Tom Shales reflects on 'Kukla, Fran and Ollie'

The Washington Post ^ | March 29, 2010 | Tom Shales

[backhoe]

Shari Lewis happens to be the first woman I was ever in love with (except my mom)...

For me, it was Dinah Shore

...to the point I named my first cat- a tomcat! after her-- but Shari was up in that female pantheon, too.

[Jimmy Valentine]

That was a great show. Had Midnight the Cat. "Froggy the Gremlin" would pop up during supposedly serious segments of the show and create havoc. A favorite foil was Billy (Burke?) who used to get completely non-plussed.

If memory serves, before Andy Devine the host was Charles Laughton, a very famous British actor, who used to present stories to the kids (I'm reaching down into the lizard portion of my brain to dredge this up).

[Jimmy Valentine]

"Paul Winchell inspired"

An interesting factis that he developed an artificial heart for placement into patients.

[johngalt42]

Garfield Goose was great. Who could forget Clutch Cargo? The only cartoon faces with real mouths. Ray Rayner was great too.

[Fresh Wind]

[Beowulf9]

“Any New York kids remember Sandy Becker?”

Did anyone ever ‘stump the professor’?

How about Zacherley?

http://www.zacherley.com

[ErnBatavia]

Howdy Doody and his massa did a thing at the Alex Theater in Glendale, and my name was drawn to come up to the stage and receive a beachball.......I was terrified, but Mom got me to do it in the end.

[Kickass Conservative]

Is the Alex Theater still there?

I used to go the Movies there. I think they converted it to a Playhouse years ago.

[ErnBatavia]

I couldn't tell you....haven't been to Glendale since the very early 1980's....but just now, found this:

http://www.alextheatre.org/

.

[Nea Wood]

That picture brings back memories. I even had a Garfield Goose puppet.

[Kickass Conservative]

You must be an old geezer like me. LOL

[NCC-1701]

Back in the ‘60’s, Shari Lewis came to Memphis for a show at the Overton Park Shell. With her was Lamb Chop. I was in the crowd for that show. It was nice to see an icon of my youth when they were at their best.

[Stentor]

”Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!”

Hiya kids! Hiya, Hiyah! My memories of the very early days include The Kate Smith Hour. "When the moon comes over the mountain" with the corny backdrop.

Kate Smith

I am freaking ancient.

[TBP]

I kept sending “The Professor” the question, “How many angels can dance on teh head of a pin.” He never bothered to try answering that one.

[TBP]

Great picture. Thanks.