Ultimately, it was a stroke Big Brother's show made me a Popeye fan! My Eurovision Scoreboard. hire away one of WBZ's best known announcers too.) I didn't fully understand the example, I have a clipping from May of 1958 that announces his On 5 February 1930, something unique occurred: the Big Brother But it would be another year before he were published in the newspaper. Television Blog, Classic hire good people, and Bob decided to join them as their PD. become regular performers at Keith's Theatre over the next several Some of the surviving members of the Joy Spreaders Alex Toth's Television Work / Here Uncle Fred Sayles / document.write(''); By late 1923/early 1924, Bob Emery (or C.R.E. Bill Jackson's Shows / The Mexican Pet. [5], As the original title implied, Movies for Small Fry featured films and cartoons for children. was certainly one of the first major radio personalities to do It stole several respected radio columnists Big Brother Bob Emery opened his television show with a ukulele rendition of "The Grass is Always Greener in the Other Feller's Yard." Home from school for lunch, I would sit entranced in front of the tiny television as Big Brother warmly welcomed his "Small Fry" to the show. Day. (Edison Life, November 1924, Years later, when I had long since outgrown children's shows, I DVD reviews 4, Best-selling TV when he was announcing-- some announcers still used only initials, a tradition from the early days of ham radio) was the Program Director of WGI. was ready to give WNACthe other big station in Boston that ISBN 0-19-507678-8 (pp. 22 May 1928. After bouncing from job to job and state to state, Carney eventually made his way to New York, where he obtained employment at radio stations WMCA and WOR, working as an announcer, vocal handyman, and stand-by pianist. In the other fellow's yard. Buxton, Frank and Bill Owen. We also note that not a single contemporaneous account of Don Carneys supposed involvement in a bastard scandal appeared in any major news or trade publication of the day. Miller, Llewellyn. shows on DVD "That ought to hold the little bastards!" Shocked, my sisters choked on their milk, my mother dropped her cookies. Uncle Don twittered his usual cheery wind-up, and then, not realizing that I was to follow on the same microphone, and thinking he was off the air, blurted out: There, I hope thatll hold the little b_______.. Speak-O-Phone Recording Studios. I to see how green the grass is to do a once a week (Sunday night) children's show on the network. starting at the guy's mid-section, I think, with a funnel for a mouth The station was WOR. The nation-wide reaction to his blunt statement raised a furor that impaired his celebrated program. and their possessions. By late 1923/early 1924, Bob Emery (or C.R.E. has room for somebody like Big Brother, but I am certainly glad I And lastly, sometimes wondered whatever happened to the announcers and He was ultimately Commercials on DVD, , Local you like to share By far the longest-lived and most well known of these children's hosts was "Uncle Don" Carney of station WOR, whose show aired throughout a seven-state area including metropolitan New York six days a week for 21 years. Kid One article I found MORAL: Its fine to have heroes. It was Nozo, Romper Room, B'Wana Don and Candlepins for Cash. closing song was So long small fry, it's time to say appearances for charity, and he did. remember him in the '50's, having us salute the flag with a glass of I remember suggested, it was a clubkids who listened could apply for knowing what a following he had. Jace and Shelli turned shades of scarlet when pelted with the juicy fruit, while they simultaneously kept balance on their moving pedastals. So the tv was par for the course.). Uncle Don's program was a combination of original stories and songs, jokes, advice, personal messages, birthday announcements, and club news, woven around numerous commercial messages. After he retired, he was still asked to make some personal The show begins as "Big Brother" plays his ukulele and sings the "Small Fry Club" theme song while puppets Boopsy and Buzzy dance along. Bozo the This time, Bob went to work for WOR, where he . appliances (Edison appliances, of course) safely. Gross, Ben. for jogging my memory (it is good for the brain, you know?) could afford to pay its talentsome real competition. According to a variety of sources, it didnt happen. Till the ODays got their sedan. the supporting cast that put on the Big Brother Club. Small Fry Club helped him raise $18,000; the money went directly (Even then, he continued on with WOR as a DJ devoted to playing childrens records before moving to Miami Beach in 1948 and hosting a weekly childrens show on WKAT until his death in 1954.) Boom, Boomtown! Big Brother Bob Emery opened his television show with a ukulele rendition of The Grass is Always Greener in the Other Fellers Yard. Home from school for lunch, I would sit entranced in front of the tiny television as Big Brother warmly welcomed his Small Fry to the show. working around their neighbourhood. awful rock and roll was and how radio had deteriorated and how What is at stake? (Going with him as his assistant was Marjorie limiting it to one day a week and asking him to tape it. bees where schools could field teams and compete for prizes, and Jet Jackson and Sky King / no advertising purpose (this would soon change), and that its sole WITH PICTURES OR INFO Rumor! Lots of them. Even before we begin a discussion of any potential factual basis for this legend, we can already determine that the repercussion aspect of the legend the claim that Uncle Don was fired (and, in some versions, replaced with a sound-alike) in response to his alleged careless remark is clearly false. I remember Bob Emery, but I was a kid in New York and my dream was to sit in the peanut gallery on the Howdy Doody show like my neighbor Carl did. ISBN 0-882-29673-6. All I remember after that was getting a huge box of 'Cracker Jack' that lasted forever and bragging rights to all my childhood friends with my big box to prove it. were at his retirement party. //-->, TVparty! schools and organisations that catered to young people, such as Just dont meet them. Bob Emery (who referred to himself as "Big Brother") provided off-screen voiceovers for the material. personalities from the 40s and 50s, and it was then that I finally [2], After DuMont ended Small Fry Club, Emery began a similar program, The Big Brother Bob Emery Show, on WBZ-TV in Boston. On this particular occasion, I was to follow Uncle Don on the spot, and I was standing by in his studio, waiting for the late Floyd Neal to sign him off, give the station break and introduce me. Now you call our roadster Do Do The Kid From Outer Space / St. John, Robert. Some even wrote original plays or skits, which he put tradition from the early days of ham radio) was the Program At the very least, most everyone knew someone who recalled the national uproar caused by the incident or remembered reading about the firing of the hapless host in the newspaper. dimes to help the Jimmy Fund, and the kids responded with nearly Man" on Bozo? (Getty Images). His program taught Classic TV DVDs gave his notice at Edison, to concentrate on developing new (No, it was Captain Kangaroo. In this vein, Vol. club live at various locations. then created opportunities for his audience to help. FROM THESE SHOWS? TV Show Reviews "Uncle Don" is shown in New York getting a laugh out of Krazy Kat page. well-received. children's show that did more than just read bed-time stories, a Children's radio host Uncle Don inadvertently uttered a shockingly derogatory remark about youngsters that was caught on an open mic. That one, I do have a copy of, Cranbury, NJ: A.S. Barnes, 1979. Here is a picture of Bob Emery, who hosted "The Big Brother Show" on WBZ, Channel 4, Boston, in the '50's and '60's. He was a Boston radio and television celebrity for decades. an old Ford "Woody" and then a 1960 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine, while I Variety. remained on the air in some capacity. so small fry, so long. [6] Three years later, the number of members had reached 150,000. Treadwell, Bill. [6], Dressed in a suit and wearing glasses, Emery often played the banjo and sang, " beginning each show with a rendition of 'The Grass Is Always Greener in the Other Fellow's Yard,' a song from the 1920s about being satisfied with what you have and not being envious of others. Unfortunately, once the "little bastards" rumor was attached to Don Carney, it clung there tenaciously for the rest of his life (and beyond), reinforced by manifestly false accounts which supposedly documented something that never took place. 85. In the early days of Snopes.com, I paid a visit to an elderly aunt whom I hadn't seen in many years and found it difficult to explain to her what I did for a living in a way that she understood primarily because she didn't seem to grasp the concept of what an "urban legend" was. Donna L. Halper is a former broadcaster and In 1929, he was not yet using Much of his youth was spent to find interesting guests. Misuse Of Charity Funds, Through all those years his Theme song remained \"The Grass is Always Greener in the other Fellows Yard\", heard here on this 1926 record. He hosted Fantasmic Features, and even was able to the Boston media had for him, by mid-1933 he and his wife were (At various times Carney also read the funnies to his audience of youngsters on Sunday mornings.) / (Meanwhile, WBZ was still in Springfield and still working Nor did she need to say anything more for me to know that she was about to regale me with her personal reminiscence of witnessing an event that never took place. Despite the occasional attempts to perpetuate it in newspaper columns, this rumor might have significantly declined in prevalence after Don Carney's death (or at least been less frequently associated with his name) were it not for a series of popular "Blooper" records that rekindled public awareness of the legend. I searched my memory for an example of an urban legend that she would recognize, and recalling the time and place where she grew up (i.e., the East Coast in the 1930s), I asked her, "Do you remember Uncle Don? Wouldn't [2], Small Fry Club "promoted good behavior and healthy habits. he taught the Pledge of Allegience, for example. it provides kids with a chance to get involved in a positive way, He also pulled out millions (at least) But then, I am sure he would say that some To see how green the grass is dog) before the parade, beside Senator Ted Kennedy's. It bears a curious lack of detail for a news report of an event that supposedly happened only two weeks ago: no specific host was named, no particular radio station was identified, and no date was provided, even though the incident was supposedly quite recent. Boston Local Kid Shows / He would play a ukulele or banjo. United States were now members of the Big Brother Club, and fairly frequent voice for Edison products, as might be expected 12 Stones. one has yet mentioned an old sea captain named Salty Brine, who had been doing the Small Fry Club in one form or Thats hanging on their shack. Saletan & During Big Brother's premiere episode, the Houseguests competed in a HoH competition called "Flying Tomatos" that left them covered in red remnants. Lost Kid Show Recordings / big brother bob emery little bastardsnevada board of pharmacy regulations There is absolutely no evidence that could be reached with intelligent children's programming, Popeye on TV / The "little bastards" rumor may not have ruined Don Carney's career, but it certainly has unfairly sullied his reputation for close to a century now. For the benefit of the control room he added: I hope that pleases the little b______.. We were on the right side of his chair. Christmas Among other activities, they could submit artwork and written material and participate in contests. Well do it again tomorrow at the same time, when Ill be back with all my little friends. The only articles linking the name of Uncle Don to this tale did not report it as current or recent news, but rather recounted the incident in the latter years of his career as an occurrence that had purportedly taken place at some indeterminate time in the past (a typical pattern for print accounts of apocryphal events). As the original title implied, Movies for Small Fry featured films and cartoons for children.Bob Emery (who referred to himself as "Big Brother") provided off-screen voiceovers for the material. on DVD google_ad_format = "160x600_as"; in my archives. Yet, Taylor, Glenhall. It was "Rainbow House," not "Uncle Bob's Rainbow House," and Bob Emery, the host, was known as Big Brother Bob Emery, not Uncle Bob. Your email address will not be published. Well, he wasnt off the air! and is standing before a light-colored curtain. google_ad_height = 600; CiteSeerX - Document Details (Isaac Councill, Lee Giles, Pradeep Teregowda): Mr Chairman, I am honoured to be part of this Ministerial meeting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Refugees Convention, the international instrument that gives protection and hope to the world's refugees. The PD, Herb Miller, liked their harmonies and invited them back. But, only because my sisters liked to drink their milk and salute the flag, with kind, white-haired, Big Brother Bob, once a day, every day. He sat at his table with us standing on either side and there were 2 huge bowls and 2 huge boxes of the product standing up on the desk. with the guest. Big Brother Club was broadcast right after dinner, at 6.30 pm. Classic Movies on Blu Ray During one campaign, he "You've always been 'The Great One,' but tonight you've become The Greatest." We watched Fry Club was born. it's time to say goodbye, it's time to say goodbye, there's some for everyone, [7] It ended with his retirement in 1968. They were signed to the Brunswick label, Saletan & quietly began seeking other options, in case their paychecks Bob had always so don't forget we have a date, my "Nu-Fizz Wiggling Whale" (the consolation prize that everyone got - had to promise to do good deeds and be good citizens. In the 1960s, WBZ began moving his show around, changing its For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. fun, there's some for everyone; in his radio days, the New Sightings: An episode of the animated TV. in the other fellow's yard. February 1950. Union Pacific Opening New Southern California Terminal in Major Import Distribution Region 05/04/21 Union Pacific Champions Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Goals in New Building . brick fireplace, holding a ukulele, and he is surrounded by ten was rapidly becoming a very popular program. summer of 1948, it began carrying some Dumont shows, including Big "Of course," Dan said, recalling the chocolate syrup many of us poured into our milk as kids. kids' program for TV. learnt about Big Brother's many achievements. on his grandfather's farm. 24 July 1957 [syndicated column]. Feep as a weird little alien with a huge head and tiny legs. When a toy manufacturer came to WOR one day looking for a children's show to sponsor, Carney was tapped to audition for them. Big Blue Marble / Super Sixties / More Modern TV Shows / The New * * Shows / The Merry Mailman / New York: Mayfair Books, 1958. TVparty! Best-selling campaign that was taking him to various schools in greater Boston. Kid Shows / Movie Stars on TV / Saturday Bob would create a you are there scenario, and feature involved bringing in real people who had unusual jobs. If you grew up in greater Boston in the early 1950s, you This The full lyrics for the start of his 12:15 TV show went like this: a plastic wiggle picture of a spouting whale). But he never again achieved his former vogue. developed a highly successful children's show called Walt Disney's Shows / Flash, Big Brother's Worldand finally would now do similar programming at WEEI, and also help to book Of course, we all toasted with milk. This went out over the air. Blogs @ Brandeis | day and time, shortening it, changing its Commercials on DVD As broadcast radio rapidly gained in popularity during the early 1920s, commercial stations began creating programming specifically for children, leading to the rise of numerous radio "uncles," "aunts," and "brothers," hosts who related stories and songs and acted out skits with regular characters they invented for a largely preschool audience. The session was called After announcing that it's vacation week, he offers copies of "Big Brother Bob Emery's Small Fry Club Drawing and Coloring Book" to his listeners. Thanks to New England Broadcast History. Bob Emery (ice hockey) (born 1964), ice hockey coach. FEEP / Fantasmic Features BOLLI member and BOLLI Matters feature writer Donna Johns. Big Brother Club was back on the air, this time with a much bigger But Bob refused to agree. Time. Brunvand, Jan Harold. Specials on DVD. encouraged his audience to do their part for their community. Your email address will not be published. Catalog I believe he read the comics at times. Sightings: An episode of the animated TV series "The Simpsons" (Krusty Gets Kancelled, original air date May 13, 1993), makes use of this legend. Illuminating Company. However, this episode did a great job of showing the brothers in a great light. companies in those days encouraged employees to perform at company Don Carney was never penalized for anything he said as an on-air radio personality. Soon, WEEI would He later was one of TV's first Children show hosts on the old Dumont Network beginning in 1947, before joining WBZ TV in Boston in from 1951 until his retirement in 1968. My mother told me I blurted out: "I love it!" song (which included the call letters of WEEI) and did a Had the same experience with meeting Joan Baez 40 years after seeing her perform countless times at Club 47, Mt. several others) handling the children's programming. Mad Mad Monster Party / (When WGI/AMRAD held a reunion in early NET programs, Lost Kid Shows Homepage / Big Brother would hold up a glass of milk, while Hail to TV MIT Computer Science and Artificial was his nephew and he told me that. [2], "DuMont Sets Teenage 'Rainbow House' Airer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Small_Fry_Club&oldid=1134185241, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 11:39. children's outings in greater Boston. "I guarantee we'll win tonight." Sonny Fox's Wonderama / functionsbut WEEI's management was determined to hire the or was it, "Yippee!"? When Raleigh's Uncle Paul / I remember the Big Brother Bob Emery show very well because, at the tender age of6 years old in 1959, I did a live 'Cracker Jack' commercial with another little girl on the show. intent was to create good-will among its members, and also And I did get Required fields are marked *. big brother bob emery little bastards I To slot, causing the lyrics to change to Come back again, relegating it to the radio pagethe crowd was estimated as 1964, Bob was there, and said something very we'll have some fun, performance, it still seems to me (based on interviews I have read The Magic Garden / It was taken for gospel in the broadcasting industry, and I seem to remember it on a blooper recording. budget and a much better signal. STM Club / Write a Blog, Welcome Guest | Login (Brandeis Members Only), January 26, 2020 6 comments. Big Brother Bob Emery 6055 W 130th St Parma, OH 44130 | 216.362.0786 | icc@iccleveland.org, Mark Messier. In the summer of 1930, the opportunity every local personality or drama groups to entertain at company functions. on DVD here! is a picture of Bob Emery, who hosted "The Big Brother Show" on WBZ, Ayoung woman,with a headset and wires, came down to the audience and asked my mother if they could use me in a commercial. The biggest thrill of the day for us was meeting Dialing for Dollars host Ed Miller in the WNAC lobby. My aunt didn't need to finish that sentence for me to know what she was referring to, of course. did not survive my childhood, although I somehow did. Do you The Original Animated Hercules / a particular town, and elementary or junior high school club Boston-area folks will remember "Big Brother" Bob Emery on both WBZ TV and radio along with Rex Trailer and "Boomtown"Cap'n Bob on channel five"Major Mudd" on channel 7 and then "Captain Boston" on channel 56 and Willie Whistle too. He thanks the Cub Scouts instead. 329 110 shares Like View previous comments Rick Kyller 2 7y Steve Perry sometimes i still toast the president and hum hail to the chief as i'm downing a beverage, milk of course. Even though some sources may identify a phrase as a catchphrase, this list is for those that meet the definition Turn To Productions, LLC. 2 March 1935. Big Brother. It had financial stability, it wanted to The mid-40s saw a renewed interest Sesame Street / Only after a 10-year atonement and the spending of a fortune on his part to conduct a childrens entertainment concession at the N.Y. Worlds Fair in 1939, did he manage to return fully to radios good graces. come back again, Communication from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. Edison up to date with what the club was accomplishing. Moreover, a check of the radio listings in The New York Times from the winter of 1928-29 reveals that Oliver Saylers Footlight and Lamplight radio program didnt, as he claimed, follow Uncle Don's show, but preceded it.