WOC Television went on the air in 1949. The need for quality children's programming was immediate and a new program which started in 1953 fit the bill. This program was Romper Room.
Romper Room was a franchised program which allowed stations to chose whether to receive a national airing or to produce their own version of the show. WOC was one of the first franchisees for Romper Room and began airing this morning show with the new host, Miss Barbara.
Special thanks for this picture to Tim Hollis author of "Hi There Boys & Girls!", an excellent book on the history of TV programming for Children in the U.S.
The program was watched by nearly every preschooler who had access to television during its thirty year plus run. The hostess of the show would lead children in games, songs and brought a lesson of morality every day. Occasional guests appeared on the show such as Smokey the Bear.
Edith Glidden, standing in the picture, directed Romper Room, Especially For You (with Pat Sundine), Today's Cooking and was also the voice of Pee Wee on Comic Cut-Ups (with Ken Wagner)! Edith (Edie) was one of the very few woman tv directors in local TV in the early 1950's. A most gracious lady who was a great friend to me. I succeeded her as the director of Especially For You when I came back into the production department from the newsroom. Seated is Miss Barbara Gorham, the first WOC Romper Room hostess. Romper Room was a nationally franchised kids show out of Burt Claster productions in Baltimore MD. WOC was the first station in the market to have the show. While we had several Miss Romper Room's hostesses, Edie was the director and George Sontag was Mr. Music who played the piano for the songs and kiddie dances and was always off camera. - Don McGonegle Mr. Music - WOC Musical Director George Sontag.
Miss Barbara was the first host on WOC followed by Gwen Korn as Miss Gwen and then Donna Scott as Miss Donna. These stars of the show who endeared the hearts of every child watching were chosen because they were outstanding kindergarten teachers who stood out from the rest and had the talent that was needed for this excellent show. This was the standard practice across the United States for each city.
A regular feature of the show was Do Bee. Do Bee was the show's mascot who would lead the children in the Do Bee song and dance and teach the children to Do Bee good little boys and girls and Don't Bee bad little girls and boys!
The Romper Room Set - located in the north end of the studio. The studio building still stands as of 2006 behind the KWQC building. - Don McGonegle
The most popular feature of the show was the ending. The Romper Room Hostess would bring out the Magic Mirror. The Magic Mirror was a mirror which at first would have a kaleidoscope effect. The hostess would recite the poem "Romper, bomper, stomper boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me, do. Magic mirror, tell me today. Have all my friends been good at play?" Followed by a switch of mirrors, this time one which she could look through and pretend to peek into the living rooms of each child who was watching the show through the TV set! The hostess would proclaim "I can see Betty and Jimmy and John and Tracy and all of you boys and girls watching!" Kids could send in their names if they wished to increase the chances that their name would be called out on the air.
