Remember Romper Room? It was a live, local kids show for children three, four, and five years old. What was new and different was that it was franchised and syndicated in more than 100 cities. At its height, it played in every English-speaking country, and Japan.
It premiered in Baltimore in 1953.
Bert and Nancy Klaster, Romper Room Creators
Each city had its own local hostess. Four local children, ages four and five, appeared live on every show, and participated in activities. The children rotated every week or two. The show, and unique business plan, were created in Baltimore by Nancy and Bert Klaster. “Miss Nancy,” as she was called, was the first on-air hostess.
The hostess read the children stories, led songs, exercises, and a rhythm band. She taught moral lessons and role-modeled polite behavior. She led the kids in saying grace, and served them milk and cookies. Each show began with the Pledge of Allegiance, and ended with the “magic mirror." Mainly, the hostess sold a huge line of Romper Room products. It was on TV, franchised and locally produced worldwide, for more than 20 years.
The Magic Mirror, Mr. Do-Bee, and Mr. Don't-Bee
The magic mirror was a unique feature. The hostess looked through an open hoop with a handle, the size and shape of a hand mirror. She’d recite the rhyme, “Romper, bomper, stomper boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me, do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, have all my friends had fun at play?” There would be a brief psychedelic visual. Then, she would name the children she saw through the mirror in “televisionland.”
“I can see Scotty and Kimberly and Julie and Jimmy and Kelly and Ed and Judy” and so on. Kids were encouraged to mail in their names, which would be read on the air – first names only. Children sat in front of the TV waiting for their names to be called.
All local hostesses were called “Miss” Sally or Sarah or whatever. They all attended a school, where Miss Nancy (Klaster) taught them how to speak, relate to the children, become part of the local community, and sell Romper Room products.
Mr. Do-Bee and Mr. Don’t-Bee were favorite recurring characters, who taught the children how to behave. “Do Bee good boys and girls for your parents!” Mr. Don’t Bee told children exactly what they should not do. “Do be a turn-taker. Don’t be a me-firster."
Do-Bee balloons featured a painted sketch of Mr. Do-Bee. When the balloons were inflated and released, they would fly around the room slowly emitting a buzzing sound. Parents could buy these balloons for their children in stores. Mr. Do-Bee also had a song you could buy on a seven-inch, 78 rpm record (a common medium for children’s songs in the early ‘50’s.)
“I always do what’s right/ I never do anything wrong/ I’m a Romper Room Do-Bee/ A Do-Bee all day long.”
I could always make my little sister cry by singing: “I always do what’s wrong/ I never do anything right/ I’m a Romper Room Don’t Bee/ A Don’t Bee day and night.” Romper Room was beneath contempt to my mature six-year-old eyes. It was Holy Writ to my 4-year-old sister.
Romper Room and Friends
In 1981, the format of Romper Room was overhauled and re-titled Romper Room and Friends. 100 syndicated versions were taped in Baltimore with “Miss Molly” as host. The biggest change to the program was the introduction of a series of new puppet characters, including a full costume character named Kimble, and puppets, Granny Cat and Up-Up.
The Muppets, Stan Freberg, Beany and Cecil
In the ‘50s and ‘60’s, most local TV stations had local hosts who performed live. The Muppets began on a kids’ show in Washington D.C., and Stan Freberg created Beany and Cecil. They all sold their sponsors’ products on their shows
Romper Room, Thalidomide and Abortion
In 1962, the hostess in Phoenix got involved in the abortion controversy. Sherri Finkbine, known to television viewers as “Miss Sherri”, sought hospital approval for abortion on the ground that she had been taking thalidomide, and believed her child would be deformed.
She made a public announcement about the dangers of thalidomide, and the hospital refused to allow the abortion. Finkbine traveled to Sweden for the abortion, where it was confirmed that the fetus had no legs and only one arm.
The incident became a made-for-TV movie in 1992, A Private Matter, with Sissy Spacek as Finkbine. (Thalidomide was a popular drug in the early ‘60’s that caused birth defects in pregnant women.)
Peggy Charron and Action for Children's Television
A mother named Peggy Charron in Boston began protesting the advertising on her childrens’ local Romper Room show. It led to the creation of Action for Children’s Television (ACT), which led to a new rule by the Federal Communications Commission that prohibited children’s’ hosts from selling products on TV.
That ruling was the beginning of the end for live, local kids TV shows and TV hosts. Without a live, local host to sell the sponsors’ products, sales dropped. There was no more need for a live host. Stations could show inexpensive cartoons and run commercials.
Ken Braiterman - Ken Braiterman writes columns for the Concord (NH) Monitor print and online editions. He also writes and lectures on recovery from ...
