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We
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The Kiddie Scene with Mr. Green |
"Thanks a lot Old Rebel"... some are too excited to say it. "Thanks" is there, though, in the glowing eyes of thousands of kids every year when they get that treasured autograph and that "Hello there, Joey" from their favorite friends, the Old Rebel and Pecos Pete of WFMY-TV. ("Troubles" sometimes licks a hand or two for her public). When these three come to town, in this area of 466,640 TV homes, everyone from Gram'pa on down turns out for the festivities, foolishness and fun. In High Point, Haw River, Topnot - throughout the nation's 44th TV market - they're local institutions. "Why it wouldn't be a parade without the Old Rebel and Pecos Pete." Part of their ability to delight audiences comes from their deep and genuine affection for children - and the feeling is mutual. - Press release from 1956 My father was a native of Statesville, survived bullets, bombs and fire during World War II's Battle of the Bulge, and after the war toured Europe with an acting troupe. When he returned to North Carolina, he was an announcer in the Statesville and Asheboro radio markets before being hired by WFMY in 1950. He was a commercial announcer, part-time weatherman, built sets, served as cameraman, and film engineer among other duties until he took over as the Old Rebel.
Many people don't know that my father carved the puppets that were used on the show himself. - Timm Perry, The Old Rebel's Son  
The show began in 1950 as Six-Gun Playhouse with George Perry introducing clown acts, western serials and black-and-white cartoons. A year later, Perry donned a black top hat, frock coat and old-fashioned bow-tie to become 'The Old Rebel'. In the early days of The Old Rebel Show, George Perry still wore his cowboy duds, a hold-over from the Six-gun Playhouse' concept. Practically every 'all-American' kid growing up in the Fifties and early Sixties played 'cowboys and indians', with a holster and gun on his hips and a half-gallon hat on his head.
 Born in
1948, I can just barely remember NOT having television around. I do
remember getting up early on Saturday and Sunday mornings and sitting
in front of a very small television screen and watching the old Indian
Head Test Pattern just sit there. I would even try to match the pitch
tone (whooooooo) as long as my breath would hold out.
-
Jim Wiglesworth, Co-host Old Rebel Show, 1968-1977
NEXT:
'The Old Rebel Show' for possible inclusion on the site! |
The
Old Rebel Show was a work of love for my dad, and plenty of fun
too! One of the nation's leading children's shows, airing in Greensboro,
North Carolina's WFMY-TV, the main philosophy was to "entertain, enlighten,
and educate" the whole family: from the babies to the kiddies to the
teens, Dad and Mom, and Gramps and Grandma too.
The
Old Rebel Show was a showcase for funny skits and fine variety entertainment.
Hundreds of thousands of youngsters appeared on the "magic moving playhouse"
bleachers and scores celebrated their birthdays in the studios. National
entertainers, including Captain Kangaroo, Dennis Weaver, Gene Autry,
Andy Griffith, William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd were special guests.
Coca-Cola and Dr.
Pepper were earl sponsors, and drinks were wheeled into the studio by
the crateful atop shopping carts to give to he kids in the audience.
My mother also joined in the festivities by cooking dozens of Curtis
Hot Dogs and serving them on delicious Holsum Bread rolls.
Some
people might think of 'The Old Rebel Show' as a local imitation of the
'Captain Kangaroo' show. In fact, The Old Rebel was on the air for years
before the good Captain ever came along, and remained on the air longer
than almost any other local children's show host - an astonishing 27
years. It's amazing that today, people in their thirties and people
in their sixties can remember being on the show.
In
this spirit, Pecos Pete (Jim Tucker), a very friendly cowboy character
joined the Old Rebel in 1953 and the show became known as 'The Old Rebel
and Pecos Pete Show' - for over a decade, the names were linked together
like Laurel and Hardy. Joining them on the show were Troubles the dog
and Cathy the chimp. Having a monkey as a regular on the show was not
that unusual in the Fifties - in fact the '
With Tucker playing the cowboy role, George Perry adopted
the look you see in this photo from the late-fifties - the quintessential
old southern gentleman outfit.
I
don't remember the first time I saw the Old Rebel show, it just seemed
like it was on for as long as I can remember. We watched it everyday
it seems. l do remember the first time I went to the station to be on
the show - I was in the 3rd grade and our class went to the show and
we danced the "Mexican Hat Dance". I guess we must have been studying
this in school or something.
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