Winky Dink & You, Crusader Rabbit, and other minor kids’ sho

Winky Dink & You, Crusader Rabbit, and other minor kids’ sho Jan 5, 2019 14:22:56 GMT mikef6 likes this

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Post by Cooper, the Golden Retriever on Jan 5, 2019 14:22:56 GMT

Oct 18, 2017 17:10:23 GMT divtal said:

Oct 5, 2017 16:01:33 GMT mikef6 said:

Winky Dink and You was a CBS show for children that was broadcast from 1953 to 1957. Human actor Jack Barry hosted and narrated the cartoon featuring the title character. What is most remembered is the kit that could be ordered by mail that contained a clear plastic sheet and some markers, maybe crayons or a grease pen. You would stick the plastic sheet over the TV screen and help WD out of tight spots by drawing, for example a key to unlock a door, by connecting some dots. Some kids made their own with wax wrapping paper.

When the west Texas city where I was born got its first TV channel (channel 2), it signed on everyday at 4:00 PM (and signed off at midnight). This gave me time to get home from school and catch an episode of Crusader Rabbit, which was shown first at sign-on. Episodes were five minutes long. Crusader Rabbit was a syndicated show that began in 1949 and ran to 1957. CR’s sidekick was Rags the Tiger. The humor was witty and ironic. One of the creators went on to help develop “Rocky and Bullwinkle” which was influenced by Crusader Rabbit.

Memories? Other shows you enjoyed that are not widely remembered today?

Ah, I have fond memories of both.

I drew Winky out of many a moment of peril. I remember when most of us, in the neighborhood, had talked Mom & Dad into sending for the Winky Dink "kit." Before most of the requests were mailed, one of the fathers realized that Saran Wrap would work, just as well. Early Saran Wrap was much thicker than today's filmy stuff, and the static cling worked on the screen. Of course it worked, but we were disappointed at not having the "official" issue from the show.

Some of the production on Crusader Rabbit was done here, in San Francisco, but I'm not sure exactly what parts were involved. The character Dudley Nightshade was voiced by Russ Coughlan, with whom I later worked at KGO Radio. Russ was a talk-show host in radio, and later went to the "sister" TV station to serve as ABC V.P., and General Manager. He was one of the nicest ... and funniest ... people you could ever want to meet.

Thanks for the memories.

Same form mem, but also for the later revivals of both (Winky Dink was revived in 1968, Crusader in 1957-195,rerun thru 60s-1970