Pioneers of Television
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I am a big fan of the PBS series “Pioneers of Television,” and I am especially looking forward to tonight’s episode about the early days of local children’s TV featuring Willard Scott, Stan Freberg, Jim Henson, Larry Harmon (“Bozo”) and Nancy Claster (“Romper Room”). Before national programs like “Sesame Street,” “Captain Kangaroo,” and “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” television for children was developed locally. “Romper Room” and “Bozo the Clown” appeared in nearly every market, but they were franchised so that some cities could produce their own versions.
Be sure to watch for some surprising history and some familiar faces.