Bunny Orsak: Channel 13’s “Kitirik” mascot from 1954 to 1971.
Thinking for long on the subject of Houston’s early TV years brings to mind a ton of pleasant memories and so many unforgettable personalities. I’m going more for volume than explication this morning. with a look back at what’s still with me off the top of my pointed head by way of a Saturday morning notion of how each fits together by group association.
Here’s what I’ve come up with. Please feel free to add your favorites and all the others I’ve forgotten in the comment section of this column:
Local Station Caricature Figures: Kitirik of Channel 13, Milk Drop Mo, Cadet Don, Jock Mahoney.
Early Station Singers and Musicians: Howard Hartman, Marietta Marek, Don Estes, Johnny Royal, Paul Schmidt and the Tune Schmidts, Curly Fox, and Miss Texas Ruby.
Dick Gottlieb
1950s Station Announcers, News People, and Personalities: Dick Gottlieb, Lee Gordon, Bob Dundas, Bob Marek, Guy Savage, Paul Boesch, Pat Flaherty, John Wiessinger, Gus Mancuso, Lloyd Gregory, Bruce Layer, Jack Hamm (artist), Joy Mladenka, Page Thompson, and Jane Christopher.
1960s People: Carl Mann, Sid Lasher, Gene Elston, Loel Passe, Dave Ward, Dan Rather, Anita Martini, Larry Rasco, Doug Johnson, Bill Ennis, Bill Worrell, and Dan Rather.
Early Kiddie Shows: Crusader Rabbit, Mr. I. Magination, Mr. Wizard, Smilin’ Ed McConnell, Buster Brown, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, Howdy Doody, Mr. Rogers, Captain Midnight, Sky King, Batman, and Superman.
Arthur Godfrey, Hawking Aspirin.
Early Variety and Game Shows: The Texaco Star Theatre with Milton Berle, Arthur Godfrey Time, The Gary Moore Show, Stop the Music, Toast of the Town/Ed Sullivan, The $64,000 Question, Beat The Clock, Name That Tune, Who Do You Trust?, Twenty Grand, I’ve Got A Secret, What’s My Line?, The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, George Gobel, The Jackie Gleason Show, and Password.
Early Sitcoms: My Little Margie, The Life of Riley, I Married Joan, Leave it to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet, Amos ‘n Andy, The Addams Family, and Mr. Peepers,
Early Westerns: Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, Paladin, Wyatt Earp, The Lone Ranger, Wagon Train, Sugarfoot, Grizzly Adams, The Rifleman, The Cisco Kid, Roy Rogers, and Gene Autry.
Early Drama/Adventure/Cop Shows: Dangerous Assignment with Brian Donlevy, Boston Blackie, I Led Three Lives, One Man’s Family, Playhouse Ninety, Studio One, Dragnet, Route 66, Outer Limits, and The Twilight Zone.
Sports: Major League and Houston Buffs Baseball, plus one game of College Football every Saturday and a Red Grange telecast of the Chicago Bears or Cardinals from the NFL every Sunday – and it was all there for us on that tiny little fuzzy black and white TV screen with the visible horizontal separator lines running all across the picture, but so what? What did we know back then about the greater possibilities that lay ahead for us down the technological advancement line in years to come? Based on the “nothing” we had prior to TV, we thought we had died and gone to Heaven!
Family Famous Last TV-Related Words from Our Mom Back in 1952: “Hey, kids, why don’t we all sit down and watch ’em blow up that atomic bomb out in Nevada before you leave for school today?”
Tags: America, culture, Early Houston TV Personalities, Early Houston TV Shows, History, television
The Pecan Park Eagle 
August 21, 2010 at 1:40 pm |
MaryJane Vandiver-‘Maryjane’s Magic Castle’
Don Mahoney & Jeana Claire
Doodad & Dudley-‘Three Stooges Theater’
Hudson & Harrigan-KILT DJ’s
The Weird Beard-KILT DJ
Bobby Love & Jimmy Love-Love TV Rental
Bill Varley-Bill Varley Tires
Art Grindle-used car sales on OST(I think)
Howard Finch & Betty Rogers-‘Dialing for Dollars’
“Lets go to the Races’-some sort of tv show that had horse races, and you played along w/a game card from Weingarten’s
The lady who did the spots for Heights Bank during the news-‘Why at Heights, of course!’
(I think she was the president)
April 30, 2011 at 6:25 pm |
Art Grindle:
“I wanna sell you a cah!”
February 29, 2012 at 2:38 am |
Art Grindle at the corner west or east of jensen st and just west of hwy….i remember some of my family members talking about how he would show you one side of a car at get you to his car lot then showing up the customer waould see the other side of said car and it would be damaged.too funny
August 21, 2010 at 2:38 pm |
All the tv show you want is here at http://www.moviesonlines.us/ . Anime and movies also.
August 21, 2010 at 3:52 pm |
“Saddle up your Rockin’ horse and come along with me” Don Mahoney.
Wanted Dead or Alive starring Steve McQueen and Maverick with James Garner.
“From the Morris Chair” right before sign off on channel 13.
June 14, 2018 at 4:49 am |
I’ve been looking for ever and hopein that u might could tell me what site i can go on and look up Don Mahoney& jeana clair from the 1970’s , when I growing up in Houston T Texas me and my dancing class would always be on that tv 📺 show every weekend and on 📺 and now that I’m much,much older i would love to be able to find it..so I can show my kids and grandkids… I was for 13years with Sharon Stevens studio of dance of Houston Texas….so if u could help That would be awesome…
August 21, 2010 at 5:32 pm |
You could add ex-Colt .45 Johnny Temple to your list. He did the sportscasts for Channel 11 in the 60s after his retirement. And who could forget Ray Miller and the “Eyes of Texas”, a wonderful show that taught me a lot about our vast and great state. A tip of the cap also to the late Ron Stone and Marvin Zindler, who may have had their heydays in the 1970s but certainly left their mark on Houston media.
I remember, as a young boy, watching Cadet Don before going off to school and watching Kitirik after returning home. I can recall staring at Kitirik as only a young boy could trying to figure out what those lumps were on her chest. Yes, tv had a way of exaggerating features back then.
August 21, 2010 at 8:45 pm |
Bob,
I guess No-No the Clowns corny jokes were no match for Kitirik’s “lumps”.
May 6, 2014 at 6:09 pm |
You know, Kitirik’s name is the station’s call letters (KTRK) with i’s inserted between. Cool, eh?
When I reached puberty, I began to appreciate Kitirik in a new way.
I have posted a nice pic of the lady in her costume on FB and captioned it with “This was my kiddie show host.” Lot’s of comments registering envy.
lol
May 31, 2017 at 5:09 am
As you pointed out, KITIRIK is KTRK with an “I” inserted between the letters, but do you know where that name originally came from? When KTRK went on the air in late 1954, the station’s mascot was a lady in a black cat costume, but in the beginning the station’s mascot had no name. To promote the new station, KTRK ran a contest and invited the viewers to write in with suggestions for the mascot’s name. The person who submitted the winning name for KTRK’s mascot won a new color TV set, which in those days was worth around a thousand dollars (equal to at least $10,000 in today’s money). Color TV was brand new in 1954 and color TV sets were rare. The color TV set tied in with the fact that when KTRK first went on the air, it was advertised as the first Houston TV station to have color cameras in the studio. This made it possible to produce local studio programs in color for the first time in Houston. KPRC had the most color shows, but those shows came from the NBC network at that time. NBC/RCA invented NTSC color TV broadcasting and NBC dominated color broadcasting during the Fifties. To get a head-start in color broadcasting, KTRK went on the air with color studio cameras and became the first Houston station to produce regular local shows in color. Little did they realize that it would take nearly ten years for color TV to catch on. Anyway, I really wanted to win that color TV set and be the first person in the neighborhood with color TV, so I entered the contest. I don’t remember the name I entered, but I do remember that the name the station selected was KITIRIK. I thought that was very imaginative, because it included the station’s call letters in the mascot’s name. I was kicking myself for weeks, because I didn’t think of KITIRIK. As many of you may recall, KITIRIK was featured in KTRK’s local “kiddie program” and KITIRIK had a small child on the show she called KIT (short for KITIRIK). KIT wore a little matching black cat costume . I don’t know if the little cat was actually Kitirik’s own child, but that’s what I always assumed. What great memories this site brings back of early Houston TV. I grew up in Houston in the Forties and Fifties. But I moved to California in the Sixties and I never lived in Houston again. However, I often think about those early years and I was delighted to find this site. .
May 9, 2014 at 10:45 pm |
Seriously, Bunny Orsak was not only nice to look at, but you could tell that she had a very kind heart and loved children. I expect that her performances gave kids everywhere in the Houston area a warm place in their hearts.
September 22, 2018 at 6:46 am |
Does anyone know the theme song name and/or artist of the Cadet Don Show, or the theme of the original Ray Millar’s Eyes of Texas? I actually have the full themes as the stations gave them to me when I asked for a copy as a teenager. Also, does anyone know the theme song name or artist for KPRC TV’s Chris Chandler daytime show during the early seventies? Much appreciation for any assistance in locating these themes information!
January 8, 2021 at 11:11 pm
I have answered one of my questions. The theme for the Cadet Don show was a classical music piece by Eugene Ormandy titled “Frolics of the Early Days”. Look it up, or play hear it on eClassics.com and it will bring back many early childhood or later memories.
I am still looking for the name of the original KPRC Channel 2 show The Eyes of Texas with Ray Miller. Any help with finding this tune would be greatly appreciated. It is a production piece, but the title and composer are unknown to me. I have a copy of the tune given to me by the station in the late 1960s.
Also, still would love to know if anyone knows the name of the theme song to the KPRC TV show The Chris Chandler Show theme? It was a piano piece I believe written and performed by Chris Chandler. I loved that theme and wish I had a copy of it. Anyway, if anyone has additional information, please post, I would love to know the answers, as I have spent years trying to find out. Thanks again for any help you can provide.
August 21, 2010 at 8:32 pm |
Late ’60’s Houston TV memories….
I remember HPD Officer Ken Garnett on the Cadet Don Show. I recall he was involved in an accident while on duty and returned to the show after recovering. Channel 13 had a show called “Weird” that came on Friday nights and my Mom would not let me watch it because she said it would give me nightmares.
Channel 16 was a UHF station on the air in ’68 to ’68. It featured an afternoon live kiddie show hosted by No-No the Clown. It also showed “The Thunderbirds.” My father’s U of H college buddy was the station manager, Gene Milligan. One night, Gene gave our family a tour of the station located near Alvin.
August 28, 2010 at 4:39 am |
I also remember Weird and I think there was a Late Weird, too, which came on after Weird–late at night, of course.
September 8, 2016 at 7:36 pm
Weird wanted to compete with twilight Zone
November 4, 2012 at 2:35 pm |
I think one of the most memorable parts of “Weird” was the theme music. I have always wondered where they got it.
May 10, 2013 at 6:24 am
I thought Weird was on Sat. night. I remember laying on the floor and watching it with my sisters. Always so scairy. And that music. Who on earth would still have that? I would love it as my ring tone. Do you remember if it was channel 11?
May 10, 2013 at 7:16 pm
As I said before,the “Weird” theme was from the album “Frozen Neptune” by RUSS GARCIA (R.I.P.)
May 10, 2014 at 5:21 pm |
I remember No-No the Clown. I remember his as being more obnoxious than your usual TV clown or kiddie host. I tolerated his annoying antics because of the cartoons he would show. I don’t remember his program being the vehicle for showings of “The Thunderbirds”, though. I loved that show. Gerry Anderson rocked.
May 10, 2014 at 7:52 pm
I just recently found an old version of Chatter. It used to come on some of these old children’s programs. check out:
May 10, 2014 at 10:24 pm
I wish that someone who has insider information, perhaps an old hand from the Channel 13 of the Sixties, would write the definitive essay on WEIRD’s run. It played such a big part in my entertainment as a young teen, that I find I always come back to thoughts of it, and the joy that it gave me. I have been to Channel 13’s site and there is absolutely nothing about it there.
August 22, 2010 at 3:22 pm |
Tumble Weed Time is where Milk Drop Mo hung out and who can
forget the old Sunday Morning show Utah Carl. He was brought to
you by Gulf Coast Furniture Warehouse right here in good old Alvin,
Texas. Tim and Bob on KPRC Radio, The Seven Southern Gentlemen on KNUZ, and of course Paul Berlin.
April 30, 2011 at 6:33 pm |
Remember that gosh awful cartoon that used to play on Tumbleweed Time nearly every single day? A musical one (no plot whatsoever) that featured ocean waves clapping like hands to the music? Even as a 6 year old, Arghhh. Right about noontime.
September 11, 2011 at 10:17 pm |
I have a myspace page dedicated to Utah Carl
Google Utah Carl
Chip Nall
July 23, 2013 at 12:29 am |
I remember them all and loved them. Especially Bunny.
February 9, 2016 at 12:41 am
remember spike jones and the city slickkers?
August 22, 2010 at 5:43 pm |
Marcella Perry (The Heights Bank lady!)
December 9, 2020 at 6:00 pm |
Actually, Ms Perry was part-owner and manager of Heights Savings and Loan.
August 22, 2010 at 10:31 pm |
When I opened the blog and saw the picture of “Kitirik” I was enchanted!
She was my hero! I loved her so much that I wanted nothing so much as being one of the kid guests on her show for my seventh birthday (I’m 61 now!). Just my luck, Kitirik, was on vacation that week (in August) and I got to be interviewed my her substitute, a lady named “Gollywog”. Being a child, I wasn’t down for long. Channel 13 gave great coloring books away as gifts if you were a birthday kid. Fond memories!
October 27, 2010 at 9:45 pm |
Reply to Margery McCurdy,
I lived across the street from Margery Mc Curdy who would be 61 about now. I can’t believe there would be two of you. Japonica Street. randal@austin.rr.com
August 24, 2010 at 8:07 pm |
Captain Bob on KPRC-TV and “Midnight with Marietta” hosted by Marietta Marich and directed by her husband, Bob Marich.
March 5, 2011 at 8:33 pm |
Can you tell me more about the Captain Bob Show?. I remember an afternoon kids show from the early 60’s the host had a boat captains hat on interviewed the kids,showed cartoons etc. Several of my former classmates don’t remember it and you are the only one who has made a reference to it.
March 5, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Mark:
“Captain Bob” started as a local kids’ show in Boston, but then went national for a short period of time in 1962 as “The Ruff and Ready Show” on NBC-TV in 1962. The more famous “Captain Bob,” of course, was never known as such. Bob Keeshan is the guy who became Captain Kangaroo after a long successful run on Howdy Doody as Clarabelle the Clown.
Here’s the link to some information about “Captain Bob:”
http://www.tvparty.com/lostboston2.html
March 6, 2011 at 3:14 pm
In the late 1950’s KPRC-TV had a locally produced, 4:30PM kids show called “Looney Town” that featured Bob Russell, aka “Captain Bob.”
If you would like to learn more about KPRC history visit the KPRC History site at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/KPRC-History/310468298169
April 30, 2011 at 6:59 pm
A bunch of the Ch 13 personalities lived on my street, Mooreberry Lane, out in Spring Branch. TV must not have paid much back then–it was kind of a sad little neighborhood. Lee Gordon and wife Kit lived across the street and Capt Bob was a couple of doors down from them. Ray Conaway, Mariettta Marich and I think a number of others.
Capt Bob was dark with a flat top and I think a trimmed mustache–tall (to me) and slender. He wore a silver space suit (no helmet). The location was the control room of his space cruiser–similar, I think, to what Capt Kirk would have 10 years down the road. Cartoons appeared on the big communications screen high above. It all looked mighty convincing on TV, but I remember being shocked at how fakey it all was when I went to a birthday party on site. Plus, those cartoons didn’t appear on that telecommunications screen at all! I was just stunned.
Capt Bob was a really nice guy. He drove a VW bug with a sun roof and would wave to us kids out the top as he sped by. That wowed us. I remember his son, Bobby, a year or 3 older than I, and their dachshund, Mitzy, who killed my rabbit–a dreadful memory that shall follow me to the grave I fear.
That’s all the drivel I can muster right now.
June 2, 2011 at 9:45 pm |
From another web site discussion:
I just found this site and was intrigued by the current discussion. My father was Captain Bob on KPRC in the late 50’s and 60’s. He actually had 3 childrens t.v. shows. The first ws Looney Town and that was a rival show that competed in the same time slot as Kitirik. He also had a show on Saturday Mornings called Today is Saturday which was formatted like the Today show on NBC. He had guests like John Wehrler from the Zoo and cartoons and science films. He had another show on Saturdays which someone earlier was confusing. It was called Looney Auction and you did collect looney bucks from Carnation milk and the rainbo Bread company. We used to ride around in the Isetta. He used that for promotions and parades. The picture that was shown was not of his car. His had a big white admiral cap on top big plastic eyes and a smile painted on the front so it looked like a face. I hadn’t thought about this in a long time. I used to get kidded at school about all of this but it had its perks. Rodeos circuses concerts parades celebrities. We got to meet every star that came to town for the rodeo or T.V. stars appearing at channel 2. Quite a crazy time.
0 Back to top of the page up there ^
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#42 bobruss
Member Rank:
Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: Oct 04, 2008 Posted Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Not to bore anyone, but I read some of the earlier texts and there was a little confusion abot the different shows. Looney town which my father hosted was the show with the money tree where kids would go on their birthday and grab for pennies. Also you used the Looney bucks on Looney Auction to bid for prizes. Looney Town came out of the Bert Lynn show and featured puppets from outer space and had a theme song. It’s time now for Looney Town and you can bet were ready set to go. Silly little theme song written by our next door neighbor at the time who a lot of old time Houstonians would remember for his jingle for Utotem- You tellum you totem. Or his Dixienauts, who used to play at the Astrodome. Next door to him lived another old Houston T.V. Celebrity named Lee Gordon, who did commercials for the YMCA, and next door to him lived Tom Reiff who was station G. M. for KPRC, and next door to him were my Godparents Marrietta and Bob Marich who had dinner theaters and actually she and my father had one of the earliest T.V. shows on Houston T.V. It was sponsored by I think Lightcrust flower and ran on Saturday afternoons. They did slapstick and sang with a live orchestra, between commercials on the feature movie of the week. Just to keep things straight.
December 4, 2011 at 6:10 am
Okay, well, my memory of Captain Bob is pretty different. I was on his show for my 8th birthday. He drove an Isetta, not a VW, used to see him going down the road fairly often as three wheeled cars tend to stand out. I could be wrong but I remember the show (after school, roughly competing w/ Kitirik as being called ‘The Captain Bob Show’- but maybe that’s just what we called it informally. Anyway being on the show was very fun!
May 11, 2014 at 10:14 pm
How nice for you, Gary. 😀
May 12, 2014 at 1:06 am
I celebrated my 8th birthday on your Dad’s show and we enjoyed seeing him around town in his Isetta.
December 19, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Gary I am the youngest son of Bob Russell or Captain Bob and sorry Mitzy killed your rabbit. But your memory is flawed. These celebrity families were extremely close and shared a unique situation. We all had a Television personality in our house. It was a great and wonderful place to live and grow up. I guess my memory is failing because I remember your name but not you. And I could pretty much right now tell you house by house who lived there and there names. What house did you live in.
August 28, 2010 at 4:36 am |
I remember a local kid’s show in the early 60s called Mr. Caboose. The guy dressed up like a train engineer. I can’t find anyone who remembers this, but I know there was such a character. I don’t think he was on very long.
October 13, 2010 at 7:54 pm |
I remember Mr. Caboose. I was “too old” to watch him, but my little brother was taken to the “new” Sharpstown Shopping Center (Mall) where Mr. Caboose did a remote one day. The whole neighborhood and I watched my brother being interviewed by Mr. Caboose there, and when he got through, my brother stuck out his tongue and walked directly into the camera– causing me shame from my buds on the block for a week! I was a “twerp/spaz” by association, I guess. Mr. Caboose was a show for “the little guys” as my age group called kids. After all– I was 10 or 11 yrs. by that time, I think.
February 6, 2017 at 4:24 am
I was the co hose of Looney Auction. My name was Twinkle. It originated at Channel 2 and then to Channel 11. I was also the voice of JOT – a cartoon sponsored by the Southern Baptist Radio and Television Convention. My name was Lou Thomas.
February 6, 2017 at 3:28 pm
Lou T. Kelley I remember JOT cartoon very well, though I was quite young. I always figured JOT’s voice was female. Really neat that you did the voice for JOT . There was one episode about “Lying” that really helped teach me a lesson, and one brief scene showing raw flesh or something like that and it scared me to death. The cartoon always had a good message within.
There is a spoof show of Davey and Goliath on the “Cartoon Network’s ‘Adult Swim’ ” called “Moral Orel” that is really awful and must be produced by Satanists because they mock everything decent and portray Christians as the scourge of the planet.
LTK, thanks for being part of such a really fine program for kids that actually had a positive effect on my life.
February 6, 2017 at 5:00 pm
Satanists???????
February 6, 2017 at 11:33 pm
Hi:
So glad you were a Jot watcher. I did the voice off and on for almost 18 years. Initially Jot was neither masculine nor feminine but later the stories were written for a boy character. Even though I am a female my voice could be identified for either boy or girl.
I knew Kitirik’s side kick Skipper. Have no idea whatever happened to either of them.
Thanks for responding. Have a nice evening.
Lou Kelley
February 6, 2017 at 8:20 pm
Well… I did regret using the term “satanists” as soon as I posted when I realized I sounded like the Church Lady. Let me rephrase that to say ‘the show is very, very dark’
March 28, 2020 at 7:23 pm
I am 70 and I vaguely remember going to Looney Auction and bid on some toys. Won Some Toys actually. One was a life sized toddler doll. I wish I could see some photos of this show
July 8, 2011 at 10:22 pm |
Mr. Caboose was my uncle, Frank Crawford. Prior to being Mr. Caboose he hosted the Late Show (jokes and banter on the commercal breaks – think current day show “Dinner and a Movie”). He went to Los Angeles and was an assistant director and director on several network television shows.
December 7, 2011 at 12:47 am
I remember Mr. Caboose came to my school once, Hollibrook Elementary. He had a puppet sidekick, a worm of sorts as I recall. Cant remember the name though.
May 3, 2012 at 6:34 am
Bob: Thanx to Sid Lasher, I actually got to come to the studio one morning and see the performance of the show! Although I was a little older than his target audience, I remember some of the humor from “Mr. Bookworm” was REALLY sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek that I caught and thought it was very funny. Man, I wish there was an old kinescope of any of the shows or even one of those little 5×7 glossys he gave out. Is Mr. Crawford still alive?
May 10, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Another commercial I remember on Houston TV in the 60’s was for Mike Persia Chevrolet.
The jingle sounded part middle eastern and part native american drumbeats and the jingle singer sang:
“Buy Your Chevrolet From Persia,
Mike Persia Chevrolet.”.
Don’t forget Sea Arama Marine World in Galveston.
May 8, 2017 at 9:21 pm
I have a Mr.. Caboose flyer with his photo on it holding an oil can and looking out of a stage set window. Do you have a copy of it? I would be happy to mail it to you. I was a child actress at Playhouse Children’s Theatre on Main street in the 1959 – 1961 era. Did you know the director Phil Osterman?
March 29, 2019 at 11:38 pm
Frank Crawford was my uncle too! I am the daughter of his wife, Norma’s, fraternal twin, Neil F. Steele…..how are you related?
March 18, 2020 at 9:48 pm
Julie Mainor: Frank was my dad’s older brother.
September 29, 2013 at 12:47 am |
I remember Mr. Caboose. Though like you, I could nver find anyone who remembered him. One of my biggest thrills as a kid was going to the Foley’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I was in the crowd along the curb of the street and here came Mr. Caboose riding in a miini-car Shaking hands with kids along the route. For a small kid I thought he had the STRONGEST grip.
May 6, 2014 at 5:12 pm
I used to watch Mr. Caboose in 1962 when I was five. I STILL remember a skit he did, where he accidentally switched Brylcreem hair lube( Oil? I never figured out what that crap was) with Pepsodent toothpaste. He started feeling
his scalp and screamed,” I got teeth on my head,” and then of course later screaming “I got hair in my mouth!” I don’t know why I remember it because it was so lame. Imagine being a writer for that show…they probably started hitting the Vodka by 11AM.
Also-The complete title of the Saturday night movie show was “Weird Theatre.”
Also-Anyone remember “That Lil’ ol’ Show That Comes on After Monty Python? With Shake Russell and Dana Cooper.
Also-A show that radio personality Crash Collins briefly hosted on Channel 16 called “Jammin’ With Jambeaux?” (The last two were post-Saturday midnight shows for stoners around 1976).
May 6, 2014 at 6:00 pm
I was a big fan of Mr. Caboose, specifically for the puppet character Mr. Bookworm. Soooo droll was he. Even as young as I was (11-12 y.o.), I recognized the sophistication of Mr. B’s attitude and patter. It is great to hear of others who remember this novel local kiddie show.
May 8, 2014 at 3:20 pm
A little anecdote about Mr. Caboose. The fellow who played MrC happened to be visiting a next door neighbor of a friend of my mother’s in 1963. My mother’s gal pal had a little house on the waterfront in a residential area of Galveston at the time, and the bay water came right up to the back of her house. One day when we were visiting, we heard a commotion and went out to see what it was. There, one house down from us, was a 30-something man who was unmistakably the one and only Mr. Caboose, wearing a bathing suit rather than an engineer’s uniform. He was surrounded by a small group of children, and I remember thinking what a nice man he was, since he was playing with them rather than running them off. I guess he was a friend, or a relative, of that neighbor. I also remember the envy I felt towards those kids. And we would NEVER have barged in where we weren’t asked, but I won’t say that we were not tempted to. One of those things that I have never forgotten in all these years.
February 6, 2017 at 11:38 pm
Did you remember Mr Caboose side kick Twinkle? I started with Looney Auction at Channel 2 with Captain Bob then the show was moved to Channel 11 with Mr. Caboose. I demonstrated the toys being auctioned off.
Just curious.
Thanks,
Lou Kelley
June 8, 2015 at 2:49 am |
Mr. Caboose was connected with Houston’s Playhouse Children’s Theatre and I was Alice in Wonderland in 1961! I recall I think? that he had a younger daughter who was maybe? the dormouse? I definitely have a snapshot photo of him my mother took at the Thanksgiving Day parade downtown – the theatre had a while convertible I sat on with Cinderella. He was a very nice man.
October 28, 2019 at 5:56 pm
I was Pinocchio for several years here in Houston. Frank Crawford was the director and played Gepetto. We first performed at the Playhouse Theatre on Main Street in Houston. We moved the show to Theatre Inc. down the street where Frank became the children’s theatre director after Iris Siff left. We toured with Pinocchio at Ball High School in Galveston; A Junior High or High School in Memorial(I think. My ex-wife saw me perform there. We also performed at another school, Galena Park. For two years, I was Pinocchio in the Foley’s Thanksgiving Parade. I played the Cheshire Cat in the production of “Alice in Wonderland” under Frank’s direction I believe at Theatre Inc. Frank, Norma, and his daughters became friends of the family. We went crabbing one time together I think in Galveston. He and his family visited our house with a swimming pool in Lake Jackson, Texas where he signed autographs. Have many fond memories of those days because so much of my childhood was spent in children’s theatre. Nina Vance of the Alley Theatre even knew me as Pinocchio. I still have a photo of me as Pinocchio with my grandparents somewhere on this computer. Anyway, I also did a short segment on Mr. Caboose. Forgot what it was. Maybe someday will write a book about theatre in those days. It was great. Thanks, Brad in Houston.
August 30, 2010 at 8:36 pm |
Don’t forget the Late Show that came on after the 10pm news, followed by the Late Late Show on some nights, perhaps just weekends…..Adventures in Paradise……77 Sunset Strip…….but as already mentioned, Weird. The Attack of the Crab Monsters got me everytime.
April 20, 2011 at 10:31 pm |
“The Late Show,
First the news and weather then
The Late Show.
Greatest movies ever made and you see them free,
right on your own TV.
The Late Show,
Sit back, enjoy a snack and watch
The Late Show,
Greatest movies ever made and you see em free
Right on your own TV.
The Late Show,
Channel 11’s proud to bring the greatest of stars right into your home,
No matter how far, you’re never alone,
(missing some lyrics here!)
The great Late Show!”
May 26, 2011 at 6:11 pm
you left out the transition between “right on you own TV”, which went…
you never need a ticket for [The Late Show….
and, as I recall, the (missing some lyrics here) were:
We’ll be waiting for you, here on [The great Late Show!]
January 4, 2018 at 12:49 am
I would love to find this Late Night jingle somewhere. That brings back some memories. I can still remember the on-screen logo of a jet airplane silhouetted against a full moon that showed during this jingle.
May 6, 2014 at 6:04 pm |
Yes, WEIRD was great because it tended to show more modern pictures, and not the older moldy classic horror films (sorry, I know there are fans of these, but I liked the mid-century stuff a lot more). Attack of the Crab Monsters was typical of the movies they would show, and it “got me”, too! You may also remember another Roger Corman movie, “Not of This Earth”, that played more than once on WEIRD. Happy memories.
January 4, 2018 at 12:47 am |
The Crab Monster movie would be “It Conquered The World,” by Roger Korman.
September 14, 2010 at 6:59 pm |
I lived in Houston from 1950 to 1973 (now am in Hollywood,CA.)I remember a show late at night on late Saturday nights/early Sunday mornings (about 1960) called The MidNite Zone [sic] (probably on Ch. 11,KHOU). This local show featured sci-fi and horror movies…and I fondly remember the Boris Karloff “lost” masterpiece,today revealed as THE DEVIL COMMANDS,which I first saw on Houston TV….50 years ago!
July 27, 2012 at 12:51 am |
I recall Midnite Zone too. I think it’s only competition was Weird, which probably came on after wrestling.
May 6, 2014 at 6:20 pm |
How did I miss Midnite Zone. I was a big WEIRD fan, but if I had known there was another monster movie program on a different channel (and a different air time?), I would have jumped on it in two seconds.
September 16, 2010 at 1:26 am |
Bill,
Going back through some not too old emails from you,
I thought of some other local celebraties
Ray Conway-channel 13 news anchor
Ray Miller-Channel 2 news anchor
Howard Finch-channel 13 voice on many shows
Mr. Caboose-channel 11 local kids show
Dewey Compton-I tjhink his show was called The Farm Journal
Network prime time shows
The Rebel/Johnny Yuma palyed by Nick Adams
Rawhide with Clint Eastwood
Whirlybirds
Highway Patrol
Sgt. Preston of the Yukon
Daytime network kid shows
Capt. Kangaroo
Romperoom
Art with John Nagy
April 22, 2013 at 1:30 am |
Okay,I was born february 1,1959 in Freeport so I have fond memories of Cadet Don and Kittrik on Channel 13 and Doodad and Dooley on Three Stooges Theatre on KHTV,Channel 39 not to forget Dailing For Dollars and Cita Con Carlos on Channel 13 and of course,the original”TERRIBLE SWIFT SWORD”hisself MARVIN ZINDLER,EYEWITNESS NEWS!!!
May 6, 2014 at 5:58 pm
Nice to know that someone else used to watch Cita Con Carlos (AKA Cita Con Trece)!
March 22, 2018 at 4:50 pm
Every few years I search the internet (in vain) for a photo or clip of Doodad & Dooley on Ch. 39–as I recall they romped on a set made to look like an alley.
September 22, 2018 at 4:15 am
Does anyone know the name/artist of The Cadet Don Show on Channel 13 and the original Ray Miller’s Eyes of Texas theme song from 1968-1977? I actually have the full themes as I requested them from the stations as a young teen. Any info would be greatly appreciated,
May 9, 2014 at 5:21 pm |
Oscar, I was crazy about WHIRLYBIRDS. I almost NEVER missed an episode. Loved Ken Tobey, and the Bell helicopters were awesome.
May 10, 2014 at 6:08 pm |
Highway Patrol. Broderick Crawford shouting 10-4 into his radio mike.
September 16, 2010 at 6:50 pm |
This former Houstonian remembers some of these old shows and stars.
I visited KITIRIK show for one of my birthdays. But heard that Bunny
Orsaak was once robbed,and hit with a flashlight…still remember that
old news article…and that she had an “unlisted” number…first time I’d
ever heard of that…and when the original MOUSEKETEERS made their only Houston appearance (at the Sam Houston Coliseum,1957) they
kicked the birthday guests off the KITIRIK bleachers,more or less,LOL!!
Other notable TV shows I remember are:
“Cadet Don” (Don Travis)…who once featured a certain cartoon called
SPACE ANGEL…around 1960 I saw a feature which I now know as “THE
LIGHT BARRIER”…the crew used an ion engine to nearly reach the speed
of light in a spacecraft (that episode,btw,can be bought,just see Google).
“The Mid-Nite Zone”…a late-night presentation of horror movies on KHOU/11…and,again,something shown in 1960 which I now know as the Boris Karlooff movie “THE DEVIL COMMANDS” stuck in my then-10-year-old memory. A weird scientist and experiment in connecting with dead
people!
Also on weekends there was a competing sci-fi showcase called “WEIRD”. They used the music “Frozen Neptune” from Russ Garcia’s album “Fantastica” as their theme.
When I got color TV (in 1969) I’ll never forget the humourous mix-up
with the KPRC chroma-key equipment…News anchor CHRIS CHANDLER
was presented in blackface for a few moments due to a technical error
(and he’d later go on to have a small movie role in the picture HELLFIGHTERS). I was actually able to reach future star STEVE EDWARDS in those days,and asked him: Why was his theme (instrumental from Broadway score “Promises,Promises” different from
the Dionne Warwick version?)
Remember seeing famed Houston Chronicle columnist MAXINE MESINGER
(R.I.P.) on some kind of weekly show she did.
I moved to California in late 1973. I was in the movie MAYOR OF THE SUNSET STRIP.
May 9, 2014 at 5:28 pm |
Ronald, just wanted you to know that I was a big fan of SPACE ANGEL, too. I loved the drawing style, which seemed quite grown-up and nicely futuristic. And I recognize the connection to CLUTCH CARGO. What a kick!
October 1, 2010 at 9:07 pm |
Thanks!! I have searched for a pic of Kitirik for months.
Just wondering if anyone remembers watching “The Larry Kane Show” on Saturdays?
October 2, 2010 at 5:44 pm |
Yep. I remember that LARRY KANE used as his theme the instrumental
music by Dave “Baby” Cortez….”The Happy Organ”.
This show was obviously a local alternative to Dick Clark’s “American
Bandstand” or something.
November 5, 2014 at 4:12 am |
larry kane ran instead of american bandstand on ch 13
October 26, 2010 at 12:31 pm |
i am always looking for cheap car sales show in our area and i always find a bargain,”:
October 26, 2010 at 6:04 pm |
Can I send you people an attachment (Mp3) of 30 seconds from a KFMK
RADIO show? It’s a station I.D. How do I send that?
October 26, 2010 at 6:16 pm |
Ron: Just send it as a live link inside another comment here. – Bill
October 26, 2010 at 7:31 pm |
Here’s the best I could do,rendering this as a black-background video
on YouTube with audio only. Use this link:
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=QUyvhkA6RmY&next=%2Fmy_videos
October 27, 2010 at 6:39 pm |
And here’s 2 images from that KFMK radio station I mentioned (sorry
the playlist is unreadable with this scan. I might be able to re-copy and
re-scan it.)
Use the MySpace link to my 2nd MySpace account:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.editAlbumPhotos&albumID=3487154
October 27, 2010 at 9:55 pm |
I enjoyed Mr. Caboose as well. I also remember the watermelon stand on Evergreen where you could buy a cold slice and eat it there on a picnic table with a box of salt. Art Grindle Dodge commercials. Ralph Williams Chrysler/Plymouth. The ICEE. The Ranger. Princes Drive Inns. Gulfgate Skating Rink. The Rutzee Drive Inn. Biskits and Gravy and Grits at the Tel/Wink Grill on Telephone Road at 3 AM. Kips Big Boy strawberry pie at 3 AM. WEIRD, LATE WEIRD, Friday Nite Wrestling. Houston International Speedway, Saturday, Saturday Nite. I could go on for eva, heah ??
May 9, 2014 at 4:56 pm |
The watermelon stand sounds WONDERFUL!
November 10, 2010 at 7:08 pm |
I remember Kitirik from my childhood. So many memories, but mostly that she went to high school with my mother and aunt (twins) in Hamshire, Tx. Her name then was Bunny Perkins. Hi Kitirik!! I never got to meet you, but feel we know each other deep down.
November 13, 2010 at 2:37 pm |
i am into car sales business and it is a good way of earning money .”-
November 23, 2010 at 7:36 am |
Remember Harry Burkett? “If you don’t buy your car from Burkett,we both loose money”.Or buy your Chevrolet from Persia,Mike Persia chevrolet-to an Indian boy beating the drum.Also Do you remember Friendly Giant on channel 8? or Capt.Kangaroo and Mr.Greenjeans? lots of great memories. And Homer Hower of the Houston FBI at sign off looking for fuditives.
May 6, 2014 at 9:44 pm |
Lloyd, I can still hear that Mike Persia jingle in my head. Most kids my age would not make the connection between the drum boy and the Persia surname.
December 10, 2010 at 9:19 pm |
Does anybody remember why Ron Stone left channel 11? Some sort of altercation involving the police and the female weather lady?
December 23, 2010 at 9:38 pm |
Others names of Houston past: “Pee Wee Panel” with host Bill Rozan, sponsored by Weingartens;; KPRC TV’s “Star Room” with Lynn Cole and singer Janet Smith, Marietta Marich(sp?)
Wrestlers, ‘Dynamite’ Danny McShane; Lou Theiss; Gory Guerrero, Ray Dunkel, KNUZ radio, Ken Grant, Webb Hunt, the Chuck Donavan show; Youngbloods restaurant, Bill Williams, Ye Olde College Inn, and Ship Ahoy. Auto racing at Arrowhead Park with AJ Foyt. Webers Drive Inn theater on Main St, South Main Drive Inn, King Center and OST Drive Inn. Epsom Downs & Post Oak Drive Inn. Jan Carson and Sara Lowery. Its great reliving these memories
April 22, 2013 at 1:33 am |
Not to mention KILT,the Big 610;KIKK;KENR;KODA as well as Marijane Vandiver;Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire and Mickey Gilley’s show on KHTV Channel 39 on Saturday nights in the early 70’s.
May 6, 2014 at 5:56 pm |
Don’t forget Wild Bull Curry on the wrestling front.
August 31, 2015 at 11:49 pm |
My mom was the Janet Smith you are talking about. This was all before I was born and I have been searching for information on the internet about her singing career. I wish so much that I could find a recording of her during the time she was on tv. I’d love to see it. She passed away this month on the 4th at the age of 82. I’ve found many articles from the newspapers she saved during that time and I am fascinated with what I’ve found. She never really talked about it so its all new news to me.
September 1, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Dana: Check out the KPRC History page on Facebook. It contains several photos of your mom.
https://www.facebook.com/KPRCHistory/photos_stream
February 4, 2011 at 2:36 am |
Back in 1956 I remember Paul Berlin playing a song by Don Estes called, “I’d Give A Million Tomorrows” which Don possibly wrote. Great song, I can remember most of the words. “I’d Give A Million Tomorrows For Just One Yesterday”, was just part of it. Great memory.
July 10, 2015 at 3:05 am |
Knew Don Estes and family VERY well!
March 6, 2011 at 8:28 pm |
Ruff and Ready? The Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters? Sure,I remember them. Dog and cat,weren’t they?
April 30, 2011 at 6:16 pm |
They sometimes have their little spats,
That’s just because they’re dogs and cats,
But when they need each other that’s…
When they’re Ruff and Ready.
April 30, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Wasn’t the cartoon, PowWow the Indian Boy, also on then?
March 7, 2011 at 4:51 am |
I believe Looney Town was hosted by Uncle Bert Lynn a local Houston
musician and music teacher that had a studio on Park Place right around the corner from the old Santa Rosa Movie Theatre
March 7, 2011 at 2:46 pm |
Through the years, “Looney Town” may have had several hosts. I do know that Bob Russell hosted the show as “Captain Bob” in the fall of 1959.
This link, if it works, should display of photo of Bob Russell on the cover of TV Time magazine in September, 1959:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=310468298169&aid=147768#!/photo.php?fbid=426804143169&set=a.310547308169.147768.310468298169
August 23, 2016 at 3:18 am |
“Hello, boys and girls” and the kids sang, “Hello Uncle Bert” (Bert) “Now’s the time to say, hello, hello, hello” Second verse, “Now the time to play, the Uncle Bert Lynn show” with “Stringy and Strummy” (the 2 guitars). That was Uncle Bert’s introduction.
April 15, 2011 at 8:30 pm |
I read through the comments, and did not find one that mentioned the little ditty that ran over and over and over…. in the early 50’s.
“The Cable is coming the fourth of July.
Better run see your dealer for your TV buy.”
April 15, 2011 at 11:25 pm |
Thanks, Luke! How could I have forgotten that little ditty. I can still hear it playing in my head.
April 17, 2011 at 3:32 pm |
How about Playland Park? I loved that place. Also, the “Fun Club” at the Village and Tower theaters on Saturday morning, all my friends went there, it cost a quarter to get in. I also remember the weather ball on top of a building down town and the song that explained it: “Red light, warmer weather. White light cooler weather. Green light, no change in view. Blinking light rain is due!”
May 23, 2011 at 10:33 pm |
Watching Weird as a young teen, I remember a couple of really cool hosts. ONe I believe was “Mark” something. Anyone remember these folks?
April 16, 2013 at 2:38 am |
I remember a mustached, receding-hairline, older gentleman in a regular suit, that sat in a chair. I was looking at other sites, and they all said that “Weird” had no host. I am glad that I am not the only one who remembers! What is really weird is that I am replying to a 2 year old discussion!
April 18, 2013 at 1:00 am
BTW, the theme music for WEIRD was from the album FROZEN NEPTUNE (Russ Garcia-R.I.P.) Garcia,btw,did the music for “The Time Machine”.
April 18, 2013 at 1:02 am
btw,the WEIRD theme was FROZEN NEPTUNE from the FANTASTICA lp by Russ Garcia (R.I.P.) Garcia also did the music for “The Time Machine”.
May 24, 2011 at 12:30 am |
Watching Weird as a young teen, I remember a couple of really cool hosts though they weren’t at the same time. One I believe was “Mark” something. Anyone remember the names of these gentlemen?
May 6, 2014 at 5:54 pm |
I am really happy to finally know what the name of the piece of music that played behind WEIRD’s opening, but I would be ecstatic if I could find a video of the actual and complete opening. I once read on 13’s blog that the opening was done live each time the show was broadcast(!). I really doubt that. Even in my memory, I remember it was exactly the same every time it played, with the exception of the announcer’s rundown of what the features were on any night.
Anybody know if somewhere there is an old kinescope of the opening?
May 9, 2014 at 4:51 pm |
Do you guys who were fans of WEIRD remember how they would show an old DRAGNET episode after WEIRD finished? It was those episodes that helped me to come down from the scare high I was on after watching WEIRD.
BTW, one of the movies I remember that was shown several times over WEIRD’s run was “From Hell It Came”. You know, with the walking tree?
August 14, 2014 at 12:53 am |
For all the Boomer kids out there that were in love with WEIRD and Late WEIRD, here is a link to the tune that played behind the opening, Russ Garcia’s FROZEN NEPTUNE (over clips from The First Space Ship To Venus”:
May 24, 2011 at 6:23 pm |
Yeah,I remember “WEIRD”. And they would use as their theme music
Russ Garcia’s “Frozen Neptune”. (He did an album around that time called
“Fantastica”,and he also did music for the original movie “THE TIME MACHINE”. One could see various sci-fi movies on this late-night showcase.
************************************************************
BTW,2 mysteries solved:
(1) “Mystery surf guitar riff” from about 1967 that PAMS used (followed by a spoken “Fun! Ladies and gentlemen,we proudly present [name of radio show] on KILT….” etc.) was from THE VENTURES…and it’s called “Flights of Fantasy”. I found it on YouTube,LOL! That band did
something like a “Ventures In Space” album. It took FOURTY FOUR YEARS to find out what this instrumental riff was!
(2) “Don’t Stop The Carnival” by The Sound Investment is now back on
YouTube. The rights are owned by EMI but as they are probably not going
to re-release it,the clip is Fair Use.
June 3, 2011 at 7:00 pm |
If anybody’s interested,I can put up (on YouTube) an audio-only (sorry,I didn’t have video equipment back then) of the late Houston Chronicle
columnist MAXINE MESINGER,doing 2 interviews: (1) with Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme; and (2) with Dick Ott (then-owner of the
Houston Music Theater). This was in early 1973. MAXINE did (as I remember) some kind of 30-minute Saturday or Sunday show.
And there are all too few photos/items on her on Google. She’s kind of an unsung hero. Everybody remembers LIZ SMITH but MAXINE was
less famous.
September 24, 2011 at 11:04 pm |
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November 8, 2011 at 2:15 am |
Would love to tune into 1230 K-NUZ today….we need an oldie station!
November 8, 2011 at 3:53 am |
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May 10, 2013 at 5:06 pm |
I was in Haltom City*(*A suburb of Fort Worth)one Saturday and I found a bunch of Houston Papers-Chronicle;Post;Press-from November 22,1963 in an Antique Mall.
So here’s a little snapshot of what things were like on that fateful Friday in November:
First and foremost was JFK’s visit to Dallas.
On TV,the kiddies who weren’t in school-like myself.I was 4.-Captain Kangaroo and Cadet Don were on in the morning.
in the afternoon,Rocky and His Pals and of course,Kittrik’s Carousel were on.
In the evening,The Patty Duke show was on ABC while The Twilight Zone was on CBS.
On their lunch hours,Houston’s version of Joan Holliday and Peggy Olson*(Christina Hendricks and elisabeth Moss of’Mad Men’)could’ve bought a Best Form(tm)Girdle-either Long Leg or Open Bottom-for$6.98 and Bra for$1.98 at the Downtown Foley’s.
You could’ve bought groceries at A&P;Henke&Pilat*(*Kroger);Piggly Wiggly;Lucky7 and of course Weingarten’s.
The Holiday Season was approaching,and White’s Auto Supply had a battery powered Lionel train for$6.99 among other toys that every girl and boy wanted for Christmas.
Sounded like a great Friday.If only LHO woulda missed!!
November 18, 2011 at 1:10 pm |
I lived at Boys Harbor, in the 50’s. I used to square dance on the Utal Carl Show. I cannot find a listing any where.
April 19, 2014 at 11:33 pm |
Did you know Paul Rawlins and Benny Massey who were Boys Harbor kids? I went to La Porte Elem. school in the late 50s with Paul and Benny taught my sister swimming at the Houston Yacht Club. Both were really nice kids.
November 18, 2011 at 9:35 pm |
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December 5, 2011 at 2:14 pm |
Here is a link to a photo of Captain Bob in the KPRC-TV studios:
December 8, 2011 at 10:36 am |
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January 4, 2012 at 5:02 am |
OST was a street filled with 50’s 60’s 70’s memories. There was a Whataburger on OST/Lozier, This Whataburger was different from today’s. It had a walk up window where you made your order. There were about 3 to 4 round concrete tables/benches to each on. Also a Donut Hole, a block down. Art Grindle on OST/Del Rio, Cellar Door Bar-b-q on OST/Scott, Price’s Drive Inn & Deans Drive Inn on OST, Dad’s hangout after work.Trainer’s Drive Inn Theater and across the street Trainer’s Hamburger Drive Inn with car hops. Both were located off of OST. S&H Green Stamp Center off OST/Holcombe, OST Movie Theater on OST/Griggs. Saw “Thirteen Ghost” with 3 D Glasses for 50 cents. Chuck Davis Cheverolet on OST/Tierwester, Shopper’s Fair Clothing and Henke & Pelot Grocery both on OST/Scott. Plan to drive back to the old hood soon to see what’s left.
February 3, 2012 at 10:38 pm |
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February 22, 2012 at 6:12 pm |
To the person who asked why Ron Stone left KHOU in the early 70s: Stone moved to NYC to work for NBC Radio on the old NBC Monitor Program.
He came back after less than a year because his wife gave him an ultimatum. She didn’t want to move to NYC, and she told him he could have the network job or her, but not both.
He got the hint and returned to Houston to anchor the news on KPRC TV.
February 28, 2012 at 1:54 pm |
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May 17, 2012 at 8:09 pm |
What about Curly Fox and Texas Ruby!! Lordy, I can still hear them screeching out Precious Lord Take My Hand. haha In spite of them, that’s one of my very favorite hymns. But whenever I hear it, I still remember those two.
May 30, 2012 at 2:31 am |
What about Utah Carl, his show was sponsored by Alvin Furniture Company.
There was also a weekly Sunday morning show, I believe it was called The Houston Home Show with Bill Roberts or Robertson.
May 10, 2013 at 4:42 pm
Utah Carl!!I remember him!!I think his show was on Channel 39 on Saturday Afternoons!!He sang a song that went something like”I’m Just a Wandering The Wastelands”,I think!!
Also,I remember how Channel 39 had syndicated country music shows like The Buck Owens show and of course Mickey Gilley’s Show.
And let’s not forget”MAAARRRRVINNN ZINDLER,EYEWITNESS NEWS!!”on KTRK,Channel 13.
Kid’s show hosts,besides Cadet Don and Kittrik on 13,Mr.Caboose was on Channel 11,although I don’t remember him and Doodad and Dooley on Channel39 in the mornings with”Three Stooges Theatre”.
January 31, 2014 at 1:31 pm |
My parents took my 2 younger sisters and me to a “taping” (?) of one of their shows. I later learned that she died in a house (or trailer) fire. About Curly Fox, I don’t know. But more than anything I enjoyed watching a musician play some slide string instrument (probably has a common name that I can’t reall just now).
January 31, 2014 at 7:58 pm
I too remember Curly Fox and Texas Ruby (the show was oddly omitted in biographies about Curly Fox).
And the first use of the steel guitar…Not a pedal steel,because the episodes I saw were pre-1954.
April 24, 2018 at 2:03 pm
That was Ozzie Middleton playing steel guitar.
February 2, 2019 at 3:50 am
Curly Fox and Texas Ruby used to tape their radio shows every Friday evening in the Jinx Room at the old Grand Prize brewery on Harrisburg. Bob Dundas was the emcee. During the intermission, I (and friends that we would take along with us) would stand in the hall and talk with Texas Ruby. Her brother was the songwriter for Eddy Arnold’s theme song, “Cattle Call.” I remember asking Texas Ruby how she kept her hat so white and clean. She said she used chalk whenever it got a mark on it. Yes, she died in a trailer fire, I believe, in the Grand Old Opry parking lot.
May 29, 2012 at 10:39 pm |
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April 1, 2013 at 3:06 am |
I am trying to locate information about an early Houston kid’s show involving a man called Big Jim who On-Air drew a caricature picture using a part of the drawing or scribble a child sent into the show. The child whose scribble he chose won many prizes such as a kiddie shopping cart full of toys. My aunt was one such lucky child in about 1951, she guesses. She still has the large, larminated drawing and it is signed by “Big Jim”. But I cannot find any info about the TV show! Help?
April 1, 2013 at 3:26 am |
Carla,
I was a Houston kid in 1951 too. I don’t recall any show that had an artist named “Big Jim,” but I do recall that Channel 2 had an artist named “Jack Hamm” who would complete scribble lines that viewers sent in as caricatures, etc. They once offered a $5 gift certificate to Sakowitz as a prize to the kid artist who sent in the best caricature of an old TV cowboy movie star named Hopalong Cassidy.
April 1, 2013 at 1:20 pm |
Carla,
His name was Big Jim Hester and the show was called “Pioneer Cartoons” it was on Sundays at noon. You can view a newspaper ad for the show by looking in the “Post Oak” photo album of the “KPRC History” page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KPRCHistory/photos_stream
April 2, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Bill, thank you for the information! Once I mentioned the last name of “Hester” to my aunt, she did recall it.
Sincerely,
Carla
April 20, 2013 at 6:03 am |
“pow wow the indian boy-loved all the animals in the woods.
pow wow the indian boy-helped all indians that he could”…sung to the tune of the indian song in every western when you first saw the injuns in their village or gittin ready to attack the wagon train(homeland security)
May 10, 2013 at 4:46 pm |
I need some info on a song I heard on KIKK around 1975-6.
It mighta been titled”Heaven Hell or Houston”.
If I’m correct,I remember how the chorus went something like
“Now I’m Finishing
This Beer on Airline Drive.
And In Heaven;Hell or Houston
That’s Where You’ll find Me.
And I’ll Still Be Loving You
Dead or alive”.
If anyone out there has any more info they’d like to share,please feel to post it on here.
July 23, 2014 at 3:27 pm |
In response to the question about the song “Heaven, Hell or Houston”, that was recorded by Hugh X. Lewis. Also the local western swing band, The River Road Boys, had a recording of it.
Shelly Alley
July 23, 2014 at 3:32 pm |
In response to the question about the song “Heaven, Hell or Houston” it was done by Hugh X.Lewis. It was also recorded by the local western swing group, The River Road Boys.
January 13, 2017 at 7:07 pm |
remade by ZZ Top on he “El Loco” album
July 28, 2013 at 4:32 am |
I am looking for copys of old shows dialing for dollars ,in late 50,s my late sister was on this show and it would be wonderful to see the show again..anyone have any info please post
August 24, 2013 at 6:47 pm |
Karron, I’m looking for copies of old of dialing for dollars too. I’m Betty Rogers daughter, Leslie. She died in 1995 and I’d love to see and hear her again. If I hear any info, I’ll post. Thanks for still being interested in the show. It would be great for you to be able to see your late sister on the show.
October 13, 2020 at 9:07 pm
Hi Leslie (aka Laach-Bud),
This is Dan Kendall; I used to work with you at Fox.
I’d like to connect with you. My gmail address is DanKenLA@ [insert gmail here]
I hope you’ll reach out to me!
-DK
September 7, 2013 at 10:33 pm |
I remember on Sundays KPRC/2 would have Movie for a Sunday Afternoon, in the 60s and maybe early 70s, and always wondered what the piano theme music was, it’d show a bunch of clouds moving quickly over the music. any ideas?
December 22, 2013 at 10:34 pm |
I remember the music you refer to but cannot remember who did it either. Have been trying to find it but no luck. If you have any please post.
September 9, 2013 at 10:25 pm |
Remember the Gateway Swimming park on Main I think?
Thanks for the memories.
December 1, 2013 at 3:59 pm |
You forgot “Weird Theatre” on KTRK Saturday nights at 10:30. Also on KTRK, Saturday mornings, was “The Larry Kane Dance Show.”
January 19, 2014 at 2:19 am |
Does anyone remember Romper Room from the 1950’s? I’ve been trying to find a video from that year. The hostess was Miss Gwen. She lives here at the same senior center I do. Though she might be tickled if I could find a video to show her.
February 1, 2014 at 12:25 am |
Channel 11’s The Late Show theme song also included:
“Whether it’s a comedy, a drama, or a mystery, or adventure right before your eyes—-seven nights a week you are invited to a different movie, EV ‘RY NIGHT YOU GET A NEW SURPRISE.”
February 9, 2014 at 4:23 pm |
I know it wasn’t local television, but everyone I knew RAN off the school bus to get home in time for Dark Shadows at 3:30. The production values were really low, but we loved all the scary fun of it. Also, there were pennies in the tree for grabbin’ on Marijane’s Magic Castle as well. I also watched The Million Dollar Movie on channel 13 in the afternoons. Saw some real old classics on that one. And I’ve also never known of anybody else who remembered Mr. Caboose. I remember when Kennedy was killed, there was constant coverage of that for days. Afterward I could never find Mr. Caboose again. I was really upset about that. Hey, I was only 5!
February 17, 2014 at 7:51 am |
The Heights Savings lady was Marcella Perry. She sat at her desk and gave financial advice in little short 30 second commercials.
February 18, 2014 at 3:56 pm |
I love the comments. I used to watch Utah Carl live when it was broadcast from the transmission shop on 46th and Broadway in Galveston. K-GUL channel 11.
March 26, 2014 at 4:50 am |
Speaking of K-GUL Does anyone remember Marge Crumbaker singing and playing the piano and the organ at the same time? Her theme song was “A you’re Adorable” Then the channel became KHOU around 1955 or so. Ye Gads…………all this and I can’t remember what I had for lunch today!! AAAAH the Golden Years! LOL!
From Lann Copeland product of St. Joseph’s Hospital 1947
March 26, 2014 at 5:52 pm
Marge Crumbaker also played the electric guitar!
And prior to KGUL….there was KLEE-TV. I wasn’t born for that one,but a certain myth grew about those defunct call letters.
March 26, 2014 at 11:37 pm
The name Marge Crumbaker sounds familiar, but then, both those names sound familiar. Don’t recall her, specifically. DO recall how much I enjoyed watching “Ding-Dong-School” each morning with Miss Francis and whomever the woman was who played the organ (or was it the piano). I know this wasn’t a Houton TV program, but am so grateful some station manager and board of directors decided to carry this program…a forerulnner to “Sesam Street” indeed. ALSO: does anyone remember drawing and painting with John Nagy? Magic with Mark Wilson? A radio program you could write to with a request? Teresa Brewer sang my mother’s request and we all sat around the radio listening.
December 9, 2020 at 6:53 pm
Nothing mysterious about the old KGUL and KLEE call letters. KGUL TV was in Galveston, and the call letters were a reference to the sea gulls all over the island, and the fact that it was located on the GULF of Mexico.
KLEE TV was originally owned by Houston hotelier W. Albert Lee and it carried programming from all four networks of the day. KLEE became KPRC when the Hobby family bought it in 1950 and dropped three of its four networks and kept NBC.
February 18, 2014 at 11:23 pm |
Does anyone remember Stewart’s Drive Inn located on North Main, just east of I-45. They had a hi-rise sign alongside the freeway that showed a character, sorta a cross between Kip’s Big Boy and the Pillsbury doughboy, wearing a chef’s hat, and there was a slogan on the sign that I can’t presently remember. Bore the name Sonny.
February 2, 2019 at 3:54 am |
That sign was advertising the “Sonny Look
Restaurant.”
February 19, 2014 at 12:07 am |
The original Hudson and Harrigan on ’60s KILT created the character Jim Bob Jumpback, and the skits were priceless. The various succeding H and H’s kept Jim Bob in their repertoire, but it just wasn’t as good.
When KILT-FM started up, newsman Dan Earhart of KILT-AM moved over as Captain Macho. Don’t remember which of the two names he used when he aired his Food Farm Farm Food reports before daybreak, that were almost the precursor to SNL’s news segments. Earhart was interviewed on the PBS special on Anderson Fair a year or so ago.
Joe Ford was an original radio DJ, possibly on KNUZ, which eventually grew a KQUE-FM counterpart. Joe had a brother Neil, who was the frontman for traveling band Neil Ford and the Fanatics. I had a neighbor who ran away from home and reportedly became a groupie of the band, and who all the neighbors figured was impregnated on one of the trips.
Several of us would pedal bikes about 3 miles every week to a record shop on South Park (now MLK) to get the weekly Top 40 hits list circulated by, I’m guessing, KILT. Always had good info in the “Discs and Data” section on the back page.
Besides KILT and KNUZ, the only other 60’s station playing any rock and roll sometimes was on 790, calling itself in its jingle Demand Radio 79.
Country music played on KIKK (650), which eventually cooked up the “I’m Proud to be a KIKK-er” and the “KIKK-up Truck” bumper stickers. 1070 (don’t remember call letters then) was the other country station (quite unlike the present programming).
February 19, 2014 at 5:45 am |
IDoes anyone remember an afternoon TV program called “Date with Don?” It showed black and white movies and played the theme from “Gone With the Wind.”
February 19, 2014 at 5:51 am |
Does anyone recall the contest KILT had over several weeks which involved “finding” objects which were basically “hiding in plain sight” and which represented one of the station’s call letters? For example, “The I is in the sky,” was the “eye” in the Meyerland sign. I forgot what the other “clues” and “finds” were. But the contest had some people buzzing, trying to connect the “twist” in the clue with the call letters. Does anyone remember what the prize was?
February 19, 2014 at 8:26 am |
Hello….,
I was reading about my father in y’all’s blog and I want to thank everyone for all your kinds words about Daddy.
Thank you,
Robin Rasco Pouland
rpouland@icloud.com
May 6, 2014 at 1:38 pm |
I happened upon this blog post through a search for “Cita con Carlos”, a program I would never miss as a early teenager. I happened upon it, when it was called “Cita con Trece” (Rendezvous with 13″), one night. Not that I was particularly interested in Spanish language programming, of which this was a pioneering example, but I found that the young Mexican songstresses really were sexy and turned me on with their low-cut dresses and dress-straps that never seemed to want to stay on their shoulders. And Carlos Garcia was so suave and gracious. And Lucha Villa — oh my goodness.
On a different note, I want to thank the people who identified the majestic music that played behind the opening to WEIRD. I have been looking for that title forever.
May 7, 2014 at 9:27 am |
Two programs for early TV Dramas: “The Millionaire” and “The Loretta Young Show”. In “The Millionaire” a man, Michael, in service to a wealthy man, delivered a tax-free $ 1 m. check after the audience had been let in on the recipient’s life circumstances, and was left to wonder how the million dollar check would change that person’s life “Loretta Young” would come sweeping down a somewhat spiral staircase in a flowing floor-length gown and introduce the program she usually starred in.
As for early TV “Musical” programs: “The Arthur Murray Dance Hour (?)” and, of course, “Your Hit Parade.” For the latter, my family tried to guess what the top song would be each week. And, of course, there was “the Firestone Hour” (of opera.) One if my childhood playmates criticized me for preferring to “listen to people scream” rather that go “outside and play.” And has anyone mentioned that exciting show “Name That Tune” or the predictible yet beautiful program “The Lawrence Program”?
May 7, 2014 at 11:39 am
I remember the :Loretta Young Show, with the staircase descending thing! And around the same time, in the afternoon, after school, Mahalia Jackson singing spirituals. “The Millionaire” had such good stories.
I wonder if anyone remembers “Tugboat Annie” that came on late night for awhile. It was syndicated out of Canada.
January 26, 2020 at 3:05 am
I had a crush on Loretta Young! When she would give an introductory synopsis of the show, she would end as she so ever gracefully descended the staircase with, ” I’ll be with you in a minute”. That lady knew how to wear that haute coterie chiffon gown, boy howdy! My heart would break when they would then go to a crummy, base commercial. I think that I was around 8 years old.
January 26, 2020 at 4:04 am
I remember these shows as well. They were both great television and drama.
May 8, 2014 at 2:37 pm |
I am thoroughly loving all of you guys’ recollections about those times (I was growing up at the time we are talking about). I look forward to any new postings on this little blog.
The thing that is so wonderful about this time is local broadcast TV was always finding ways to attract viewers. And I remember sometime in late 1963/early 1964 that there was a (short-lived) movie program that came on late night on one of the stations, that featured the voiceover hosting of the same guy who voiced the puppet Mr. Bookworm (his voice was that unique). He would feature homegrown videos during commercial breaks, and one that has stuck in my mind all these years was a montage of wacky images set to the Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There”. It was brilliantly done — or at least, as a thirteen-year old, I thought it was brilliant.
Also, does anyone remember the Pat Boone late night talk show? It couldn’t have lasted more than a few months, but it was pretty adult compared to other stuff that was on at the same time.
May 8, 2014 at 1:50 am |
I don’t recall “Tugboat Annie” but do recall Preston Foster and his tugboat named the Cheryl (or Carol) Ann. Was the program title “Waterfront”?
May 10, 2014 at 1:54 pm |
I know there was a TV series titled “Waterfront”, but I don’t recall a tugboat by any name. “Tugboat Annie” was a Canadian series in syndication in America, and an odd little entry to fill the late night slot on one of our local channels. I remember as a youngster being unexpectedly delighted with the simple comedy and the nautical settings.
May 8, 2014 at 6:12 am |
Nathan,
Yes, come to think of it, I DO recall seeing Mahalia Jackson singing spirituals occasionally.
Does anyone remember watching “Bride and Groom” from the 50’s?
Services were performed for a variety of religions. I used to wonder about the difference between the vows “As long as you BOTH shall live” / “As long as you shall live” and “Until death do you part.”
And a few years later there was a program called “Divorce Court,”(I think).
May 9, 2014 at 4:27 pm |
Sharron, I don’t remember “Bride and Groom” but then I was probably about 3 years old when it was airing.
But big Mahalia I remember, with that ethereal heartfelt vocalizations. It was a really different time then when you could see such blatantly religious programming on TV, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON!
May 8, 2014 at 7:46 am |
Divorce Court was hilarious. Saturday television was perfect for 10-year-old kids from Houston in the 1960s. It started off with Bomba Theatre in the morning (Jungle movies wherein one of the spear-wielding natives always stopped racing along with the rest of the tribe long enough to turn back around and gaze fearfully at a thoroughly pissed-off charging elephant. He inexplicably would then fall to his knees and scream “Mu-jum-baaa!” in a shrill girlie-voice right before the elephant stomped him with his stinky foot). Then, during the commercial break, madman used-car dealer Art Grindell, cranked on black coffee, filter-less Camels and a fistful of Benzamine, would jump up and down on the roof of a ’52 Plymouth and scream “Look how solid this baby is!” By the time Divorce Court came on Channel 2 at 4 PM, my old man would snore on the couch while mom, finished with housewife chores, rewarded herself with a martini or three and mutter “Mm-hmm. Serves him right” whenever the Judge reprimanded a hapless husband for hanky-panky. The witnesses on Divorce Court were always hilarious. I remember one female witness, festooned with horn rimmed glasses and a Minnie Pearl hat, took the stand to testify about the hanky-panky husband. The judge would ask, “What were you doing peeping into your next-door neighbor’s window?” and she would reply that she had to “See what all the loud commotion was about.” The judge would then asked the peeper “What did you see?” and the witness, in hushed whispers, straightened her hat and leaned forward. “Well judge.” she replied, “They weren’t exactly playing Parcheesi, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.”
That’s it for now, folks. I have an appointment with a masseuse on Buffalo Speedway, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
May 9, 2014 at 4:24 pm |
Hey, Matt, are you sure it was called Bomba Theater? I thought it was called Jungle Theater (I remember the drawing of the African continent shown in background with the large white letters). You have an amazing memory to remember the scene you describe here!
We LOVED Art Grindle!
May 9, 2014 at 10:24 pm |
“Then, during the commercial break, madman used-car dealer Art Grindell, cranked on black coffee, filter-less Camels and a fistful of Benzamine, would jump up and down on the roof of a ’52 Plymouth and scream “Look how solid this baby is!””
LMAO
May 8, 2014 at 2:52 pm |
Hey, who among you remembers Harold Gunn’s late night movie program with his send-ups of Dewey Compton (“Dewey Compost”) and commercial time skits. I think it was called Captain Gunn’s Theater of the Air, or some such.
May 9, 2014 at 5:48 pm |
Just a note about the general subject of Friday nights as a kid in the Houston area. First of all, Friday night was the gateway to the weekend and the joy of what was to come was at a maximum Friday evenings. Second of all, the TV at the end of the Fifties was such that it enhanced the ecstasy of the unfolding of the two-day hiatus. The Flintsones, Twilight Zone, and later in the night, Friday Night Professional Wrestling (remember Paul Boesch?). There were other network broadcast TV programs (thinking “I’m Dickens, He’s Finster”) that added to the wonder of Friday night TV, but the main ones for me are the ones I mentioned above. Of course, part of the excitement was being allowed to stay up late (Wrestling came on at 10:30). Does anyone else want to weigh in on their Friday nights back in the day?
May 9, 2014 at 5:55 pm |
I meant “The Flintstones”, obviously.
June 26, 2014 at 1:03 am
Yes, Nathan, I recall “Friay Night Wrestling” with Paul Boesch. Wasn’t it sponsored by Paabst Blue Ribbon Beer?
And do you, or does anyone else, recall a drama called “Boston Blackie?” Or “Duffy’s Tavern?”
September 8, 2016 at 7:28 pm
Sharron, I do not remember ever watching “Boston Blackie” but you can see episodes on YouTube. “Duffy’s Tavern” sounds iconically familiar, but I can’t truly say I ever saw an episode.
May 10, 2014 at 12:05 am |
Over the years I have managed to get most of the old movies that came on “Weird” in a DVD form. But there was one movie that I have not been able to get. I do not know the name, but it was about a person who wakes up after an extended period to find that the city is abandoned. Slowly about a handful of people come together. Each one of them has a different story as to how they happen to be left. Quickly they realize that the reason the city was abandoned was because their are robots running around killing people with a death ray that comes out of a cathode ray tube in their heads. One by one this handful of people is killed, until they discover that a particular sound has the ability to shatter the CRTube and kill the robots.
Does anyone remember the name of this movie?
May 10, 2014 at 12:42 am |
Target Earth
May 10, 2014 at 10:25 pm |
I wish that someone who has insider information, perhaps an old hand from the Channel 13 of the Sixties, would write the definitive essay on WEIRD’s run. It played such a big part in my entertainment as a young teen, that I find I always come back to thoughts of it, and the joy that it gave me. I have been to Channel 13′s site and there is absolutely nothing about it there.
May 11, 2014 at 4:34 am |
On a slightly different note, I don’t see to many people talking about “Maryjane’s Magic Castle”
May 11, 2014 at 2:15 pm
David, as a kid I used to watch Maryjane’s occasionally, but I, like many kids my age, preferred Kitirik. But as puberty set in for me, I began to notice the rather brief outfit that “Maryjane” wore revealed a lady with a nice figure, and I would tune in just to feast my teenage eyes. As far as the program generally, I thought it was pretty much as entertaining as was that of Kitirik’s show.
December 11, 2014 at 10:29 pm |
Off topic slightly, there were two daytime TV shows I remember watching at age of about 4 or 5. “Rescue 8” and “Whirlybirds.” Anyone remember the years these played? I am trying to figure out my age when we finally got TV in the house
December 12, 2014 at 10:00 pm
I remember Whirlybirds and just googled it, which happily confirmed my memory of it from the late ’50s, specifically 1957-1960. It was produced by Desilu Productions as in I Love Lucy.
December 13, 2014 at 7:05 am
And I also recall “Whirlybirds.”
December 13, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Thanks for the info. I was suspecting late 50s, but didn’t want to appear too old. I remember being able to watch my shows everyday between naps, and with no big sister (first grade or so) to interfere with girl stuff. It was definitely pre-K for me.
December 14, 2014 at 1:28 am
Whirlybirds was one of those programs I never missed as a kid. I was fascinated with the helicopters, and the stories were always entertaining. Kenneth Tobey is always great fun to watch.
May 12, 2014 at 6:43 am |
Hello, David Courtney, RE: your collection of “Weird” on DVD: Do you have any sets for sale?
May 12, 2014 at 12:38 pm |
Sharron, I think David is saying he has DVDs of the movies that were shown on WEIRD. I don’t think he means to say that these included the opening to that local program or any of the segments prior to or after commercial breaks. They are just the movies themselves.
Just sayin’.
May 12, 2014 at 2:16 pm |
No, i’m not in that business but it is surprisingly easy to get. Most of these early films can be had by getting these “4 classic sci-fis for $4.99” type of deals that you find in Frys and similar places.
May 12, 2014 at 7:03 am |
To Anyone who was/is a Bunny Orsak (Kitirik) fan:
Is she still living?
Is there any interest, method to get some sort of communication expressing, “We thank you & we love you” signed by as many of us possible, created and sent to her?
Or maybe a large number of happy birthday wishes could be sent mailed/e-mailed to her.
August 29, 2014 at 7:34 pm |
Sharron that is a great idea presuming she is still living. Her love and sincere care for children is not seen today. She is the closest to being a saint that I can think of. Need to follow up on this.
April 30, 2018 at 6:07 pm
This is for Bobby Blankenship: Blankenship is a somewhat unusual name, so I can’t help but wonder if your mom was a teacher. You see, I grew up in Houston back in the fifties and I had a teacher named Mrs. Blankenship. I think that was either in high school, or in junior high school. The only thing I remember about her is that she was a very nice lady and one of my favorite teachers. I guess that’s why I still remember her name after more than half a century. Could your mom have been my teacher?
December 9, 2020 at 7:07 pm |
Bunny Orsak is still living. She turned 89 years old on December 2nd, 2020, and she has lived in New Mexico for a number of years.
May 28, 2014 at 6:03 pm |
Anyone remember Biff Collie? Big radio personality in the 40’s and 50’s in Houston. Had channel 2 TV show in the early 50’s.
June 26, 2014 at 12:29 pm |
Sorry, Shelley. That was before my time (I was born in ’51). 🙂
February 2, 2019 at 4:04 am |
Biff Collie had a country/western radio show on KNUZ during the 50s. He came on the air after Laura Lee McBride and just before “Little Marge” Tillman. Then came Larry Kane & last, but not least, Paul Berlin. Biff and Marge married after her divorce from c/w singer, Floyd Tillman. I believe that Biff and Marge divorced and he moved to CA. Some friends and I rode the bus to KNUZ one Saturday morning and they let us sit in a Laura Lee’s and Biff’s shows on the air and talked with us during commercials. So nice and thoughtful.
June 25, 2014 at 8:13 pm |
I watched Utah Carl a number of times on the Gulf Coast Jamboree sponsored by The Gulf Coast Furniture Warehouse in Alvin, Texas…if my mind is working correctly. The theme song was something like “I’m just a wonderer of the wasteland”.
Liked watching Bomba and Sheena, Queen of the Jungle on Saturday mornings sponsored by Art Grindle. I loved it when he would sell cars for $29 that had to be pushed off the screen by a couple of lot workers.
How about the Frito Bandito. Long before PC foolishness.
The weather with Ku-U-Lani on early Channel 39, just before The Cisco Kid. I remember when The Larry Kane show (Channel 13) replaced American Bandstand, and always wondered (later) if the locals weren’t ready for integrated dancing on television, thus the local control of who and what was on local TV. Hurried home after school to watch Where The Action Is.
June 26, 2014 at 12:59 am |
I had blond hair (sort of) and pretended to be Sheena, Queen of the Jungle on the monkey bars in our backyard. I pretended to be caged, but beautiful, then escape. No other playmates were involved…none necessary.
June 26, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Great stuff, Sharron!
June 26, 2014 at 12:31 pm |
Guys, wasn’t that program called “Jungle Theater”, or something similar, with a silhouette of the African continent as the backdrop for the logo?
June 26, 2014 at 12:34 pm |
Yes, Ed, most of these things I remember quite vividly. Thanks for sharing your recollections!
July 24, 2014 at 8:21 pm |
I have dozens of pictures of my Dad from KGUL and KHOU in the 50’s and 60’s. He was mostly a Producer, although he was the first host of Teen Hideaway before Larry Kane (long story). He was also a newscaster and had a few talk shows in the early 50’s. Does the name Paul Markey ring a bell with anyone? Thanks..
November 15, 2014 at 1:49 am |
I have vague memories of Paul Markey, though Teen Hideaway came along before I was a teen. My memories of Larry Kane’s show were more vivid, possibly because I didn’t like it or him very much.
I’ve been skimming these comments and I’m surprised no one has brought up Joanne King (now Herring), who had a noon television show; Dick Gottlieb; or Paul Berlin, long-time deejay with KNUZ.
November 15, 2014 at 4:52 am
Where exactly wuz “Papa Burger” ??
November 15, 2014 at 5:21 am |
Randy Markey, I would love to see photos of your Dad from KGUL and KHOU early days. You might also want to check out the more than 600 photos on the KPRC History Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KPRCHistory/manager
September 1, 2015 at 12:07 am
I tried to find this on facebook today and it says it has been removed. So sad about that. I wish I had gotten to see it. My mom was Janet Smith. She mentioned that she used to sing on Kiterik and Matinee and Im not sure what else … it was all before I was born and she never boasted about her past. She passed away August 4th suddenly and I’ve been finding old newpaper articles about her in her home and I wish a recording existed of these shows so I could see it.
August 29, 2014 at 1:42 pm |
I remember growing up in Alvin and still remember all of these recollections. My mom loved horror movies and we both looked forward to watching Wierd. I still have to chuckle when remembering Art Grindle selling cars and it’s true that he would have people pushing them out of the way. I believe he had a warranty of 30 days or 30 feet whichever came first. The Late Show and Movie For a Sunday Afternoon always had quality movies compared to some of the trash seen today. All the personalities such as Kitirik, No No the Clown, Mr. Caboose, Utah Carl and Paul Bosche doing Houston Wrestling. I thought Sid Lasher hung the moon because he would always mention something about “the friendly folks down in Brazosport” where so many of my family lived. We all cried when KHOU News announced his death at the beginning of the 10:00PM news then faded to black. Back during these days we received the 3 networks, independents Channels 39 and 16 along with a PBS channel through a small black and white connected to an antenna the we had to turn frequently to get a somewhat clear picture. Finally, the Astrodome and all the wonderful memories as a child. At the end of each Little League season we were treated to a trip to the Dome to watch the big boys play. I can still remember the first time entering the facility and standing in absolute awe as all the colors exploded at once. We had popcorn from a cone shaped container which doubled as a megaphone. The scoreboard would have a Longhorn shooting electronic fireworks when a home run was hit. Thank you all for sharing your memories as it’s always nice to drift back to a time when things were so simple and in a way innocent. Keep them comingf!!
February 6, 2017 at 4:38 am |
Speaking of Mr. Caboose on KHOU TV in the 50’s. Do any of you remember Twinkle who was the cost host of the show. She demonstrated and talked about the toys that were being auctioned.
Also, does anyone remember Homer Dee – who was a director, I believe at Channel 11.
December 9, 2020 at 7:17 pm |
It appears Art Grindle is remembered only his TV commercials, which were memorable and ridiculous. This is sad, because he was much more than your typical car salesman. He moved to Florida in the late 60s, and died there in 2012. Here is his obit in the Chronicle, and I promise you that almost nobody in Houston knows what he did in Florida.
Art Grindle, a former Houston car salesman whose bombastic commercials in the early 1960s earned him both fans and critics here, died June 10, 2012 in Mount Dora, Fla. He was 89.
Beyond his commercials, Grindle would eventually turn to philanthropy by becoming a benefactor of Seminole State College of Florida, and politics by serving in the Florida legislature for much of the 1980s.
Born in 1923 in Chicago, Grindle opened a Dodge dealership at 5725 Westheimer in 1961. In those first few months business was slow. Soon, Grindle found himself overstocked with cars. His low-key commercials weren’t moving inventory. So one day, after filming a commercial, Grindle had enough.
“After it was finished, I looked at it,” he told the Houston Post in 1965. “Then I took the script and threw it across the room. I told the director, ‘That’ll never sell cars. Today we’re gonna sell cars.’ ”
Grindle decided it was time to pick up the pace, so to speak. With his rapid-fire catch phrase — “Iwantasellyouacar” — Grindle soon became a polarizing figure on Houston television. Students at one school formed a fan club while others complained.
“In the beginning,” Grindle said, “a lot of people called who didn’t like it. They felt it was too noisy and too loud and you can’t sell cars that way — but I did.”
Grindle would make his hard-sell pitch from the car lot. Used cars would roll before the camera and Grindle would be there, dancing around them, flashing price cards and kicking or banging on the vehicle. After one early commercial, curious Houstonians came out in droves to the Westheimer car lot.
“Five hundred people turned out — most of ’em just tire kickers,” Grindle told the Post. “But they jammed the place just to see what was going on. One fellow even came from his country club, still in sandals with a towel wrapped around him.”
Grindle’s style even left an impression on a young Jim McIngvale, who saw his commercials for his car dealership in Dallas. McIngvale said Grindle’s wacky in-your-face approach would prove influential decades later when he set out to advertise Gallery Furniture on Houston’s airwaves.
After opening more dealerships in the Houston area over the next few years, Grindle would close up shop here and eventually settle in Florida in 1968, where he continued to sell cars.
Later in his life, Grindle’s generosity benefited Seminole State College, including giving the school its first individual $1 million donation, according to the college.
September 20, 2014 at 1:54 am |
1962 Space Angel “Light Barrier”
October 8, 2014 at 5:18 pm |
marcella perry was the heights’ savings person mentioned by a previous poster…who remembers ‘uncle bert’ lynn and his lap steel guitar?
August 16, 2015 at 8:41 pm |
I certainly do……though BOB DUNN (owner of DUNN’S MUSIC) was supposed to have electrified that instrument first…
April 24, 2018 at 2:09 pm
That is correct. Bob Dunn was the first to electrify the steel guitar. He was formerly a slide trombone player. Played with Milton Brown and the Brownies out of Ft. Worth. One of the first Western swing bands.
November 14, 2014 at 10:16 pm |
KILT was just one of the radio stations owned by Gordon McClendon. The “Old Scotsman” came up with the brilliant idea of TOP 40 radio which got it’s start with his stations. Buddy Covington was KILT station mgr. Remember the funky old black “Cellar ?” Then there was Love Street Light Circus & Feelgood Machine, La Maison, the Catacombs, & Mother Blues. Jock Mahoney and Jeana Claire & the Kiddie Troopers. Most folks never knew Jock was blind. Papa Burger open all night. Slenderbolic and Ace Rican Health Studios. The Beatles concert tickets were 5 dollars. KHOU-TV was originally KGUL located on Video Lane in Galveston. Camellia Ice Cream. Henke & Pillot Stores were the big competetion for Weingartens. Fed-Mart was the first “warehouse” style stores long before Costco & Sams’. Bunny Orsak, KiTiRiK was 19 years old when she applied for the job at Channel 13. Her mom made her costume. You can find video of Bunny on U-Tube when she visited KTRK a few years ago. She said she could still fit into the costume & could apply her “whiskers” without a mirror. Beautiful lady, great person and one “red hott mama !!!! She occasionally had her son who was only 2-3 years old on KiTiRiKs Carousel & he also wore black, had ears and whiskers. Of course this was several years into the show. She said the day they cancelled the show, she knew nothing at all about it until after the program.
December 11, 2014 at 10:31 pm |
Off topic slightly, there were two daytime TV shows I remember watching at age of about 4 or 5. “Rescue 8″ and “Whirlybirds.” Anyone remember the years these played? I am trying to figure out my age when we finally got TV in the house
December 14, 2014 at 1:11 am |
Remember that KITIRIK had INSTRUMENTAL music–think it was the overture from “PETER PAN”. Can’t find such an album anywhere now though…..
August 8, 2015 at 10:52 pm |
Hi Ronald,
The Peter Pan instrumental was music from one of the late movies–I think channel 11.
P.S. I’m writing this from my home in Thailand. This ol’ Internet still amazes me!
February 9, 2015 at 3:40 am |
Captain Kangaroo, “The Matinee”, a local Houston Talk Show. Did Dick Godlieb MC it?
February 9, 2015 at 9:15 am |
Yes, I recall Dick Gotlieb MC’ing “Matinee.”
February 18, 2015 at 2:33 pm |
www jcpenney.com
Early Houston TV Programs & Personalities | The Pecan Park Eagle
March 2, 2015 at 10:59 pm |
i need the ending of the millionaire story of william courtney. he inherited a castle in england. my copy ends with he’s telling the english girl he’s putting the castle back as was–and she’s with her fiancee actor richard ney who pretends that he is a nice guy. and sir william, an american is now walking away from them stating that he did the castle for the love of the girl… that’s it, please assist me. it is the 5th season, episode 16 1959–the millionaire tv series.
August 16, 2015 at 8:35 pm |
I would like to see another “Millionaire” story. The ONLY one when John Bears Fitztipton was ON CAMERA….
June 30, 2017 at 4:25 pm
Actually, the millionaire’s name was John Beresford Tipton.
August 15, 2015 at 12:37 am |
[…] https://bill37mccurdy.com/2010/08/21/early-houston-tv-programs-personalities/ […]
August 16, 2015 at 8:13 pm |
Mr. Caboose was my dad. He was a very nice man and truly enjoyed children…thank you for any nice thoughts and messages for him. He has passed on.
August 16, 2015 at 8:34 pm |
I’m still wondering why the history of CURLY FOX and TEXAS RUBY-in Houston for 11 years (1948-59) is curiously omitted from
the history books. And FOX played steel guitar in a C&W band which I remember from about 1953….
August 16, 2015 at 9:33 pm |
Cindy, your father was wonderful — he entertained my mornings for at least a year and his approach to the show was very original. Since I was crazy about trains at the time, the Caboose name really resonated with me.
Many thumbs up!
September 10, 2016 at 9:02 pm |
I picked up a couple of TV Guides from 1962-63 and found the listing for your dad’s show. “Mr. Caboose, Engineer”. It came on at 7:15 am (that is why I could see it before going to school) on channel 11 (KHOU).
I also see that the show was being broadcast at 4:55 pm each day on the Beaumont station channel 12 (KBMT).
August 17, 2015 at 4:08 am |
Just last week I found CURLY FOX and TEXAS RUBY on Wikipedia, including photos.
August 17, 2015 at 4:21 pm |
I would like to see more on Curly Fox and Texas Ruby and the musicians that backed them up…Paul Buskirk, Ozzie Middleton and others. BTW…Curly only played fiddle.
August 17, 2015 at 4:25 pm |
Bob Dunn was a pioneer of Western Swing music. He was the first to amplify his steel guitar…just a lap top in those days.
January 22, 2016 at 4:31 pm |
Does anyone recall the Houston Buffalos’ (Buffs)? As a very young kid, I was a member of the “knot hole gang”
January 22, 2016 at 4:34 pm |
As a kid I was a member of the knot hole gang… AKA Houston Buffalos’
August 25, 2016 at 7:01 pm |
Oh boy do these posts bring back memories! I was born in Houston in 1963 and left in 1975. I have the best memories of Houston. Of course Kitirik and Marijane V. (she showed Popeye cartoons on her show). We lived at the end of South Main at Hiram Clark. I remember going past the Maclendon Triple Drive-In theater at night hoping to get a glimpse of a sexy scene. We shopped at Wiengardens, Mini-Max, Baby Giant and Rice Food Markets. Bought candy, Cokes and ICEE’S at U-Totem and ate hamburgers at Princess Drive-in. Went swimming at Gateway. We got the most delicious Chinese food at Lee’s Den, Steaks at The Stables and Bonanza’s, and Sea Food at Christi’s, Fishermans Wharf, Captn. Bennys on the Half Shell, and Mexican food at Monterey House.
My Mom worked at a gift shop in Westbury Square called “The Gay Dot” lol! Does anyone else remember the large white castle near the Astrodome “Weatherby Arms Museum” it had a torture chamber and sold authentic “Nazi” war relics in the gift shop.
I’ll never forget shopping at Sears on Main St. and visiting Santa there on the second floor in the furniture section.
My half-sister’s uncle was “Smilin Jerry Jericho” and Willie Nelson lived with Uncle Richard “Jerry” for a while in the early 1960’s. Willie needed a car and Uncle Richard “Jerry” traded his used car for one of Willies songs called “Crazy” When Uncle Richard’s wife found out, she made Willie give back the keys to the car and chased him off of her front porch with a broom! The song went on to be a best seller for Patsy Cline. Jerry’s nephew is country singer/bandsman, Johnny Bush.
On a sad note, my home was located only several blocks from the horrible “Boat shed” murders where many young men were buried.
My sister had dated the lead detective “Carl” of the HPD, who became so depressed over the murders that he committed suicide shortly afterward.
Does anyone else remember the Knight on horse back at Sonny Looks or the “Shrimp Stealer” giant shrimp with cowboy hat and six-shooters at a restaurant on South Main, or the little British taxi parked outside of “Ye Olde College Inn?”
I do remember the “Late Show” theme song and Captain Harold’s Theatre of the Sky. I don’t remember a Channel 16, but I do remember channel 26 which was similar to Channel 39. Mom and I went to the “Steve Edwards Show” at Ch. 11 and Ron Stone came out and said hello to everyone before the show started, he was a very nice and warm fellow.
Does anyone remember “Pepper Joe’s Fun Shop?” or the “Mod Box” the psychedelic gift shop at Astroworld, similar to the the Electric Paisley at Westbury Square.
I have so many wonderful memories, I hope I haven’t bored yall to death by now. Thanks Houston, for being a wonderful place for a kid to grow up in. I’ll never forget ya!
August 26, 2016 at 3:37 am |
I knew the horse the knight sat on at Sonny Looks!
August 28, 2016 at 10:56 am
I think the Knight was there only on Fri. and Sat. nights, and I never got to eat there but always wanted to.
I also got to thinking about other neat eateries, one was on a freeway feeder road (which one I don’t recall) and I think it was called “Safari” with the dinning rooms dressed in a type of jungle decor and the food was very good. Another nice place was the “Velvet Turtle” near Sharpstown I think.
There was also an interesting Greek restaurant in Montrose, though I don’t recall the name. My Dad took us there several times. It was not fancy, I think it was a converted old house with cheap paneling and Greek travel posters but the food was excellent.
September 8, 2016 at 6:01 pm |
Johnny Nash sang on Matinee on KPRC for three years
September 9, 2016 at 12:54 am |
I did not know that Kay. Is he from Houston? I do remember him singing the theme to the cartoon, “The Mighty Hercules” from the early/mid 1960’s.
September 9, 2016 at 3:04 am
I don’t know if Johnny Nash was a native Houstonian, but he was a neighbor of ours in the Woodway Square apartments in the early 70s.
September 9, 2016 at 3:27 pm
Wow, Beverley. Wasn’t Johnny a big pop singer star at that point in time? Was Woodway Square a luxury apartment complex?
September 9, 2016 at 3:49 pm
His big hit ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ was out by then. Woodway Square I wouldn’t have called luxury though it is advertised as such these days, I see, but on the other hand lots of folks lived there, Marvin Zindler, a number of pro football players including Oilers QB Jerry Rhome and if memory serves a number of linemen from the Patriots. Oh and golfer Doug Sanders lived next door. The complex was transitioning to adults only at the time, but those with kids (including us) were grandfathered until they left. Of course the place went up spectacularly in flames in 1979 (we had moved out in ’72).
September 9, 2016 at 4:07 pm
Aha. I see. Very interesting.
December 9, 2020 at 7:56 pm
Johnny Nash was a Houston native, born here on August 14, 1940. He died peacefully of natural causes in his Houston home, surrounded by close family on October 6, 2020, after a period of declining health.
September 9, 2016 at 5:15 pm |
Yes, it does seem like it would have been an interesting place to live. Thanks for sharing!
September 10, 2016 at 9:01 pm |
This is a test. Please disregard.
October 9, 2016 at 2:33 pm |
I played Love is blue (L’amour est bleu) on the The Don Mahoney and Jeana Clair and the Kiddie Troupers show.
Channel 39 if I recall correctly. I think it was located at Westpark and Gessner, but these 50 some odd years ago memories aren’t for sure.
October 9, 2016 at 11:05 pm |
I vaguely remember The Don Mahoney and Jeana Clair show coming on Sunday mornings, right after the “Gospel Jubilee” show. I seem to remember Don owning a photography studio too which ran commercials during the show. They came to my Elm. school Halloween Carnival in 1973, (W.P. Hobby) and as the school was 80% black kids, they were practically boo-ed off the the stage and Don and Jeana seemed quite angry. Country and Western music just did not go over well with the urban kids to say the least.
October 11, 2016 at 7:25 pm
Don Mahoney was almost totally blind during this time also.
December 21, 2016 at 10:13 pm |
For those who are still interested in this topic, I have recently acquired a couple of TV Guides (Southeast Texas editions, so they have Houston channels), one from 1962 and another from 1963.
Note: I would be about 12 at the time of these listings.
A few observations:
The first thing that came on Saturday mornings was RFD-TV, which was probably a farm report.
Also on Saturdays: Sky King at 11 am, on channel 11, while Jungle Theater (featuring episodes of Sheena, QOTJ) came on channel 13. Mister Ed at 5:30, Perry Mason at 6:30, Leave It To Beaver at 7:30, and Have Gun Will Travel at 8:30; WEIRD wasn’t too weird in 1962, as the first feature was “Arson For Hire” and Late WEIRD was a very non-monster “Bury Me Dead”.
I will talk about other days in subsequent posts. If you have any comments, please leave them and I will definitely read them and respond.
December 21, 2016 at 10:39 pm |
Biff Collie had a TV show on Channel 2 about 1956. I’m looking for any footage from his shows. It was a music show with local entertainers.
December 21, 2016 at 10:44 pm
Shelly, thanks for the reply.
I was 5 years old in 1956, and the Mickey Mouse Club was about the only thing I was aware of on our black and white set.
Good luck finding footage of Biff. I am assuming you have already searched YouTube.
December 21, 2016 at 10:56 pm
I spoke to Ted Shaw, who used to do weather for Channel 2, and he said most all of the old TV tapes had been destroyed when the new people came in. Really a bummer! Thanks for getting back to me.
June 30, 2017 at 4:33 pm
TV networks and TV stations everywhere had toss their old 2-inch video tapes because were on big reels in big individual boxes that took up a lot of space. Many were kept and erased for re-use, but keeping all of them wasn’t an option. This was long before tapes could be digitized and stored in computers.
July 1, 2017 at 12:52 am
Actually,some TV shows were on kinescope (film) as late as 1956.
I myself am looking for old Curly Fox TV shows,ca.1953-56. They are mysteriously omitted from his history!
December 22, 2016 at 1:01 am |
RFD was indeed a farm report hosted by Dewey Compton. Before Sky King at 11, there were cartoons plus Roy Rogers, Fury, My Friend Flicka.
December 22, 2016 at 1:14 am
Yes, that is right, Beverley, according to the TV Guide. I loved My Friend Flicka in particular, and I was not much of a western/horse fan. But Flicka’s stories were always good.
The infamous Dewey Compton, with his distinctive voice. I remember the send up that they did of him on Captain Harold’s show on Saturday nights in the later 60s.
The character was named Dewey COMPOST!!! So funny!
December 22, 2016 at 12:05 am |
Shelley, that is depressing news indeed, but then no one ever understands the value of such things at the time that they see fit to obliterate them.
December 22, 2016 at 12:58 am |
To continue our perusal of vintage TV Guides, here is what Sundays looked like in the early 60s:
Sunday mornings were all religious programming, all the time (although channel 13 took mercy on kids like me with “Cartoons” at 9 am — which I missed, of course, because I was at Sunday School).
After the noon hour, they relented with lots of movies and sports shows. An opera at 3:00 on channel 2. Sunday afternoon was also awash in news and commentary programs like Meet the Press.
It wasn’t until about 6 pm that they threw us kids a sop with Bullwinkle and Lassie competing with each other.
I have no doubt that I was watching Dennis the Menace a half hour later. Oddly enough I don’t remember my parents watching Ed Sullivan (at 7) but I might have just wandered away from the TV at that hour.
Eight o’clock was Bonanza time, although we couldn’t enjoy the color production on our strictly B&W set.
And to end the night on a cheerful note, I never missed an episode of Allen Funt’s “Candid Camera” at 9 pm.
Late Sunday was movie extravaganza, with channel 2 starting a flick at 10:40.
December 22, 2016 at 5:06 pm |
More from the 62-63 Southeast Texas TV Guides as regards listings for Mondays on Houston channels:
The first program listed for the day is Continental Classroom, an NBC educational program talking about, for instance, “Atomic Age Physics: Scintillation and Cerenkov Counters” — pretty sophisticated subject matter, no?
Cadet Don, I note, actually aired twice in the morning, first at 6:30, then again at 8:00. However, at this point, I would have been tuning in to Mr. Caboose at 7:15 on ch 11.
Other daytime (many syndicated) programs:
I Love Lucy
Pete and Gladys
Truth or Consequences.
Just in time for lunch, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Ann Sothern competing. (I would have watched the latter, for sure)
Besides loads of soap operas, you could also see The Loretta Young Show, a favorite of mine, at 2:00 and The Millionaire at 2:30 (I chose the latter over the Jane Wyman drama on the other channel).
I would surely have caught Make Room For Daddy because I would have been home from school by 3:30.
I notice a 4:00 program Happy Hollow on channel 2 — does anyone remember tuning in to this kids show??? It was a competitor to Kitirik.
And then there’s channel 11’s 4:00 movie, which I believe was called The Early Show. Can anyone confirm this?
Yogi Bear at 5:30! Yes!
Monday evenings in 1963 you could choose among:
I’ve Got A Secret, Hennesey (at 7)
Rifleman, Lucille Ball Show (7:30)
Stoney Burke (8:00)
Andy Griffith (8:30) a fave of mine
Ben Casey (9:00) never got into this doctor opera
The Third Man (at 9:30) I actually thought this was syndicated and showing late night, so this is a surprise to see
News, Sports, Weather spanning the 10-10:30 slot.
And reruns of Adventures in Paradise on ch 13 at 10:20.
The last shows to air were at 12 am: News(with Sid Lasher) and Midnight with Marietta.
December 22, 2016 at 1:18 am |
TO WHOMEVER RUNS THE PECAN PARK EAGLE site, please never let this thread be deleted, because, at least to me, it is a treasure.
Thank you.
December 22, 2016 at 1:53 am |
Nathan – Don’t worry. As the owner of The Pecan Park Eagle site, I turn 79 on New Year’s Eve, but I plan to keep the site going as the active publisher, editor, and principal column writer for as long as I am alive and able to keep doing what makes me wake up every day and look forward to continue building the kind of freely spoken oral history of Houston we have going here as an ongoing file on so many fronts. I’m in the process of working out the contingency plan for how this work shall be archived and continued after I’m gone.
The Pecan Park Eagle is so much more than any one single column and topic. Since we began to publish in 2009, the 2,500th topic will “go to press” whenever I publish the next topic, either tonight or tomorrow.
I also promise to write a column on the continuity plan whenever it does get worked out. All I know is that it won’t be soon. I’m looking for trusted assurances of continuity that are firm.
Thanks for your interest and wonderful support!
And Happy, Happy Holidays to You, One – and You All!
Sincerely,
Bill McCurdy
Owner, Publisher, Editor, & Principal Column Writer
The Pecan Park Eagle
houston.buff37@gmail.com
December 22, 2016 at 2:05 am
Thank you, Bill, for your gracious reply. That is very good news indeed.
And to you and yours very happy holidays, as well.
December 22, 2016 at 3:54 pm |
[…] https://bill37mccurdy.com/2010/08/21/early-houston-tv-programs-personalities/ […]
December 23, 2016 at 12:23 am |
More from the 62-63 Southeast Texas TV Guides as regards listings for Mondays on Houston channels:
The first program listed for the day is Continental Classroom, an NBC educational program talking about, for instance, “Atomic Age Physics: Scintillation and Cerenkov Counters” — pretty sophisticated subject matter, no?
Cadet Don, I note, actually aired twice in the morning, first at 6:30, then again at 8:00. However, at this point, I would have been tuning in to Mr. Caboose at 7:15 on ch 11.
Other daytime (many syndicated) programs:
I Love Lucy
Pete and Gladys
Truth or Consequences.
Just in time for lunch, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Ann Sothern competing. (I would have watched the latter, for sure)
Besides loads of soap operas, you could also see The Loretta Young Show, a favorite of mine, at 2:00 and The Millionaire at 2:30 (I chose the latter over the Jane Wyman drama on the other channel).
I would surely have caught Make Room For Daddy because I would have been home from school by 3:30.
I notice a 4:00 program Happy Hollow on channel 2 — does anyone remember tuning in to this kids show??? It was a competitor to Kitirik.
And then there’s channel 11’s 4:00 movie, which I believe was called The Early Show. Can anyone confirm this?
Yogi Bear at 5:30! Yes!
Monday evenings in 1963 you could choose among:
I’ve Got A Secret, Hennesey (at 7)
Rifleman, Lucille Ball Show (7:30)
Stoney Burke (8:00)
Andy Griffith (8:30) a fave of mine
Ben Casey (9:00) never got into this doctor opera
The Third Man (at 9:30) I actually thought this was syndicated and showing late night, so this is a surprise to see
News, Sports, Weather spanning the 10-10:30 slot.
And reruns of Adventures in Paradise on ch 13 at 10:20.
The last shows to air were at 12 am: News(with Sid Lasher) and Midnight with Marietta.
December 23, 2016 at 12:58 am |
I only remember Captain Bob as Kitirik’s competitor on Channel 2. Used to see him driving around town in his Isetta.
Obscure trivia, the Rifleman’s horse was purchased at a sale of Hollywood horses and spent his retirement years in Houston.
December 23, 2016 at 1:07 am
I appreciate the reply, Beverley. Yes, I have seen the other posts on Captain Bob, but I never saw his show when I was a kid. Do you remember what years his show aired, and on what channel? He must have been the only person in town with an Isetta, eh?
Wow, really. I don’t remember the Rifleman’s horse figuring large in the series, or hearing him say the name of the horse, but how cool that it should retire to Houston.
TO BE VERY HONEST, I really do appreciate any remembrances that readers of this thread who lived in the Boomer years of Houston TV can share. And any general comments about the programs that I mention in my posts are welcome as well.
December 23, 2016 at 3:11 am
Captain Bob’s show was certainly on in 1960 because I had my 8th birthday there! However I just went googling and found this information posted by his son at http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/1456-kitirik-tv-show/:
My father was Captain Bob on KPRC in the late 50’s and 60’s. He actually had 3 childrens t.v. shows. The first ws Looney Town and that was a rival show that competed in the same time slot as Kitirik. He also had a show on Saturday Mornings called Today is Saturday which was formatted like the Today show on NBC. He had guests like John Wehrler from the Zoo and cartoons and science films. He had another show on Saturdays which someone earlier was confusing. It was called Looney Auction and you did collect looney bucks from Carnation milk and the rainbo Bread company. We used to ride around in the Isetta. He used that for promotions and parades. The picture that was shown was not of his car. His had a big white admiral cap on top big plastic eyes and a smile painted on the front so it looked like a face. I hadn’t thought about this in a long time. I used to get kidded at school about all of this but it had its perks. Rodeos circuses concerts parades celebrities. We got to meet every star that came to town for the rodeo or T.V. stars appearing at channel 2. Quite a crazy time.
There is another informative post right under this one on the page, but my computer is acting up so I can’t copy and paste just now.
December 23, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Beverley, thanks greatly for the info on Captain Bob. He was quite a busy fellow. And how lucky was his son?!? Somehow, his shows flew under my radar. I don’t ever remember seeing any of his shows.
December 23, 2016 at 7:05 am |
4 pm was called the Early Show. Right b4 that I think it was Who Do You Trust ? with Johnny Carson host
December 23, 2016 at 2:25 pm |
Lee! Thanks for that confirmation on The Early Show.
And, yes, Who Do You Trust? was indeed the program before — both in 1962 and in 1963. I think I probably watched it whenever I could, because I liked those quiz show type programs.
December 23, 2016 at 2:59 pm |
More from the 62-63 Southeast Texas TV Guides as regards listings for Tuesdays on Houston channels:
Daytime on Tuesdays meant loads of quiz shows. Here’s a list:
Play Your Hunch 9:30 Ch2
Price Is Right 10:00 Ch2
Concentration 10:30 Ch2
Your First Impression 11:00 Ch2
Truth or Consequences 11:30 Ch2
Password 1:00 Ch11
To Tell The Truth 2:00 Ch11
Match Game 3:00 Ch2
Queen For a Day 3:00 Ch11
Who Do You Trust 3:30 Ch11
And the evening line-up includes:
Combat at 6:30 on Ch13
Empire (no, not THAT Empire) at 7:30 on 2 (Drama, this time with Inger Stevens)
Red Skelton, at the same time as above on 11
Hawaiian Eye competing with the aforementioned couple of programs airing at 7:30
At 8:00, you had a choice between The Untouchables on 13 and Jack Benny on 11
Garry Moore at 9:00 on Ch11
Peter Gunn at 9:30 on Ch2
If you wanted documentary type fare, you could tune into ch13 at 9:30 for Close-Up
After the news, sports, and weather, you could catch the Late Show on Ch11 or you could choose channel 13’s syndicated series Wire Service (I need to look up the show on YouTube)
After the aforementioned drama on 13, you could see another syndicated crime series Follow That Man
And, of course, Sid Lasher or Marietta in the midnight hour.
Cue the national anthem.
December 23, 2016 at 3:37 pm |
Concentration was hosted by Hugh Downs, Price is Right by Bill Cullen, Truth or Consequences by Bob Barker, Password by Allen Ludden, To Tell the Truth Garry Moore, Match Game Gene Rayburn, Queen for a day Jack ???
December 23, 2016 at 3:42 pm
That would be Jack Bailey, Beverley.
December 24, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Okay, Wednesdays in Houston area 1962-1963:
A note about morning shows in 1963 — reruns of Amos and Andy replaced Jack LaLane. I loved that show and it never crossed my mind that there was something called racism involved. I had seen plenty of the same sort of characters in lily-white sitcoms.
The spirituals chorals that served for the over-the-credits music at program end were ethereal and curiously comforting.
Highway Patrol reruns at 12:30 pm on ch2.
Art Linkletter’s House Party on 11 at 1:30 (Kids say the darndest things), or you could catch a rerun of Dragnet on 13.
Dick Tracy cartoons at 4:00 — I can still here the theme song in my head.
I remember coming home from school and the TV was tuned to channel 11 and Mahalia Jackson was singing hymns. Deeply spiritual, that lady.
But what I was waiting for, as a 10 year old, was Rocky and His Friends at 4:30 on ch13, and then Whirlybirds on ch11 at 5:30.
This was the Age of the TV Western, so in one year you could see The Virginian or Wagon Train on different channels at the same time.
In ’63, I would have been watching Dobie Gillis at 7:30 on CBS (Ch11), but a year earlier, I would instead be watching Top Cat on ch13.
In 1963, you would be definitely watching The Beverly Hillbillies at 8:00 on 11 (take a hike, Perry Como).
And stay tuned on the same station for The Dick Van Dyke Show at 8:30.
Beyond that, there was not much to entertain a kid. I would develop an appreciation for Naked City many years down the road, but at the time, it was way too adult for me.
After news, sports, and weather, you could take in a number of movies (particularly, The Late Show, on ch11) or The Tonight Show on 2.
Channel 13 liked to show syndicated reruns of Bourbon Street Beat, Riverboat, Not For Hire, and Follow That Man after the news, depending on the year.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THE PROGRAMMING OF THE TIME. It is much appreciated!
December 26, 2016 at 11:30 pm
Queen For A Day host was Jack Bailey
December 26, 2016 at 4:15 pm
And what did Thursdays look like on Houston TV back in 1962-1963?
Well, in the daytime, pretty much the same as the listings for other weekdays at the time, but a few observations–
The first program to air (indeed on every week day) is Operation Lift, an educational show, the subject of which is never commented on by the guide. 5:00 on KTRK
A word about Mr. Caboose, the kid show that came on at 7:15 am, perfect for watching after getting dressed for school: the attraction for the show, besides the goofy antics of the title character, was Mr. Bookworm — a counterpart to Captain Kangaroo’s hand puppet Bunny Rabbit. However, Bookworm could speak, and to my 10 year old mind, he was particularly sophisticated in comparison to other kid show puppets. His banter was contemptuous of Mr. C and full of apparent precocious sarcasm. Voiced by a person whose name I used to know but have since forgotten, it was like listening to a beatnik entozoon. A lot of fun, trust me.
At noon, the perfect choice for a lunch watch, the comedy Topper aired on ch2. Especially fun was the alcoholic St. Bernard Neal.
Oh, and as I run down the afternoon shows, I see — Captain Bob!!! At 3:30 on channel 2. I would miss it because I would be getting home about 3:55 each afternoon.
Interesting that one of the relative paucity of COLOR shows, was the cartoon show Dick Tracy at 4:00 on 2.
Note that in 1962, channel 2 showed a movie at the same time as the Early Show on 11.
The evening:
After the new, sports, and weather, we would have been watching Ozzie and Harriet on ch13, The Other Television Ricky!
At 7:00, we would be watching Donna Reed. Never mind Shelly Fabares, I had a crush on Donna!
I don’t think we watched Dr. Kildare on ch2 at 7:30. The Real McCoys on 13 was more our speed (BTW, my mother’s maiden name was McCoy!)
A show listed as “The Astronauts” aired at 8:00 but I knew it as “Men In Space” (y’all remember William Lundigan?), and altho I loved My Three Sons on another channel, I would definitely favor “…Space”, and the parents were fine with that, thank goodness.
It was downhill from there, as 8:30 featured variety show The Lively Ones and western story Zane Grey Theater, and proto-reality show Man and the Challenge.
At 9:00 there was no Sing(ing) Along With Mitch in our household, so the parents would enjoy The Untouchables (for some mob magic), and I would probably head for bed.
You would have the usual mix of movies, The Tonight Show, and reruns after the news. But in 1962, you could exercise with Debbie Drake at 10 after midnight(!?) if you wished. Who would do this?
And with that, Thursday was kaput.
December 24, 2016 at 5:57 pm |
Okay, Wednesdays in Houston area 1962-1963:
A note about morning shows in 1963 — reruns of Amos and Andy replaced Jack LaLane. I loved that show and it never crossed my mind that there was something called racism involved. I had seen plenty of the same sort of characters in lily-white sitcoms.
The spirituals chorals that served for the over-the-credits music at program end were ethereal and curiously comforting.
Highway Patrol reruns at 12:30 pm on ch2.
Art Linkletter’s House Party on 11 at 1:30 (Kids say the darndest things), or you could catch a rerun of Dragnet on 13.
Dick Tracy cartoons at 4:00 — I can still here the theme song in my head.
I remember coming home from school and the TV was tuned to channel 11 and Mahalia Jackson was singing hymns. Deeply spiritual, that lady.
But what I was waiting for, as a 10 year old, was Rocky and His Friends at 4:30 on ch13, and then Whirlybirds on ch11 at 5:30.
This was the Age of the TV Western, so in one year you could see The Virginian or Wagon Train on different channels at the same time.
In ’63, I would have been watching Dobie Gillis at 7:30 on CBS (Ch11), but a year earlier, I would instead be watching Top Cat on ch13.
In 1963, you would be definitely watching The Beverly Hillbillies at 8:00 on 11 (take a hike, Perry Como).
And stay tuned on the same station for The Dick Van Dyke Show at 8:30.
Beyond that, there was not much to entertain a kid. I would develop an appreciation for Naked City many years down the road, but at the time, it was way too adult for me.
After news, sports, and weather, you could take in a number of movies (particularly, The Late Show, on ch11) or The Tonight Show on 2.
Channel 13 liked to show syndicated reruns of Bourbon Street Beat, Riverboat, Not For Hire, and Follow That Man after the news, depending on the year.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THE PROGRAMMING OF THE TIME. It is much appreciated!
December 26, 2016 at 4:15 pm |
And what did Thursdays look like on Houston TV back in 1962-1963?
Well, in the daytime, pretty much the same as the listings for other weekdays at the time, but a few observations–
The first program to air (indeed on every week day) is Operation Lift, an educational show, the subject of which is never commented on by the guide. 5:00 on KTRK
A word about Mr. Caboose, the kid show that came on at 7:15 am, perfect for watching after getting dressed for school: the attraction for the show, besides the goofy antics of the title character, was Mr. Bookworm — a counterpart to Captain Kangaroo’s hand puppet Bunny Rabbit. However, Bookworm could speak, and to my 10 year old mind, he was particularly sophisticated in comparison to other kid show puppets. His banter was contemptuous of Mr. C and full of apparent precocious sarcasm. Voiced by a person whose name I used to know but have since forgotten, it was like listening to a beatnik entozoon. A lot of fun, trust me.
At noon, the perfect choice for a lunch watch, the comedy Topper aired on ch2. Especially fun was the alcoholic St. Bernard Neal.
Oh, and as I run down the afternoon shows, I see — Captain Bob!!! At 3:30 on channel 2. I would miss it because I would be getting home about 3:55 each afternoon.
Interesting that one of the relative paucity of COLOR shows, was the cartoon show Dick Tracy at 4:00 on 2.
Note that in 1962, channel 2 showed a movie at the same time as the Early Show on 11.
The evening:
After the new, sports, and weather, we would have been watching Ozzie and Harriet on ch13, The Other Television Ricky!
At 7:00, we would be watching Donna Reed. Never mind Shelly Fabares, I had a crush on Donna!
I don’t think we watched Dr. Kildare on ch2 at 7:30. The Real McCoys on 13 was more our speed (BTW, my mother’s maiden name was McCoy!)
A show listed as “The Astronauts” aired at 8:00 but I knew it as “Men In Space” (y’all remember William Lundigan?), and altho I loved My Three Sons on another channel, I would definitely favor “…Space”, and the parents were fine with that, thank goodness.
It was downhill from there, as 8:30 featured variety show The Lively Ones and western story Zane Grey Theater, and proto-reality show Man and the Challenge.
At 9:00 there was no Sing(ing) Along With Mitch in our household, so the parents would enjoy The Untouchables (for some mob magic), and I would probably head for bed.
You would have the usual mix of movies, The Tonight Show, and reruns after the news. But in 1962, you could exercise with Debbie Drake at 10 after midnight(!?) if you wished. Who would do this?
And with that, Thursday was kaput.
December 27, 2016 at 6:10 pm |
My final post about the 1962-63 vintage TV Guides that I picked up on eBay.
This one is about Fridays — a few observations from both issues.
Of course, you get all the same programs you got on Mondays-Thursdays, so I will mention programs I have not as yet addressed.
In ’63, channel 11 showed reruns of the Real McCoys (as The McCoys) at 10 am. At the same time on channel 13, it was December Bride, and I would have been watching that.
Oh, and of course, Pete and Gladys (a spinoff of Bride) followed, on channel 11(!?).
The Mickey Mouse Club was still airing (TMMC was the earliest show I ever remembered as a kid, and that earliest memory of watching it was when I was a 4-year-old) on NBC at 4:30, but I had grown beyond its charms by this time.
In ’63, Jungle Theater was showing at 5 pm on 13 (opposite Sea Hunt on 11), and the day in this issue was a Jungle Jim episode. Remember Jungle Jim? He was played by former Tarzan Johnny Weismuller.
At 5:30 on ch2 you could watch Chris Chandler opine about things Houston. Or you could watch Popeye on ch13. I would take the sailor man every time.
After the nightly news, etc, most people were watching Rawhide on CBS. I remember us visiting some people who, at that time, were watching International Showtime (on 2) with the estimable Don Ameche hosting. I was fascinated by all the tiny outfits worn by the female performers. No videos on YouTube from this show unfortunately.
You could Sing Along With Mitch at 7:30 in ’63, if you wanted to, but most people were watching either Route 66 on channel 11, or The Flintstones on 13. I would be choosing the latter.
And, I would definitely be watching I’m Dickens, He’s Finster at 8 on the same channel. John Astin, before The Addams Family.
With a choice between The Price is Right on 2, Alfred Hitchcock on 11, and 77 Sunset Strip on 13, I would have been hard put to choose but at the time, The Twilight Zone was NOT airing in the familiar 9 pm Friday night slot, so it really didn’t matter. That time only had a single entry of Jack Paar, a totally non-child-friendly bit of fluff.
Since it was Friday night, I would certainly be staying up to watch Professional Wrestling (hosted by Paul Boesch) on ch13. Followed by Boris Karloff’s Thriller an hour later at 11:20.
Not much else to see beyond that — with the final show being the 1:00 am news with Sid Lasher.
I would turn in at 12:20 to get my sleep before the limitless bounds of Saturday.
December 27, 2016 at 8:51 pm |
Hi again, does anyone remember a Houston cop who used to be kinda a mascot for one of the stations around then?
I remember when my dad took me to the, I think it was called, The Houston gun club skeet range.
I had a picture taken of me with him there. I don’t know if I even have that anymore.
December 27, 2016 at 9:54 pm
I know exactly the officer you are talking about, and the name is somewhere in the back of my mind. However, I cannot bring it to the fore just now. If I manage to, I will post it here for you.
Thanks for your response!
December 27, 2016 at 10:02 pm
Thank you nathan…I am having the same problem, I almost have it but not quite -:)
December 27, 2016 at 11:06 pm
Didn’t Kitirik used to have a Houston Police Officer named Officer Darnell occasionally on her show?
December 27, 2016 at 10:06 pm
I want to say first name was Ken…
December 27, 2016 at 11:17 pm
yep, cool https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=officer%20ken%20garnet%20houston&oq=officer%20ken%20garnet%20houston&aqs=chrome..69i57.14128j0j7
December 27, 2016 at 11:09 pm
Ed that doesn’t ring any bells for me, but my memory isn’t all THAT great. My first impression, as I said above, was that the gentleman’s first name was Ken.
December 27, 2016 at 11:25 pm
Thanks to you all…check out that google I found this cool thing also https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1323045153907&ref=mf
December 27, 2016 at 11:19 pm
That’s the fellow, Minetheree!!! Thanks!
December 27, 2016 at 11:39 pm |
a lot of good stuff via that google https://youtu.be/BnyjsTFJRtE
January 2, 2017 at 11:28 am |
Does anyone remember going to “Someburger” on/or near north Lee Drive in Baytown? Seems it was not far from the Sears where we kids saw and spoke to Santa each year. And is that big tree still in the middle of Main Street in Baytown? Spent many Saturday mornings as a kid with friends in a movie theater on Main. Filled up on non-nutritious candy, even Luden’s cough drops. Liked “Casper Ghost” cartoons the best; everyone cheered when it came on. Didn’t care for the gangster or cowboy B&W serials. Never seemed to be a “movie” showing, just the above.
January 3, 2017 at 3:36 pm |
I lived in the Houston/Galveston area and almost never got to Baytown, but I remember a drive-in called Someburger somewhere in the metropolitan area. Unfortunately never had a minute to eat there. Sounded good, though, you know, mom and pop business — non-franchise, handmade burgers.
January 3, 2017 at 3:00 am |
I have so enjoyed this trip down memory lane. I moved to Houston in 1970 and remember watching Cadet Don and listening to KNUZ on AM radio. My mom always had it on in the morning before we went to school. I remember collecting bottles and taking them to the 7-11 for a nickle a piece and spending the money on candy! Loved watching Clutch Cargo and Speed Racer on Channel 39! And on Sundays I LOVED Don Mahoney and Jeanna Clare!
We listened to Paul Berlin and loved the music on KNUZ and later KQUE.
I grew up in Friendswood, went off to college at Trinity University and eventually worked in TV and Radio. In 1988 I landed a job at KQUE and was fortunate enough to work with Paul Berlin and Ronny Renfro and lots of other amazing radio personalities. Great memories.
I wish someone would do a documentary about the “old” Houston radio and TV days.
🙂
January 3, 2017 at 3:33 pm |
Hey, Cindy! By 1970, I was no longer a kid, but I still loved Houston TV. And, yes,I DO remember Clutch Cargo and Speed Racer on the UHF station, channel 39. You seriously like Don and Jeanna? I thought it was pretty lame with those Kiddie Troopers. I wasn’t a big fan of C&W culture to say the least. Don’s blind stare kinda creeped me out.
And what Boomer kid never collected empty soda bottles? And we bought either candy, cokes, comic books, or combinations thereof.
How nice that you ended up in broadcasting. I didn’t listen to KQUE but I knew of it.
And I am with you on wishing someone local would care enough to make a documentary about those days.
June 30, 2017 at 8:15 pm |
I read numerous comments on here about a local Saturday night horror movie show called “Weird” and there are discussions about the music that introduced Weird. Weird came along along after I left Houston, but I watched a Saturday night show in the nineteen fifties that featured the old Universal horror movies from the nineteen thirties and forties. I believe this show was on Channel 11 when the station was still called KGUL. The show may have been called Shock Theater, hosted by Jim Ross, but that could have been another show. Anyway, the theme music that introduced this show was an old waltz called “Fascination”, which became briefly popular after it was featured in the Gary Cooper / Aubrey Hepburn film “Love in the Afternoon”. This horror movie show opened with a syrupy sweet violin instrumental of Fascination that was completely unsuitable for a show that featured horror movies. Every time I tuned in to watch the horror movies I couldn’t help but think “I wonder what idiot picked Fascination as the theme music for a Saturday night horror movie show”. Maybe they were trying to be ironic.
July 1, 2017 at 3:09 am |
I’ve been reading all these interesting comments and in response to Ronald Vaughan’s March 26, 2014 comment about a myth surrounding Houston TV station KLEE, here’s some additional information about the KLEE myth that some folks might find interesting: Those who are not as old as I am may not remember that KLEE was Houston’s first TV station. KLEE TV went on the air in 1949, but it had financial problems and in 1950 KLEE TV was bought by the Houston Post and the name was changed to KPRC-TV to match the call letters of the AM radio station that was already owned by the Post. The mystery started in 1953 when a broadcast from KLEE TV was received in England– three years after KLEE went off the air! I was only a kid at the time, but I remember people talking about this mystery. It seems that a man in England photographed the KLEE test pattern on a British TV set as proof that he received the signal. In those early days, TV stations spent hours every day broadcasting “test patterns”, which included the stations call letters. Some people said the KLEE signal bounced off of a distant planet and was reflected back to earth. Other people said the signal was sent back to us by extraterrestrials who were trying to make contact. In the end it turned out to be a hoax, but many people continued to believe it actually happened. The problem is, in 1953, TV stations in the US transmitted a picture with 525 scanning lines at 30 frames per second and TV receivers in England could only receive pictures with 405 lines at 24 frames per second. This technical difference made the two TV systems totally incompatible. In other words, an English TV set could not display a US TV signal.
I was into electronics as a kid, and I was fascinated by television, so I was aware that the scanning rate in the two countries was different, and there was never any doubt in my mind that this was a hoax. It was later discovered that a con man in England was trying to sell “long-distance” TV sets to gullible people and he faked the KLEE test pattern to prove that his long distance TV set worked. However, he didn’t research changes to the names of US TV stations, so he didn’t know that KLEE went off the air three years before he faked the photo of the KLEE test pattern.
September 29, 2017 at 11:01 am |
Marietta Marich passed away Sept. 28, 2017. Some of you might remember her from “Midnight With Marietta” on early Houston television, her work in theatre productions (“Gypsy” and “Li’l Abner”), and films. Her husband, Bob Marich, (RIP), was also very involved in Houston television. Both were pioneers of the medium, and both were very nice people who gave much of themselves to us.
September 29, 2017 at 12:27 pm |
I don’t recall the name, but that means little, I don’t recall more and more as time goes on.
RIP
September 29, 2017 at 6:37 pm |
That’s sad news, Minetheree, but thank you for bringing it to us. Marietta Marich and her husband Bob Marich were very important to the history of local television, especially of Channel 2. Marietta had her own show, aptly called “Naughty Marietta” in memory of that old Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy movie of the same title. As an adolescent of the 1950s, I will always recall too the large crush I had for her terrific smiling eyes and beautiful singing voice. – God Bless You Forever, Marietta! – The gift of your presence wasn’t lost on the people of Houston in those early TV days and the energy it stirred in all of us who were here at the time flows on to the end of time now as your gift to life.
January 9, 2018 at 11:03 pm |
Larry Kane was on KPRC every Saturday morning. Nancy Jones was the young teenager with the long brown pony tail who did some of the commercials on his show. Jim Ross hosted the late show on KHOU with his zany comedy bits. Richard Shannon also played in the quartet that accompanied Marietta on the Matinee Show. Johnny Nash, before he was discovered. sang occasionally on the Matinee Show. The other name for MaryJane Vandiver’s kiddie show was Happy Holler, and their theme song was song by David Boise and Mike Butler, “It’s Happy Holler Time!” I think that preceded ‘Mary Jane’s Magic Castle’, but both, I believe, were produced by Joni Hartman, Lisa Hartman Black’s mom.
January 10, 2018 at 1:15 am |
Who remembers Looney Auction? First at Channel 2 starting in 1959 and then at Channel 11. Kids would save Looney Bucks which were the tops of Carnation Milk, come to the show on Saturday morning and use their Looney bucks to bid on toys.. Capt. Bob and Twinkle were the hosts at Channel 2; Mr. Caboose and Twinkle were hosts at Channel 11.
January 11, 2018 at 12:33 am
I definitely remember Mr Caboose! But were there two Captain Bobs? One here locally, and the other on the national Howdy Doody Show?
January 11, 2018 at 4:57 am
The one I worked with on Channel 2 was Bob Russell.
January 10, 2018 at 12:42 pm |
I am not sure if Larry Kane’s show was on KPRC in the beginning, but by the early 1960’s at least, his Saturday morning show was on KTRK. Here are a couple of links to his show.
January 11, 2018 at 12:23 am
January 11, 2018 at 12:26 am
In a message dated 1/10/2018 8:38:05 AM Central Standard Time, comment-reply@wordpress.com writes:
You are correct! It started on KTRK then switched to KPRC briefly, it says. I had no idea the show was syndicated. I wonder why it was cancelled after just a year or two of syndication? ” The two-hour show ran on KTRK from 1959 to about 1971 and ended in 1972 following a short run on KPRC (Channel 2). By the 1970s Kane’s show was being syndicated across the country.” http://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2012/04/houstons-own-american-bandstand-the-larry-kane-show/
January 11, 2018 at 12:58 am |
I bet nobody remembers KPRC, the only TV channel in Houston at the time, had a Saturday morning show called “Charades.” Viewers sent in names of movies, books, etc, and if yours was chosen, you won a bunch of boxes of Mrs Shelby’s Cookies. One of my submissions was chosen, It was “Three Little Words.” Someone guessed it within three seconds. Does anyone remember around that same time, the song we heard constantly on KPRC TV? “The Cable Is Coming, Tra La, Tra La?” We were all so excited. We could just imagine this huge cable stretching from NYC all the way down to Houston! Finally we’d be able to see the Rockettes kicking high to “Here Comes Santa Claus” earlier than February 15th.
April 22, 2018 at 5:32 pm |
I can tell you that my Dad, Paul Markey, had a show on KHOU called Teen Hideaway, which predated Kane’s show. It was the first dance show of its type in Houston, and believe me, Kane wasn’t happy about that. Although Dad was mostly a producer and an occasional news reporter, he loved that show. I believe we are talking late 50’s.
April 23, 2018 at 1:42 am |
This is in response to the comments written by Kay on 01/11/2018. Actually Kay, the cable song on KPRC-TV went something like this: “The cable is coming hooray- hooray, the cable is coming hooray-hooray—- sooooo——— go see your Teee-Veee dealer today.” Those words were sung to a familiar little Scottish bagpipe tune. (I’m sorry but I don’t know the name of the tune). They even had a cartoon picture of a little Scotsman playing the bagpipes on the screen while the song played. For those folks who are too young to remember what the “cable” fuss was all about—- Well, it was a big deal at the time, because back in the early fifties we only had local KPRC-TV shows (mostly cooking shows), plus some awful British movies from the nineteen thirties, and kine-scopes of new TV shows from the (now defunct) Dumont Television Network. Kine-scopes were actually live TV shows that were filmed directly off of a TV screen and then mailed to TV stations across the country on film. The kine-scopes had terrible quality and they arrived weeks after the TV shows aired on the East coast. Live network radio programs could be sent over normal leased telephone lines and network radio had been around for many years. But, television was different, because moving pictures required more bandwidth than a normal telephone line that was used for radio could handle. Television required a new type of co-axial cable. Such a cable was being strung across the USA from coast to coast, but it took several years to complete. This new cable could bring live NBC network TV shows directly to Houston and other cities along the route and that’s the “cable” in the song that we were all waiting for. Many people put off buying their first TV until we had network TV in Houston and that’s why the local TV dealers and KPRC-TV got together and created that little song about the cable. The song’s purpose was to let people know the network TV cable would arrive soon and hope this news would motivate folks to go out and buy their first TV set. Without the cable, TV would have not been very successful, because big-time TV shows were too expensive to produce locally in every town. For example, we would not have had live network TV shows like Milton Berle and Bob Hope on NBC and later Ed Sullivan and Jackie Gleason on CBS if the cable never came to Houston. Sorry, if this is more detail than you ever wanted to know, but when I get all wound-up, there’s just no stopping me.
April 23, 2018 at 3:46 am |
The “cable” connecting KPRC-TV to NBC in New York premiered July 1, 1952. The first show broadcast live from New York was “Today” with Dave Garroway. Prior to that date KPRC-TV aired network shows from CBS, NBC, and Dumont that were not live. These shows were shipped to the station on 16mm film and aired from a projector at the local TV station.
April 23, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Thanks for adding the year for context. I should have mentioned that 1952 was the year KPRC finally got the cable. The tune to which “The cable is coming” song was sung has been driving me crazy, but I finally found out what it is this morning. It’s an old Scottish tune called “The Campbells are Coming”, but some people may remember it as “The Rabbits are coming” from a Bugs Bunny cartoon. I’ve included a youtube a link to Elmer Fudd singing the song. All you have to do is substitute the words “the cable is coming hooray hooray” for “the rabbits are coming hooray hooray” and you’ll know what we were listening to on TV back in 1952. Here is the youtube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6l3tlDuGXQ
April 23, 2018 at 3:38 pm
I have a picture of Mr. Caboose and Twinkle regarding the Looney Auction Show in the late 50’s. Would you like for me to send it to you?
Thanks,
Lou Kelley
April 24, 2018 at 2:29 pm
Lou, Thank you very much for your kind offer to send me the photo, but TV shows from the late fifties came “after my time”, so I’m not familiar with them. A photo from the late fifties would not bring back any memories for me, because I’m only familiar with the people and shows that appeared on Houston TV in the early days, from the time KPRC-TV first went on the air to the mid nineteen fifties. By the late fifties, I was grown up and I left home, never to live in Houston again. But, I’m sure there are younger people on here who remember the shows from the late fifties and would love to have the photo.
April 24, 2018 at 2:14 pm |
Disk Jockey Biff Collie was a big radio personality in Houston in the late 40’s and early 50’s. He had a short TV program on KPRC around 1955. Anyone remember him? He later moved to Nashville and retired there. While in Houston he married Floyd Tillman’s former wife Marge but the marriage didn’t last too long.
April 26, 2018 at 8:58 pm |
I definitely remember Biff Collie, how could anyone forget a man with a name like Biff Collie. And, I also remember Floyd Tillman, who is one of the greatest singers and song writers in the history of Country Music. I saw Floyd perform at Magnolia Gardens and hung out with his son back in nineteen fifty something. I still have Floyd’s old 78 RPM vinyl records and I still listen to them. One of my favorites is “I love you so much it hurts” and then there’s “It makes no difference now”. And, who can forget “You’re drivin’ nails in my coffin, or “Slippin around”, which was such a smash hit that it was covered by nearly everybody famous in Country Music. I like to believe that I have very sophisticated taste in music today, but this is the music I grew up with and it will always have a special place in my heart. For those who are too young to remember real old-time Country Music, or have never heard the great Floyd Tillman sing, check out this youtube link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWY82rnawPc
April 27, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Floyd was a good friend of ours. Had to the opportunity to play with him. One of the first bands he played in was my dad’s Shelly Lee Alley. We have a great picture of a very young Floyd in my dad’s band from 1936. You can view it on his website http://www.shellyleealley.com. You will find a lot of history and pictures on this site.
Many country and Western swing legends came out of the Houston area. In addition to Floyd were Clif Bruner, Leon (Pappy) Self, Ted Daffan, Herb Remington, Clyde Brewer. Many early hits were recorded at the old Gold Star studios which is now the famous Sugar Hill studios. A lot of musical history has come out of the Houston area.
April 27, 2018 at 2:41 pm |
BTW…the man who replaced Biff Collie on radio was Paul Berlin.
April 27, 2018 at 3:30 pm |
The guy who moderated Friday Night Wrestling?
April 27, 2018 at 4:08 pm
Paul Max Boesch was the announcer on Houston Wrestling.
April 27, 2018 at 4:09 pm
Yes, I knew that. I was waiting for someone to correct my on-purpose error.
Thanks, Ed!
April 29, 2018 at 3:04 pm |
Responding to the comments of Shelly Alley and Ed Kakos, I also remember Paul Boesch and Paul Berlin, along with another Paul named Paul Schimtt. He was the piano player, who accompanied the beautiful and highly talented Marietta Marich on her KPRC show “Midnight With Marietta”. Marietta Marich and her TV show introduced me to so much wonderful music that I never knew existed until I watched her show. I believe she was a major early influence in expanding my taste in music. I recently learned from reading this website that Marietta passed away last year. So, I looked up Paul on the web and found out that he passed away in 2001. Marietta was always talking to someone off camera who replied over a loud speaker, so I assumed that it was the shows director speaking from a glass enclosed control room. Marietta referred to this unseen man as “The Bear” so I assumed it was Bear Bryant, because that was the only man I knew of in those days who was called “Bear”. But, looking back, it makes no sense that a famous football coach would be directing her night time TV show and it was probably her husband in the control booth, or maybe her husband was calling in from home where he was watching her broadcast. I also fondly remember Pat Flaherty, who I recall as the first KPRC weather man. I have been racking my brain lately trying to remember who was the host of the afternoon KPRC show called “Matinee” and it finally came to me, it was Dick Gottlieb. Dick is mentioned elsewhere on this website, but I didn’t connect his name with the show Matinee until I woke up this morning and it suddenly popped into my head (funny how that happens). Then, a new puzzle came to me– Announcer Lee Gordon and Bob Dundas had an afternoon cooking show that came on right after the KPRC test pattern went off and they also had a lady cook on the show, but I can’t recall her name. Does anyone remember who she was? One last thing before I finally shut up: I’ll bet most people don’t recall that Houston had a UHF TV station way back in 1953. It was KNUZ-TV, Channel 39, and it had a fancy new studio on Cullen Blvd when KPRC was still in an over-sized Quonset hut out on Post Oak Road I assume it was connected with radio station KNUZ, but I don’t know that for sure. TV sets didn’t have built-in UHF tuners in those days so we had to buy a little converter box that sat on top of the TV to convert the UHF TV signal down to a frequency a regular VHF TV could receive. KNUZ-TV didn’t last long, less than a year as I recall. That was probably because most people didn’t buy the converter boxes, so there wasn’t an audience big enough to support the station and the fancy new studio was taken over by KTRK and later by KUHT when KTRK moved out to new studios on Bissonett. Speaking of KUHT, most people today don’t know that it was the first educational television station in the nation. I visited the first studio of KUHT when I was in college and at that time it was located in the attic of the Cullen Building on the University of Houston campus. It was literally in the unfinished attic and I could see the rafter beams holding up the roof. Cables ran all over the floor, and equipment was everywhere.
April 29, 2018 at 7:57 pm |
Also playing with Paul Schmidt was guitarist Paul Buskirk. Buskirk and Schmidt recorded an album together shortly before Schmidt’s death. Buskirk was a great friend of Wille Nelson and bought the song Night Life from Willie during the time Willie was still a struggling singer and composer in the Houston area. Paul Buskirk passed away several years ago and is buried in Nachidoches.
December 9, 2020 at 8:05 pm |
To Ed Gore, “the Bear” Marietta talked with off-camera was her husband, Bob Marich. He was a long time TV production director at KPRC.
April 27, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Jim, thanks for clearing up a mystery that I’ve wondered about for 65 years. As a kid, I thought Marietta was talking to Bear Bryant by telephone on a direct line to the studio. Why did I think the disembodied voice she was always talking to was the head coach at Texas A&M? Maybe it was because Bear Bryant was very famous at the time and he was the only person I ever heard of with “Bear” for a first name. It makes more sense that she was talking to her husband.
April 30, 2018 at 3:09 am |
The woman who did the cooking show on KPRC-TV was Jane Christopher. Here is a photo of her from the KPRC History Facebook Page. You can see many more photos from KPRC’s early days on that page.
May 1, 2018 at 3:57 am |
Thanks for the name of the lady and for her photo. As for Facebook, it may be a good source of information about the early days of KPRC-TV, but I refuse to join Facebook. I’ve always been opposed to Facebook, because I believe it’s profit is based on violating the privacy rights of it’s users, so I want nothing to do with it. I’ve always felt this way, long before the recent knowledge came to light about how Facebook.collects and sells private information about it’s users to the highest bidder, including foreign companies who re-sell it to Russia for the purpose of manipulating our elections. It also has more users than the population of the US and all the other large countries combined, which gives it too much power and influence in my opinion. Finally, it uses tricks to get information without you knowing. So, It’s just not worth it to me, regardless of any benefits it may offer. I think it’s right up there with selling your soul to the Devil.
January 13, 2019 at 3:50 am |
Anyone remember June Brennan- Chris Chandler ‘ s “girl Friday “? Email reminiscences to janandjared@gmail.com
January 13, 2019 at 4:40 pm |
June Brennan must have come along after I left Houston fifty years ago, but I was there when Chris Chandler first started doing the weather on TV. I thought Chris was unique, because he sat down and drew the weather on sheets of paper that were spread out on an architect’s drawing board and he wore sweaters and casual clothes, This was very different from Pat Flaherty who stood up and did the weather report on a wall board while wearing a suit and tie (except at rodeo time when Pat wore western clothes). Chris may have changed this way of doing the weather on TV after I left Houston, but that’s how I remember him at the start of his career.
If i may ask a question, does anyone remember the Buffalo Town House restaurant and motel which was at the corner of Waugh Drive and Buffalo Parkway? (It was later renamed Allen Parkway) The Buffalo Town House was torn down in the early sixties when the American General Insurance Company moved into that area. The reason why i remember that place is because the front of the building was circular and it was the first time I ever saw modern architecture when i was a kid, so it made a big impression on me. But more than the unusual building, a modernistic three-wheeled car that was streamlined like a rocket was usually parked in front of the round restaurant and the car looked like something out of a science fiction movie. Thanks to the Internet, I’ve been able to track down that car and I found out it was called the Davis Divan. It was produced for a short time right after WWII and then the Davis car company went bankrupt. Davis was a post war start-up car company like the Tucker car company. The Tucker car was also ahead of it’s time, but it’s styling was not nearly as radical as the Davis Divan. Anyway, we had a Davis Divan right here in Houston in the late nineteen forties and early fifties and someone at the Buffalo Town House apparently owned it. If anyone knows more about how that unusual car ended up in Houston, then I’d love to hear the whole story. If you want to see what the car looked like, just google Davis Divan.
January 16, 2019 at 1:16 am |
Dr. Daddy 0 KTHT 1952; Chuck Ferguson College Capers nee; Cougar Capers KTHT; Gene Norman’s Nightmare
Dizzy Lizzie; Zing Zang Davis; KYOK (Bill ‘Macck David 0lds”
Daddy Deep Throat KC0H
January 16, 2019 at 3:45 am |
Hotsy Totsy too! KYOK
January 16, 2019 at 4:33 am |
Radio was my main entertainment before we got a TV set, but I guess I had a different taste in music than Mr. Young, because I don’t remember any of the shows or personalities he mentioned. Maybe it’s because I was still listening to a lot of dramatic shows on radio at that time. In the early fifties KTHT had “The Parade of Mysteries” every night. I used to listen to it while going to sleep, but if I couldn’t sleep, then the soothing music of KXYZ’s late night “Stairway to the Stars” did the trick. This was before we got a TV set, so it must have been around 1951. I had a little “crystal set” that I built out of junk parts and it had headphones so I could listen in bed late at night and my parents never got wise. The local AM stations were so strong that I was able to use my bed springs for an antenna and the gas pipe in my room was the ground. Years later, in the mid or late fifties, KTHT changed it’s format and became “Demand Radio 79”. They had a great piece of “Big Band” music that they played during station identification breaks and for years I’ve tried to remember what they played. I think it was Benny Goodman playing “Don’t Be That Way”, but I’m not sure, because the tune they played had a lot of bells and chimes in it that weren’t on the Goodman record. if anyone remembers the Demand Radio 79 theme song, then I’d be grateful if you can post the name on here. Also, does anyone remember how after “Rock N Roll” took over radio, one local radio station gave away it’s entire collection of Big Band music on 78 RPM vinyl records. They were stacked in big piles at the new Gulfgate Shopping Center and they were free for the taking. I got a lot of great Big Band records, but vinyl records are breakable and only one of those records has survived all the moving around I’ve done in the last 60 years. Also, do you remember when KILT became Houston’s first all Rock N Roll station, they had a guy sitting on top of a flag pole at Gulfgate to promote the station. About that time, I switched over to FM. It all seems like yesterday. .
January 16, 2019 at 3:55 pm |
That was Arch Yancey on the flag pole. I still liked KNUZ better than KILT though. That was probably because I was just used to their format. Larry Kane’s show was good and Paul Berlin became a long-time legend in Houston’s radio history. I was still a radio fan when my school friends had already switched over to TV’s afternoon shows.
January 31, 2019 at 6:23 am |
I also remember a daytime variety/talk show on KTRK in the 60’s featuring the Ames Brothers.
January 31, 2019 at 3:48 pm |
Yes and I believe the Ames Brothers actually had their broadcast from the Rice Hotel..
January 31, 2019 at 4:35 pm
My sister and friends and I got the Ames brothers’ autograph as well as Mickey Rooney- we kind of swarmed them on the golf course at Lakeside Country Club. They were nice about it.
January 31, 2019 at 3:49 pm |
The big DJ right before Paul Berlin was Biff Collie.
January 31, 2019 at 5:57 pm |
As I remember it from the 50s, the line-up at KNUZ was Laura Lee McBride, Biff Collie, Marge Tillman (“Little Marge” who divorced Floyd Tillman and married Biff Collie), Larry Kane and then Paul Berlin. I had the radio on for all of them! Some friends and I rode the bus to the station one summer morning and met Laura Lee and her husband, band leader, Dickie McBride, as they came to work. Dickie’s band members were all dressed in their fancy performing duds. Biff came out to meet us too and we were allowed to sit in the studio and watch them on the air. Laura Lee was the daughter of the country-western star who wrote Eddy Arnold’s theme song, “Cattle Call.” She was also the niece of Texas Ruby. Good memories.
January 31, 2019 at 6:08 pm |
You are correct. I knew just about all of them. My older brother Clyde Brewer played with Laura Lee and McBride along with Herb Remington. One of the first bands that Floyd played with was my dad’s..Shelly Lee Alley. Biff was a real fine DJ. He played trumpet and was also a good singer. After Houston he moved to Nashville. Last time I spoke with him was in the late 80’s or early 90’s. Lot of great musical history took place in Houston back in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Dickie McBride had a really good band and he was a fine singer. Both he and Laura Lee spent time with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. BTW Little Marge and Floyd re-married not too many years before his death.
January 31, 2019 at 6:31 pm
I love Floyd Tillman and his music, my folks had all his records back in the forties and I still have an original vinyl record of I Love You So Much it Hurts. I’ve carried it around all these years without breaking it, In the early fifties, I saw Mr. Tillman perform live at Magnolia Gardens. His son was there and the kid was around my age. There were no other kids our age there, so we hung out together. He took me backstage and I got to see how a big country music show was put on from backstage.
January 31, 2019 at 6:48 pm
I got to play with Floyd on quite a few occasions. You might be interested in the website we set up for my dad. It has a lot of pictures and history on it and you will see Floyd. http://www.shellyleealley.com.
January 31, 2019 at 7:03 pm
Cool website Shelly, the big western hats in that picture of the band taken back in 1936 are such a hoot that I had to laugh. Some of the guys in the band look like young teenagers.
January 31, 2019 at 7:17 pm
Those hats are Texas Centennial hats celebrating Texas’ 100th birthday. You can see them by Googling 1936 Texas Centennial hats.
January 31, 2019 at 8:21 pm
Thanks for the education, because I didn’t know about the connection between the hats and the Texas Centennial until you mentioned it. I definitely didn’t intend any disrespect to the Texas Centennial. I think the hats look old fashioned to me because the tops are round and they don’t have a crease or dimple in the top like i’m used to. But the thing that struck me as being funny is the way the hats seem to be too big for the men in the picture. The band members look so young and the hats look so big on them that it reminds me how a little boy looks when he is wearing daddy’s big cowboy hat. Maybe other people will go to your web site and weigh in on this. The question is, do hats from 1936 look funny to folks living in 2019, or is it just me.
January 31, 2019 at 8:33 pm
I agree with you. I would not want to wear one of those hats. If you notice, my dad is not wearing his hat. He never liked to wear hats. I never asked him about this picture but I figure that the photo shoot is probably about a Centennial event they were performing for. More than likely when they arrived for the picture the organizer handed them the hats and said “here, wear these”. In all the pictures of my dad and his bands this is the only time I’ve seen these hats.
February 1, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Actually, back in the day, hats were sold with unshaped crowns. They generally became creased over time by the owner grabbing the crown to put the hat on or jam it down. Shaped crowns were popularized by the Hollywood westerns.
February 1, 2019 at 6:21 pm
That’s some more interesting things I’ve learned from this website.
January 31, 2019 at 9:07 pm |
That would explain why the hats seem to be a size too big. If the hats belonged to the band members, then they would fit better, but they had to take what they were given to wear in the photo. Your dad was smart to pass when the hats were handed out. This reminds me of the way uniforms were given out when I was in basic training back in the early sixties. I was so small that nothing fit me, so I took the closest fit, which still looked like a baggy clown costume on me. When I complained, the sergeant said “Don’t worry, you’ll grow into it”, but I never did.
February 25, 2019 at 3:57 am |
Hello ! I am looking for film clips of Jack Hamm, the artist who was on television in the ’50s in the Houston area. Do you know where I can locate any ? I am friends with his daughter Dawna, this would be a great find. Thanx !
February 25, 2019 at 4:24 am |
You might try getting in touch with the station for info on Jack. Also, if he died prior to 1976, his death certificate would at Family Search or Texas Death Certificates On-Line. Otherwise, you could probably find the date of death at Social Security website. It would give the death date and then you could order the obit from the Chronicle. Better than nothing!
Good Luck.
March 3, 2019 at 2:36 am |
Thank you for your reply. I know that Mr. Hamm died in 1996. Was wondering if anybody knew the station he was on so I could contact them directly … ? Since there were only a few stations back then, does anybody know what station Houston had in the 1950s ?
March 3, 2019 at 5:02 pm |
Could be wrong but seems like it was KPRC, Channel 2. Also, you may be able to find his obituary on-line.
March 3, 2019 at 9:12 pm |
This is in response to Mr. Bennet’s question about what TV station we had in the fifites: As Diane said, at the beginning of the fifties there was only KPRC, which became the NBC affiliate. But she didn’t mention that it was not long before it was joined by KGUL, the CBS affiliate, (which later became KHOU), and then KTRK, the ABC affiliate. And finally, there was KUHT, the first educational station in the nation, (owned by the University of Houston). KUHT eventually became part of the PBS network. So, during most of the fifties, we had four television stations that could be received in the Houston area that represented all of the major television networks. I don’t know what station Mr. Hamm appeared on, but all four of those stations are still on the air today, so you can contact all of them in your search for information about Mr. Hamm.
I did intentionally leave out two stations, because they were only on the air very briefly. KLEE was Houston’s first TV station, but by the fifties it was bought by the POST newspaper and renamed KPRC-TV to match the the call letters of the newspaper’s radio station. And, we had one UHF station in Houston during the fifties that didn’t last long, it was KNUZ-TV, a companion to KNUZ radio. KNUZ-TV died, because people had to buy a converter box to see a UHF station in the fifties and most folks could barely afford a TV set in those days. I may be one of the few Houstonians living today who saw a live KNUZ program when it was on the air. The KNUZ-TV studios on Cullen Blvd. became the studios of KTRK and later the studios of KUHT. Years later, the government mandated that a UHF tuner had to be included in every new TV set, but that change came much too late to save KNUZ-TV.
This final comment has nothing to do with Mr. Hamm, but in the interest of accuracy, I should mention that the network affiliations I listed were somewhat flexible in the fifties. Before the coast-to-coast network cable reached Houston, stations ran kinescopes from other networks, including the now defunct Dumont Network. I never considered Dumont to be a real network, because the shows were not live, they were shipped to local stations on kinescopes, which were TV shows photographed from the screen of a CRT (a TV picture tube) onto 16mm film. Copies of the film were then shipped to TV stations around the country. Even after the cable arrived, network affiliations remained flexible for a while, due to the limited coverage of some stations in the early days. Nothing here was looked up, all of this information is from my memory.
March 6, 2019 at 5:25 am |
Thanks for your help ! Now to do some detective work … 🙂
March 6, 2019 at 5:51 am |
– To Any – CC / BCC
March 16, 2019 at 5:07 pm |
Mr. Bill,
I could write a book on the Channel 39 country music shows.
Ernest Tubb, Porter Waggoner, Buck Owens & The Grand Old Opry & Bill Anderson. Our dad instilled in us a love for all music. We had one of those big Curtis Mathes consoles with color tv & record player. We watched & listened with it up as loud as we could take. He’d prod us to “Listen to what he’s saying. Listen to to the words”. Oh & ” While you’re get Daddy a beer please”. What a character.
July 25, 2019 at 8:20 pm |
I am trying to discover if there are archives from approximately August 1950 for a Houston tv station interview program of either newlyweds or newly engaged couples? My parents were apparently interviewed and it was aired on Houston’s only tv station at the time, my mother called it the ‘local’ station. Their 69th wedding anniversary is next month, and I would really like to be able to show that to them again! Any help on who to contact would be most appreciated.
July 28, 2019 at 8:23 pm |
When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to get up on Saturday morning to watch a Jungle Theater! It was old black and white movies like Tarzan, She-ra, and Ali Babba and the 40 Thieves, etc. I liked it better than Saturday morning cartoons!
April 25, 2022 at 2:22 pm |
Jungle Theater, YES! I remember how much fun it was, with Sheena and Tarzan. A variety of jungle-themed programs. I remember the African continent that opened the show.
September 9, 2019 at 12:47 am |
Bob Marich and Marietta Marich- both deceased.
April 25, 2022 at 2:20 pm |
Having grown up within 50 miles of Houston, I was immersed in the local TV culture. I loved Kitirik and Mr. Caboose, and even Cadet Don.
January 17, 2020 at 10:41 pm |
I remember “Weird” being on Friday nights…others insist Saturday nights. Can you confirm?
January 26, 2020 at 2:01 am |
Remember The Captain Bob Show on at 3:00 p.m., I think. Sponsored by Nestles Chocolate Milk. Popeye Cartoons!! Birthday kids got to grab a handful of pennies from the satellite prop after being interviewed by Capt. Bob himself! I was a birthday boy, and seeing Captain Bob in person was an important step up in the neighborhood pecking order of kiddos for awhile, because my friends and I could not believe that we saw Captain Bob in the flesh!! It was “keeno”!!
January 26, 2020 at 8:24 pm |
Don’t remember Captain Bod, Dale. Do you know the years his show aired? I was a huge kiddo TV watcher so I should have known about it from about ’59 on.
June 12, 2020 at 10:59 pm |
Nick Gearhart was News Director for KHOU before Smith and after Dan. 1962-68 then went over to KUHT PBS as Director of Community Affairs in Houston until 1974. Just for the record.
July 18, 2020 at 2:43 am |
Sid Lasher is one that I remember.A painter easel with the weather map on a sheet of white poster board. Went through hurricane Carla with him on B&W TV in 1961?
December 31, 2020 at 9:11 am |
I would like to cita con carlos Evening show .Because I heard my mom, GoD Has Blessed her soul.,Know I very much would love to see this ,show know state I never seen for my own eyes.Iwas born in 1966 ..My had the Dress It was black with sequins.the Velvet skirt was so heavy .I Remember I was so young putting It on .dress .looking at this like what I like to wear it.She was a Mariachi singer .and had been invited a many of times to do the thing she loved was sing..MARIA.
April 25, 2022 at 2:25 pm |
Stephen, I remember WEIRD showing on Saturday night (and Late WEIRD). I don’t think it was ever scheduled on Friday night. That was the night for Cita con Trece.
April 25, 2022 at 3:11 pm |
Long time radio DJ Biff Collie had a TV program on Channel 2 at the old quonset hut studio. Also later was Curly Fox and Texas Ruby with Paul Buskirk and band.