The Uncle Al Show was the longest-running local American TV show with the same host (it ran with Al Lewis in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1950-85), but it flopped as the only attraction on ABC’s virtually nonexistent Saturday morning schedule of 1958/1959.
Star Al Lewis – not to be confused with the actor Al Lewis who starred in Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters – told stories, played the accordion, and acted in sketches for children, often while wearing a straw boater.
His wife Wanda played Captain Windy, who drew pictures and told stories. Larry Smith gave puppet shows, and Janet Greene sang. Children in the TV studio participated in some of the activities too.
The ABC show was a videotape of one of two hours that appeared on weekdays on WCPO Cincinnati.
Prior to the ABC run, WCPO offered DuMont the chance to carry Uncle Al’s daily show in 1952, but the network declined.
After the show ended, Al and Wanda continued to work for WCPO until retiring in 1989.
His wife Wanda played Captain Windy, who drew pictures and told stories. Larry Smith gave puppet shows, and Janet Greene sang. Children in the TV studio participated in some of the activities too.
