... As a film and video reviewer and entertainment reporter for Westwood One radio, I'd been in touch with the Henson organization and was told (since I'd asked) that there were no commercially available videos of Jim Henson's early work like "Sam and Friends."  Have you ever heard anything different?  I remember the show well enough to be pretty sure that it was eventually preserved on video tape (and probably in color) somewhere, since they reran a lot of the same bits. ...

One of my memories of Channel 14: they signed off (about 11 p.m., I think) with a still photo of Mahalia Jackson accompanied by a recording of her singing  "The Lord's Prayer."  And, come to think of it, they used a similar slide-with-audio presentation for Elijah Muhammad's (weekly?) Temple of Islam speeches. And at least initially, when they signed on (maybe 5 p.m.) they showed cartoons (presumably inexpensively obtained or public domain) from the silent era.  Nowadays I'd love to get my hands on as many of those historic gems as possible, but at the time I thought they were proof of how cheap and crummy WOOK-TV was.

And does anyone know whether one of Teenarama Dance Party's sponsors, Miles Long Sandwich Shops, still exists?

Best wishes, and thanks for the site.
Chuck Rich

I grew up in the DC area and am spending the weekend with my old friends in Ocean City (first visit since I graduated Northwood H.S. in '65).  We grew up together since we were 5, and my brother sent the website knowing we would especially enjoy it this weekend.

You probably have received communications from my two younger brothers by now, and I also passed on the website to other old friends. My youngest brother was especially interested in WOOK-TV kids programs, and I vividly remember the moment when they came on the air and their signage was upside down.  They had a Milt Grant type show which I recall and better music (in my opinion) than Milt Grant.

THANKS - do you have any info on SAM & FRIENDS (the first Jim Henson TV show) and ASK IT BASKET (I appeared on the show)? 

... and remember, "WHAT"S HAPPENING AT WOOK?  EVERYTHING IN THE BOOK".

Julian Rich
Swampscott, MA

Love the DC area kidshow site!!  Brought a tear. Great work. 

I am a Silver Spring boy, born in '56. 

Any chance you could post anything on programming from Channel 14 (WOOK TV) in the '60s? I recall "Aunt Mary's Birthday Party" may have been a title - sound familiar? Needless to say, if I find anything I will share. ...

Steve Rich
Dexter, Michigan

Just wanted to drop you a line to mention the 1957 animated series called the Space Explorers.  I believe that it also aired in Los Angeles on the 'Pancake Man' show starring Hal Smith and sponsored by the International House of Pancakes.  I do not have a copy of the Space Explorers, but I would love to see it again. ...

Patrick Spann, Ph.D.

Your Forgotten Kid Show website is incredible and a fabulous mind-bender for restoring forgotten tid-bits of my happy childhood.  It reminded me of the program Clown Corner, which ran on WMAL-TV 7 back in the 1950s.  There were two clowns featured on the show - the regular anchor/host whose clown-name was Oji (pronounced Oh-gee), [Kap notes: George Crawford was Oji] and his (fill-in partner) clown "cousin" Ouiji (pronounced Wee-gee). 

Wonderful, late DC radio legend Jackson Weaver, also an MAL-TV booth announcer at the time, played Ouiji. Weaver also played Santa on the station's daily Santa Claus kid's show every Christmas season in the '50s -- I sat on Jackson's lap on the show when I was 4 or 5 years old. (It was the second TV show I appeared on--Pick Temple was the first, --and Ranger Hal was the third.) 

I think they showed Crusader Rabbit cartoons on Clown Corner -- a formidable precursor to the Rocky and Bullwinkle series.  And every day, Channel 7 and the Clowns advertised a mail order toy called the "Wonder Mouse".  Through the magic of television, the clowns and an authoritative announcer succeeded in creating the illusion that this 2-inch rubber mouse could glide across someone's arm and transport itself all around the house.  Little did we 6-year-olds know (until we bought the darn kit) that the mouse had a concealed copper wire attached to its belly pulling the rodent on its way. (Welcome, kiddies, to the world of American consumerism!  Who could resist being hoodwinked into believing in such an amazing product, especially after one got suckered into buying it.) 

Howard
 

The Wonder Mouse? My father found a small brown envelope in his mother's house from the 1950s with a printed return address reading: MOUSE,  WMAL TV WASHINGTON 8, DC Inside is a small plastic greenish mouse with brown tail. We couldn't figure out what it is, why our Grandma had it and the story behind it. If if you know anyone who'd like to purchase this item, we're interested. (Write: kaptainkidshow@yahoo.com  ) "Susie Moose" Madd Mother Moose

I was in those S.T.A.G.E. shows Pete Jamerson spearheaded in the late '60s.  The acronym stood for "Summer Theatre And Good Entertainment."  Pete and his wife, Cornelia, were great to all us kids.  I dated his stepson, then known as Sandy Jamerson.  Sandy's legal name is Alexander Chadwick, better known now as Alex Chadwick of NPR and National Geographic.  It's interesting to read about some of Pete's earlier and later work.  I, too, am sorry to hear he passed away. 

Karen Callen. 

For the record:

Jim Henson, Jane and Russ were hired to cover records on Saturday, the show's name. It ran from March through August, not three weeks. Jim Kovachs' name is misspelled.

Saturday was a spinoff to "Roy Meachum in the Morning." Billy Johnson recorded the promo song on his trusty guitar. That show ran from June 1953 to March 1954 when it was replaced by Walter Cronkite's first New York show; he left Washington for the job. We remained friends.

Roy Meachum

this is really strange, i was getting a drink out of the fridge and i started whistling the theme from the ranger hal show.  i wondered what ever happenend to him,  then i went to the internet and found your site.  i am turning 53 this month, i dont know anybody who would remember ranger hal.  this was really nice reading his story.  he was a part of my childhood. 

thanks very much
steve harmon 

I saw your website with the great photos from Ranger Hal!  Do you sell copies of this episode? I'd love to see the show. I have three 16mm films of Captain Kangaroo and would like to purchase a copy of this one for my collection. Television was great when people like Bob Keeshan ruled the airwaves.

Jason Beard

I came upon you website by complete accident-  I am searching for an Astro Float and up came your site because Jeffrey Hass mentions it in his dialogue!  What do I find, everyone is from the D.C. area and about the same age reminising old tv shows that I LOVED! 

I, too, grew up just outside of D.C. -Hyattsville-there now sits a gas station where our house used to stand-Decatur Street and Kenilworth Avenue.  My brother is a bit older, he attended Bladensburg and hung out at the Mighty Mo.

Anyway, I hadn't thought of Pick Temple in ages and it brings back great memories,  Beanie and Cecil-YES!  Ranger Hal-YES!  On and on and on.

Thanks for bringing them back to me!  By the way if anyone knows where I can find an Astro Float or two, please email me at "crckco at aol.com"

Marie Cubero