Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Kids TV
    Kids TV TV Shows - 1950s TV Shows - 1960s TV Shows - 1970s 3 Mins Read

    Wonderama

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 5 5 – 1 9 7 7 (USA)

    This American Sunday morning children’s variety show was originally hosted by the engaging Sandy Becker, who entertained his young viewers with games, puppetry, and skits, as well as interviews with guest performers. Becker’s co-host, Pat Meikle, would draw pictures and perform home-cooking lessons as well.

    The show also featured Al Hodge (“Captain Video”) and Melbourne Christopher, who would perform magic tricks and introduce old movie serials, usually of the sci-fi or educational genre.

    The intention behind this variety of entertainment was always to teach lessons and skills that would help children become better people. One of the most effective outlets was Jon Gnagy’s compelling “Learn to Draw” segment. Gnagy, a respected artist, started many a child on the road to artistry.

    Becker quit Wonderama in 1956 after one season and was replaced by Herb Sheldon, who ran the show without co-hosts and instead led all the activities himself. The only other ‘performers’ on the show were two puppets; Egbert the Bookworm and Ummley the Steam Shovel.

    In 1958, Bill Britten and Doris Faye took over as co-hosts, changing the formula slightly by pre-taping the show before a live audience. Once again, games, songs, stories, and skits made up the majority of the series.

    1959 ushered in yet another new host in the form of Sonny Fox, who was wildly popular with the kids and introduced never-before-seen segments like spelling bees and Shakespeare dramatisations. Fox had a special rapport with children that allowed him to entertain and teach them without appearing boring or patronising.

    Fox continued until the summer of 1967 when he was replaced by Bob McAllister.

    McAllister excelled at the interview segment, bringing on such people as the real Baroness Maria Von Trapp – the woman portrayed by Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965).

    In addition to the Sunday morning show, McAllister also hosted a weekday afternoon version of Wonderama in 1970. The weekday version lasted two years.

    McAllister would host Wonderama until 1977 when executives decided to drop the comedy/variety format of the show and replace it with an hour-long news magazine and travelogue hosted by, and aimed at, teenagers.

    This version debuted in 1980 and was hosted by an anchor team that included Laura Condon, Alena Brown, Dwight Williams, Bobby Clark, Pam Potillo, Laura McDonald, Claude Brooks and J.D. Roth. The show was eventually cut from 60 to 30 minutes.

    It should be noted that Bob McAllister hosted a network version of Wonderama on ABC from 1978 to 1982. The show, Kids Are People Too, was similar to Wonderama, with the addition of bigger name guests such as Henry Winkler and Shaun Cassidy. McAllister was eventually replaced by Michael Young, who was subsequently replaced by Randy Hamilton.

    Wonderama was truly an amazing show, finding its way into the lives of many people despite being seen, for the most part, only on local New York television.

    Host
    Sandy Becker (1)
    Herb Sheldon (2)
    Bill Britten (3)
    Doris Faye (3)
    Sonny Fox (4)
    Bob McAllister (5)

    Related Posts

    • Boomph With Becker
      Boomph With Becker
      1 9 7 1 (UK) Radio and television personality Sue Becker had an early keep-fit show on Australian TV in…
    • Saturday Show, The
      Saturday Show, The
      1 9 8 2 - 1 9 8 4 (UK) 56 x 105 minute episodes This Saturday morning children's variety…
    • Oregon Trail, The
      Oregon Trail, The
      1 9 7 7 (USA) 14 x 60 minute episodes In 1842, widower Evan Thorpe (Rod Taylor) decides to leave behind…
    • Marlo and the Magic Movie Machine
      Marlo and the Magic Movie Machine
      1 9 7 7 - 1 9 7 9 (USA) 60/30 minute episodes Marlo Higgins (Laurie Faso) worked in the basement…
    • Sandy Becker Show, The
      Sandy Becker Show, The
      1 9 5 3 - 1 9 6 8 (USA) One of the most beloved kids show icons on New York…
    • Captain Kangaroo
      Captain Kangaroo
      1 9 5 5 - 1 9 8 4 (USA) The longest-running network children’s show of all time, Captain Kangaroo left an indelible…
    • Kids and Company
      Kids and Company
      1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 3 (USA) This children's variety show hosted by Johnny Olson and Ham Fisher…
    • Magic Garden, The
      Magic Garden, The
      1 9 7 2 - 1 9 8 4 (USA) In a magic garden of stories, songs and imagination, two eternally…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleAnimal Magic
    Next Article Captain Kangaroo

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Torque/Marque
      1 9 7 3 – 1 9 8 0 (Australia) 69 x 30 minute episodes […]
    • Top of the Heap
      1 9 9 1 (USA) 7 x 30 minute episodes This short-lived series, a […]
    • Star Virgin (1979)
      In the distant future, a beautiful Space Virgin (blonde Hustler […]
    • Floppy Disks
      The US company IBM made a great breakthrough in the storage and […]
    • Psychedelic Furs
      The birth of the Psychedelic Furs came in 1977 when London art […]
    • Sad Cafe
      The band called it a day in 1990, but briefly reformed in 1998. […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64442824 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73

    www.bbc.co.uk

    His band rose to fame in the 1970s New York punk scene, scoring UK hits including Marquee Moon.
    10 hours ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64418847 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mr Blobby costume sells for more than £62,000 on eBay

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The character, made famous by BBC show Noel's House Party, had been in storage since the 1990s.
    1 day ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Put some beefiness into your mid-week menu with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the Radio Times on 30 September 1965.

    Put some "beefiness into your mid-week menu" with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the "Radio Times" on 30 September 1965. ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    They were awful. An overpowering savoury flavour that lingered in your mouth for hours. Heaven knows what unmentionable parts of a bull went into making them 😳

    More sad news 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    US rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Crosby, who co-founded both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, had been ill for some time.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened? 

All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened?

    All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 54
    • Shares: 22
    • Comments: 7

    Comment on Facebook

    I thought we would have moving pavements by now when I was a kid 😂

    Totally agree!!!

    The new Tesla, 4.6 next century.

    We got transvestite story hour instead

    We appear to be going backwards

    There's actually a very good David Graeber essay on this very topic: thebaffler.com/salvos/of-flying-cars-and-the-declining-rate-of-profit

    The Jetsons strike again.

    View more comments

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

    nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    That is so sad to hear 😥 rest in peace 🙏 🕊 xx

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😍😍😍😍

    Vale Jeff Beck. Dead at 78. 😢

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jeff Beck: British guitar legend dies aged 78

    www.bbc.co.uk

    One of rock's most influential guitarists, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Hi everyone. Were in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes.

    Hi everyone. We're in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes. ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    Ironically, this post has jumped off the page at me. You'll probably get most traffic today because everyone will want to see what they might be missing!

    Martin Platt

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢

    RIP Fred White, drummer with Earth, Wind and Fire, who has died aged 67. 😢 ... See MoreSee Less

    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Great band

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.