The Floppy Show
Encyclopedia
The Floppy Show was an American
children's TV program starring actor Duane Ellett, broadcast on NBC
affiliate WHO-TV
in Des Moines, Iowa
from 1957 to 1987. Duane created Floppy in early 1957 to help teach people how to take care of their pets on the TV Show "Pet Corner", before moving on to their own show.(1)
Duane Ellett delighted children for three decades. He entertained them with his puppet friend Floppy, a high-voiced beagle dog that enjoyed riddles and let kids beep his nose for luck. Ellett had carved Floppy himself from balsa wood, and brought him and his other puppet characters to life through self-taught ventriloquism
.
Duane Ellett and his canine friend Floppy went on the air in 1957. Prior to the show, Ellett had served in the U.S. Army in World War II
. He had planned to become a lawyer when he started attending Drake University
, but a class in radio journalism led to a job with WHO radio in 1947.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the half-hour show consisted of short sketches with Ellett's puppets, a segment in which children asked Floppy riddles, and the airing of vintage Looney Tunes
and Tom and Jerry
cartoons.
Thousands of Iowans outside of Des Moines discovered the duo in their performances at the Iowa State Fair
. Ellett also took Floppy on 200 personal appearances every year. They visited countless sick children in hospitals.
On August 30, 1984, WHO-TV
canceled Ellett's afternoon show because of faltering ratings, and there was a public outcry. Ellett and his sidekick continued to appear on WHO's noon news and on weekend mornings.
In May 1987, Ellett, Floppy, and their fans celebrated their 30th anniversary of entertaining together. Ellett died of a heart attack a month later while exercising.
In 1994, a special display honoring Ellett and his puppet was exhibited at the Iowa Historical Building, where Floppy now resides. The Iowa State Historical Society has presented the "Duane and Floppy Film Festival" the past two years during the winter(2009 & 2010). There are currently two DVDs released in the Duane and Floppy Series. (2)
For the past few years on Christmas Eve, WHO-TV has aired the Floppy Christmas Special produced in 1966. The special features the adventures of Floppy escaping the daily grind of his afternoon show. Floppy can be found singing with two Des Moines church choirs. Duane Ellett sings a special Christmas tune at the end of this special.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
children's TV program starring actor Duane Ellett, broadcast on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate WHO-TV
WHO-TV
WHO-DT is a television station that broadcasts on Channel 13 in Des Moines, Iowa. It is affiliated with the NBC television network and serves most of central Iowa. The station transmits from the WOI Tower in Alleman, Iowa, which is actually owned by WHO-DT's owners. WHO-DT brands itself as WHO-HD...
in Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
from 1957 to 1987. Duane created Floppy in early 1957 to help teach people how to take care of their pets on the TV Show "Pet Corner", before moving on to their own show.(1)
Duane Ellett delighted children for three decades. He entertained them with his puppet friend Floppy, a high-voiced beagle dog that enjoyed riddles and let kids beep his nose for luck. Ellett had carved Floppy himself from balsa wood, and brought him and his other puppet characters to life through self-taught ventriloquism
Ventriloquism
Ventriloquism, or ventriloquy, is an act of stagecraft in which a person manipulates his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere, usually a puppeteered "dummy"...
.
Duane Ellett and his canine friend Floppy went on the air in 1957. Prior to the show, Ellett had served in the U.S. Army in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He had planned to become a lawyer when he started attending Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
, but a class in radio journalism led to a job with WHO radio in 1947.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the half-hour show consisted of short sketches with Ellett's puppets, a segment in which children asked Floppy riddles, and the airing of vintage Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
and Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry are the cat and mouse cartoon characters that were evolved starting in 1939.Tom and Jerry also may refer to:Cartoon works featuring the cat and mouse so named:* The Tom and Jerry Show...
cartoons.
Thousands of Iowans outside of Des Moines discovered the duo in their performances at the Iowa State Fair
Iowa State Fair
The Iowa State Fair is an annual state fair held in Des Moines, Iowa.The 2011 Iowa State Fair was held August 11–21 and marked 100 years of the butter cow sculpture.-History:...
. Ellett also took Floppy on 200 personal appearances every year. They visited countless sick children in hospitals.
On August 30, 1984, WHO-TV
WHO-TV
WHO-DT is a television station that broadcasts on Channel 13 in Des Moines, Iowa. It is affiliated with the NBC television network and serves most of central Iowa. The station transmits from the WOI Tower in Alleman, Iowa, which is actually owned by WHO-DT's owners. WHO-DT brands itself as WHO-HD...
canceled Ellett's afternoon show because of faltering ratings, and there was a public outcry. Ellett and his sidekick continued to appear on WHO's noon news and on weekend mornings.
In May 1987, Ellett, Floppy, and their fans celebrated their 30th anniversary of entertaining together. Ellett died of a heart attack a month later while exercising.
In 1994, a special display honoring Ellett and his puppet was exhibited at the Iowa Historical Building, where Floppy now resides. The Iowa State Historical Society has presented the "Duane and Floppy Film Festival" the past two years during the winter(2009 & 2010). There are currently two DVDs released in the Duane and Floppy Series. (2)
For the past few years on Christmas Eve, WHO-TV has aired the Floppy Christmas Special produced in 1966. The special features the adventures of Floppy escaping the daily grind of his afternoon show. Floppy can be found singing with two Des Moines church choirs. Duane Ellett sings a special Christmas tune at the end of this special.
See also
- The Magic WindowThe Magic WindowThe Magic Window was an American children's television program broadcast on ABC affiliate WOI-TV in Ames, Iowa from 1951 to 1994. With a run of 43 years, it was the longest running children's television program in American history...
- another popular central-Iowa children's show of the same time period - WHO-TVWHO-TVWHO-DT is a television station that broadcasts on Channel 13 in Des Moines, Iowa. It is affiliated with the NBC television network and serves most of central Iowa. The station transmits from the WOI Tower in Alleman, Iowa, which is actually owned by WHO-DT's owners. WHO-DT brands itself as WHO-HD...