WELCOME TO THE UNOFFICIAL GRANDPA HAPPY WEBSITE WHBF CHANNEL 4!
In the beginning there were two; WOC TV-6 Davenport, Iowa (originally Channel 5) and WHBF TV-4 Rock Island Illinois. These two mighty stations from the dawn of time of what is now known as The Quad Cities battled for supremacy to rule the local airwaves starting in 1949 and 1950. This competition carried forward into every part of the broadcasting day, even spilling over into children's programming.
Many local programs in this fierce battle vied for the young audience's attention and one children's host in particular on WHBF became a legend. That man was Mr. Milt Boyd better known and loved by many as Grandpa Happy.
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TIM Hollis, incredible author and Americana historian wrote the tremendous book "Hi There Boys and Girl's, America's Local Children's TV Programs". This book documents his quest to cover the history of many children's programs which entertained young viewers on many tv stations all over this country. During this three year journey, Milt Boyd, aka WHBF Channel 4's beloved Grandpa Happy, shared his memories and photos encouraging Mr. Hollis in his research. This website is a tribute to Mr. Boyd and a thank you to Tim Hollis for sharing these great memories from a time not so long ago. MILT
understood that the document and respect given to our childhood heros was woefully short in coming. He wrote to Mr. Hollis on February 9th, 2000, shortly before Milt's passing; I'm really excited to hear that someone is finally taking on the task of tracking this wonderful part of our childhood heros. I'm really looking forward to seeing the fruition of your efforts. If I can be of any further assistance, I am as near as your PC. - Milt Grandpa Happy would have been proud of Mr. Hollis' production. It is an incredible read, encompassing a general overview of many children's shows across the country spanning from the 1940's thru the 1990's. If you long for the days when children counted the hours and minutes until their favorite local kids show host was on the air, this book is for you. |
Don Wooten, local politician, author and television celebrity worked alongside Milt Boyd during the early years at WHBF. In 1952, he suggested to WHBF program director Forrest Cooke to take a look at fellow actor and WHBF employee Jan Schrage to perform in a new children's television show which would be aimed at their competitor WOC's already well entrenched kiddie shows.
The first show was called "Once Upon A Time" and ran fifteen minutes in length. Mr. Wooten wrote in the Rock Island Argus/Moline Dispatch that fifteen minute shows were quite popular in those days. He also noted that "Jan sat behind a large toadstool podium and read stories, some of her own devising. Bruno Olson drew some pictures to illustrate the tale and provide visual variety and Jim Olesen or I provided extra voices. Either George Koplow or I directed."
"Out of the Inkwell" cartoons along with Felix the Cat were added thus expanding the show to one-half hour. Characters were added as well including Mr. Peterson, the Sweedish Mailman played by Mr. Olesen and the new program was now called "The Magic Carpet".
Courtesy Tim Hollis from the Milt Boyd archives. |
Mr. Wooten revealed that Bennie Alter of WQUA radio was hired to produce a trick camera shot of Olesen and Schrage riding around on the magic carpet during the beginning intro to the show. It was "complete with steering wheel; through the clouds, falling to earth for the start of the show and riding away at its conclusion."
The show took an unexpected twist when Jan Schrage, the star of the show, decided to leave for the summer to lead summer camp. At this point, Milt Boyd came forward with the idea of Grandpa Happy who was added to the show. When Jan returned, Milt would make guest appearances every now and then.
Schrage eventually left the show permanently to get married and Milt was the natural choice to lead the show which he did for the next decade! Mr. Peterson, the Sweedish Mailman, remained on the show along with a new character, the unforgetable Ook Ook Bird.
In the Moline Dispatch/Rock Island Argus article, Don remembers one other cast member. "What I can't forget - no matter how hard I try - is those weeks when Milt was on vacation and someone had to stand in for him. Merciful time has erased the details - but I know that on several occasions, that job fell to me as Professor Lighthead - Milt's idea - not mine."
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Tim...Here is some more information that will help your research....
Almost all of us from that era were full time staff members of the station with other varied responsibilities as well as the kid shows. My other assignments at various times were: Direct and produce a cooking show, a helpful hints arts and craft show, all the musical shows such as a country western trio, a classical piano show, a big band show weekly and sometimes the news show. On camera, I hosted a half hour farm show at noon and did the weather on the nightly news. I also hosted the Iowanna Pow Wow, as Trader Milt, with the beautiful Princess Iowanna as my co-star. Another co-star of that show was a chimpanzee in an Indian costume who would bound throught the audience as we opened the show, jump up into my arms and give me a big kiss. The only draw back was that invariably he chose that moment to fill his diaper. Believe me, there is no worse odor in the world than chimp doo-doo under the hot studio lights! - Milt Boyd (courtesy of Tim Hollis) |
| Don Wooten wrote in the Moline Daily Dispatch/Rock Island Argus;
"The Iowana show was sponsor driven. It was a Saturday morning program during which kids in the studio audience bid for articles using emblems ("Iowampum") taken from cartoons of Iowana products. Milt was the auctioneer and the beautiful Kay Duvejonck served as the dairy's living symbol, princess Iowana. The program affored her an opportunity to do more than TV pitches. She showed up everywhere the dairy ran commercials or promotions, including Channel 6." |
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KEDSO THE CLOWN AND "ROCKY JONES, SPACE CADET"
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Also, on air personnel at the station auditioned for live commercials to be aired in several venues. I have included a couple of those that I did, one for Johnston Cookies which was inserted in "Rocky Jones, Space Cadet" and Kedso the clown for Keds tennis shoes. I was also the TV spokesman, as Grandpa Happy for McDonalds for a few months. The chain originated in Illinois and Moline, Illinois had about the fourth or fifth franchise in the nation. I guess I wasn't too good of a hamburger salesman for I was soon replaced by Ronald McDonald. Milt Boyd, letter to Tim Hollis 2/9/2000 |
Here is your Carnival Kit to help you and your friends put on a successful Carnival to help the children with Muscular Distrophy. This was the rallying cry heard across the nation during the summer on children's television and Grandpa Happy was no exception. Both Happy on WHBF Channel 4 and The Showboat on WOC TV 6 heavily promoted this worthwhile cause. What better way to give back to the community than to help children in need. What better spokesman than Grandpa Happy to lead the charge. The kit included handbills and posters to help promote your very own event. This included instructions for games, bake sale and other things you would have at your carnival. When you finished sending the collected money in to Channel 4 for MDA, Grandpa Happy would announce on the air what a great job you did! In addition, Grandpa Happy would announce your name and the time and date for the carnival on the air if you wrote in advance! Lets take a look at some of the games in advance! Throw tennis balls and knock over milk bottles Throw darts at balloons Penny toss in milk bottles or jars Shoot out lighted candles with water pistols Ring toss (embroidery hoops) over canned goods Bean guessing game - beans in quart jars Treasure chest - 5˘ and 10˘ prizes in bags - pick one Drop clothes pins in milk bottles Drop ping pong balls in quart jars
(courtesy of Tim Hollis from the Milt Boyd collection) |
Grandpa Happy not only had fun on the set but also presented cartoons from Clutch Cargo to Felix the Cat and his association with the ever popular Mickey Mouse Club! Pictures courtesy of Tim Hollis from the Milt Boyd collection.
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Tim Hollis graciously shares his correspondance with Milt Boyd dealing with further questions about "The Grandpa Happy Show".
In answer to your questions - yes, Grandpa Happy had a theme song. It was an old French folk song, "Un Petit Bergere" "A little Shepherd". A cute, lilting melody that occasionally got Gramps out of his rocking chair to do a little dance to it.
When Jan Schrage announced her impending marriage and resignation, Forest Cooke asked me to prepare a new character, which I did and then as an introduction to "Grandpa Happy's House", the first title of three, ensuing ("Looneyville Light House" and "The Grandpa Happy Show") I was a part of "the Magic Carpet" for about three or four weeks as a transition. Jan told and read children's stories and had a few cartoons.
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Jim Olesen, Mr. Petersen the Mailman, brought in the birthday mail on "Carpet", a tradition we continued on Gramp's show. Incidentally, he also later had his own show immediately following my hour, where he hosted "The Little Rascals", (The old "Our Gang" comedies).
I was off the air for a period of about three months. I had begun teaching vocal music in the Rock Island School while still employed at WHBF-TV. Our station manager at the time was very much against any of his employees moonlighting, so informed me that I would have to choose one or the other. Much to his, and many, many fans dismay, I chose the teaching.
My replacement, Aunt Polly, was a total disaster, ratings hit bottom and the station was deluged with mail wanting Grandpa Happy back.
Program Director Forest Cooke, solved the dilemna by hiring me back as "talent" rather than a full time employee, and Gramps was back (at a higher salary than I received for 40 hours). - Milt Boyd, Grandpa Happy
It Doesn't get any rarer than this folks. These are the type of things that it is amazing that they even still exist. A coloring book page of Grandpa Happy from mid to late 1950's. |
More Grandpa Happy to color in and send to WHBF! |
Not to be outdone, Mr. Petersen gets into the coloring act! |
Special thanks to Tim Hollis from the Grandpa Happy archives for sharing these incredible pictures! Unbelievable! |
Special thanks to Tim Hollis whose incredible three and one-half year project of documenting America's Local Children's TV Programs included correspondence with Milt Boyd, WHBF TV4's Grandpa Happy. Tim's generocity has been beyond unbelievable and special thanks to him is in every sense of the word. If you would like to discover more of what was going on across the nation from the 1940's thru the 1990's in regards to children's television host, then his book is for you. Click Here to read reviews of his book "Hi There Boys and Girls! America's Local Children's TV Programs.
Thank you is not enough to Milt Boyd who cared enough to preserve this incredible time period of television broadcasting in American history. Mr. Boyd obviously cared deeply that the legacy of children's programming be preserved and without his incredible trust and sharing with Mr. Hollis, none of this would be possible. If you have memories or pictures to share from Grandpa Happy, please click here to email me! grandpahappyshow@yahoo.com Milt would have loved for you to share!
The Unoffical Grandpa Happy Website has no affiliation with Milt Boyd estate, Tim Hollis, WHBF Channel 4, Don Wooten or any other entity perhaps presented on this website. This is a fan site dedicated to the memory of Grandpa Happy and the joy he brought to children's lives in a gentler time not so long ago. Any copyrighted material shown is presumed to be that of the owners and is presented only as example and is not intended for any other use.
Special Thanks to Tim Hollis and the Milt Boyd colletion.
05/11/2007 ... In yet another one of the greatest updates ever, WHBF engineer Earl Hill shares the only known color pictures of the set of Grandpa Happy. Absolutely unbelievable. HUGE thanks to Mr. Hill and to legendary WOC engineer Jon Book for the arrangements. Incredible.
05/11/2007 .. Grandpa Happy's WHBF alumni buddies Earl Hill and Wes Hoots. Special thanks to legendary WOC engineer Jon Book for the incredible picture.
07/18/2006 ... Grandpa Happy fan Mark Moskowitz wrote;
This is a great, great website. I knew Mr Boyd as a teacher and acted with his children in Genesius Guild. My father, Benne Alter, created the opening for "Magic Carpet". Finally, I got to be on "Iowanna Pow-Wow" when I was 7 years old. Thanks so much for making this happen!!! Regards, Mark
Thanks for bringing back some great childhood memories. When I was a youngster growing up, I celebrated my birthday with Grandpa Happy 3 years in a row. In fact, my 5th birthday I got sick from excitement and the studio lighting that Milt himself ushered me to his dressing room restroom.
I also ended up owning 2 Clarence JR puppets. Cap'n Ernie had nothing on Grandpa Happy. I used to race home from school to catch the show.
Tim
Nice web site. I was on the show also. I would like to see a picture of the set. I recall a lot of knobs and switches. And there was a big hole one could crawl through. I remember seeing it up close, but I don't remember if it was on or off the air. If my recollection is WAY off, please let me know!
08/08/2006 .... Grandpa Happy fan Tim Leslie asks;
Does anyone have any information on what happened to Clarence's clock or any of the other set pieces?
Tim
I am the current promotion manager at WHBF-TV. For the last 23 years,
I
have worked in various roles at the station and have come to know 'a
bit'
about the history of the WHBF. The other day, our chief engineer
directed
me to the Grandpa Happy website and I thought it was great.
What prompted our original conversation was the fact that I was
scanning
some photos for the NAB (National Association for Broadcasters.) They
requested local stations to send archive photos so they could build a
display in their Washington offices. I was scanning some "Grandpa
Happy"
elements, when our engineer suggested I forward them on to you for use
on
your web page. So here are some views that I didn't see on your site -
enjoy!
P.S. - The location of Clarence's clock still remains a mystery, I just
looked in the prop area and didn't find anything I saw in the photos.
Respectfully,
Patty Gilbert
Promotion Manager
WHBF-TV
07/30/2006 ... Grandpa Happy fan Steve Greene wrote;
07/24/2006 ... Grandpa Happy fan Tim Leslie wrote;
The photo provided by Patty Gilbert, Promotion Manager WHBF-TV, must have been from an Employee's Family day, as the kids lined up on the Couch are Milt's own family. (Pam, Pres, Libby, David and Nancy. I can only assume that I am gestating in the belly of the woman holding Nancy, cause that's Grandma Betty). -Howard Boyd
08/10/2006 ... WOC legendary engineer Jon Book provides this sound file of Milt Boyd being interviewed on WOC radio in in June 1982 by Lee Bright!
A Great Website, and it brings back lots of terrific memories. I attended both Grandpa Happy and the Iowana shows live as child, and watched both of them almost daily, and later as a teenager, Milt Boyd was my 9th grade chorus teacher at Washington Jr. High School.
08/29/2006 ... Preston Boyd is not only a Grandpa Happy fan, he is the legendary Milt Boyd's son!
My memories of the show are quite personal as well as entertaining. I am Milt's oldest son, Preston. The greatest memory I have of one specific show would have to be the time Mr. MacClain from MacClain's Wild Animal Farm brought a live lion on the show and it got loose. I was helping out in the studio that afternoon as I did quite often in those days (passing out Cokes to kids in the peanut gallery, guiding camera cable, etc.) When the lion broke free from his keeper, we cleared the children from the peanut gallery to a safe office in the studio complex, then ran about a zillion cartoons back to back so we wouldn't have to have live cameras recording us trying to re-capture the lion. Dad sent me down the street to a grocery store to get some hamburger. When I got back, we threw the meat in a dressing room and shut the door after the lion went in after it. Quite a show. By the way, we still have the Clarence puppet in a closet at my mom's house. When my dad was on his death bed, we brought Clarence out and set the puppet on the pillow next to him. Dad looked at him and said "Where've you been?"
09/02/2006 ... Not to be outdone by older brother Preston, Grandpa Happy fan and youngest son of Milt, Howard Boyd explains the mystery of whatever happened to the clock!
Hi, Kids! Milt's youngest son, here. Thanks for the great site. As best as I recall, the cuckoo clock, which Dad made himself, lived in our garage in Rock Island until we moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1966. It did not make the move with us, and I never did find out what happened to it. Someone in the Quad-Cities made a replica of it, though. Grandpa Happy, with Clarance, continued to make personal appearances for various civic and church events to the end of his days. Kids were always happily entertained whenever they showed up, even without the benefit of ever having seen them on TV. Always a crowd-pleaser would be the part where Clarance was sent away, but sneak back when Gramps wasn't looking to bite an earlobe. For these special appearances, Clarance would travel in an old brown gym-bag. The Bird, the Bag and Gramps' ubiquitous Hat are safely enshrined at the Boyds' Nest in Washington State.
BTW: Dad did live to see the publication of Tim's book. He was thrilled, and bought several copies to give as Christmas presents that year.
-Howard
09/02/2006 ... Grandpa Happy really was her Grandpa(!) fan Aubrey Seffernick wrote;
Grandpa Happy was my real life grandpa! Our family has been excited to discover this site. Nancy is my mom (the youngest girl of Milt and Betty's six kids). Grammy Betty is doing well--in fact she and I are leaving for Paris tomorrow. We are going to visit the place she was born!! We all miss gramps but he left so many good memories for our family and so many others!
09/04/2006 ... Grandpa Happy fan Michael Rowold wrote;
This morning I was thrilled to be informed there is a "Grandpa Happy" website.....I have a very dear friend, Jane, who just happens to be the mother-in-law of Preston Boyd......and Jane was pretty much bursting to tell me the news! I'll never forget the moment a few years ago when about to return to eastern Iowa Preston's beautiful (and talented) wife, Priscilla, asked if I remembered Grandpa Happy!!!....gee, any small wonder their last name is Boyd??? And, I can definitely attest the Boyd family talent lives on in Florida! Such a great site for slightly aging eyes. I appreciate the wonderful effort very much!
09/05/2006 ... Grandpa Happy really was her Grampa too(!) Jennifer wrote;
Hi kids! This is Milt's youngest child's stepdaughter, so he was my grampa too (sort of). He treated me as a member of the family and my son as one of his great-grandchildren. So he was, in real life, what many of you already know, a GREAT-Grampa Happy!
09/07/2006 ... Grandpa Happy fan Glenn Lego wrote;
I remember seeing Grandpa Happy live at the East Moline State hospital when I and my parents visited my grand father who was a patient there in the late 1950's. I also remember another side-kick Grandpa Happy had on his show Gabey Sprockett, a funny cowboy type character played by Jim Olson. I remember he had a big hat and a "arrow" through his head at least it looked that way. He had a make shift string instrument called a "git-fiddle" made of a film can and a broom handle with some strings on it. Also there was a character named Humphrey which was really the camera-man who would answer yes or no by panning the camera left and right for no and up and down for yes.
09/07/2006 ... Grandpa Happy really was her dad(!) Pam Boyd Mueller shares this priceless story; We all love the story Howard tells about a return visit to the show. Mind you he was quite young, maybe 4 years old. Dad always had us on his show around Christmas time and he introduced us the way he did all the guests by asking us our name. When he interviewed Howard he said something like, "You look familiar". Howard replied, "Yes, I was on your show last year"!
Pam (Boyd) Mueller
09/18/2006 ... Grandpa Happy fan Jerri Daebelliehn was one of the actresses who played Princess Iowana in the 1960's and early 1970's! I was never on TV with Grandpa Happy or Captain Ernie but did have commercials that ran in the early 1970's. I was on the stage of the Capital Theatre in Davenport with Grandpa Happy redeeming the Iowawampum! Jerri Daebelliehn
09/24/2006 ... Nancy Boyd Seffernick is not only a Grandpa Happy fan, she is Milt's youngest daughter!
Hello to all G.H. fans! I am Milt's youngest daughter, Nancy. Thanks for all your comments. This is very fun. I also think it was so telling of true entertainment value that Dad continued to be so well received after the move to Gig Harbor, Wash. One elementary class sent him notes after an appearance and I remember one child's P.S..."By the way, it was the bird that bit your ear". Do you remember other jokes of his? There was one bit about Clarence not doing well in school and Gramps quizzing him. Geography:"what's the shape of the world?" Clarence: "Terrible" When asked if he knew what all those "F"s on his report card were Clarence thought they were for Fantastic! Clarence and other puppets (Penelope Penfeather?? are indeed still in the closet and I have also seen that arrow through the head prop at Mom's. Keep it up gang! Dad was also a cowboy "Big Tex'? what did he do?
10/28/2006 ... Grandpa Happy fan Eldon Drury just became a hero on this website!
I have a picture of 'Grandpa Happy' and my sister at the Clinton River-boat days in July 1962.
This is my sister (Charlene Drury, not me…) with Grandpa Happy at Clinton River-boat days in Clinton, July 1962.
Thanks a lot,
God bless.
Eldon
12/09/2006 ... Grandpa Happy fan Doug Rankin wrote;
My brother and I were big fans. We had a Clarence hand puppet. This year he gave me a Fun Factory postcard for my birthday. I remember going to the show around November of 1965 for a friend's birthday. The friend was so excited when he got to work the "Twonky." Does anybody rememer it?
12/19/2006 ... Grandpa Happy fan Tim Rodríguez wrote;
Three of my four brothers and I were on the show when I was five. Grandpa Happy came over to where we were and asked for our names and ages. As the camera pulled back, I made "devil ears" behind my brother Terry's head. My oldest brother and my mom watched at home and had different reactions; Michael thought it was funny, my mom less so. "It's a good thing your father didn't see that!" she bellowed. "Yes", I thought to myself. Whew!
05/08/2007 ... Grandpa Happy fan Michael Conner wrote;
I was on the show around the summer of '64 had a great time and many great memories. I remember freezing up when
they asked my name. LOL We got home in time to watch ourselves on TV
which was great. I remember losing my picture out the window on the way
home having my uncle to turn around and get my picture from the street.
Whew! LOL My fave cartoons from that channel was Felix the Cat and
Clutch Cargo. On another subject one of the other great shows of that time
was Acre Creature Feature do you remember that? How about Jungle Jay?
Jungle Jay showed Tarzan movies during the day and same guy would do
Chiller Theater Friday or Sat nights. Those were some fun memories also.
Jim King was always in the middle of things too. I remember channel 8
coming on TV we always had 2 channels then 8 came along and changed the
world. LOL. I now live in Atlanta but carry many fond memories of the
Captain and others.
04/03/2008 ... Grandpa Happy fan Mark Spooner made an incredible find! It is the original shipping box that was sent out to the lucky ones who recieved a Clarence the Ook Ook Bird doll! These were sent out by Grandpa Happy & his pals!
Hi there -
I recently came into possession of a cardboard box that contained the Clarence puppet! I purchased some items on eBay and my seller sent the items in this box.
The box is in great condition for something 45 years old. It has a copyright date on it of 1963 with Milt Boyd's name on it, as well as the words, "Grandpa Happy's Clarence Ook-Ook Bird" on one side, and "Here Comes Clarence", Co-Star of the Grandpa Happy Show, WHBF-TV, Channel 4." On the top label of the box is a return address with P.O Box 277, Rock Island, Illinois."
In case anyone might be interested, I would be interested in selling the box but not sure what value to attach to it.
Sincerely,
Mark Spooner
Click to Listen to Lee Bright interview Milt Boyd on the origin of Grandpa Happy part two! Special thanks to legendary WOC engineer Jon Book!
Click to Listen to Lee Bright interview Milt Boyd on the origin of Grandpa Happy part three! Special thanks to legendary WOC engineer Jon Book!
Grandpa Happy made special appearances throughout the WHBF viewing area! Ted Vlahos, owner of both the Rock Island and Moline, Illinois Sandy's Drive-Ins said that his appearance was one of the greatest promotions of all time. Every time he appeared it was total insanity due to the incredible amount of people who would arrive to see him! The following are clippings from the Moline Dispatch; June 27th, 1964 (Moline Sandy's 5th Anniversary), March 26th, 1964 (Easter ad) and a Merry Christmas appearance December 6th, 1964! It was Grandpa Happy mania at Sandy's!
08/12/2006 ... Click to Listen to part one of Lee Bright interviewing Milt Boyd on the origin of Grandpa Happy! Special thanks to legendary WOC engineer Jon Book!
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Special thanks to Grandpa Happy fan Craig Wright of Hamilton College for the Grandpa Happy ruler and legendary WOC engineer Jon Book for the scan!
If you enjoyed Grandpa Happy then you are sure to love Captain Ernie's Showboat Website! Click Here to enter!