Story Published:
Feb 21, 2008 at 10:27 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Feb 21, 2008 at 10:39 PM CDT
Once upon a time, Northland TV stations made their own children's show.
The kids who watched those shows are now in their 40's and 50's but still fondly remember names like Captain Q and Mr. Toot.
Dave Anderson tells us how a pair of fans is trying to preserve those memories.
"Those are not my bones creaking, you know. It's the gangway. I suppose you wonder after a while."
From the 50's to the 70's, TV in our area had several home made kid's shows.
NBC 6 had Captain Q with Jack McKenna.
CBS 3 had Tolliver's Travels with Herb Taylor and Eddie Williams.
"Are you in good voice today? Me-me-me. Me-me-me. You-you-you. Aye-yi-yi!"
From 1968 to 1974, Ray Paulsen hosted the Mr. Toot show.
"Happy birthday to you. Isn't that beautiful? Not one out of tune. Just lovely."
The set from the Toot show has been empty for nearly 40 years and since the show aired before the days of video tape recorders, very little still exists. In fact, this set behind me doesn't really exist. It's a recreation from a couple of fans of the show.
"We wanted it full size so we could experience what it was like being on the show since neither of us was actually on the show but so many people we know were."
Brad Uvila of Superior is a model maker who has done work for the film industry.
Robb Berry publishes a magazine for cereal box collectors.
The two were big fans of the Mr. Toot show as kids and are working on a book about all of the old Northland children's shows.
"I grew up with these characters as did a lot of people and I think it would be a good tribute to these people to put out a book that glorifies what they did."
Research for the book has included looking through microfilms of old newspapers and has eaten up a lot of time already.
"I've been doing research on this subject for nearly a decade now."
The biggest find was some actual Mr. Toot with Reddy Kilowatt footage found on an archaic reel to reel video tape.
"We had to track down a company that had one of those old machines that could actually play that type of tape and have it transferred."
"I bet I know what your favorite fish is. Electric eels!"
Research for the book has already taken ten years and may take several more but Brad and Robb feel it will be worth the wait for the fans of the old shows.
They say the people who made them need to be remembered.
"To give them the due that is paid to them. To thank them for all the years and programs they gave us."
"These guys were our heroes as kids. We love them still to this day."
"Our picture is shrinking! Aw, that's just some more of your Reddy Kilowatt magic!"
