Rootie Kazootie Club, The

1 9 5 0 – 1 9 5 2 (USA)

This NBC children’s show starred Rootie Kazootie (a kazoo-playing puppet boy in an oversized baseball cap worn at a rakish angle) who presided over the goings-on of his fellow ‘rooters’ (ahem!) five days a week in the clubhouse of the Rootie Kazootie Club, assisted by his human partner, Big Todd (Todd Russell).

The language used in the show was a sort of pig Latin that added a “Rootie” suffix to words. Music was also an integral part of the show, much of it composed by Milton Kaye, who also played the organ.

Rootie (voiced by Naomi Lewis) played his “magic kazootie” (a kazoo), sang with his girlfriend, Polka Dottie (also Naomi Lewis), and pitted his wits against his arch-enemy Poison Zoomack (voiced by Frank Milano) with the assistance of mute Keystone Kops-style policeman Mr Deetle Dootle (the only other human on the show, played by John Vee) who used his extraordinary talents as a magician and mime artist to communicate without speech.

Rootie would then read a story assisted by his faithful spotty dog, Gala Poochie (voiced by Frank Milano again).

Each story was spun out to five episodes beginning on Friday and running to the following Thursday. A parallel half-hour Saturday morning edition would focus on a different plot and included the “Quiz-a-Rootie” in which youngsters from the audience answered simple questions on history and geography.

The show originally aired as a local New York show under the title Rootie Tootie until a candy bar forced the name change.  Sponsors over the years included Coca Cola, Powerhouse Candy, Silvercup Bread and RCA (the parent company of NBC).

Who is the boy who is full of zip and joy?
He’s Rootie Kazootie
Who is the lad who makes you feel so glad?
He’s Rootie Kazootie

Big Todd
Todd Russell
Rootie Kazootie
Naomi Lewis
Polka Dottie
Naomi Lewis
Poison Zoomack
Frank Milano
Gala Poochie
Frank Milano
El Squeako
Naomi Lewis
Deetle Dootle
John Vee