Special thanks Paula for making Ernie's 75th birthday one of his best birthdays ever! How ironic that the man who made everyone's birthday something special on Captain Ernie's Showboat was honored the same way on the very same set that he performed on for a decade during the 1960's and early 1970's!
Welcome to Ernie Mims on Paula Sands Live page 2. Page 1 consists of photos taken by Ernie's friends who were in the audience that day. This page consists of screen shots from the program itself, copyright KWQC TV 6 Davenport, Iowa.
After light hearted banter between Ernie, Paula and KWQC-TV6 Anchor
Gary Metivier behind the scenes, Paula's intro hits and we are on the air! Paula rarely has an audience but for this show an exception for Ernie's close friends and family was made. Many people were turned down to appear in the audience as you can imagine so it was really an honor to be there! Paula leads off the show introducing the guest who needs no introduction. He is Mr. Ernie Mims, Captain of The Cartoon Showboat! Ernie appeared on The Showboat for a decade from the mid 1960s through 1974. She points out that he is appearing on the same set that The Showboat took place some 30+ years earlier! She also tells us that something special is going on, Ernie is having a birthday, a little birdie told her. Ernie says that the cat is out of the bag thanks to Doug Smith from the Quad City Times ... "HE BLEW IT!" Paula lets Ernie know how terrific he looks & that he should take a peek in the monitor. Ernie says that he is afraid to look! However, Ernie tells Paula that he is about to reveal the real secret reason that he is there today.
Catching Paula off guard, the real reason is he had to sample some of Paula's pumpkin soup that she made on the show earlier in the week! To which, Paula confesses, it was not a hit with anyone but her!
Ernie wore many hats on the WOC set, from kids show host to weatherman to disc jockey to co-host of PM Magazine. A newcomer named Paula Gillette just so happened to co-host the show with him in 1983 and she has some ad clippings to prove it! PM Magazine with Paula and Ernie, always new, always fresh and always fun!
Sadly, KWQC did not keep much from the old days, however, Paula presents some things from decades past. The first is a slide for a show called Dixie Showboat which most likely had no connection to The Cartoon Showboat. Meanwhile, generic Navy music plays in the background. There are no known copies of film from Captain Ernie's Showboat. If you have pictures, film or memories of the show, please email me! Next is a clip from the program Golden Opportunity. The contestants appearing at that moment appear to be a dancer and a gentleman with an accordion.
Judging by the drum in the back left of the picture, this shot appears to be from behind the scenes of Golden Opportunity as well. Yet another shot of a baton twirler appearing on Golden Opportunity. Golden Opportunity was a popular local talent show on WOC. The first year was terrific but then the talent wore thin.
Another shot of behind the scenes of the set of Golden Opportunity. Legendary WOC engineer Jon Book points out that the gentleman walking is longtime musical director George Sontag who is carrying his piano bench while his piano is being wheeled away! Thankfully a clip from The Cartoon Showboat appears! The person in the cabin of The Dixie Belle is an unidentified WOC employee. Perhaps someone behind the scenes. He is waving and then ringing the Dixie Belle bell. How terrific to have a color shot from the 1960's of The Cartoon Showboat!
The behind the scenes shots of The Dixie Belle continue and special thanks to KWQC for plugging this website with this terrific banner! Thank you Paula & crew! Camera #4, behind the scenes of The Dixie Belle pilot house.
The Cartoon Showboat's pilot house is revealed!
Here is another great and rare shot. It is Ernie on WOC's 25th anniversary in his news blazer. Ernie was the weatherman on noon edition. It was very confusing to young kids as they watched the 12 o'clock news during the summer, seeing Ernie giving the weather. Then he would appear at 3:30 or 4 as the Captain of The Dixie Belle!
Arnold Klenski gives Ernie a tease by putting his Captain's cap on his head during the live show. Ernie, who is one of the funniest and most talented men in WOC's history, goes right along with the gag and instantly becomes the Captain while still in his news blazer!
A big salute right back at you Ernie! Flash forward to the 50 year WOC & KWQC anniversary show, Ernie appeared on a KWQC riverboat cruise to celebrate the occasion.
Ernie brought along a few shots to bring back the memories. Here is Ernie in the early 60's as Uncle Ernie. Ernie was a mainstay on WOC Radio 1420, here he is disc jockeying and hoping to play some more jazz.
Ernie on Bandstand Six, a take-off of American Bandstand which appeared on WOC. Ernie circa 1973 as Captain Ernie. This is one of the postcards he would sign and send to you if you requested one as a kid.
The memories continue as Paula presents a digitally made pillow from their PM Magazine years. Paula asks Ernie if he would go back and do Captain Ernie's Showboat again. Ernie asks how someone goes about doing that when they are 75 years old. Paula assures Ernie that he has proven today that he could do it and she could use a co-host and that he is always welcome on the show! We also learn that this showboat cake was made especially for Ernie's 50th birthday! What a nice touch! Paula said that it was made by her friend Robin. Thank you Robin!!!
Paula then plugs www.captainerniesshowboat.com Thank you Paula, you are one terrific host! Paula takes a short break and takes a quick trip into today's audience. On the back right is legendary WOC engineer Jon Book, front left is Ernie's step-daughter Stephanie and next to her is Diana Memos, Ernie's wife.
Also along for the show, front row left; longtime WOC sports announcer Ed Zack and next to him is Ernie's Pal Eldon Bowers. Behind Ed in the 2nd row is Doug Smith from Doug's Q.C. Collectibles in The Quad City Times and seated next to him is WOC alumni and local film producer Doug Miller. We are brought up to date on Ed Zack whose career at WOC could have easily filled a half-hour PSL show all by itself!
Its time to take a break and visit Meteorologist
Ryan Burchett. Ryan jabs Paula by taking off on Ernie's comments about her pumpkin soup! Hilarious! Local film reviewer Linda Cook is the next guest and Ernie is invited to sit in on the discussion. Ernie tells Paula that he trust Linda more than Ebert and all the other big names. Paula tells Ernie to jump in anytime he wants with comments. Ernie pounces on Linda telling her in his best Transylvania voice that he could give her his Count Dracula impression and he wants to bite her neck! HA!
Ernie decides to behave and one of Paula Sands best programs ever is drawing to a close. Paula, you were correct, Ernie still has it. What a great guest! KWQC - consider using Ernie in the future. The guy is gold on TV. It would be terrific to see him occasionally on the air. KWQC - a couple of things to consider. We are months away from the 50th anniversary of The Cartoon Showboat 1958 - 2008. You are 13 months away from your 60th anniversary. Wouldn't it be great to find film from the early years of WOC for your special occasion? The old timers are not getting any younger. Put the word out! Film reels have been discovered in this past year and there are more out there to be discovered but time is quickly running out! Now is the time to act!
