Debuting on Sunday 5 January 1975, this unusual Chicago-based children’s show starred Bill Jackson (the only human in the show) as the manager and desk clerk of the titular hotel, which was owned by retired sea captain Mr Gigglesnort, who thought his hotel was a ship.
Other puppet characters (who had all previously appeared with Jackson on The BJ and Dirty Dragon Show) included the somewhat belligerent janitor, Dirty Dragon (who provided the heating for the hotel); a dowdy grey-haired woman called Mother Pearl Plumtree; a white-haired eccentric known as the Old Professor; the corncob-smoking house detective WC Cornfield (who sounded like WC Fields); a bellhop called Weird, and The Lemon Joke Kid (dressed in an all-yellow zoot-suit).
Another regular “character” was Blob – a lump of modelling clay who made weird grunting sounds as Bill shaped him into an infinite variety of sizes and characters.
Bill Jackson provided the voice for all the puppets.
Each show was devoted to a “life lesson” and attempted to explain various aspects of life – such as responsibility, anger, bravery, following directions, and fire safety – to the kids watching at home.
The series ran for three years in syndication and reruns, winning two local Chicago Emmy Awards for Best Locally Produced Children’s Show.
Bill Jackson was hospitalised with COVID-19 in January 2022. He was subsequently released but died in Paso Robles, California, on January 17, 2022. He was 86.
BJ
Bill Jackson Puppeteers
Nancy Wettler
Ian Harris
Michael Lans
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The series ran for three years in syndication and reruns, winning two local Chicago Emmy Awards for Best Locally Produced Children’s Show.
