This Chicago-based show starred a puppet called Garfield Goose – the egocentric self-proclaimed “King of the United States” – and moonfaced host Frazier Thomas – who often referred to himself on air as “big, fat, friendly Frazier” – who served as Garfield’s “Prime Minister” and translated what each of the glove puppets “said” (none of the puppets actually spoke).
The show was filmed on a single set – the front of Garfield’s “castle” – which served as the puppet stage where Frazier would engage in conversation with “Gar” and other residents of the “castle”.
Other regular characters included Gar’s girlfriend Gasparella; his preppy nephew Chris (full name Christmas Goose); his chief rival, Garfunkel; former Magician’s assistant, Romberg Rabbit, McIntosh Mouse; and sleepy bloodhound Beauregard Burnside III (who was Chief of the King’s Secret Service).
The character of Mama Goose – a seasonal visitor from Goosejaw, Saskatchewan – was simply the Garfield Goose puppet with a wig, shawl and wire-rimmed glasses.
Early episodes also featured a butler named Geronimo, played by a real monkey in a suit.
Other segments on the show included old cartoons (such as Clutch Cargo, The Mighty Hercules and Bucky and Pepito); the “Magic Drawing Board”, and a serialised five-minute story called Journey to the Beginning of Time featuring four boys who went boating down a mysterious river and ended up travelling back in time, encountering a variety of (stop-motion) prehistoric creatures along the way.
Journey to the Beginning of Time was actually an Americanised version of a 1955 Czechoslovakian feature film called Cesta Do Praveku.
Another regular feature was a weekly visit from Mr How and Why (in reality, J Bruce Mitchell from the Museum of Science and Industry), who showed viewers how a surge generator could create artificial lightning or how liquid nitrogen could freeze a rubber ball.
On 1 April 1985, Frazier Thomas suffered a cerebral haemorrhage at the WGN studio in Chicago. He was rushed to hospital but died two days later on 3 April. He was 66.
Host
Frazier Thomas Puppeteer
Roy Brown Mr How and Why
J Bruce Mitchell
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Other regular characters included Gar’s girlfriend Gasparella; his preppy nephew Chris (full name Christmas Goose); his chief rival, Garfunkel; former Magician’s assistant, Romberg Rabbit, McIntosh Mouse; and sleepy bloodhound Beauregard Burnside III (who was Chief of the King’s Secret Service).
Another regular feature was a weekly visit from Mr How and Why (in reality, J Bruce Mitchell from the Museum of Science and Industry), who showed viewers how a surge generator could create artificial lightning or how liquid nitrogen could freeze a rubber ball.
