I can't believe that I found this site.  Although I am not from the Washington area, here in south central Pennsylvania we did receive Channel 4, Channel 5, Channel 7, and Channel 9.

I watched Captain Tugg and especially remember the cracker that would not crumble in outer space.  There was a story line about his parrot going into space. I also remember when the Captain would try to sing the theme song to "The Mighty Hercules".

Another great show was "Countdown Carnival" with Mr. Bill Gormly. Rode an elevator in the Georgetown University library with him in the 70's.  He made reference to a character in one of his shows called Elmo Hickey, 36 years old and still in the 3rd grade.  Of course the show broadcast Rod Rocket, Space Angel, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and in the last half hour, Superman.  As best as I can figure, the show premiered August 26, 1963.  You know Bill Gormly did look like Superman actor George Reeves.

You might mention that Willard Scott's "Commander Retro" also featured the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers movie serials.

Also, remember when Bill Johnson told the audience to watch for the changes in the show name, "The Three Stooges" to "The Stooges".  Soon after, the comedy team of Mack and Myer joined The Three Stooges.  It was great when Bill Johnson brought the MD carnival kids on.

I see no mention of another Channel 5 personality.  You must include Paul Hallet. He was still at WTTG in 1981.

Channel 5 broadcast Walt Disney's Zorro in September 1965. Do you remember Saturday afternoons and "Jungle Call", featuring Tarzan movies? There was a Thursday night movie that ran sci-fi films... called "The World Beyond".

I understand that the site is for DC originated programs, but can you include shows from the Baltimore stations?  I remember "Lorenzo", "Pete the Pirate", "Polly Wally Doodle", and the "5:30 Show" (5:00 Show) that featured movies of Tarzan, Andy Hardy, Laurel and Hardy, Jane Withers, etc.

That was television.

John Bevilacqua
Gettysburg, PA

After 40 years you've finally given me the evidence to remind my family and friends that I'm not completely crazy.  I've been describing the Astro Float to people for years, and been met with blank stares.  But no more... now I've even got a picture to show (any idea where I could find some? eBay is empty).  This morning I also re-discovered the Hasbro Frosty Sno-Cone maker and the Kool Aid Dispenser my mother bought for me at F.A.O. Schwartz in NYC.

Born in NYC (Soupy Sales, Romper Room, Capn. Kangaroo and Wonderama), I moved to LA when I was 5, and so my memories are of Diver Dan (do you think Trigger Fish got gill cancer from the cigarette perpetually dangling from his mouth?), Clutch Cargo, Sheriff John and Engineer Bill (red light, green light).

As you can see from my email address, I am now involved in another labor of love; the preservation of The Dick Van Dyke Show on DVD with a release of the entire series in celebration of the 40th anniversary which begins October 3.  My father, Sam Denoff, was one of the writers and producers of the series, as well as That Girl and other great sit-coms... 

Virtually yours,
Douglas Denoff
ceo,executive producer
www.dvdondvd.com

I discovered your site through DCRTV's Mailbag, and I couldn't be more delighted!  I won a bicycle back in 1969, courtesy of Captain 20 and the gerbil races.  Thank you for bringing back some wonderful memories.  Your site is fantastic!

Karen J.
Stafford, VA

What more can we find out about the life and fate of "Miss Connie" from Romper Room and DC theater? Are there any photos of her? One writer says that she took her own life. This is extremely sad. I recall my parents taking me to see her in a children's play at The Warner Theater. Are there any further details available about her? She was a talented and fascinating person.

Regards,
Lawrence

I grew up in Baltimore, but spent a lot of time working the "lumimen" foil and those rabbit ears to get snowy images of Captain Tugg, Romper Room, and Creature Feature. You happen to have any of a Baltimore show for kids called "Pete the Pirate"... over on WBAL-TV 11 which was an NBC affiliate during the 60's?

I was notorious for oversleeping on Saturday morning (waking at 11am), all the good cartoons were long over by then. I made up for it by manipulating those rabbits ears on weekday afternoons though!!

I found your website in of all places the SCAN-DC mail list. One of the list members posted your web address and another website dedicated to the Count. 

Your website bought back some fond memories, I showed it to my wife (she's a rare commodity: she's a native Washingtonian)  last night and she/we got quite a hoot from the audio and pictures. 

I've got plenty recollections to share about TV in the "olden" days. My father didn't allow much watching of the boob tube as he called it. So when he yielded it was definitely a treat!! Then there was grandma, who let you watch what you want anytime!!

I've tried to explain to my kids, over and over what it was like then to watch TV in the old days. How we didn't look at TV and eat at the same time as we do too often nowadays. We sorta eased into eating and watching TV together, it took years. How people used to not call or come over around dinner time. Fish on Friday. They laugh when I tell them how my father took the phone off the hook when we ate. Try today getting all the family to sit-down at the same time, whew!! 

How we all went over to that lucky kids house that had a color set!! We got our first color set in 1970!  How do you explain rabbit ears to kids that have fiber optics and cable? I told my grandson about crystal radio sets, he didn't believe me. And things are supposed to be so much better now compared to then!! I don't think so.......oooops I ramble!!

Thomas Gunn

I came accross your site while searching for Ranger Hal info.  Very nice, I really enjoyed it, and I am passing the URL on to my friends.

You should consider doing a similar site for the national shows, cartoons, & game shows... Green Acres, Dick Van Dyke, Bewitched, Beverly Hillbillies, Mighty Mouse, Kimba The White Lion, Astroboy, etc.  The amount of content is endless.

Rob Wilson
Stephenson, Virginia

The name of the perfomer who did the voices for the puppets and "Diver Dan" is Allen Swift. He was a comic/character actor, mimic (impressionist/ dialectician and character voice actor), puppeteer, cartoonist, storyteller, singer and comedy magician who didn't manipulate the puppets in those "DD" TV puppet films, but he gave the fish puppets a life and personality all their own. 

Mr. Swift was also the voice of "Diver Dan". The actor playing "Diver Dan" (in the diving suit) was the series scriptwriter Mr. Frank Freda. Actress Suzanne Turner played "Miss Minerva The Mermaid Queen". 

Mr. Swift was also a regular comic actor, mimic, puppeteer, magician and scriptwriter on NBC TV's "Howdy Doody Show" weekday evenings from l953 to May, l956. 

From Monday evening September l0, l956 to Friday September 23, 1960, Mr. Swift was the first sea-captain host/performer of WPIX TV Channel-11 (NYC's) "Popeye Show", where he entertained and informed "His Mateys" (his viewers) with songs, stories, craftmaking, hobbies, magic tricks, cartooning lessons, informational segments and interviews with visiting guest performers and personalities between the reruns of the "Paramount/Fleischer Popeye" and "Paramount/Famous Popeye" Movie cartoons. Mr. Swift was unjustly fired from WPIX TV Channel-11 (NYC's) "Popeye Show" following a creative dispute with station management. He went on to do voiceovers for movie and TV cartoons and radio/TV commercials.

He also wrote, produced, directed, staged and performed in numerious Broadway, Off-Broadway and summer stock plays and musicals. His most notable stage performance was the drama "Checking Out!", where he wrote, produced and played the ex-stage actor "Morris Applebaum". The character of "Morris Applebaum" was based on a Yiddish stage actor that Mr. Swift met while he was performing in the hotels of New York State's Borscht Belt. Mr. Swift's only on-camera TV performances in recent years were on CBS-TV's "Kate & Allie" and "The Equalizer". 

Yours truly, Kevin S. Butler 

I cannot begin to describe my excitement at discovering your web site. Suddenly I was thrown back 40, 45 years and was linked again to the child I was who loved so very much watching Ranger Hal, Pick Temple (both of which I was a participant) and so many other programs. I felt life had come full circle while reading your participants comments, giving me a  magic feeling that could only be shared by fellow Washingtonians who grew up during this period. 

Roots remain roots, no matter how distant we are from them, we remain linked to them forever. What especially struck me was the precious memories of Pick Temple. I cannot help but feel that with the endless cable television kids shows today that there was something in the simplicity of the early live childrens shows that cannot be duplicated.

Who can forget the excitement of going to the Giant and filling out a form to appear on Pick Temple? Even though I live far away from Washington today,  I suddenly found myself yearning for Heidi Bakery products advertised by Pick.

Just an anecdote about the show Uncle Artie, which appeared in the beginning of Channel 20:

After Uncle Artie explained how to make one of his hillbilly hats, out of great excitement I took my fathers best hat and proceeded to stretch it out of shape until a gaping hole appeared. Needless to say I was sorely punished. About a week later, I got what I felt to be poetic justice. One of the child participants of the show told a joke:  "What did Batman find in the Batroom? Answer: Gomer's pile and Honey's waste."; (referring to two popular shows Gomer Pile and Honey West).  Poor Uncle Artie at that point seemed to lose his composure and was totally embarrassed. I was watching the show with a friend and both of us rolled on the floor with laughter. Such a blunder could only happen to Uncle Artie. 

Your web site is a revelation for me and I am sure for thousands of others. Those years are so far away, and yet so close. We are forever in debt to you for making it possible for us to relive those golden moments.

 Mark Cohen