I am always looking for bits and pieces of Twin Cities television history. This pinback button popped up on ebay recently and I snagged it. Of course, we know Willie Ketchem was the sidekick for Clancy the Cop throughout the 1960s and well into the 1970’s. Willie Ketchem was portrayed by Allan Lotsberg on the […]
The popularity of local kids TV hosts was enhanced by their personal appearances around the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. This clipping from December 1970 promotes appearances by Clancy, Willie, and Carman from WCCO, Grandpa Ken and Romper Room’s Miss Karen from KMSP, and Casey and Roundhouse from WTCN. Thanks to Jack Kennelly for his […]
In 1990, KARE hosted a reunion of Twin Cities kids show hosts on their Between Friends show, broadcast on November 2, 1990. This vintage video comes to us from the wonderful people at TCMediaNow, who are working to preserve the broadcast history of Minneapolis/St. Paul television. Please visit their YouTube page to see a wonderful […]
Crossroads Center in St. Cloud opened in April 1966. It was a big event for Minnesota and the grand opening featured appearances by all the popular Minnesota kids TV shows hosts. Casey and Roundhouse, Miss Betty from Romper Room, Clancy and Carmen, and Dave Lee with Pete the Penguin. Here are a few news articles […]
Jack Kennelly sent along these clippings of Clancy and Willie appearing at Cedervale shipping center in 1972.
Every so often I bump into a bit of Twin Cities television history that tells us a little bit about our favorite TV hosts. This article comes from BoxOffice magazine dated February 6, 1961. It describes promotion of a movie called Wizard of Baghdad on the local kids shows. The movie was promoted by Casey […]
These postcards were apparently given out at a special Easter event at Dayton’s department store. I don’t have details, but two cards refer to “Bunny Breakfast” and the third mentions “Bunny Parties.” I believe that is Mary Davies dressed as Bunny, along with Allan Lotsberg as The Magician. Of course, Allan also played Willie Ketchem […]
Shoppers’ City opened a new store in Columbia Heights in November of 1968. To celebrate, the store featured personal appearances by several local kids televison show hosts. Casey Jones was scheduled for November 19, followed by Wilie Ketch on the 20th. On November 21, Clancy the Cop appeared, and the week ended with Miss Betty […]
Here are some wonderful clips posted by the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting. I believe these date to 1974 or 75. Bob Keeshan, known to kids everywhere as Captain Kangaroo, was in the Twin Cities, probably on a promotional tour. He spent some time at the CBS affiliate, WCCO and filmed some promos for the morning […]
Here’s a look at a 1967 postcard from WCCO, signed on the back by Clancy and Willie. It’s signed “to Jennifer.”