One of the most fondly remembered Chicago kid’s TV shows featured a mischievous elephant and his exasperated caretaker. Elmer the Elephant had no educational agenda, no life lessons to impart, no messages to preach – It was just a half hour of pure hokum, none of it subtle, but irresistibly funny nevertheless.
This was good, old-fashioned, knockabout slapstick, delivered with gusto by the energetic host, John Conrad, dressed in a circus uniform and Elmer himself – an oversized elephant puppet.
Airing on WNBQ at 5 pm on weekdays, right after the network broadcast of Howdy Doody, the show was an immediate hit.
Elmer was beautifully crafted by propman Emil von Knauf and operated by stagehand Kenny Hermann. The elaborately constructed head (made of fabric and papier-mâché) allowed Elmer to close his eyes, nod, flap his ears, and extend his trunk.
Although Elmer didn’t speak, he could convey an encyclopedia of emotions by shaking his head, ringing a bell, or gesturing with his trunk.
As Conrad addressed viewers directly, Elmer would be behind him, ready to pull a trick that would burst Conrad’s bubble of pomposity. He always tried to lecture or get the best of Elmer, but the pachyderm would prevail in the end, as Conrad wound up on the receiving end of seltzer water, pies, or bags of flour.
The show featured cartoons and Little Rascals comedy shorts, but viewers really tuned in to see the crazy antics of Conrad and Elmer.
In fact, Elmer appeared to be so lifelike that when Conrad made personal appearances with him, many children were apprehensive about coming too close.
Although the show still had a huge following, Elmer the Elephant was cancelled in 1956. Elmer returned in 1962 with the same formula, and essentially the same show, remaining on air until 1964.
Conrad went on to host the noontime quiz show Tug of War.
