Debuting in September 1948, this early children’s TV show from WENR-Channel 7 in Chicago – based on an annual window display at Marshall Field’s department store in downtown Chicago – starred Johnny Coons as the voice of Uncle Mistletoe and Jennifer Holt (daughter of cowboy movie star Jack Holt) as the live-action character Aunt Holly.
The stories were written by Ray Chan, with Sam Singer and Bill Newton providing the illustrations. Using an overhead projector and two cameras that switched back and forth, the cartoons were actually hand-drawn live on the air, with the cameras switching to create a crude animation of sorts.
Johnny Coons was hospitalised in 1974 following brain surgery. He died on 6 July 1975, aged 58. Sadly, his son died two days later in his father’s home after flying from Hawaii for his father’s funeral.
Uncle Mistletoe Johnny Coons Aunt Holly
Jennifer Holt
