Ray Rayner hosted this free-form weekday early-morning children’s show from WGN Chicago, featuring cartoons, songs, pantomimes, animal segments (filmed at Lincoln Park Zoo), and do-it-yourself projects.
The show became the most popular morning television show in Chicago
Ray shared the camera with a live ankle-pecking duck named “Chelveston”. Rayner named the duck after a British Air Force base where he was stationed in England during World War II.
Four different ducks played the part of Chelveston over the years.
Chelveston III died of a heart attack, while Chelveston IV suffered from arthritis, cataracts and a stroke before he passed away in 1991.
Ray Rayner died on 21 January 2004 of complications from pneumonia in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 84.
The show became the most popular morning television show in Chicago
