If you watched Lunch with Casey at noon, you knew that Mel Jass’s Mattinee Movie would follow at 1. Mel would introduce whatever movie was coming up, and more importantly, he would promote local businesses, such as 10,000 Auto Parts, or Uncle John’s Pancake House. I vividly recall watching some movies that are burned into […]
In December 1971, Kent Zoya and his brother appeared on The Happy Hour on WTCN-11. Kent’s mother had her camera and snapped these photos. Kent remembers: “My brother and I were in the group of kids. I remember the lights were very hot. Each of us kids got a gift bag (you can see them […]
Sister Cabrini was featured on WTCN in the late sixties with a program on WTCN-11 call Hi Jerry. She was a ventriloquist and she continued her performances long after her program ended. Jack Kennelly has found some additional information about Mary Cabrini in the years after her show on WTCN Sister Mary Cabrini performs in […]
updated Feb 15, 2025 Romper Room was developed by Bert and Nancy Claster in Baltimore in 1953 and distributed nationally as a franchise. Each broadcast market around the country had it’s own locally produced version of the show. The program endured into the mid-90’s. Each local TV show shared several common elements. Children were encouraged […]
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 […]
Here’s another clipping from my friend Jack Kennelly. This appeared in the Minneapolis Star in August 25, 1961. Dave Lee was scheduled to appear at Donaldsons department store that Saturday, which would have been August 26. The advertisement also promoted Pete the Penguin baseball caps for girls and boys. Does anyone have a Pete the […]
Jack Rebney has died at the age of 93. Rebney played Captain 11 on WMIN, taking over the role in late 1954 when Jim Lange went into the military. Rebney hosted the show through early 1955 when Chris Wedes took over. Following his brief run as Captain 11, he worked in advertising in Minneapolis, then […]
A March 1967 newspaper article on Twin Cities children’s programs briefly mentioned a show called “Miss Barbara” hosted by Barbara DeValerio. It was described as “Barbara De Valerio of the St. Anthony School District uses puppets to present short reviews of new children’s books.” The program may also have been known as “Sunday Storybook.” A […]
This photo appeared in TV Times, dated December 21, 1963. It was featured in an article called “Holiday Fare with Local Glare.” Christmas is especially for children — of all ages — and some shows are geared for the younger set. More than 100 children of employees of WTCN (11) will comprise the audience […]
One of the lesser known, and largely forgotten kids shows in the Twin Cities was Hi Jerry with Sister M. Cabrini Bongiovanni. Sister Carbrini was a Catholic nun who combined entertainment and performing with her ministry. Patrick Sweeney remembers the program. “Jerry was a ventriloquist’s dummy and the ventriloquist was a nun named Sister Mary […]