Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

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Re: Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

by Clipper cat » Thu Nov 26, 2020 11:18 am

AAh, Webster Webfoot. Can't say it was my childhood favorite, just that I would watch tv after school as though it were a "thing". I do remember forming the impression that Jimmy Weldon was a certifiably weird person when one afternoon he dropped the Webfoot schtick and sat alone singing "Bye bye Blackbird" with tears running down his cheeks. Children's show much?

Re: Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

by slwmusicman » Thu Nov 12, 2020 11:32 pm

We moved to Clovis in 1958 when I was 3. We had a B&W TV and I remember watching The Webster Webfoot Show for 2 or 3 years (62-64 I think). Jimmy Weldon had a tent show in front of a grocery store on Clovis Ave. when I was about 7. We were driving by in the family car and I saw the tent with the Webster Webfoot sign and I begged for us to stop so I could see him. We went in and I answered a quick quiz type question and won a 6 pack of Orange Crush bottles. Those were the days alright. My family moved from Clovis to N. Dak. at the end of the summer of 64. I remembered Webster for years but didn't think about him for 40 years or so until a few nights ago watching late night re-runs and something sparked my memories of Clovis. Some of the best cartoons of the time were also on the WW show..Deputy Dawg for instance.

Re: Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

by Lost Fresno » Mon Jan 22, 2018 12:36 pm

Interesting backstory on how Jimmy Weldon came to Fresno in 1956, then left in 1959 but returned to the San Joaquin Valley in 1961. Reprinted form Wikipedia:

In 1948, Jimmy (and Webster Webfoot) moved to Duncan, Oklahoma, where they performed on another 250-watt AM station, KRHD, for two more years. The big 50,000-watt radio station WFAA in Dallas, Texas, recruited Webster and Jimmy as entertainers, and Webster became a real person on television on April 4, 1950, on The Webster Webfoot Show, produced locally by station WFAA-TV.

They moved to California on September 5, 1952, to KCOP-TV, Channel 13, in Hollywood and continued their television careers. During an appearance at a middle school in Brentwood, Jeff Chandler and Randolph Scott collected the tickets from the children and parents who came to see the show. These two movie stars made Jimmy feel very lucky indeed when they commented, "Our children think more of little Webster than they do OUR movie careers." Also, Ralph Edwards was there and in 1955 he gave Webster and Jimmy the positions as co-hosts of a new children's television program titled FUNNYBONERS, a junior version of his famous "Truth or Consequences" radio and television shows.

In 1956 Jimmy and Webster moved to Fresno, California, which began a career in the San Joaquin Valley at KFRE-TV, Channel 12. This was interrupted, however, when NBC executives called them to New York to replace Shari Lewis on the "HI, MOM" Show on the NBC Flagship Station, WRCA-TV, Channel 4. In 1959 Channel 13 in Hollywood once again became their television home.

In 1961 Jimmy and Webster were called back to the San Joaquin Valley. They continued performing their show on KJEO-TV, Channel 47, in Fresno, California, throughout the 1960s. During this time, Jimmy and Webster also did TV shows in Salinas and Bakersfield, California, flying their airplane from city to city for those shows.
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weldon hi mom.jpg
Click to Enlarge / Jimmy Weldon Hi Mom Show

Re: Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

by Guest » Mon Nov 26, 2012 9:38 pm

I got to sing with Webster at Gongs Grand Opening in Caruthers in 1963. I was the only one who knew the Webster Webfoot song. I won a 6 pack of RC cola, a loaf of Rainbow bread, a bag of Freeto chips and a package of Farmer John sausage. AND a yellow Webster record and coloring book. I was 5 and on top of the world. Good Memories
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The_Fresno_Bee_The_Republican_Tue__Apr_9__1963_.jpg
Click to Enlarge / Fresno Bee - April 9, 1963

Re: Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

by mkw » Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:42 pm

Uncle Jimmy came back to Fresno last month ( Feb 2012) for a visit!

Re: Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

by 58pacer » Sun Oct 16, 2011 2:32 am

The Phantom Planet? Saw it at the Wilson Theater. The marquis proclaimed "starring Jimmy Weldon." Jimmy's character actually died before the titles and opening credits rolled. His space ship crashed into the planet (that they couldn't detect). Real stars were Frances X. Bushman and Coleen Gray. What's crazy is I drove Coleen Gray in the Brentwood Fourth of July parade many years later in my Edsel convertible, and didn't recognize her from the movie (what a surprise). Wish I had done some homework, and I might have known.

Pacer
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phantom planet.jpg
Click to Enlarge / Jimmy Weldon stars as Lt. Webb

Re: Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

by 58pacer » Sun Oct 16, 2011 2:22 am

I had some e-Mail correspondence with Jimmy Weldon back around 2006. At the time he was living what sounded like a comfortable life in his house in Burbank. He was still flying his airplane, but the only passengers allowed were Webster and his collie! I sat on his lap at a grocery store in 1962, and he gave me a loaf of Sunbeam bread to take home. Remember the bread slice that would tear right down the middle? I tried it, they weren't lying.

Pacer
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Click to Enlarge / Al Radka and Jimmy Weldon

Re: Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

by Fresneck » Fri Aug 26, 2011 12:51 pm

I met Webster at Roeding Park... what a swell duck.
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webster 1964.jpg
Click to Enlarge / Fresno Bee - Nov. 20, 1964

Re: Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

by carlesglass » Tue Apr 13, 2010 9:42 am

I got to talk to Jimmy Weldon on an internet radio program back in 2008. He's still as positive and energetic as ever and has fond memories of Fresno. He is a motivational speaker. He also has some film and TV credits as well. Check out IMDB.com

Carl

Re: Webster Webfoot - My favorite Childhood TV Show

by BigBigdog50 » Sat Apr 03, 2010 2:44 pm

Webster Webfoot and Uncle Jimmy Weldon are one of my favorite childhood memories. I remember their theme song, goes like this:

We want you all to know....
This is the Webster Webfoot Show....
It's like a jamboree...
For kids from one to ninety-three...
Now we all know that Webster is an educated duck,
But without Jimmy Weldon he'd be outta luck!
We want you kids in the studio..
And all of you at home to know..
This is the Web...ster Web...foot show.

And he would have this dark haired lady on once in a while who would teach the kids safety. Cannot remember her name...and they also had a song for her segment too:

Courtesy and safety too...
In everything we say and do....
Webster Webfoot knows its true...
Now the rest is up to you.
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webster webfoot TV listing.png
Click to Enlarge / Fresno Bee - Oct.16, 1963

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