The Magic Window
Encyclopedia
The 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. (Bozo's Circus technically had a longer run, however it was made in many different local markets by different producers.). For all but the first three years of the show, it was hosted by Betty Lou Varnum
, a pioneer in central-Iowa broadcasting.
Betty Lou Varnum, who is best known for The Magic Window, but was versatile enough to host such other shows as a teen dance party, election coverage, and a call in 'issues' show, hosted the show, along with a cast of puppets such as Gregory Lion, Dusty the Unicorn, and Catrina Crocodile. The heart of the show was Betty Lou teaching kids a new craft each episode (using kid-safe items such as construction paper, safety scissors, and cellophane tape). The puppets would help out by opening the curtain to the screen on which various featurettes were shown. These included episodes from Tales of the Riverbank
, Felix the Cat
, and a series called "Lets Be Friends" which introduced viewers to a child from another city or country, sharing their culture and lifestyle.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
children's television program broadcast on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate WOI-TV
WOI-TV
WOI-DT, channel 5, is the ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Ames, and serving the Des Moines, Iowa market. Its studios are in West Des Moines...
in Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
from 1951 to 1994. With a run of 43 years, it was the longest running children's television program in American history. (Bozo's Circus technically had a longer run, however it was made in many different local markets by different producers.). For all but the first three years of the show, it was hosted by Betty Lou Varnum
Betty Lou Varnum
Betty Lou Varnum is an American television personality. Her parents, Glen and Louise McVay, moved to the small town of Platteville, Wisconsin later that same year. Her father was a popular local optometrist and sportsman and her mother was a housewife...
, a pioneer in central-Iowa broadcasting.
Betty Lou Varnum, who is best known for The Magic Window, but was versatile enough to host such other shows as a teen dance party, election coverage, and a call in 'issues' show, hosted the show, along with a cast of puppets such as Gregory Lion, Dusty the Unicorn, and Catrina Crocodile. The heart of the show was Betty Lou teaching kids a new craft each episode (using kid-safe items such as construction paper, safety scissors, and cellophane tape). The puppets would help out by opening the curtain to the screen on which various featurettes were shown. These included episodes from Tales of the Riverbank
Tales of the Riverbank
Tales of the Riverbank, sometimes called Hammy Hamster, is a Canadian children's television show starring Hammy Hamster and other animals....
, Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat is a cartoon character created in the silent film era. His black body, white eyes, and giant grin, coupled with the surrealism of the situations in which his cartoons place him, combine to make Felix one of the most recognized cartoon characters in film history...
, and a series called "Lets Be Friends" which introduced viewers to a child from another city or country, sharing their culture and lifestyle.
See also
- The Floppy ShowThe Floppy ShowThe 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...
- another popular central-Iowa children's show of the same time period - WOI-TVWOI-TVWOI-DT, channel 5, is the ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Ames, and serving the Des Moines, Iowa market. Its studios are in West Des Moines...