Bozo the Clown

Bozo the Clown

There probably isn’t an adult in the US today who hasn’t watched some version of Bozo the Clown when they were growing up.  In one form or another, Bozo was one of the longest-running kids’ shows in TV history.  The earliest version of the Bozo show began airing in...

Romper Room

During its five decades on the air, Romper Room gave millions of young children their first exposure to a preschool/kindergarten environment.  The show featured a hostess who would lead a group of 7-8 children in various educational and play activities.  The children...

Captain Kangaroo

A lot of us can probably remember Captain Kangaroo, which was one of the longest running network children’s shows of all time, airing continuously on CBS from 1955 until 1984 and then in re-runs on PBS from 1986 to 1993. The show starred Bob Keeshan as the...

Miss Frances’ Ding Dong School

Like other “graduates” of Ding Dong School, just thinking about the show and its motherly host, Miss Frances, gives me a warm and safe feeling.  Airing nationally from 1952 to 1956 and in syndication until 1965, Ding Dong School set the standard for TV shows aimed at...

Andy’s Gang

If Salvador Dali had decided to create a kids’ TV show, it would have been Andy’s Gang, probably the strangest and scariest show I remember watching as a very young child.  There was something surreal and creepy about the show, which was sponsored by Buster...