Today we look back on one of the first kids show hosts in the Twin Cities. Toby Prin was a popular performer on radio, and later TV from the 1930’s until the late 1950’s.
One of the earliest kids shows in the Twin Cities was Toby’s Talent Hunt (also known as Uncle Toby’s Tune Time), hosted by Toby Prin. Talent showcases were popular programs in the early days of television, and this show was no different. Many of the performers were young children and many went on to become entertainers.
Toby Prin was a popular piano player, organist, and singer, performing on WCCO radio starting in the mid 1930’s. He transitioned to television in 1949 when WCCO launched it’s TV station as WTCN. One of the earliest programs was Mailbox Melodies, described by TV historian Julian West as, “The audience sent in song requests, along with a photo. The picture would be displayed while Toby sang and played the tune… In its first eight months on the air, the show received – and showed – more than 5,000 pictures.”
Toby Prin was born in 1906 in Ishpeming, Michigan. He eventually moved to the Iron Range, living in Virginia, Minnesota. He had his own band, dubbed the “Tiny Specht Orchestra.” He was professionally trained in music at Chicago Musical Conservatory, eventually ending up in the Twin Cities. He joined WCCO Radio in 1935.
A rare transcription disc from 1946 on the Radio Tapes website features Hubert Humphrey reading the comics pages, while Toby Prin plays music and sings songs to accompany him. It is also available on YouTube!
In the early days of television, performers were featured on multiple programs at the TV station where they worked. Toby Prin also appeared on The Mel Jass show on WCCO in the early 50’s, playing piano and singing songs. In 1954 he was hosting western shows on Toby Prin’s Western Stories, weekdays on WCCO.
Here’s a poor quality kinescope of Toby Prin portraying “Tubby Toby.” It is unknown of this was ever broadcast. This may have been a pilot for a TV program in the mid 1950s.
Toby’s Talent Hunt continued through the mid-1950’s but would come to an end when Prin experienced a series of health issues including heart disease and diabetes. He passed away in 1965.
Sources:
Twin Cities TV: Local Kids Shows by Julian West on the TV Party website
Nostalgia Behind the Cameras: A Tribute by John Prin
Minneapolis Mayor Hubert H. Humphrey reading the newspaper comics at RadioTapes.com
TOBY PRIN-Pianist/Organist/Radio and TV Entertainer at TomPrin.com
Mel Jass – at St. Louis Park Historical Society website
Sixty Years Strong from World Radio History website