Happy Birthday, Mr. Rogers

[filkertom]

On this date in 1928.

What were some of your favorite kids' shows? Not cartoons, that's a different topic. I mean shows for kids, with live and/or puppet hosts. And let's assume everybody dug Sesame Street, okay? Because we did.

I was in a lovely situation: Growing up in Detroit, I had access to CBC-TV from Windsor. So I got Mr. Dressup and The Friendly Giant and the good version of Bozo the Clown. And I loved Captain Kangaroo. Hell of a guy, to let himself be pummelled with ping-pong balls every day. And Mr. Greenjeans was wonderful, and they showed Tom Terrific cartoons, and the only problem I ever really had with it was they played "Puff the Magic Dragon" with a bunch of cheesy illustrations which gave the song a happy ending.

Comments

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

I was just a bit too old for Sesame Street when it debuted but watched it with my little brother anyway.

Sheri Lewis and Lamb Chop. My mother still embarrasses me with the story of how Little Susie looked aghast when mom announced we were having lamb chops for supper. "You're cooking my puppet!" I consider that my first pun, not bad for age 4.

In mid-60's Los Angeles: Billy Barty had a kids's show and at that age, it had not registered on me that he was a Little Person, just loved kids. I caught the tail end of the Diver Dan era but didn't really get hooked.

Other local hosts included Channel 11's Sheriff John, who helped counteract the whole "cops are pigs" thing going on around then. If you have heard a birthday song called "Put Another Candle On My Birthday Cake" that came from the Sheriff John show.

On Channel 13 was Hobo Kelley, a happy lady tramp-style clownie with accompanying muppet-type puppets and early attempts at video special effects. Hanna-Barbera cartoons.

More when I think of more.

[drzarron.livejournal.com]

I like "Captain Kangaroo" and "Milky the Clown" and "Captain Jolly" from Windsor. Never was a fan of Mister Rodgers or Mr Dressup cause they were JUST a little after my core kid time.

[ericcoleman]

The local Floppy Show was a favorite.

[devospice.livejournal.com]

I was a big fan of Captain Kangaroo and Romper Room growing up.

My kids seem to love Paz The Penguin (whatever it's called) and Super Why the most.

[poltr1]

So does my daughter. (BTW, I think the show is called Ready Set Learn!)

[controuble.livejournal.com]

let's assume everybody dug Sesame Street

Ummm... There was no such show when I was a kid.
I grew up on Captain Kangaroo, Ray Raynor, and I was actually on Bozo's Circus when I was in second grade (1964).

[ladystarblade.livejournal.com]

Mr. Wizard was THE MAN when I was a kid.

I distinctly remember him demonstrating something chemical...it bubbled over and made this awful popping noise...he looked at it, blinked, looked at the camera, and said, "That wasn't supposed to happen."

[geenerswh.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes he was.
I was homeschooled, and my mom would use Mr Wizard as part of my science lessons. We even had a Mr Wizard book of home experiments.

Though hands-down my favorite show growing up was Sharon, Lois and Bram's Elephant Show.

[crwilley.livejournal.com]

I loved Captain Kangaroo, and also The Great Space Coaster.

Local to Detroit - remember Hot Fudge?

...and I think I'm the only person in the universe who remembers Marlo's Magic Movie Machine. I'd get up at some godawful hour on Saturday morning to watch it.

One of my biggest disappointments as a parent is that Daughter never really got into Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, even in the days before we had cable - although she was very sad when she heard a news report that he had died. Is his message too quiet for this generation?

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

...and I think I'm the only person in the universe who remembers Marlo's Magic Movie Machine. I'd get up at some godawful hour on Saturday morning to watch it.

In the sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-basement? Wonderful history and pop culture history lessons.

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

In Philly, we had a show growing up called "Captain Noah and His Magical Ark". It was produced and broadcast out of Channel 6 studios. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Noah_and_His_Magical_Ark)

The good Capt. was a Lutheran minister, and he and his wife were well-loved local celebs in Philly. He passed on a few years ago, and had one of the biggest funerals the area ever saw. Unlike Mr. Rogers or Capt. Kangaroo, Capt. Noah was someone you could GO SEE! He'd go to shopping center openings, he was at parades, department stores... he LOVED to meet the kids out in the public. I got to meet him a couple of times, and he was always friendly and gentle with everyone. A fantastic man.

Also, while not *technically* a kid's show, I also grew up watching "Dr. Shock's Mad Theater" and "Horror Theater" (http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/3257/drshockphilly.html). Dr. Shock is one of the primary reasons why I'm such a big sci-fi fan today.

[darrenzieger.livejournal.com]

Wow - I grew up in Philly (born in '68), and I had completely forgotten about that one. The Wikipedia entry mentions the theme song, "I Can Sing A Rainbow"...I don't remember how the the song went, but the phrase elicits a Proustian rush.

Neat.

Captain Kangaroo was awesome, and I seem to recall being into Romper Room.

There was a charming bi-lingual show called "Villa Allegre" that I watched every day, though none of the Spanish lessons managed to rub off.

There was a show called "Zoom!" (much later revived by one of the cable networks) which featured a cast of what we now call tweeners doing...stuff...some combination of arts and crafts and more energetic activities. I recall that when the show went off the air, they had a show about it where the cast talked about how they felt, and that in response I dictated a letter to my mother to send to them about how sad I was that the show was ending.

And one of the more vivid snapshots from my early memory is sitting in our living room in Ft. Lauderdale watching "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters," if I've got the title right.

I gotta get to work, but I should probably toss "The Bugaloos" and "The Banana Split" out there. I recall nothing of the shows themselves, but their cheesily infectious theme songs live on.

Re: Sesame Street, I should mention that on the one hand I'm sad that my own kids never really got into it (though they seem to like Elmo in isolation), but on the other hand, it's not the show it was when we were kids. It's still sweet and it gets the job done, but the first decade or so of the show was the product of fucking genius renegade hippie artist savants, and while the ambient talent level of our society is no lower than it was 30 or 40 years ago, the conditions that allowed for that particular variety of genius just don't exist at the moment.

[joshuwain.livejournal.com]

I loved most of the Krofft shows from the 70's; those were my childhood be they "ElectraWoman & DynaGirl" or "Land of the Lost".

But, in case you would like to listen to it, "This American Life" did a segment a few years ago, interviewing Dr. Fred Rogers about "Neighbors". It's part one on the following page: This American Life - Neighbors (http://thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=184).

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

The Bugaloos forever! They're in the air and everywhere!

[poltr1]

Growing up in Buffalo, I used to watch Rocketship 7, The Commander Tom Show, and Mr. Whatnot. For syndicated programs, I remember the Sid & Marty Krofft shows, The Old Curiosity Shop, Make A Wish, and the New Zoo Revue. I didn't watch much Captain Kangaroo. (There are probably more, but that's what I can think of right now.)

Some trivia: Dave Thomas (who was "Captain Dave" on Rocketship 7), is the father of David Boreanaz, best known as Angel and Bones.

It's sad that there aren't many locally-produced childrens' shows these days.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

There was a kids' show on local TV in the Pacific Northwest called J.P. Patches. (Oh hey, he's got a Wikipedia entry.) One of his sidekicks was, I kid you not, a guy in drag named Gertrude(photo in that first link). He was such a local legend that there was a museum exhibit about him for a while, and there is apparently a movement to have a bronze statue of J.P. and Gertrude put up in Fremont. Hee.

Hee, and I just discovered this in the Wikipedia article:

Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, was a Patches Pal, having grown up in the Pacific Northwest. It is rumored that, along with Portland, Oregon clown Rusty Nails, J.P. was the partial inspiration for Groening's Krusty the Clown.

Also: The Electric Company (HEYYYYYYYY YOUUUUUUUUUUU GUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYS) and 3-2-1 Contact (I really only remember the Bloodhound Gang, though. o/~ Whenever there's trouble, we're there on the double... o/~ )

[hitchkitty.livejournal.com]

Ah, The Electric Company. Morgan Freeman as Easy Reader, sporting the Afro of Power. It's a measure of how far his career has come that he now lands roles with serious gravitas...like playing opposite Jim Carrey. Okay, so they can't all be gems.

I dimly, DIMLY remember a brief period of time that had Sesame Street, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, The Electric Company AND 3-2-1 Contact in a 2.5 hour block. Or maybe I'm just jumbling things.

[pagawne.livejournal.com]

Let's see if I can remember all of them. Roy Rogers, Annie Oakley, Sky King, Howdy Doody, My Friend Flica, Buffalo Bill, Zorro, Andy Divine had a program "reading" Rama of the Jungle(it melted in to a tv story),Shirley Temple had a program where she also told fairy tales,I can't remember anymore off -hand.

[sdelmonte]

I loved The Electric Company. It introduced me to Spider-Man, Morgan Freeman (as the Easy Reader), Jennifer of the Jungle, Rita Moreno, Letterman (narrated by Joan Rivers) and (I would only learn years later) Tom Lehrer. I remember it very well, given that I haven't seen in a very long time.

I also recall liking Zoom!, but cannot tell you a thing about it. And 3-2-1 Contact was cool in a :this show is really educational" way.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

My shameful confession to all my comic-book loving friends: my very, very first exposure to Spider-Man was on the Electric Company. Whatever else I've seen of him since, that's how I'll always think of him. :)

Re Kroft

[the-blue-fenix.livejournal.com]

Am I the only living person who remembers the Kids from C.A.P.E.R.?

(citizens association for the protection of everyone, regardless)

I also know most of the theme song, but if I put it here it'll be in my head all day.

[ericthemage.livejournal.com]

I remember a whole bunch of Canadian shows that seemed to be cutting edge for the time. One dealt with spooky stuff, like magic rituals and dungeons and stuff. Can't remember the name of it. I remember Shoe and Boot. :)

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

Ah. Now this is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. Like you Tom I also had access to CBC Windsor and The Friendly Giant was a staple of my youth, as was Mr. Dressup.

Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Rogers, the Polka Dot Door were also mainstays.

I also loved the Great Space Coaster, Gigglesnort Hotel, Hot Fudge (a big shout out to my fellow Michiganders on that one), the Electic Company and 3,2,1 Contact.

But it was mostly the Canadian educational shows that got my attention. Cucumber, Readalong, Read All About It man those were great.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

crwilley, above, remembers Hot Fudge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJtiAmPjYDY) as well. I still can't hear the phrase, or similar phrases, e.g., "hot stuff", without thinking, "... right on!"

[jss]

For me, mostly Captain Kangaroo, Electric Company, Sesame Street, and Zoom weekdays and the Kroft and Schoolhouse Rock stuff on weekends. Never got into Bozo or Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood much.

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

I lived for The Electric Company and 3-2-1 Contact

And I kept watching Mr. Rogers long after I was really "too old" for it because I loved the puppets.

[holmes365.livejournal.com]

I loved the Captain and Mr Greenjeans. Electric company! Locally, we had Funsville with Presto the Magic Clown(an okay clown, not a great magician, but it was an inspiration for Mac King and Lance Burton). His magic and puppet routines(J. Fred Frog and Huney Bunny) were done inbetween episodes of Ultraman, Speed Racer, the Three Stooges, etc.
there was also the NBC affiliate who showed movies little kids would never see on tv now. I remember seeing Rosemary's Baby.

No wonder Louisville is a hotbed of weirdness *G*

[holmes365.livejournal.com]

ooooh! and Zoom!!!

[allisona.livejournal.com]

I think "The Friendly Giant" was my fave. Jerome the Giraffe and Rusty the Rooster! Playing recorder! Pulling books out of that cloth bag! And the little chairs to curl up and rock in.

Also watched "Mr. Dressup", "Romper Room", "Commander Tom", "Uncle Bobby" and "Chez Helene", which tried to teach my generation French.

And though I was likely too old for them by the time they came out I also regularly watched "The Electric Company" and "Zoom!".

And as a teacher I still swear by "Bill Nye, The Science Guy".

[wildcard9.livejournal.com]

I second Capt Kangaroo. Fantastic kids show. I will throw into the ring The Electric Company, a show dedicated to helping kids read better. Call it the next step after Sesame Street.

[wildcard9.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I am being stupid again! How could I forget to mention Boomtown?! I am not sure if it was local to the Boston area or shown nation wide.

[louisadkins.livejournal.com]

Bozo, 3-2-1- Contact, Disney's live-action Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse Club (both).... and all those somewhat-historical and learn-your-moral-of-the-day shows on PBS...

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

Discovery with Frank Buxton! The Great Adventure! The Captain and his alter-ego, Mister Mayor! And his other alter-ego, the Banana Man (Wow!). Captain Jinks & Salty Sam, Mr. Toyman and Hobo Kelly (local to Peoria, IL)!

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

Agreed on Captain Kangaroo, Zoom, Electric Company, and Romper Room. Delighted that someone else remembers Villa Allegre!.

Also the Arizona local show Wallace and Ladmo.

[kirylyn.livejournal.com]

I remember watching Jason of Star Command JUST because it had Scotty in it.

I used to watch the original Mickey Mouse club in B&W, Shazam/Isis (which probably explains why I like Wonder Woman so much!)

When I was in elem school, I was put into a program that "empowered" children, giving them a schedule of what was expected of them each day.

I raced thru all my work in time to go watch "Electric Company" at 11:30 just before lunch. The rest of the kids were still doing their work, so I had the TV to myself. (then spent the rest of the day reading :D)

I don't really remember Mr. Rogers Neighborhood or Captain Kangaroo