NYC LOCAL TV - WPIX-11
Thanksgiving Day Jamborees
It was a unique and fun way to share
the Thanksgiving holidays with
some very special people.

On Thursday, November 23, 1960, WPIX TV Channel 11 in NYC began a tradition that lasted into the 1970's. For ten years, Officer / Police Chief Joe Bolton, Captain Jack McCarthy and Ms. Carol Corbett hosted 'The Thanksgiving Day Jamborees.'

Set against the backdrop of the living room of a private home, Officer Joe and Captain Jack would engage a group of kids from St. Barnabas House (a foster home in Lower Manhattan) and their viewers in games, songs, stories, craftmaking, hobbies and informational segments between reruns of old movie and TV cartoons, film comedies, 'The Adventures Of Superman,' 'Casey Jones', 'Fury,' etc.

 

At the end of the show, Officer Joe and Captain Jack would sit down and have Thanksgiving dinner along with the kids at home. As Capt. Jack told me in a December, 1983 interview, Ch. 11 aired 'The Thanksgiving Day Jamborees' again on Thursday, November 23, 1961 and on Thursday, November 22. 1962.

The traditional Thanksgiving show was pre-empted in November, 1963 due to President John F. Kennedy's assasination. The show was pre-empted again in November, 1964 for reasons that are still unknown, but WPIX 11 aired 'The Thanksgiving Day Jamboree' again on Thursday, November 25, 1965 with Carol Corbett serving as Officer Joe's co-host on the show.

Ms. Corbett's presence added warmth and charm to the proceedings. She also ultilized her puppetry and drawings talents as she performed skits with her puppets "Doodle E Do" the Dog Puppet and "Schnieder," the spider puppet. She would also encourage the kids in the studio and at home to draw along with her and conducted "Chalk Talks" (drawing pictures to help illustrate her stories).

Officer Joe and Ms. Corbett returned to host 'The Thanksgiving Day Jamboree' on Thursday, November 25, 1965; Thursday, November 24, 1966; Thursday, November 23, 1967 and on Thursday, November 28, 1968.

Station execs decided not to air 'The Thanksgiving Day Jamboree' in 1969 - instead they broadcast the second annual 'Fun & Games Day Special' on Sunday, November 30, 1969. WPIX had aired the first 'Fun & Games Day Special' on Sunday, February 2, 1969.

 

Officer Joe and Captain Jack hosted this eight hour marathon with kids in the studio audience playing board games provided by the show's sponsor The Ideal Toy Co. The goal for the kids was to win a treasure chest stuffed with Ideal toys and games. Officer Joe and Captain Jack also picked names from a barrel full of mailed in entries so that lucky kids at home who could win Ideal toys.

The two seasoned TV performers would also introduce reruns of movie & TV cartoons, Three Stooges & Little Rascals film comedies and reruns of 'The Abbott & Costello,' Superman,' 'Mack & Myer For Hire' TV shows and Gumby and Capt. Scarlett TV Puppet films.

Bob McAllister hosted the third and last 'Fun & Games Day Special' on Monday, February 23, 1970.

WPIX Ch. 11 revived 'The Thanksgiving Day Jamboree' in November, 1970. Officer Joe and Captain Jack entertained and informed their party guests (in the studio and at home) while introducing the usual films for one last time.

---

CHANNEL 5
THANKSGIVING SHOWS

WNEW also aired their own Thanksgiving Day kid's TV specials. On Thursday morning, November 26. 1959, Sonny Fox hosted 'The First Annual Wonderama Thanksgiving Day Party.' Sonny engaged the kids in the studio and at home in craftmaking, hobbies, informational segments, games, and interviews with guest performers between the reruns of old movie cartoons and comedies.

Sonny Fox hosted another 'Wonderama Thanksgiving Day Party' on Ch. 5 on Thursday afternoon, November 23, 1961. Sonny and his guests ventriloquist/entertainer and cartoon voice-over performer Paul Winchell, magician/escape artist and magic historian The Amazing James Randi and folk singer Pat Woodell entertained the kids in the studio audience and at home - along with reruns of the usual movie and TV cartoons.

WNEW aired 'The Sandy Becker /Chuck McCann Thanksgiving Day Special' on Thursday afternoon, November 25, 1965. Sandy Becker and Chuck McCann performed character comedy and puppet skits and engaged viewers in informational segments, drawing lessons, craftmaking, hobbies, contests and reruns of old movie and TV cartoons.

1980 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

NYC Local Kid Shows Roundup Laurel and Hardy Shows Little Rascal ShowsChubby Jackson3 Stooges Shows The Shari Go Round Carol Corbett Show Mighty HerculesUncle Fred ScottOfficer Joe Bolton / 3 Stooges Dick Tracy Shows Felix the Cat Shows Uncle Joe BovaFred Hall / Hall in Fun Looney Tunes Shows Mr. McGarrity Show Horn & Hardedt Children's Hour Choose Up Sides Beachcomber Bill Bill Jackson Joe DiMaggio Show The Merry Mailman Ray Forrest - Children's Theater Bob McAllister Shows Happy Feltons Knothole Gang Johnny Jellybean / Time For Fun NYC's Bozo Shows Freddie the Fireman, Cartoon Zoo, Capt Video Chubby Jackson The Funny Company Jim Stewart Jimmy Nelson Studio 99 1/2 Marvel Superheroes The New Howdy Doody NYC's Romper Room Tommy Seven Just For FunLet's Have Fun J Fred Muggs Show Joya's Fun School Captain Jack McCarthy The Chuck McCann Shows Captain Allen Swift Bonamo The Magic Clown Pixanne Claude Kirchner's Scrub Club Tinker's Workshop Surprise Show / Aniforms Herb Sheldon / Ray Forrest Mighty Hercules Sonny Fox - Just For Fun Buster Crabbe's Buddies Popcorn Theater Puppet Hotel On The CarouselBirthday HouseJohnny Andrews, Joe King Terry Tell Time Patchwork Family Lewis Anderson / Clarabelle the Clown The Ritts Puppets Shari Lewis Tom Gregory / Cartoon Playtime Wonderama Christmas Shows Thanksgiving Day Jamborees The Last NYC Local Kid Shows Roundup homepage

Classic TV!

Lost Kid Shows Homepage / Shock Theater's Zacherle / Sesame Street / Andy's Gang / Sandy Becker / TV Pow! / Hilarious House of Frightenstein / The Friendly Giant / Madison's Cowboy Eddie / Who Was Doodles Weaver? / Lost Kid Show Recordings / Winky-Dink and You / Remembering Winky-Dink / Captain Kangaroo / The Old Rebel Show / The Soupy Sales Show / Walt Disney's Shows / The Magic Garden / Mad Mad Monster Party / Houston Local Kid Shows / Boston Local Kid Shows / Fabulous Sally Starr / New York City Locals / More New York City Locals / Tooter the Turtle / Crusader Rabbit / Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney / Alex Toth's Television Work / Diver Dan and Whirlybirds / Sonny Fox's Wonderama / The Pinky Lee Show / Bizarre Kid Shows / Chicago's Kid Shows / Chicago's Ray Rayner Show / Garfield Goose and Friends / Bob Bell's Bozo Show on WGN / Bill Jackson's Shows / Gigglesnort Hotel Memories / Bob McAllister's Wonderama / Cincinnati Local Kid Shows / More Cincinnati Locals / Make A Wish / Hot Dog / Supermarionation Puppet Shows / Philadelphia Kid Shows / Philly's Captain Noah / The Chief Halftown Show / Philly's Gene London / Bertie the Bunyip / Dickory Doc / Adam Android / LA Kid Shows / The Merry Mailman / Do Do The Kid From Outer Space / Romper Room / Romper Room Around the USA / St. Louis Kiddie Shows / Religious Kid Shows / San Francisco Local Kid Shows / Johnny Jellybean / Johnny Jupiter / Shrimpenstein / Uncle Fred Sayles / Raleigh's Uncle Paul / Shenanigans and Video Village / Pip the Piper / Thanksgiving Day Cartoon Specials of the 70s / Monster Movie Matinee / Big Blue Marble / STM Club / Popeye on TV / Cleveland Local Kid Shows / Wixie's Wonderland / Jet Jackson and Sky King / The Original Animated Hercules / Ruff & Reddy