Gene London, Channel 10 "kiddy" show host, passes away at 88 (Reading: house, neighborhood)

[Mrs. Skeffington]

If you are a Baby Boomer, like me, you remember Gene London of WCAU (Channel 10)'s "Cartoon Corners General Store" in the early 1960's. Sadly, he has passed away at 88. In Reading...which was a surprise. Last I heard he had been living in New York.

Trying to post a link or picture, but unfortunately my antiquated computer won't let me. He's the last of our kid show "heroes"...Sally Starr, Chief Halftowne, Pixanne, and Captain Noah have also passed.

Anyone else have fond memories of Gene London? His show lasted through the early 70's, and he was a weekday and Saturday morning fixture for those of us kids who only had four (sometimes five when the weather was good and we could get Lancaster) on our black and white sets.

[FlurryCat]

I remember him because it was the only TV show I ever saw until I was 5 or 6. We didn't have a set, but when Gene was on, my mother would send me next door to watch him with the neighbor kids so she could get some alone time.

[soulsurv]

ADORED HIM! Here's some of the post Cartoon Corners things he did
https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/...5BHmAu08eNi8vM

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Skeffington

If you are a Baby Boomer, like me, you remember Gene London of WCAU (Channel 10)'s "Cartoon Corners General Store" in the early 1960's. Sadly, he has passed away at 88. In Reading...which was a surprise. Last I heard he had been living in New York.

Trying to post a link or picture, but unfortunately my antiquated computer won't let me. He's the last of our kid show "heroes"...Sally Starr, Chief Halftowne, Pixanne, and Captain Noah have also passed.

Anyone else have fond memories of Gene London? His show lasted through the early 70's, and he was a weekday and Saturday morning fixture for those of us kids who only had four (sometimes five when the weather was good and we could get Lancaster) on our black and white sets.

Gene London was absolutely our Mr Rodgers. My favorites though were Sally Star and Chief Halftown. I never watched Pixanne.

He was friends with the Boscovs hence the Reading connection.

His death was caused by an accident from what I read. He fell and hit his head.

[Pilot1]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Skeffington

If you are a Baby Boomer, like me, you remember Gene London of WCAU (Channel 10)'s "Cartoon Corners General Store" in the early 1960's. Sadly, he has passed away at 88. In Reading...which was a surprise. Last I heard he had been living in New York.

Trying to post a link or picture, but unfortunately my antiquated computer won't let me. He's the last of our kid show "heroes"...Sally Starr, Chief Halftowne, Pixanne, and Captain Noah have also passed.

Anyone else have fond memories of Gene London? His show lasted through the early 70's, and he was a weekday and Saturday morning fixture for those of us kids who only had four (sometimes five when the weather was good and we could get Lancaster) on our black and white sets.

Didn't know you were from Philly, Skeff! He was one of my first childhood TV memories in the early 1960's growing up in Philly and the Philly burbs. Watched all of the local kids shows you mentioned. A much different and innocent time. I remember him drawing and of course we were all scared of Quigley Mansion.

[Mrs. Skeffington]

Originally Posted by Pilot1

Didn't know you were from Philly, Skeff! He was one of my first childhood TV memories in the early 1960's growing up in Philly and the Philly burbs. Watched all of the local kids shows you mentioned. A much different and innocent time. I remember him drawing and of course we were all scared of Quigley Mansion.

Remember when he lost his house and had to move into Mr. Dibbley's basement? He bought a big fancy house with gold he found in a mine on "Superstition Mountain". No way he could have afforded it on the salary he earned from "Dibble-puss" (his boss at the General Store), who paid him 3 1/2 cents a week. The house had "big front gates like the rich folks have". Then he lost it (I forget how) and had to live secretly in the Dibbleys basement . Old Dibble-puss was a jerk, but his wife (Mrs. Dibbley) was nice, and they were good friends. She used to complain to Gene that Mr. Dibbley, at breakfast, hollered, "I want my MAY-po!!!" Gene was in love with the Dibbley's beautiful daughter, Debbie Dibbley. She moved to Hollywood to be a movie star, breaking his heart. Then there was the "rich lady", Mrs. Throckmorton III.

They did a takeoff of a "Christmas Carol", where Dibble-puss was Scrooge. He had a vision of his stinginess causing Gene to die of pneumonia. Gene's ghost came to haunt him, a la Marley. Dibble-puss relented his ways, and invited Gene to Christmas dinner (where he gave him the neck of the turkey).

He somehow had possession of a "Golden Fleece" that granted wishes. And there was a "confetti factory" next door to the General Store that was always dumping boxes of confetti on him. We howled with laughter at that!

I'm surprised I remember so many of the plots of this show. Of course, in those days (pre Internet, You Tube, smart phones, and cable TV), there wasn't much else to get us kids excited (except Sally Starr, of course). They really got some complicated story lines into a one hour kiddy show, but it was like a soap opera...we couldn't wait until the next day to see what happened. All this was integrated with the drawings, songs, and stories. I loved his "witch" laugh.

RIP, Gene. I love ya.

[Pilot1]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Skeffington

Remember when he lost his house and had to move into Mr. Dibbley's basement? He bought a big fancy house with gold he found in a mine on "Superstition Mountain". No way he could have afforded it on the salary he earned from "Dibble-puss" (his boss at the General Store), who paid him 3 1/2 cents a week. The house had "big front gates like the rich folks have". Then he lost it (I forget how) and had to live secretly in the Dibbleys basement . Old Dibble-puss was a jerk, but his wife (Mrs. Dibbley) was nice, and they were good friends. She used to complain to Gene that Mr. Dibbley, at breakfast, hollered, "I want my MAY-po!!!" Gene was in love with the Dibbley's beautiful daughter, Debbie Dibbley. She moved to Hollywood to be a movie star, breaking his heart. Then there was the "rich lady", Mrs. Throckmorton III.

They did a takeoff of a "Christmas Carol", where Dibble-puss was Scrooge. He had a vision of his stinginess causing Gene to die of pneumonia. Gene's ghost came to haunt him, a la Marley. Dibble-puss relented his ways, and invited Gene to Christmas dinner (where he gave him the neck of the turkey).

He somehow had possession of a "Golden Fleece" that granted wishes. And there was a "confetti factory" next door to the General Store that was always dumping boxes of confetti on him. We howled with laughter at that!

I'm surprised I remember so many of the plots of this show. Of course, in those days (pre Internet, You Tube, smart phones, and cable TV), there wasn't much else to get us kids excited (except Sally Starr, of course). They really got some complicated story lines into a one hour kiddy show, but it was like a soap opera...we couldn't wait until the next day to see what happened. All this was integrated with the drawings, songs, and stories. I loved his "witch" laugh.

RIP, Gene. I love ya.

Stop! You're making me too nostalgic. I have to maintain my hard *ss, uncaring, conservative image!

[bursitis]

Originally Posted by Pilot1

Stop! You're making me too nostalgic. I have to maintain my hard *ss, uncaring, conservative image!

I remember watching him as a real little kid.


Nobody cares that he was gay.

[Mrs. Skeffington]

Originally Posted by Pilot1

Didn't know you were from Philly, Skeff! He was one of my first childhood TV memories in the early 1960's growing up in Philly and the Philly burbs. Watched all of the local kids shows you mentioned. A much different and innocent time. I remember him drawing and of course we were all scared of Quigley Mansion.

In your neighborhood, when you and your friends were outside playing, did someone's mother ALWAYS come out and yell, "It's FOUR O'CLOCK!!!!" That meant it was time to run inside to watch "Popeye Theater" with Sally Starr. Wearing your cowboy hat and six gun holster, of course (even us girls). Remember taking the "promise" (pledge) you wouldn't act like the Three Stooges? We didn't eye gouge, but we did often imitate them chewing at the dinner table. (Jaw stuck and fists pounding the head).

I grew up in a small town near Reading, PA. Sally Starr, Pixanne, Gene London, etc. made regular visits to Pomeroys, Whitners and other local department stores where we got to see them in person.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Pilot1

Didn't know you were from Philly, Skeff! He was one of my first childhood TV memories in the early 1960's growing up in Philly and the Philly burbs. Watched all of the local kids shows you mentioned. A much different and innocent time. I remember him drawing and of course we were all scared of Quigley Mansion.

I never watched Pixanne for some reason. But I did watch Captain Noah till the very end( the 90s!). It was wholesome and charming.