocket back-pack and land on his rocket ship which was (of course) flying by remote control. --- Andy, Santa Ana, CA , 1952

A Cavalcade of TV Memories
In Ohio there was a very popular show called "Lucy's Toy Shop". I liked to watch that when it came on. I hear they are trying to bring it back to public television! I think that's great!
I remember 'Our Miss Brooks' with Eve Arden and 'Mr. Peepers' with Wally Cox were two of my favorite shows. Zazu Pitts was in My Favorite Margie. I loved 'I Remember Mama' and 'December Bride' with Spring Byrington (Bryington? anyone know?)
We watched Captain Kangaroo and laughed at the antics of Bob Keshan and Mr. Green Jeans. Everyone remembers "Howdy Doody" don't they? There was Buster Brown who lived in a shoe and his nemsis Froggy. Spin and Marty were my favorites on the "Mousketeers" show and Annette was my favorite Mousekateer along with Bobby. Sky King showed us great adventures.
We all thrilled to the adventures of Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans. There was Hopalong Cassidy, The Cisco Kid, Zorro, and that singing cowboy Gene Autry.
Superman and Lois Lane and Jimmy Oleson thrilled us with great tales of super powers and kryptonite and the a nose for news. The broadcast of Peter Pan in 1960 led us into Never Never Land and once a year we were treated with an airing of it and the Wizard of Oz.
Mr. Wizard took us on weird science experiments. Dr. Demento and Buck Rogers took us into space along with 'Lost In Space' --- warning Will Rogers, warning....!
You can't go home again...but retro tv is alive and well on Nickelodian and TV land.
Does anyone remember the 'Fifty Fifty' Club and Spook Beckman? Do you remember Flippo the clown? How about Clarabell?
Everone loved to be scared. Lon Chaney as the Wolf Man, Vincent Price in spine tinglers and Bela L. as the vampire with Renfew as his slave. The Mummy, It Came From Outer Space, The Monster It, those scary movies ushered in with the head floating in a jar ....
Who can forget Jimmy Durante (we have an autographed Christmas card he sent my husband when he was a kid!) Your Show of Shows, Sid Caesar and Imogene Cocoa. Gee, I don't have time to mention the many years of tv. --- Judith (born in Lancaster, OH), 1947

General Hospital, Girl from Uncle… and local Seattle shows
I remember....Hazel, The Mod Squad, watching Jack Lalanne with my mom and General Hospital too, (my sister and I used to play like we were Miss March and Audrey.."7th Floor nurses station, Miss March speaking" .) ..The Patty Duke Show, Sherry Lewis and Lamb Chop, Beanie and Cecil, Fractured Fairy-Tales, Dark Shadows, Fess Parker as Daniel Boone, Shindig, Sky King, The Rifleman, The Man From UNCLE and the Girl From UNCLE (played by Stephanie Powers), Lassie...
Local Kids TV in my area (Seattle) JP Patches, Stan Boresen and his dog Nomo, Wunda Wunda and last but certainly not least, Brakeman Bill. --- Cam Keeley, Seattle WA 1959

When the television worked…
Our vacuum tube television was more likely not to perform its function, but WHEN it worked I can recall the Howdy Doody show with Buffalo Bob and the Peanut Gallery. My Little Margie starring Gale Storm. Always delightful. The antics of Topper with Leo G. Carroll, Ann hayden & Robert Sterling (I cannot remember Henrietta's real name). The Anne Southern Show. And one from way back: The District Attorney.
My fascination with the white cowboy boots the girls wore and the dark (black?) cowboy boots the boys wore on the Mickey Mouse Show always had me glued to the set when it was on. I can still remember the serial episodes of a young boy on his horse (names elude me, it's been that long).
One more show: The Millionaire. One million dollars was dispensed each week to some unsuspecting character. The agent to delivered the money and the source (a wealthy person with a name like Fertpton[sic]). This site makes me realize that these shows and others like them REALLY DID HAPPEN!!!!! --- Tom Pollak, Ramsey, N.J. 1948

Cadet Don Travis
In Houston, Texas, there was a morning show hosted by Cadet Don Travis with his pal Seymour the space alien (hand puppet). The show came on in two parts. I believe the early part came on about 6:30 and included an exercise segment. The second part was shorter and probably followed some news. During the show, there were old serials including Gene Autry and the Phantom Empire--a wild mix of singing cowboy and Flash Gordon. Seymour the puppet popped out a small flying saucer which did double duty on Friday night's intro to "Wierd" a horror movie series.

Other misc TV memories: "Love that Bob" with Bob Cummings, "My Little Margie" with Gale Storm, Jack Benny Show with his radio cast translated to TV, "Sea Hunt" with excellent theme music as Lloyd Bridges dons his wet suit head sock, "Where the Action Is" shown on summer afternoons in the 60's featuring Paul Revere and the Raiders, Clutch Cargo cartoons which were like Space Ghost, waiting for Friday night when ABC would offer Jonny Quest in prime time, the Jack Paar version of the Tonight Show with Hugh Downs and guests like Peggy Cass, Lee Marvin starring in "M Squad," the Twilight Zone competitor "Way Out," new Chevies featured on "Bewitched," Warner Brothers shows such as Maverick, Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, Danny Thomas show with Uncle Tanoose, Amos and Andy down at the Lodge. --- Peter, Houston Texas, 1952

Wee Willy Webber / WFIL
I am suprized no one thought of Wee Willy Webber of WFIL channel 6 in Phila. Pa. Early mornings before school I watched Amos & Andy, My Little Margie. I was in high school so the must have been re-runs. My wife remembers a show called Coronet Blue, but can't find anyone else who recalls it. It only ran as a substitute in the spring. Also out of Channel 6 Chieh Halftown [a close friend of Sally Starr]. --- Smitty, Lancaster Pa.1951

Patty Duke
One of my favorite shows was The Patty Duke Show. My favorite commercials; HAMM'S BEER with the Hamm’s bear; and GOOD "N" PLENTY, I think this is how it went; "Once upon a time there was an engineer, choo-choo- charlie was his name we hear. He had an engine, and he sure had fun. He used Good "N" Plenty candy to make his train run ! Charlie said, Love my Good "N" Plenty, Charlie said, surely rings the bell!, Charlie, said, love my Good "N" Plenty and there's no other candy that I love so well ! --- Gladys Nieves, Chicago, IL 1952

Note: They are reviving the Hamm’s Bear - he has been in commercials in the Twin Cities, MN area lately.

Chicago kid’s television
Chicago kid's show featured Frazier Thomas as host, Garfield Goose, Bauregard Burnsides the First (the dog), Mackintosh Mouse (was Steve Jobs watching?) among others. Features were viewed from the "Little Theater Screen" where we'd see "Suzy Snowflake" and "Journey to the Beginning of Time". It came on after the Mickey Mouse Club reruns. --- Terry, Chicago, 1956

The Garfield Goose information from the Chicago area in the late 50's and early 60's. Boregard (pronounced Bo Ree Guard) Bernstein the III - Was a hound dog puppet with a Sherlock Holmes type hat, that would sleep on the little stage. Frazier Thomas would lift one of his ears and yell hotdogs, hamburgers, spaghetti and meatballs to wake him up. Nothing else would wake him. Then there was Romberg Rabbit who wore an old wool knit type hat. He would whisper in Fraziers ear and we never heard him speak but would believe what Frazier told us he said. Then of course was Garfield Goose, King of the United States. He also could not talk but would smack his beak together wildly if he was mad, and he alsways got mad at least once per show. His crown would slip off to one side and we would all laugh. I actually had a Garfield Goose puppet, which was my most favorite puppet. --- Mike Kanzia (remember to add your city/state and birth year folks!)

Remember these...?
Does anyone remember "I Married Joan" with Joan Davis, "Omnibus" (live plays), "U.S Steel Hour", December Bride and the spin-off show "Pete & Gladys", "Sea Hunt", "Roy Rogers"(I had a rocking horse named Buttermilk), Sid Caesar Show (that was the best!) Ozzie & Harriett (would watch to see Ricky). As teenagers we would get in the car at night and scare each other with stories from Twilight Zone, Boris Karloff Presents and Outer Limits. We would have picnics (real ones where you cook the chicken, make the potato salad and beans. We would go to the show on Saturdays for Kiddie Matinee for a quarter and see a double feature, two serials, and tons of cartoons. I think I saw every movie made in the 50's. Ate popcorn for a quarter and a coke for a dime and a candy bar for a nickle. I loved being raised in the 50's but hated the heat. Thank God for air conditioning! --- Ellen Young, Houston, TX, 1947.

The Cousin Brucie Show
When I was a kid growing up in NJ back in the 60's, every Saturday night we'd listen to the Cousin Brucie show. Remember the theme song?....Cousin Brucie, Cousin Brucie, Cousin Brucie, COUSIN BRUCIE!!!! There would be a special slot time just for current Beatle hits, "She Loves You", "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," "Anna," "PS I Love You," "From Me to You," "Twist and Shout." I used to sit outside on the front steps of my baby-sitters house, listening to "77 WABeatleC" radio, eating my vanilla "Mr. Softy" vanilla icecream cone with chocolate sprinkles, and watch what the people were doing in the neighborhood. Back then every one socialized in the neighborhood whether you liked them of not!!! --- Kathy Brand, Garfield, NJ, 1956

Name these shows:
Does anyone remember a soap that came on in the mid-to-late 60's about a group of young people that lived at the beach? It's been driving me crazy for years now because I can't remember the name of it. --- Susie, Birmingham, Alabama, 1952

I think the show she's talking about is "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing." --- Melanie, Llano, TX, 1962

I don't remember the name of the show so I'm hoping someone can help me out.It was on Saturday mornings I think, and the opening of the show had an African shield and then 2 spears crossed in front of the shield and the name of the show came across the shield. It was a jungle adventure show and I hope someone can remember the name. --- Judy, Rockford, IL, 1954

Meet McGraw with Frank Lovejoy?
I was perusing the page and frankly, I guess I'm so old, there weren't many shows I don't remember and that's probably because some shows were only aired in certain locations. I was surprised anyone remembered Pinky Lee!
My brothers and I used to fight over the one tv in the house. They were older so it was mostly westerns ~ Wild Bill Hicock, Hopalong Cassidy, Sky King, Tails of the Texas Rangers, Palladin and the Cisco Kid. I got Our Miss Brooks, Ozzie and Harriet, Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver and all the animal shows -- Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, Fury.
We all loved The Goldbergs, You Bet Your Life, Perry Como, Name that Tune (with George DeWitt) and I Remember Mama ~ the opening still makes me cry.
Does anyone remember 'Meet McGraw' with Frank Lovejoy? I was in love! And it aired on scout night. My mom was a scout leader and we would always cut the meeting short to get home for that show.
TV was the greatest invention of the century! Look at all the memories we share. --- Barbara, West Hills CA, 1946
Thank you for this wonderful page ~ wish you had a message board where all us oldies (but goodies) could talk to each other.

We're working on the message exchange service. Will let you know!

Quiz Shows
Several shows I remember are a quiz show named "Beat the Clock" where people would compete against each other performing various stunts trying to "beat the clock", "GE Theatre" with the host Ronald Regan, "Name that Tune", and "Your hit parade". One of the "hit parade" sponsors was Phillip Morris and there was a small man who used to shout out "CALL FOR PHILIP MORRIS" --- Mary Lee Somers Point, N.J. 1948

The Ghost and Mr. Tauber (?) / Muir
I remember watching Pinky Lee and Howdy Doody and Soupy Sales. Does anyone remember a show that I think was titled The Ghost and Mr. Tauber? I was living outside LA at the time and was probably between 3 and 5 years old. I only remember a black and white show with an English type gentleman and a friendly ghost. No one I know has ever heard of it. It was my favorite show. --- Dianna, Ohio, 1950

Another thought: The show was "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir". The series had (I think) Hope Lang, as Mrs. Muir in it. --- Pam, League City, Texas, 1961

I believe that the lady who was asking about The Ghost and Mr. Tauber is referring to Topper. Cosmo Topper. And the ghosts were George and Marion Kirby. Wife's name was Henrietta. I think. Leo G. Carrol. Anne Jeffries. Uhhhhh ...
But how about Trouble With Father, aka The Stuart Irwin Show, with Stu Irwin, Willie Best, Sheila James as Jackie, before she was Zelda on Dobie Gillis? Beulah? And My Friend Irma, My Little Margie, Life With Elizabeth? And how about the shows that came on before Howdy Doody, like Kate Smith, Nat King Cole, Korla Pandit, test patterns... Crusader Rabbit? --- Phyllis, New York (but Albany California in the 50s), 1946

Monday Night Movie
Anyone remember the Monday Night Movie? I think it started at 5:30 and went for an hour, then
Walter Cronkite came on with the news till 7:00 and then the end of the movie, I hated the news so bad, having to wait to see the end. --- Greg, Powell River, BC, 1961

Sniffles
I remember a cartoon mouse named Sniffles. He was gray (at least I thought that because it was in b/w) and he wore a sailor cap. Also, during the 1960's, there was a tv series called The Roaring 20's starring Dorothy Provine. Love the music! Wonder if they will ever air it again. --- Susan, Springfield, VA

Uncle Miltie
WOW !......went thru all of these memories......and nobody remembers Uncle Miltie ? ! The MILTON BERLE SHOW was my favourite, every Tuesday nite show with the Texaco quartet introduced Milton's famous costumes which he seemed to love to put on - we loved all his outfits tooooo!

My boomer afternoons - cause we didn't watch TV in the morning - began with GABBY HAYES, KATE SMITH SHOW, (& the DINAH SHORE SHOW maybe came later with ARTHUR GODFREY in there somewhere) . After that I remember ANDY'S GANG (with "Midnight" the black cat - I think that was only on Saturdays), HOWDY DOODY ( the prime show at 5 o'clock punctual!), .....then somewhere after that was dinner time......till JOHN CAMERON SWAYZE & THE NEWS which my folks watched deligently every nite, and later maybe an I REMEMBER MAMA episode (with a yound Barbara Bel Geddes - "DALLAS" star)

Can anyone remember: MY LITTLE MARGIE - I MARRIED JOAN - TROUBLE WITH FATHER - YOU ASKED FOR IT ! - YOU WERE THERE ( for young history buffs - OH SUSANNA (Gail Storm, again) - ...and then there was your HIT PARADE (music, music, music). --- Norma, W. Palm Beach, FL, - 1946

Davey and Goliath (and Jot)
I admit it. I have a bad memory. I saw this site and called my sister who confirmed my memories. We grew up in a very small town outside Fort Worth, Texas. I remember 2 kid shows - - Davey and Goliath, and Jot. Davey was a cartoon boy and his dog (Goliath) could talk to him. Jot was a dot. Both were Christian based but we enjoyed them both. I don't know if they were local or not. --- Pam, League City, Texas, 1961

Editors note: Davey and Goliath was clamation and produced by the American Lutheran Church (to the best of my recollection).

Dr. Who
Does anyone remember Dr. Who? He was on in the late 70's or early 80's on our local Houston PBS station. He travelled through space in an English Telephone booth. --- Pam, League City, Texas, 1961

Yes, I remember Doctor Who. It came on Channel 8 (PBS) out of Houston. I remember, as a kid, I thought it was soooo dorky and would never watch it. Later, in my 30's, I rediscovered the show and became an official Whovian. The show is fantastic! I recorded almost every episode but the tapes are so old now, the picture quality is fading.
I was extremely disappointed when the program was discontinued some years back. By the way, there was a new Doctor Who made-for-TV movie back in 1990 (I think). It was pretty good. --- Robin, Texas, 1956

Kukla, Fran, and Ollie
Anyone remember Kukla, Fran and Ollie? Kukla and Ollie were puppets that Fran would talk with. --- Bev., New Canaan, Ct 1947--- Bev. New Canaan, Ct 1947

I remember Kukla, Fran, and Ollie - mostly waiting for it to get over (there was probably something I enjoyed more immediately following it. --- Sandy, Park City, UT, 1953

Not only do I remember KFO, I got to know Burr Tillstrom, the creator! I was amazed to learn that one puppeteer did all 12 characters, and fell in love with all of them when I saw them perform live in Chicago. Buelah Witch, Oliver J. Dragon III, Madame Ophelia Ooglepuss and Fletcher Rabbit will always hold special places in my memories. Sandy, you're too young to have seen the original show in the 50s and probably remember their appearances on "The CBS Children's Film Festival" in the 60s and 70s - nothing like their original show, which was quite adult and very funny! I have some great video clips at my website - check it out: http://www.ultinet.net/~kfo --- Mark, Chicago, IL 1956

Sally Starr
I can remember getting ready for school in the morning and watching Sally Starr. She was a beautiful cowgirl. Sally use to wear these real cool cowgirl outfits. She always wore her cowgirl hat. I can remember she wore her hair in a real long ponytail. Most of all I can remember thinking that she was Popeye's mom. She always ended her show by saying something like May the good lord be blessing you and yours. Love, luck, and lollypops. I recently heard that she has a radio show on Sundays. If I remember correctly she was on channel six out of Philadelphia. Every now and then she appears on tv. I must say that she still looks pretty good for her age!! --- Joanie, New Jersey,1945

I grew up in a small town in NJ and remember many of the shows written about on this site but I particularly remember Sally Starr and have always wondered who she really was and whether she had any other career than being a cowgirl introducing cartoons and The Three Stooges on afternoon t.v. Your site certainly brought back many pleasant memories of my childhood in the northeast. --- Jill/NC, formally NJ/1953

Misc. Television Memories
A lot of the shows referenced, I also watched. Captain Kangaroo and Mister Greenjeans - my favorite memory was the Studebaker that went "beep beep" "beep beep". Sheriff John was a force in my life always watching over me. Or the afternoons with that beautiful lady looking at me in the mirror in Romper Room . There was Shamus the genius dog , the Professor Boris and Natasha, Felix the Cat and what about Betty Boop! Oh, how about Skipper Frank and Popeye for dinner and finally was it ending an evening with Engineer Bill and his trains. However, I do believe there are others who have had an impact on lots of us. As we got a little older ther were the Little Rascals, Pinky Lee Howdy Doody, Soopy Sales was another must watch and what about Lamb Chops with that beautiful friend.
Then, as we matured there was "Friday Night Boxing from the Olympic" with DAD, Saturdays with Commander Cody and Sky King, the evenings with Lawrence Welk and the other Saturday Night variety show where Juliet Prouse would spin until her 'panties' showed. Sunday was exclusively for Ed Sullivan and "Topo". --- 'Danny' Wilmington, Ca. 1951

I remember coming home from school and watching Sheriff John. He had a game to get kids to drink milk......think it was called "Red light-Green light". He also had a thing for carrots. --- Laurie, Glendale, Ca, 1953

The milk game red light green light was on the Engineer Bill show. The sheriff John show had (I believe) Freddy Phooey and Sammy Strong-arm. Sammy ate his greens or whatever. I spent my first five or six years in Collingswood (spelling?) Anyone remember Willy the Worm. The other 48 or so years were spent in Culver City, Ca.The home of MGM,(now Sony Pictures) and Desilu Studios just down the street where movies like Gone With The Wind and Fred Astaire and Bogey classics such as African Queen were filmed, a nice little town.As a Cub Scout I met Lucy Ricardo at Vet's Park. I was so embarrassed when I called her by my den mother's name.A small thing but a memory that stuck with me. --- Mark Culver City,Ca. 1946

Growing up in Ohio in the early 50s, EVERYTHING we watched was in black and white. I don't think my folks got a color TV until I was grown and out on my own. But it didn't mean there weren't many "colorful" characters and memories! One of my earliest memories as a little one was Mom ironing clothes in front of the TV watching "I Love Lucy". Always one of my favorite shows - what a comedienne! To this day I'm afraid to try wallpapering because of the mess Lucy and Ethel had with their wallpapering decoration disasters! Then there were the Three Stooges in my elementary school days. Two of my best friends and I imitated them CONSTANTLY, driving our families crazy. I was Moe - don't know what THAT says about my future character development - I don't normally boss and/or slap people around these days, though. Andy Griffith was another favorite. It was such fun "growing up" with Opie. And Barney was such a bumbler, but you couldn't help but love him! Who could forget the Little Rascals and their antics? I remember asking Mom before my first piano recital when I was about 8 years old, if I made a mistake, would the audience throw tomatoes? That happened in one of the Rascals episodes and made a lasting impression! We also had a few local Cleveland based shows: Barnaby, a kid show host, had a daily program along the line of Romper Room/Captain Kangaroo/Howdie Doody. One of his frequent guests was a character named Mr. Jingaling who always appeared around Christmas time and was a regular at a local department store - Higbees or Halles, in Cleveland. Then we had Goulardi, who was a Friday night B Horror Show host. Every one was always a "purple knif" and he made fun of people who wore white socks. Many happy memories from those old TV shows! --- Becky, Ohio 1950

Name that Game Show:
I have been trying for years to remember the name of a game show that had a platform of three rows of squares the contestant proceeded through. At the end of one row, there was a bowl of pennies: the guest scooped up as many as he/she could in a limited time. At the end of the another row was a bridge with wrapped gifts underneath. These could be fished out with a big hook on a stringed pole. The last row was a row of stores -- like appliance, furniture, etc. Who remembers this show? I also remember Sky King, Fury, Rin Tin Tin, Queen for a Day, December Bride, Capt Kangaroo, Lassie. --- Marsha, Virginia, 1951

Video Village?
I believe the name of the game show was "Video Village". I grew up in Los Angeles and this is where I saw this show. It was like this huge game board and people would hop around from square to square. I think depending on where you landed the square would light up. I hope this little bit of memory will help. --- Betty, Los Angeles, CA, 1949

Yes indeed, Video Village. I remember it very well. I believe it was done in Canada and was hosted by Dave (Jack) Barry(?). But you forgot to mention the fact that the winners of the game were driven from the end of the game board to another part of the set in an electric cart. At the end of the ride I believe the winners chose or claimed their prizes. As they rode in the cart, the hostess sang the following song which was (as I recall) accompanied by an organist. Here are the lyrics:

Come hop aboard the Village bus, the cooky village bus
We want you to enjoy the view so come along with us
We'll take a drive and you'll arrive without the slightest fuss
Oh what fun it is to ride the village bus, Oh what fun it is to ride the village bus.
--- Andy, Santa Ana, CA, 1952

Editor's note: There was a board game of the same name - with little stand-up stores along the game path.

The Creaking Door
My parents didn't own a TV set but we lived next door to my grandparents who did. There was a scary show and I don't know the actual name but I called it The Creaking Door because that's how it opened, with an old wooden door creaking open. The show was so scary I always needed an escort to get back home, which was less than 100 feet. I think it was on Friday nights, maybe around 10 o'clock. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? It would have aired in the early 50's. --- Sharon, Central City, PA, 1947

Thanks to all of you who correctly identified the "Creaking Door" show as "Innersanctum".

Favorite Commercials
Some of my favorites were -
Buster Brown shoes "I'm Buster Brown, I live in a shoe and here's my dog, Tige, he lives there too"
Nipper the RCA dog (I'm a dog lover!)
Ding Dong School with Miss Frances
Hi Ho, Silver, Away
Dixie Cup Stars
Babbo the foaming cleanser
Pamper shampoo
So many memories...thanks for a great page. --- Barbara, West Hills Ca (originally from Pennsylvania), 1946

Plop plop fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is! (Alka Seltzer) Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't! (Mounds and Almond Joy). Spook Houses for Halloween in neighbors garages! Going to bed at night with your doors UNlocked! Peeping Toms! The Mamas and the Papas! Peter, Paul, & Mary! Puff the Magic Dragon! The Wizard of Oz! The "BIG" "real" clown head at Jack-In-The-Box!! Everything stopping in school so you could watch the rockets go up in space: "We have liftoff!"... Around 1964 or 1965 there was a commercial for Children's Bayer Aspirin that was so cute. my favorite line from it is: "Aw, does she have a tempature?" I also enjoyed "Lost In Space", Hee Haw", "The Grand Ole Opry" "The Smother's Brothers" "Get Smart" and a show that I think was a local one called "Kittericks Carousel". Kitterick was dressed in black leotards with cat ears and whiskers (early 60's). I remember my transistor radio and how late at night I would put the earplug in my ear and listen to some scary theatre show. Oh, what about the little red
"Close-N-Plays" record players! My 19 yr.old thinks I am teasing about that one, LOL! I vaguely remember a square black box (I think) that my Dad used to take on vacations to take 8mm (video!) pictures of us. Some great 70's shows: Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, Night Gallery, The Midnight Special! Man, what a flood of memories you have brought back! Thanks for the "Memories"! --- Trish Texas City, Texas 1961