Captain Chesapeake
Encyclopedia
Captain Chesapeake was a morning and afternoon children's show on WBFF
(channel 45) in Baltimore, Maryland hosted by George A. Lewis ( born:November 24, 1926, died:December 18, 2000 at Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
) who portrayed "Captain Chesapeake". The show aired from April 1971 until 1990. Lewis hosted a similar show, Captain Pitt on WPTT
(channel 22) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(which is now WPMY and is owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., the same group that owns and operates Baltimore's WBFF). Lewis began his career as the children's host of the Steamboat Bill and Mr. Cartoon shows on WSAZ-TV
in Huntington, West Virginia
from 1957 until 1970. Lewis also acted as Ghost Host on WBFF's late night horror movie show, and did news on WBFF prior to 1988.
Children in Baltimore could become "crew members" on the show.
The Captain Chesapeake show began with the poem:
"A shipwrecked sailor found himself in a plight. Lost at sea he was really a sight. He swam and swam 'til he thought he'd die, when a wondrous sight appeared to his eye. A derelict boat that saved his life and put an end to his watery strife."
The theme song was the Bob Crosby Tune "Stumbling" by The Three Suns. This Theme was played from a 33 rpm at 45 rpm speed.
WBFF
WBFF, channel 45, is a Fox-affiliated television station located in Baltimore, Maryland. WBFF is the flagship station of the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which also operates Baltimore's CW affiliate, WNUV-TV , through a local marketing agreement...
(channel 45) in Baltimore, Maryland hosted by George A. Lewis ( born:November 24, 1926, died:December 18, 2000 at Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
Lutherville-Timonium is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland made up of the unincorporated communities of Lutherville and Timonium. The population was 15,814 as of the 2000 census. Within its borders lies the Lutherville Historic District...
) who portrayed "Captain Chesapeake". The show aired from April 1971 until 1990. Lewis hosted a similar show, Captain Pitt on WPTT
WPMY
WPMY is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 42 from a transmitter located in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. Owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, WPMY is the sister station of...
(channel 22) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
(which is now WPMY and is owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., the same group that owns and operates Baltimore's WBFF). Lewis began his career as the children's host of the Steamboat Bill and Mr. Cartoon shows on WSAZ-TV
WSAZ-TV
WSAZ-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Huntington and Charleston, West Virginia. This area is the second-largest market in terms of area east of the Mississippi River consisting of 61 counties in Central West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and Southeastern Ohio. It broadcasts a high...
in Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
from 1957 until 1970. Lewis also acted as Ghost Host on WBFF's late night horror movie show, and did news on WBFF prior to 1988.
Children in Baltimore could become "crew members" on the show.
The Captain Chesapeake show began with the poem:
"A shipwrecked sailor found himself in a plight. Lost at sea he was really a sight. He swam and swam 'til he thought he'd die, when a wondrous sight appeared to his eye. A derelict boat that saved his life and put an end to his watery strife."
The theme song was the Bob Crosby Tune "Stumbling" by The Three Suns. This Theme was played from a 33 rpm at 45 rpm speed.
Characters on the Captain Chesapeake show
- Capt. Chesapeake
- Mondy the Sea Monster, a local version of the Loch Ness MonsterLoch Ness MonsterThe Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid that is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next....
, not to be confused with ChessieChessie (sea monster)Chessie is a legendary sea monster said to live in the midst of the Chesapeake Bay. Over the years there have been many alleged sightings of a serpent-like creature with flippers as part of its body....
, a legendary sea monster of Chesapeake BayChesapeake BayThe Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. - Bruce the Bird
- Andrew Claws the Lion
- Little Mo'
- Neptuna the Mermaid