Introduction

Introduction

While I was born in 1951, sometimes I feel like I was born in 1914. My father told me so many stories about growing up in Philadelphia, and occasionally even about his family, that I feel some sense of at least one person's life in those years before I was born. While my mother, of course, wanted a child, I'm not sure that my father did. I think there was a part of it all that scared him, so they waited quite a while to have me. I hope I was "a relief" to my father, and I think I worked hard to be a good son. Looking back, especially at those few older pictures I have of my father, I think the very best part of his life was the first half - back when things were simple, he had good friends, and the burdens of adulthood were not yet upon him. Looking back, I feel like the best part of my life was the first half, largely due to my parents. It was a time when life was simple, controllable, and when I was actually organized! I'm sure my father found many good things in his entire life, as do I, but I believe we had this in common - that there is nothing better than growing up in Philadelphia. So, do not find the title of my new blog in any way depressing, my friends, its just a perspective that I've found interesting to investigate.

I'll start by writing about my family. I realize we are nothing special, but as we've learned from millions of pages of memoirs written and published, there can be much to be learned from those who came before us.

As I get past some family stories, this blog may be of interest to anyone who grew up in the Delaware Valley/Philadelphia/Delaware County in the 1950's and 60's, or to anyone married/partnered to one (if you are, there is much you need to understand before the two of you can communicate!).

Please check out my book, Saturday Night at Sarah Joy's. All proceeds go to the Hurricane Sandy NJ Relief Fund. Information is available at: saturdaynightatsarahjoys.blogspot.com.

Thank you!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Thanks to My Friends From Down Under - You Were the Best


Bertie the Bunyip (left) and Lee Dexter


I admit that I don't know what kid's shows were on local television in NYC or LA in the 1950's and 1960's, but there is NO WAY that anyone could have been as lucky as kids in the Philadelphia area, any kid whose parents' TV antenna could pull in Philly Channels 3,6, and 10, and later some UHF channels.

I don't remember them all, but there was Pete's Gang, that had Chuckwagon Pete, who was Pete Boyle. Pete would show things like Our Gang "movies", and would also draw (and of course, tell stories). Apparently Pete was eventually replaced by Bob Bradley, who was replaced by a character named Lorenzo. In the 60's, when UHF channels became available, Captain Philadelphia had a show, as did Wee Willie Webber, Gene London, and the biggies - Pixanne, Chief Halftown, Sally Starr, Happy the Clown, Miss Connie on Romper Room, and the Captain and Mrs. Noah and the Magical Ark.  They all showed us movies and introduced us to the Three Stooges, Clutch Cargo, and an incredible collection of old cartoons.  If you want to see them all, you can watch WHYY's one-hour special, Philly's Favorite Kid Show Hosts, on- line at:

http://video.whyy.org/video/1780796549/

Of course, I looked forward to Chief Halftown and that hot cowgirl Sally Starr.  I even was a big follower of Happy the Clown, but my favorite character was the weirdest character on TV (until you got to know him). A special thanks needs to go to Lee Dexter et al., who created my favorite show, with my favorite character, Bertie the Bunyip. I never appreciated what a bunyip was (a cross between a bunny and a turn-yip?).  I'm probably the last to know, but a bunyip is an imaginary mean, Jersey Devil kind of character that originates in Australia (as did Lee).  According to Lee, a bunyip was part bunny, part collie dog, and part duck-billed platypus.  It is an Aborigine good spirit in some stories, not so good in others. While Bertie was definitely a kind and gentle spirit, he was probably not a typical bunyip.

(On cryptozoology.com, there is information on The Bunyip: Mythical Beast, Modern--day Monster, a fierce man-killer.  A bunyip is a "dreamtime" spirit.  There is no real agreement on how they looked; they were often animals who's cries or screams or howls you may hear late at night, but they were never seen.  More modern Aboriginal bunyips are herbivorous, grazing animals.)


 Bertie was actually a character on Pete Boyle's show before he had a show of his own.  It was Lee who explained that God created all the animals, then used the leftovers to create the bunyip.  When Lee made Bertie, he made a wooly tube of a body, with kangaroo ears, a platypus bill, bubble nose, and puppy fur (parts left over from the other characters he made). Bertie also wore a nice looking red and white polka-dot tie (well, black & white), and I always thought he was an excellent actor and TV personality (Bertie, not Lee).

Lee created a rich cast of characters on Bertie's show, which included Sir Guy de Guy (a fox who always seemed to want to take over), Humphrey the Rabbit, Fussy and his brother Gussy, Cindy (a dog), Twinkie (a squirrel) Nixie (a pixie), and Winnie (a witch).  They all lived in (can you guess?) Bunyipville, which I think is just east of Philadelphia.  I've seen them all referred to as "puppets".  I just thought they were real.


Bertie lived on Channel 3, and was on at a number of different times.  When the show premiered in 1953, it was an hour-long show, Sundays from 11 to noon.  I very clearly remember watching the Bertie the Bunyip Show for as long as I could, while my father patiently waited to drive me to Sunday School. Apparently the show actually was the reason why some churches changed their Sunday School times. There were times when Bertie was on Saturdays, and he had a daily program for awhile, as well.

I think I loved Bertie and the show because the cast worked to entertain between cartoons and movies, as much as a puppet can entertain.  Bertie didn't have arms and I never saw any legs - he was a one of a kind creature.  But he seemed very comfortable with himself, and I just enjoyed watching him interacting with his diverse group of friends.  Bertie could have been very self-conscious about what he was, but instead he enjoyed life, and was happy to be.
Bertie's acting skills were legendary.

Lee Dexter's show has been called one of Philadelphia's most charming and wholesome shows. 

It also made me happy when Bertie would say, always say, "remember kiddie-kiddies, Bertie always loves you."  We loved you too, you little mutant you!



Thanks to web sites that keep the Bertie Story alive:

Lost Kid Shows:  http://www.tvparty.com/lostbertie.html
Broadcast Pioneers:  http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/bertiethebunyip.html
The Waffleman:  http://dwaffleman.com/Welcome/Old_Philly_kid_shows.html
The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia:
   http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/childrens-television/bunyip-photo/

I also wanted to acknowledge www.cafepress.com, for actually selling Bertie the Bunyip postcards.

© John Allison 2013
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