NCAAbbs

GOOOOD EEEEEEEEEVVVENNNNNIIIINNNGGGGG!!!!!!!!!









The family of Watson Davis sent the sad news that he passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2005.
Mr. Davis' granddaughter, Andrea McKennon, says that "Grandma would love to hear from his fans"
so Sivad's fans are welcome to send cards and letters of support and remembrance to:

Mabel Davis
1002 North College
Stuttgart AR 72160

serious question & no disrepect indended....but who the heck is that?

Sivad was the Host of Fantastic Features on WHBQ back in the 60's when there was only Broadcast TV to watch. It came on TV Saturday nights and scared the heck out of many boys and girls in Memphis.

The only stations were WMC, WHBQ, WREC (now WREG), and WKNO the PBS affiliate. So on Saturday nights there wasn't alot of TV to choose between.

The show opened with a horse pulling a Hearse through a fog filled forest while creepy music played.

Fantastic Features played Horror & Creature Flicks and Sivad was the Host. He would open the show with "Gooood EEEEVVVVENNNING; I am Sivad your "Monster of Ceremonies" with an accent that was part Bela Lugosi and part Redneck.

Sivads name was DAVIS (his real name) spelled backwards. Oh yeah; he wore fake Dracula fangs as well.

k_tiger Wrote:serious question & no disrepect indended....but who the heck is that?

i second that...

Just us old farts remember him....RIP Sivad

tell you what when he opened that cape and that smoke came out plus that wild scary music well....geez where have all the good times gone..........

Cletus Wrote:GOOOOD EEEEEEEEEVVVENNNNNIIIINNNGGGGG!!!!!!!!!









The family of Watson Davis sent the sad news that he passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2005.
Mr. Davis' granddaughter, Andrea McKennon, says that "Grandma would love to hear from his fans"
so Sivad's fans are welcome to send cards and letters of support and remembrance to:

Mabel Davis
1002 North College
Stuttgart AR 72160

How can a vampire die?

I remember reading that the opening was filmed one foggy morning in Overton Park. It was actually pretty well done for a local thing.

Oh my goodness! I feel like another piece of my past is gone! :crying: I wish they'd find those old clips and offer them on DVD or something. I'd love to watch them again and show my kids!

Was he bigger than Lance Russell?

Eastendtiger Wrote:tell you what when he opened that cape and that smoke came out plus that wild scary music well....geez where have all the good times gone..........

man - i was behind the couch when that music started LOL. scared the crap out of me until i was about 8 years old.

sivad was as huge a local celebrity as jerry lawler is now - even the grand marshall of the old memphis christmas pardade once.

I'm with you Jeb. Sivad used to scare the crap out of me. I could watch the horror movie, but I couldn't watch the opening with Sivad and the hearse drawn by horses. Man that was creepy.

I saw some highlights of Sivad on one of the WKNO Memphis history shows one night. I have to admit that it was still kind of spooky and I'm 49.

RIP Sivad.

I spent many Sat nights watching Sivad, then Jonie Weston and Charlie O'Connell of the bay area Bombers.

Anyone have a digital clip of this opening on their computer they could share with those of us who have never heard of him?

Wow..Im glad I visited your board today..I grew up in Memphis..(in Louisville now) and watched Sivad ALL the time...I have NEVER forgotten about him and the show..It scared the poop out of me! I am 43 now...I might be wrong but I think he was on late Saturday nights.........he was a big part of my growing up down there...Thanks for the info.........RIP Sivad Beadman

R.I.P. SIVAD
The family of Watson Davis sent the sad news that he passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2005.
Mr. Davis' granddaughter, Andrea McKennon, says that "Grandma would love to hear from his fans"
so Sivad's fans are welcome to send cards and letters of support and remembrance to:

Mabel Davis
1002 North College
Stuttgart AR 72160



Sivad and Fantastic Features!


Fantastic Feature Contribution by Harris Lentz
"Gooooood eeevening. I am Sivad."

Most long-time residents of Memphis and the Mid-South remember fondly the Saturday evening in late-September of 1962 when those words were first heard on the premiere of Fantastic Features. The caped and fanged figure on the television screen soon became one of Memphis' most familiar and best loved faces. Besides hosting the weekly (later twice weekly) horror films on Channel 13, WHBQ, he drew large crowds at fairs and parades, hosted film premieres at theaters, and even recorded several songs that became local hits.


Beneath the vampire make-up and the top hat and tails was Watson Davis, the advertising director for the local Malco Theaters. Shortly after making his debut as Sivad, Davis was honored as showman of the year by the United Theater Owners for his promotion of horror films. He also served as President of the Tri-State Theater Owners in 1967. While working for the Malco Theaters, Davis orchestrated numerous events coinciding with the opening of horror films in Memphis.

In an interview with the local newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, following his award, Davis recounted some of his promotions. "For Brides of Dracula we presented a processional inside the theater. An Alpine-costumed band accompanied Dracula's bride down the aisle, Dracula arose from an onstage coffin and a wedding was performed" Davis recalled. For the premiere of Mysterious Island, 150 winners of a coloring contest were given a boat trip to Goat Island. "We had to use a transportation company's barge to transport our paraphernalia out there, including hot dogs, soft drinks and all our monster materials," Watson said. "The first thing the visitors saw was a huge animal looming up out of the middle of the island as the boat approached. Paul Schaefer (operations manager of the Malco chain) dressed as a hunter, bravely shot a gun and the beast crawled off." The event continued with ushers portraying banshees who welcomed guests with screams before a treasure hunt and a pirate-type hot dog roast.

Watson recalled one of the props was a "chicken-of-a-thing, 30 feet high, with (Malco manager) Elton Holland and me inside, trying not to fall over. But the funniest part came when they were leaving. Elton and I staged a big ax fight on the beach. He accidentally backed over a log and fell down and some kid came along with a club and really whacked him." Watson also created a 20-foot-high tyrannosaurus for the Malco's lobby for the premiere of Dinosaurus in 1960.

Sivad was a major television figure in Memphis during the 1960s and was responsible for giving many of us in the area the opportunity to see first hand the numerous horror films we had only read about in the pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland. Fantastic Features first aired at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 29, 1962, with a showing of The Giant Behemoth. The program opened with Sivad emerging from a fog-enshrouded hearse to the strains of Leigh Stevens' score from the 1950 science-fiction film Destination Moon. The opening footage was filmed in Memphis' Overton Park near the Brooks Art Gallery.

I remember the second week to be a disappointing espionage film, Spy in the Sky, with little if any sci-fi thrills. On week three the show was back on track with World Without End, following in order with Queen of Outer Space, The Cosmic Man, Frankenstein 1970, House on Haunted Hill, The Cyclops, Caltiki, the Immortal Monster, The Bat and The Hypnotic Eye. The show continued in this vein until July of 1963, when it aired The Invisible Man, the first in a series of classic Universal horrors. Over the next several months we were treated to the original Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Mummy and their many sequels.

During the first several years of the show Fantastic Features was preceded by an episode of the 1950s television series Science Fiction Theater. Viewers were later treated to the Sons of Hercules or re-runs of The Twilight Zone before our weekly horror fix.

In September of 1965 Sivad hosted a half-hour show consisting of previews from up-coming films from a new package the station had acquired. Memphis viewers now had the opportunity to see such 1950s classics as Macabre, The Brain Eaters, I Was a Teenage Werewolf, I Was a Teenage Frankenstein, How to Make a Monster, It Conquered the World, The Giant Gila Monster, The Killer Shrews, The Wasp Woman and The She Creature.

Once he became Sivad, Davis often personally hosted the premieres of new films in character. He was also a local fixture at state fairs, carnivals, and parades throughout the Mid-South. On Fantastic Features and at personal appearances Sivad played several musical instruments including the ghoulaphone and the coffinola -- instruments that Davis concocted. Davis described the coffinola as a "reproduction of an old style coffin with one string, and I played it with a bow and it's amplified. Sometimes when I played with a rock band, I had to turn the amplifier up mighty high and it's risky because my bow might squeak." He insisted he really played tunes on the contraption. He also recorded the record "Sivad Buries Rock and Roll," which featured "Dickey Drakeller" on its flip side. The record is now a valuable collectors item.

The show continued to air on Saturday evenings until September 3, 1966, when, after a showing of The Pharoah's Curse, Fantastic Features was transformed into Fantastic Double Feature at 10:30 p.m. on Fridays with The Lodger and Fire Maidens from Outer Space.

In September of the following year another episode was aired on Saturday evening at 11:30 p.m., giving fans three movies per week. The Friday night show was cancelled in June of 1970, but Fantastic Features limped on as a double feature on Saturday nights for the next several years — mainly airing reruns until its ultimate cancellation on February 5, 1972.

Davis, in a 1986 interview, recounted the reasons for Fantastic Features ultimate cancellation: "We were running out of pictures. All the horror-pictures we were getting were sexy and wild. And we really were a family show. I was just repeating pictures."

Following the cancellation of the show in the early 1970s Davis continued to wear the Sivad outfit at local events. He retired to a mobile home near a lake in Arkansas to fish and relax.

oldtiger Wrote:RIP Sivad. 

I spent many Sat nights watching Sivad, then Jonie Weston and Charlie O'Connell of the bay area Bombers.

Great minds work alike!

When I read about Sivad, I thought about Joanie Weston ("the blond Amazon") and Charlie O'connell. How many elbows did those two throw at the poor little "jammers" that tried to pass them?

We're talking ROLLER DERBY here! Invented by Leo Selzer (or something similar) in 1932 as I recall (and I'm doing this without Google).

Sivad and then the Roller Derby. The original "must see" TV!

tigerjeb Wrote:

Eastendtiger Wrote:tell you what when he opened that cape and that smoke came out plus that wild scary music well....geez where have all the good times gone..........

man - i was behind the couch when that music started LOL. scared the crap out of me until i was about 8 years old.

sivad was as huge a local celebrity as jerry lawler is now - even the grand marshall of the old memphis christmas pardade once.

I remember it so well. Always seemed to be chili cooking day for my dad in our first Memphis house. I was probably four, five, six years old and two of my sisters and I would settle in front of our black and white t.v. and have absolute delight in getting scared half to death.

AtlantaDave Wrote:

oldtiger Wrote:RIP Sivad. 

I spent many Sat nights watching Sivad, then Jonie Weston and Charlie O'Connell of the bay area Bombers.

Great minds work alike!

When I read about Sivad, I thought about Joanie Weston ("the blond Amazon") and Charlie O'connell. How many elbows did those two throw at the poor little "jammers" that tried to pass them?

We're talking ROLLER DERBY here! Invented by Leo Selzer (or something similar) in 1932 as I recall (and I'm doing this without Google).

Sivad and then the Roller Derby. The original "must see" TV!

one of the great childhood victories in my life was getting my dad to agree to take us to a roller derby match at the coliseum. joanie weston, charlie mcconnell and the pioneers (at the time) vs anne cavello and the evil new york chiefs.

tigerjeb Wrote:man - i was behind the couch when that music started LOL. scared the crap out of me until i was about 8 years old.

sivad was as huge a local celebrity as jerry lawler is now - even the grand marshall of the old memphis christmas pardade once.

I would jump behind a chair in our living room when a commercial for Fantastic Features would come on.

Seeing the commercial on Memphis Memories recently on Ch 10 still made my heart skip a beat. LOL

Boy I AM getting old.

Quote:Viewers were later treated to the Sons of Hercules

Now that's the show(s) I remember the most ... the chicks were ... let's just say it must of been very warm where ever those flicks were shot. Probably Italy ...

How old was Sivad ... he looked about 200 in the 60's !!!

The old Frankenstein movies were GREAT !!! Those Old "B" horror movies were great at the Drive Inns too. I think Sivad used to prowl around the parking lot at the Old SW Twin !!! Only a Few people saw him ... WONDER WHY ??? :rofl:

steves Wrote:

Quote:Viewers were later treated to the Sons of Hercules

Now that's the show(s) I remember the most ... the chicks were ... let's just say it must of been very warm where ever those flicks were shot. Probably Italy ...

How old was Sivad ... he looked about 200 in the 60's !!!

The old Frankenstein movies were GREAT !!! Those Old "B" horror movies were great at the Drive Inns too. I think Sivad used to prowl around the parking lot at the Old SW Twin !!! Only a Few people saw him ... WONDER WHY ??? :rofl:

Sivad was 92.

He would have only been 47 - 60 during the times that the show ran. He did look dramatically older than that.

Cletus Wrote:Sivad was the Host of Fantastic Features on WHBQ back in the 60's when there was only Broadcast TV to watch. It came on TV Saturday nights and scared the heck out of many boys and girls in Memphis.

The only stations were WMC, WHBQ, WREC (now WREG), and WKNO the PBS affiliate. So on Saturday nights there wasn't alot of TV to choose between.

The show opened with a horse pulling a Hearse through a fog filled forest while creepy music played.

Fantastic Features played Horror & Creature Flicks and Sivad was the Host. He would open the show with "Gooood EEEEVVVVENNNING; I am Sivad your "Monster of Ceremonies" with an accent that was part Bela Lugosi and part Redneck.

Sivads name was DAVIS (his real name) spelled backwards. Oh yeah; he wore fake Dracula fangs as well.

Boy how time flys, I sure am getting old. :wave:

It is almost scary knowing most of us grew up watching the same things. I too followed Sivad with roller derby. Not by choice always got out voted. Or did I get a vote?

Obviously, with the posting name I use, I was a big Fantastic Features fan. Watson Davis was great. It doesn't sound like he ever really understood the enormous popularity of his character. I would love it if they began to replay some of the old Fantastic Features shows. Watson, RIP.

TG4 Wrote:Sivad, Happy Hal and Captain Bill. All three were part of my TV routine as a child of the 60's. Lance Russell came later with Dialing for Dollars Movie.

Mr. Greenjeans

Quote:georgiatiger Posted on Mar 26 2005, 12:07 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:QUOTE (TG4 @ Mar 26 2005, 12:05 PM)
Sivad, Happy Hal and Captain Bill. All three were part of my TV routine as a child of the 60's. Lance Russell came later with Dialing for Dollars Movie.

Mr. Greenjeans

TG4 Wrote:Sivad, Happy Hal and Captain Bill. All three were part of my TV routine as a child of the 60's. Lance Russell came later with Dialing for Dollars Movie.

Don't forget George Klien and Dance Party(?)

A moment of silence for Sivad . . .

Here's to Sivad

A Gooooood Eeeeeeevening, followed by a ghoulish laugh

Then he says, "I am Sivad, your Monster of Ceremonies."

I'll donate them to a student who needs the tix and can't afford them. thanks anyway.

Anyone remember Trent Wood and Looney Zoo on WMC-TV ? What was the name of his clown sidekick?

gwade56 Wrote:Anyone remember Trent Wood and Looney Zoo on WMC-TV ? What was the name of his clown sidekick?

Bozo and I'm embarrassed to admit I know that.

Didn't Trent Wood have a puppet on the show named Tiny? Or was Tiny on Happy Hal? Wait a minute. Happy Hal had a puppet named Little Bo or did he? I'm so confused!!!!!! :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :angry: :angry:

I think Tiny was the clown on Trent Wood, right?

Happy Hal had a little monkey puppet.

Who remembers Mr. Jingle or Bingle, the little snow guy around Christmas time.

Man, I am old!

gwade56 Wrote:Anyone remember Trent Wood and Looney Zoo on WMC-TV ?  What was the name of his clown sidekick?

trent woods sidekick was Tiny the Clown. this is burned into my brain because as a toddler fan boy, my mom got me into the peanut gallery for one show. keep in mind, i had only seen the show in black and white. out comes Tiny in the most garish green and red face make up you have ever seen. it scared me so bad i ran out of the studio and would not return.

Happy Hals puppet pal was indeed Little Bo. my dad HATED happy hal because he was allways plugging his toy shop on that show.

All Aboard with Mr. B was a channel 10 program featuring Mr B., a train engineer with his puppet pals Poncey D. Lion (who would spout poetry) and Troilus the Train Loving Troll.

Mr. Bingle and Miss Holly showed up around Christmas time and were Lowenstiens answer to Goldsmith's Enchanted Forrest

Didn't "The Winker", Wink Martindale have a dance show before George "I was Elvis' best man" Klein had his Talent Party? And didn't Wink also have a kid show with a space theme???

Quote:Mr. Bingle and Miss Holly showed up around Christmas time and were Lowenstiens answer to Goldsmith's Enchanted Forrest

Quote:Mr. Bingle makes us tingle with his joy and cheer
When he comes to town, Christmas time is near
Mr. Bingle makes us tingle when he comes our way
His heart's as big as he is, and he's always bright
and gay
Oh, Bingle, Bingle, Bingle, Bingle
Bingle, Bingle, Bingle, Bingle
Bingle, Bingle, Bingle, Bingle
We love Mr. Bingle

Apparently Mr. Bingle originated in New Orleans at Maison Blanche Department Store.

Here's the story:

Quote:Who? What? is a Mr. Bingle you say?

    Well,either you already know very,very well or you have no clue at all. That's ok because we're going to tell you all about him.

Once there was a Department store named Maison Blanche.The store was founded in 1897 by Isadore Newman.He was once a penniless merchant.The store , located on Canal St.in New Orleans(no longer in business) is now owned by Dillards Dept.stores. It has since turned in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel .Maison Blanche "MB" decided that they wanted to find a special little character to use for their advertising purposes.Emile Alline was a display director of Maison Blanche and employee since 1937.He had taken a trip up to Chicago in 1947 and noticed a character in a department store called "Marshall Fields" called Uncle Mistletoe .He was a scraggely haired Dickenson character.Although very different from Mr. Bingle ,that character became the inspiration for Mr.Alline's newest creation(Mr. Bingle)Actually ,he was first called the "Snow Doll "by Mr. Alline.Mr.Herbert Schuartz MB President wanted the new character to have MB in the name so thus became Mr. Bingle. There was even a Mr. Bingle museum on the third floor.

Mr. Alline also wanted to have special Christmas puppet and marionette shows in the huge dress display windows, so he found a man named Edwin Harmon "Oscar" Isentrout who was a master puppeteer in New Orleans working in the French Quarter at the time.He was named "Oscar" according to some because someone started calling his shows "Oscar and the little Woodenheads."Mr. Isentrout was also the voice,movement and some say the spirit of Mr. Bingle.Together they worked together to bring these special shows to New Orleans area year after year for like 37 years since 1948 and Mr. Bingle became infinitely famous.Oscar once had this to say about his little friend:They cannot divide him or the Christmas cheer he spreads. They just keep multiplying him.Now there's a'lot more of Mr. Bingle to go around When you saw Mr. Bingle downtown,you knew Christmas was near and it was difficult not to say Mr. Bingle and Christmas in the same sentence. This special little character's snowman body was adorably adorned with an ice cream cone hat, candy cane in hand, red ribbon with bells and holly wings.The holly wings were so he could fly.He was created as Santa's helper.His voice was the most magical of all.He had a characteristically high pitched squeekey ,raspey voice that captured the hearts of many a child and adult alike.

Eventually Mr. Bingle had his own little tv show locally and was on the radio .Remember Rose Mae and Penquin Pete?.Mr. B also appeared as a guest on other TV programs,and made frequent visits to Children's Hospital to bring cheer and hope to many sick or terminally ill children. He was our first local childrens tv hero in a time when anything that moved on our one television channel was breathtaking! It was an era of simpler things and all the high tech gadgets of today were not even fathomed yet.Kids were content and ecstatic if they got one doll, a pair of skates or a toy train.Try that today!Mr. Bingle also made an appearance one year at the Citrus Bowl in Florida in 1989 and has appeared according to my research at the White House.

Every year parents would bring their children downtown to see the puppet shows.We inched our way through the crowd and pressed our noses up against the thick cold glass to get a quick glimpse of our hero ,then it was off to see the most authentic Santa on the 3rd floor of MB and probably get your picture taken.. Mr. Bingle has his own jingle song and there is even a story about Mr. Bingle and Santa and how he came to be.It became a New Orleans southern tradition. He is not on Canal Street any more however. He has moved to the suburbs and those big shopping centers that crept seemingly overnight like something out of a science fiction movie.Then stores began multipling and began appearing everywhere. When Mercantile stores bought them out years previous,he was also used at a store called Lowensteins in Memphis,Tenn. They also had a television show with him for many years.I know he was also in some stores in Florida.He may have journeyed to more places but that's all I know about so far. Mr. Bingle is a New Orleans cultural icon as famous as Mardi Gras,Red Beans and Rice,Gumbo,and Beignets.If you grew up in New Orleans there is no way that you cannot know who he is and was.Mr. Bingle has impacted many childrens lives who are now grownups and is still sending his special Christmas message to a newer generation.

There was a huge Mr.Bingle paper mache figure that also hung outside the building every year .It measured approxiamately 50 feet tall and 35 feet wide mitten tip to mitten tip .It took two huge flat cars to move him from Chicago where he was created to his new home in New Orleans.He was first mounted on the Maison Blanche Building in November,1949.

Once Santa and Mr. Bingle made a grand entrance appearance on Canal St. via helicopter.It was quite a spectacle.The police went zooming everywhere.It appeared they didn't know that they couldn't fly so low in a commercial district.Then one day after years and years , this huge Mr. Bingle fell and pieces of him went everywhere,as far as I know no one was hurt,but New Orleanians were deeply saddened.He was replaced eventually but his new look was not exactly the same one we always remembered, but we continued to love him nevertheless.

There were many stuffed plush dolls,jewelry,candy boxes,puppets and soap with Mr. Bingle.There was also clothing with his special icon,and lots more.The dolls especially; went through many changes over the years but I'll get into dolls and memorabilia later. There is nothing especially elaborate about him.He didn't light up,was not especially talented or anything dazzling,but to many of us who grew up with him; he was our hero.He represented a slower ,kinder,more gentler time in our wonderful city we call New Orleans and we will always remember him; especially at Christmas time!

Saddly Mr. Isentrout" Oscar" is no longer with us.He passed away in 1985 at the age of 61.He pulled the strings for many years bringing his character to life and creating smiles and joy. He did not however allow the strings to get pulled on him if he could help it.He was his own private, quiet kinda person ,who gained happiness through the simpler things in life and not being in the spotlight. He was content being behind the scenes,doing his job and probably feeling very good about it. I think he smiled during the era when Mr. Bingle the marionette and dolls had no mouth and could not smile for themselves.Thanks Oscar! You are missed!

Emile Alline Sr.,also a very special man who also dedicated most of his life work to MB and the creation of Mr. Bingle and his family is also not with us.He prided himself on all of his work and his many creations and inventions.He loved talking about Mr. Bingle and cherished him till the end.He was born November,27,1917 and died December 6, 1998 .He was 81 years old and we will miss him also! Thank You for creating Mr.Bingle!

written by: Lauren Brown

OK...What show was this music associated with? I recall it had something to do with the zoo and came on Saturday mornings:

<a href='http://www.prepmetro.org/documents/midi_folder/Baby_Elephant_Walk.mid' target='_blank'>Baby Elephant Walk</a>

Magicland with Tricky Dick Williams was a classic, especially when they showed the kids stuffing themselves with Mickey D's hamburglar. :rofl:

More Mr. Bingle



Old Tv AD Mr.Bingle and Miss Holly


1963 Lowensteins Dept Store

1962 Lowensteins Dept Store



My oh my how the world has changed since those days......




Here is a copy of a receipt for a copy of a 45 record of the Mr. Bingle Song. This was done in Memphis, TN for the Lowensteins store. The purchasers name has been erased to protect identity. I thought it was interesting. 1948-1952. Memphis Recording Service was also Sun Records owned by Sam Philips.

Quote:"Sam Phillips, by his own proclamation in the newspapers opened up the Memphis Recording Service to give an opportunity for the great Negro artists of the South to record. He wanted to give them an opportunity that they simply had not had up till then. And the rush of talent to his doors indicates how sorely needed the Memphis Recording Service was. To see Rocket 88 with Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm, to see Howlin'Wolf, to see all of these great artists just flock to Sam's door shows what a lack there was at that time.

   &nbsp; Now, to keep the doors of the Memphis Recording Service open, obviously it was necessary to do anything and everything. As the motto of the Memphis Recording Service proclaimed, "We record anything, any time, anywhere." So Sam would record weddings, he would record bar mitzvahs, he had field equipment to go out and record wherever it was necessary to record. These recordings give a documentation of a particular time. He then leased all of these recordings in the first two or three years of the history of the Memphis Recording Service to labels which put out those recordings, or put out the recordings that they chose to put out on their own label. Recordings to labels like Chess and RPM.

   &nbsp; When the Sun label got fully underway in 1953, Sam really had very few records coming out. He basically promoted each record individually. But at that point, he started going on the road quite a bit. To all the Sun distributors who were independent distributors in each town. To Houston and Dallas and to Atlanta. And these were the great independent distributors of those times.

   &nbsp; At that time, I can't believe that the Memphis Recording Service continued on a very strong level. I'm sure when Sam was in town he was still prepared to do recordings any time, any place, anywhere, if he wasn't doing recordings of his own. But he started having success with Rufus, with Little Junior Parker, with the Prisonaires. And so obviously as that success pyramided, there wasn't going to be a lot of time for the kinds of things he had been doing because now he was getting into what he really wanted to do. As Sam said, he was scrambling to make a living for his family and he was determined to express himself creatively and he was also determined to survive. And through all these stratagems, Sam worked out what every freelancer has to work out in some way, the ability to make it possible for him to do what he wanted to do."

Cletus Wrote:More Mr. Bingle



Old Tv AD Mr.Bingle and Miss Holly


1963 Lowensteins Dept Store

1962 Lowensteins Dept Store



My oh my how the world has changed since those days......




Here is a copy of a receipt for a copy of a 45 record of the Mr. Bingle Song. This was done in Memphis, TN for the Lowensteins store. The purchasers name has been erased to protect identity. I thought it was interesting. 1948-1952. Memphis Recording Service was also Sun Records owned by Sam Philips.

Quote:"Sam Phillips, by his own proclamation in the newspapers opened up the Memphis Recording Service to give an opportunity for the great Negro artists of the South to record. He wanted to give them an opportunity that they simply had not had up till then. And the rush of talent to his doors indicates how sorely needed the Memphis Recording Service was. To see Rocket 88 with Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm, to see Howlin'Wolf, to see all of these great artists just flock to Sam's door shows what a lack there was at that time.

     Now, to keep the doors of the Memphis Recording Service open, obviously it was necessary to do anything and everything. As the motto of the Memphis Recording Service proclaimed, "We record anything, any time, anywhere." So Sam would record weddings, he would record bar mitzvahs, he had field equipment to go out and record wherever it was necessary to record. These recordings give a documentation of a particular time. He then leased all of these recordings in the first two or three years of the history of the Memphis Recording Service to labels which put out those recordings, or put out the recordings that they chose to put out on their own label. Recordings to labels like Chess and RPM.

     When the Sun label got fully underway in 1953, Sam really had very few records coming out. He basically promoted each record individually. But at that point, he started going on the road quite a bit. To all the Sun distributors who were independent distributors in each town. To Houston and Dallas and to Atlanta. And these were the great independent distributors of those times.

     At that time, I can't believe that the Memphis Recording Service continued on a very strong level. I'm sure when Sam was in town he was still prepared to do recordings any time, any place, anywhere, if he wasn't doing recordings of his own. But he started having success with Rufus, with Little Junior Parker, with the Prisonaires. And so obviously as that success pyramided, there wasn't going to be a lot of time for the kinds of things he had been doing because now he was getting into what he really wanted to do. As Sam said, he was scrambling to make a living for his family and he was determined to express himself creatively and he was also determined to survive. And through all these stratagems, Sam worked out what every freelancer has to work out in some way, the ability to make it possible for him to do what he wanted to do."

I think this is Mr. Bingles cousin.

Cletus Wrote:More Mr. Bingle

Whatever happened to Sluggo? Did he retire?

tigerjeb Wrote:

gwade56 Wrote:Anyone remember Trent Wood and Looney Zoo on WMC-TV ?  What was the name of his clown sidekick?

All Aboard with Mr. B was a channel 10 program featuring Mr B., a train engineer with his puppet pals Poncey D. Lion (who would spout poetry) and Troilus the Train Loving Troll.

Oh my goodness!!! I have searched the net for years trying to find something about "All Aboard with Mr. B" and found absolutely nothing. My memory says "Alan" or "Allen" Bates was Mr. B and of course that bombs you out because of the actor Alan Bates. The show was in Black & White and I remember the Poncey D. Lion character vividly.

I grew up in Jackson, TN and we had the giant antenna just to get a somewhat decent reception of the Memphis channels and I would SCREAM and RUN from the room whenever Sivad came on. The show went off the air soon after we obtained a color TV and I think his makeup was green? My family laughed at me about it when I forwarded news of Sivad's passing.

One last one to test memories ... wasn't there a "Captain ... Something?" show that would always advertise for Hart's Bread? Can't remember the name though. A kid would write a numeral or big letter on a big tablet and he'd turn it into some impressive drawing. Wish I could remember!!!

RIP Sivad, RIP!

Is it Capt. Bill Killibrew. He would wear something like a sailor's outfit and draw characatures???

tigerjeb Wrote:

gwade56 Wrote:Anyone remember Trent Wood and Looney Zoo on WMC-TV ?&nbsp; What was the name of his clown sidekick?

trent woods sidekick was Tiny the Clown. this is burned into my brain because as a toddler fan boy, my mom got me into the peanut gallery for one show. keep in mind, i had only seen the show in black and white. out comes Tiny in the most garish green and red face make up you have ever seen. it scared me so bad i ran out of the studio and would not return.

Happy Hals puppet pal was indeed Little Bo. my dad HATED happy hal because he was allways plugging his toy shop on that show.

All Aboard with Mr. B was a channel 10 program featuring Mr B., a train engineer with his puppet pals Poncey D. Lion (who would spout poetry) and Troilus the Train Loving Troll.

Mr. Bingle and Miss Holly showed up around Christmas time and were Lowenstiens answer to Goldsmith's Enchanted Forrest

It was considered waaaaay cool to be able to get on Looney Zoo. Thanks Jeb for refreshing my memory on Tiny. Sorry you were so traumatized by him, but that's a funny story. Still have nightmares?

I used to ride my bike to Happy Hal's toy store on Union Ave all the time as a kid. I don't even want to think how much money I spent in that place.

Cap'n Bill and Mr. Bingle both take me back as well. Cletus is right, how the world has changed since those days. :(

gwade56 Wrote:

tigerjeb Wrote:

gwade56 Wrote:Anyone remember Trent Wood and Looney Zoo on WMC-TV ?  What was the name of his clown sidekick?

trent woods sidekick was Tiny the Clown. this is burned into my brain because as a toddler fan boy, my mom got me into the peanut gallery for one show. keep in mind, i had only seen the show in black and white. out comes Tiny in the most garish green and red face make up you have ever seen. it scared me so bad i ran out of the studio and would not return.

Happy Hals puppet pal was indeed Little Bo. my dad HATED happy hal because he was allways plugging his toy shop on that show.

All Aboard with Mr. B was a channel 10 program featuring Mr B., a train engineer with his puppet pals Poncey D. Lion (who would spout poetry) and Troilus the Train Loving Troll.

Mr. Bingle and Miss Holly showed up around Christmas time and were Lowenstiens answer to Goldsmith's Enchanted Forrest

It was considered waaaaay cool to be able to get on Looney Zoo. Thanks Jeb for refreshing my memory on Tiny. Sorry you were so traumatized by him, but that's a funny story. Still have nightmares?

I used to ride my bike to Happy Hal's toy store on Union Ave all the time as a kid. I don't even want to think how much money I spent in that place.

Cap'n Bill and Mr. Bingle both take me back as well. Cletus is right, how the world has changed since those days. :(

Looney Zoo !!! That had to be it. It started with this song?

<a href='http://www.prepmetro.org/documents/midi_folder/Baby_Elephant_Walk.mid' target='_blank'>Baby Elephant Walk</a>

kpigout Wrote:

gwade56 Wrote:

tigerjeb Wrote:

gwade56 Wrote:Anyone remember Trent Wood and Looney Zoo on WMC-TV ?&nbsp; What was the name of his clown sidekick?

trent woods sidekick was Tiny the Clown. this is burned into my brain because as a toddler fan boy, my mom got me into the peanut gallery for one show. keep in mind, i had only seen the show in black and white. out comes Tiny in the most garish green and red face make up you have ever seen. it scared me so bad i ran out of the studio and would not return.

Happy Hals puppet pal was indeed Little Bo. my dad HATED happy hal because he was allways plugging his toy shop on that show.

All Aboard with Mr. B was a channel 10 program featuring Mr B., a train engineer with his puppet pals Poncey D. Lion (who would spout poetry) and Troilus the Train Loving Troll.

Mr. Bingle and Miss Holly showed up around Christmas time and were Lowenstiens answer to Goldsmith's Enchanted Forrest

It was considered waaaaay cool to be able to get on Looney Zoo. Thanks Jeb for refreshing my memory on Tiny. Sorry you were so traumatized by him, but that's a funny story. Still have nightmares?

I used to ride my bike to Happy Hal's toy store on Union Ave all the time as a kid. I don't even want to think how much money I spent in that place.

Cap'n Bill and Mr. Bingle both take me back as well. Cletus is right, how the world has changed since those days. :(

Looney Zoo !!! That had to be it. It started with this song?

<a href='http://www.prepmetro.org/documents/midi_folder/Baby_Elephant_Walk.mid' target='_blank'>Baby Elephant Walk</a>

I'm going to have to sleep on this one.....doesn't seem right though. Anyone else know?

gwade56,Mar 27 2005, 12:55 AM Wrote:Looney Zoo !!! That had to be it. It started with this song?

<a href='http://www.prepmetro.org/documents/midi_folder/Baby_Elephant_Walk.mid' target='_blank'>Baby Elephant Walk</a>

I'm going to have to sleep on this one.....doesn't seem right though. Anyone else know? [/QUOTE]
"Baby Elephant Walk" was the theme to a show that the Overton Park Zoo produced but I do not think it was called "Looney Zoo"...........

I did not get to see the Sunday morning shows (or Sunday night and Wednesday night) unless I was sick. Mom made sure of that................

speaking of Sivad...

anyone ever go out to Chase Mansion? the Crying Angel? the Love Sisters?