Jim Nolan (Uncle Jimmy). Jimmy Nolan made a huge contribution to all the children within his viewing area with his Clubhouse. It was a special, safe place that kids could go to via the television, or in person if they were lucky. He made every kid feel important, and never, never talked down to them, or put himself on show. When you watch the tapes of his shows, most of the time he is making eye contact with the children, and, when he does look out into "TV land", you know he is mostly including the kids at home, rather than sharing an arch "grown up look" with the adults. It was an important distinction, and tells a lot about the man himself. I never met him personally, but I did see him at different functions when he would come to Richland, and I remember thinking what an honestly nice person he seemed to be. He was the Fred Rogers of the Yakima Valley and beyond---and his decency came through loud and clear, reassuring, and safe.

Being able to gather around the television with my brother and sister and friends, and watch "Uncle Jimmy's Clubhouse", "Bozo the Clown", or, when we were older, the "4:30 Movie" from Spokane (lots of Errol Flynn swashbuckler stuff), or "Dark Shadows", helped lighten the mood around my house. Sometimes, the whole neighborhood was gathered in front of our big old set, with Kool-Aid and popcorn. It was cheap entertainment, but it made for a lot of memories. Thanks so much, Uncle Jimmy, for the good times and the laughter. You will always be in our hearts. -Ruth

"Uncle Jimmy's Clubhouse" I too have fond memories of that show. It was just about the first thing I saw when we finally got a television in the house. Jimmy Nolan always hosted with dignity, and respect for kids. He never made a fool of himself or played the clown. I remember him showing cartoons of a little black character (were they Sambo cartoons?) that would never play today in this era of political correctness. I also remember with fondness Bert Wells and his sidekick Prairie Pete, whose beard getting tangled in the camera was always blamed for the frequent interruptions in broadcasts that were common in the early days of KIMA. Yes, I remember watching Sky King too, but who else remembers Jet Jackson? -Bill

I remember Uncle Jimmy's Clubhouse. My little brother, Johnny ('69WB), was on the show in 1955 when he was 4. I remember mom driving to Yakima so Johnny could be on the show. I have a picture of Johnny and Uncle Jimmy taken at the time by Jerry Clark Photographer in Yakima. Johnny is all decked out in his cowboy outfit. Those were the days! -Deedee

I was a guest on the Uncle Jimmy show too... my Mom and Debbie Thompson's ('69) mom took us. It was fun, except for the part when Uncle Jimmy asked me how old I was (we were really little) and, why we do the things we do I'll never know, but I boldly piped up "I'm 12". So, that may have pretty much sealed my fate as to my Mom trusting me in the public eye. Too bad, wasn't "Starlit Stairway" the stuff that dreams were made of? Ha. -Connie