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 TV show, broadcast on WCCO.
This is the first time I have encountered this particular bit of memorabilia. I would date it to the late 1960’s, but if anyone has more information, please contact me!
As best I have been able to determine, Allan joined the Clancy show in 1963, first as a puppeteer for Vivian Vulture. He soon joined the show as Willie Ketchem and continued up until the show ended in 1977. He continued to host kids shows as Bugs Bunny and Friends and then Allan’s Window until 1979.
Outside of children’s television, Allan hosted Comedies and Classics on WCCO on Friday nights throughout the 1970s, showcasing classic movies featuring the Marx Brothers, WC Fields, Astaire and Rodgers and so much more. He produced the 45 rpm record of Axel reciting The Night Before Christmas. And he created the theatrical troupe New Fogie Follies which performed in the Twin Cities from 1992 to 2010. Allan passed away in 2019.
I was fortunate enough to meet Allan a few times over the years and cherish the time we spent together.