THE PANCAKE MAN /1960s Kid Show Host/KOKO THE CLOWN

[Jim Burns]

Hi--

Forgive me for going off topic here (!), but recently we had a long
thread running, on 1960s kids-show hosts--related, mostly, to the
Stooges--and several of you folks, were very knowledgeable!

So... I'm hoping, that, perhaps, someone can help, with memories
of/info on, the following:

A truly obscure show, from the mid-1960s, was THE PANCAKE MAN,
sponsored, I think, by the International House of Pancakes, broadcast
way early in the AM, on local New York TV.

The host--a jolly-looking fellow in--naturally!--chef's garb (hat and
all!)--showed cartoons (mostly Fleischer's OUT OF THE INKWELL/KOKO THE
CLOWN, if I recall correctly.)

(As another potential memory "jog": one friend thinks that the show's
opening credits may have featured a filmed location shot, of The Pancake
Man, on the roof of a house, with "The Pancake Man" song, playing in the
background... Of course, the remembered house, used in the shot, may
actually have been, an IHOP restaurant!)

Does anyone, here, remember ANYTHING about this show?

(Was it on just in New York, what station did it use to be on, for how
many years did it run...?)

Now, here's where it gets even more interesting, or stranger:

Recently, I discovered, on some web-sites, statements that THE PANCAKE
MAN was a LOS ANGELES kids-show... If so, of course, it must have been
syndicated, explaining its New York broadcast (but also leading one to
believe, that it must have been on, in other states...

Also, some of these sites, say that Hal Smith (Otis the Drunk, from ANDY
GRIFFITH, and many other roles (including, cartoon voice-overs)), played
THE PANCAKE MAN... Now, it seems odd, that a station would cast someone
known for playing a drunk, to host a kid's show... So, I'm wondering, if
anyone, here, can confirm this..

Plus, I seem to have a distinct memory of there being two DIFFERENT
actors, who played the host...

The mystery thickens (just like a good pancake batter, I suppose...)!

Here's the final, odd, memory:

At some point, during the show's run, IHOP (International House of
Pancakes), DID do a tie-in, giving out a three-inch high,
rubber/eraser-type material, figure of THE PANCAKE MAN, as well as some
other character from the show...

My guess, is that the other toy giveaway, was Koko the Clown, but I'm
not sure...

I realize the above may all seem a little bizarre, but I've been curious
about this show, for years!

(Plus, if nothing else, the show has some importance in local TV
history, for serving as what had to be many youngsters' introduction, to
the Fleischers' non-POPEYE work...)

Again, ANY memories--particularly THE PANCAKE MAN'S NY station, and when
it ran--would be appreciated!

Now that I've been told the show originated in Los Angeles, I'd be
particularly interested in hearing of its California origins, as well!

Thanks!

Jim Burns

[L.S. Coker]

Don't recall it myself. I lived near Toronto, Ontario & watched a lot of the
kid's shows from Buffalo, N.Y. (CBS ",NBC,ABC). Actually a "cult"
favourite of many Toronto teens was "Irv Weinstein" of ABC's Buffalo
station, I believe WKBW, Channel 7. He was the weather guy, had acne (like
us kids,sorry "Irv") & we watched the news just to see him! I remember a
"Mike" or "Captain Mike" who showed you Popeye cartoons & I believe Stooges
shorts too from his "ship". And of course Soupy Sales. There was always
plenty of Stooges shorts to see on Saturdays. God Bless America on Saturday
mornings!

Stephen

[Stanislav Jehosaphat]

Jim Burns <james...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:9686-389...@storefull-103.iap.bryant.webtv.net...

> Also, some of these sites, say that Hal Smith (Otis the Drunk, from ANDY
> GRIFFITH, and many other roles (including, cartoon voice-overs)), played
> THE PANCAKE MAN... Now, it seems odd, that a station would cast someone
> known for playing a drunk, to host a kid's show... So, I'm wondering, if
> anyone, here, can confirm this..

Can't confirm it, but it's interesting in light of one of Smith's most
memorable guest shots -- as the clown Felix hires for his daughter's
birthday party in an episode of "The Odd Couple." The scene where Sherman
the Clown surreptitiously joins Oscar's poker game ("C'mon, Daddy needs a
new pair of exploding shoes!") is priceless.

[PastorJohn]

"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures..." (1 Cor. 15:3-4)

[ASOMEIII]

Now these are names I remember! Must be the West Coast influence. Sheriff
John and his birthday songs! Hobo Kelly and her BIG glasses and swing.
And of course Billy Barty! I saw him at the Stooges Convention in
Burbank...he's gotten quite old, but he still knew how to have fun!.