BBeM: NYC-area TV/Radio Item

NYC-area TV/Radio

Wonderama

This 3-hours-long Sunday-morning children's program originated at New York City's WNEW-TV (5) and was shown on Metromedia-owned stations in Cincinnati, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Kansas City, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Hosts, over the years, included Al Hodge (as Captain Video), Jon Gnagy, Sandy Becker, Pat Meikle, Herb Sheldon, Bill Britten (best known as New York's Bozo the Clown), Doris Faye, Sonny Fox, and Bob McAllister.
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There are 15 comments for this item.

Posted by Mr.KTV at 6:59 am (PDT) on Wed June 5, 2024
That is true..Sonny Fox made "Wonderama"informative and fun..but..Bob McAllister added too much entertainment and his efforts to interview the guests on the show..he wasn't Sonny Fox.
Posted by Goose at 5:03 am (PDT) on Wed June 5, 2024
We ALL loved Sonny Fox, who actually treated children like human beings instead of imbeciles. When Bob McAlister came, Wonderama was never the same: infantile.
Posted by Mr.KTV at 6:16 pm (PDT) on Sat April 3, 2021
Sadly, the last host of the original WNEW TV Ch.5 NYC version of "Wonderama!"..Sonny Fox passed away. (Crying)I'll miss him
Posted by Mr.KTV at 3:21 pm (PDT) on Wed March 11, 2020
Sonny Fox.."Wonderama's"fourth and most memorable host..was the one..who lead the young members of his studio audiences in those Tongue Twisters..Uncle Kipsy.
Posted by Mr.KTV at 12:31 pm (PST) on Sun March 1, 2020
Sadly.."Wonderama's"third host/performer:Bill Britten("Three Gun Willie The Kid")passed away last month.Mr.Britten was the first mc of the show..to pre-tape his programs on Thursday afternoons for Sunday morning broadcasts.
Posted by Bob Matthews at 3:25 pm (PST) on Thu March 9, 2017
I remember watching that six hour version. It was funny and captivating and I didn't want to miss a minute. Can still hear my mother yelling at me to turn off the TV set and "Go out and play!" Sonny Fox and Sandy Becker were the greatest.
Posted by Mr.TVK at 12:56 am (PST) on Thu February 16, 2017
Paktype, "Wonderama!"was revived recently..The CW TV Network in NYC brought the show back to tv..this time as a sunday evening program on WPIX TV Ch.11 in NYC.The show does air on saturday evenings on other affilliates of The CW TV Network. Singer:David Osmond of The Osmond Family is the series' sixth adult host/performer.This time.."Wonderama!" only runs for one hour.
Posted by Mr.TVK at 12:54 am (PST) on Thu February 16, 2017
"Wonderama!"was live at the beginning of hit's run on WABD TV Ch.5 in NYC..Bob..The show ran six hours on Sunday afternoons.Later the show's running time was cut down to four hours and then to three. By 1958, the show was taped on thursday afternoons for sunday morning broadcast(also the station was taken over by WNEW TV Ch.5 Metromedia Tv Inc.)..to tape the show for a three hour length..the producers had to set up the recording time for six hours or more. Which ment that the kids would be kept at the studio for many long hours.
Posted by unclekipsy at 12:54 pm (PST) on Wed January 7, 2015
I watched it on Sunday mornings. First with Sandy Becker and then Bob McAllister. I recall and enjoyed the tongue twisters ("The Big Black Bug Bled Black Blood", "Toy Boat", "A Box of Bisquits", "A Box of Mixed Bisquits, and a Bisquit Mixer", were 3 of the many I recall). They also a dance contest every show. I remember all the cool prizes (toys) they gave away to the kids for winning the fun competitions ! Great show !
Posted by Kids TV Kid at 11:11 am (PDT) on Wed July 16, 2014
Or Watching "Wonderama!" for six hours on Sunday afternoons. Because the program began as a six hour sunday afternoon kids comedy/variety tv show on WABD TV Ch.5 in NYC.
Posted by Duff at 8:15 am (PDT) on Fri April 5, 2013
I was born in 1950 and grew up in/near NYC. I certainly watched cartoons & such on channel 5, but only recall it being WNEW-TV. The whole WABD thing went right by me, I guess.
Posted by Kids TV Kid at 5:30 am (PDT) on Fri April 5, 2013
Magician/escape artist and magic historian Melbourne Christopher was also a regular on The Sandy Becker version of "Wonderama!" Sunday afternoons on WABD TV Ch.5 in NYC from September 25, 1955 to August, 1956.
Posted by Bob Wilson Jr at 4:34 pm (PDT) on Fri June 24, 2011
My young niece and a nephew came down to NY in 1968 and using tickets procured from my wife who worked for Metromedia Channel 5, went to see "Wonderama". Although the show was 3 hours long, the young members of the audience were basically held captive there for at least 6 hours. I forgot exactly why that was so, since I also recall that it was broadcast live.
Posted by paktype at 4:23 pm (PDT) on Fri June 24, 2011
A 3 hour kids' show! Can you imagine any kid in 2011 sitting still for three hours to watch one show?
Posted by SUBSURF at 10:10 am (PDT) on Thu June 16, 2011
Show went straight into the toilet whn Sonny Fox left. Mc Allister ruined it.

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