Retro TV Friday! Romper Room!
8:49 AM Posted by CalgaryDaddy
"I see Becky, I see Shane, I see Shannon, I see Tanya, I see Tamara..... Kyron had a good day! "
Remember this old classic? Before I did my post last week, Becky said I should do one on Romper Room! I laughed when a few of my comments on The Polka Dot Door show were about Romper Room instead. The shows are pretty similar and hey, after 25 years our memories all get a little fuzzy.
Synopsis:
Each program would open with a greeting from the hostess and the Pledge of Allegiance. Then the hostess and her group of children would embark on an half hour of games, exercises, songs and moral lessons, which were regularly accompanied by background music. Romper Room tried to teach its young charges to be polite. For instance, the hostesses were always addressed as "Miss." Many of the hostesses had prior experience in working with small children, as many were former kindergarten teachers.
At the end of each broadcast, the hostess would look through a "magic mirror" (actually a face-sized open hoop with a handle) and name the children she saw in "televisionland", then recite the rhyme, "Romper, bomper, stomper boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me, do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, have all my friends had fun at play?" She would then lead into, "I can see Scotty and Kimberly and Julie and Jimmy and Kelly and all of you boys and girls out there!" Kids were encouraged to mail in their names, which would be read on the air.
( Source: Wikipedia)
I also used to hang onto her every word, hoping she would call my name! What do you remember?
Happy Weekend!
Shane
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April 16, 2010 9:40 AM
I used to cross my fingers and toes waiting to hear my name called out - it would absolutely make my day if I did.
If we didn't hear our names we just moved on to "Buckshot"... Still remember the words to "Sixteen Chickens and a Tambourine" to this day!
April 16, 2010 9:43 AM
I just found the song... and Buckshot and Benny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5l4s_bNdFI
April 16, 2010 9:57 AM
I was on tinderhooks waiting for my name... read a book a few years ago by Wayne Johnston called Human Amusements about a boy in Toronto whose mom had a tv show based on the Romper Room idea... just the name was changed... interesting read if you ever have time
April 16, 2010 11:11 AM
I loved this show, I always waited to hear my name at the end and can you believe they never (so it seemed) said Amy? I know SO MANY Amy's it's such a popular name.. but nope, never heard my name.
April 16, 2010 2:12 PM
Okay, so I was one of those who got Romper Room confused with The Polka Dot Door.....my bad. The only thing I remember from this show is the name thing. Must have been pretty important if that's all I remember from my childhood TV watching days!
April 16, 2010 6:18 PM
Shane I made my own magic mirror and would "see" my cabbage patch kids and barbies. :) Loved that show!!!
April 18, 2010 8:58 AM
I LOVED Romper Room but was always sad they never said my name either! Still, loved that show, thanks for the trip down memory lane Shane.