Ray Forrest

Many of the users of this website have been asking, "What happened to Mr. Ray Forrest?"

Ray Forrest hosted NYC's first and most unique kid's TV variety series 'Children's Theater,' which was seen Saturday mornings on WNBT/WRCA and finally on WNBC TV Ch. 4 in NYC from 1949 to June, 1961(?).

Sadly, Mr. Forrest passed away on Thursday, March 11, 1999 after losing his long battle with an illness.

'Children's Theater' first went on the air in 1949. Ray Forrest, a veteran radio broadcaster, created a TV series that encouraged the kids in the studio audience and the kids at home to see many places of interest, read good books, care for animals and become involved in local activities.

Mr. Forrest would write, produce and narrate his own nature films as well. More often than not, he would do his shows on location (via videotape) beginning Saturday morning, September 24, 1960.

In addition, Ray Forrest aired a series of pre-taped shows from "Freedomland Amusement Park" in the Bronx giving his young viewers a chance to not only see the park but to experience events that were a part of America's history.

Mr. Forrest taped his "Freedomland" shows for a period of five weeks and they were the most popular episodes of the entire series.

"Children's Theater" also screened reruns of the color 1958 versions of "Crusader Rabbit" TV cartoons. "The Children's Theater" remained on Channel 4's Saturday morning airways until WNBC closed it down on Saturday, June 17, 1961.

NYC Local Kid Shows Roundup Laurel and Hardy Shows Little Rascal ShowsChubby Jackson3 Stooges Shows The Shari Go Round Carol Corbett Show Mighty HerculesUncle Fred ScottOfficer Joe Bolton / 3 Stooges Dick Tracy Shows Felix the Cat Shows Uncle Joe BovaFred Hall / Hall in Fun Looney Tunes Shows Mr. McGarrity Show Horn & Hardedt Children's Hour Choose Up Sides Beachcomber Bill Bill Jackson Joe DiMaggio Show The Merry Mailman Ray Forrest - Children's Theater Bob McAllister Shows Happy Feltons Knothole Gang Johnny Jellybean / Time For Fun NYC's Bozo Shows Freddie the Fireman, Cartoon Zoo, Capt Video Chubby Jackson The Funny Company Jim Stewart Jimmy Nelson Studio 99 1/2 Marvel Superheroes The New Howdy Doody NYC's Romper Room Tommy Seven Just For FunLet's Have FunJ Fred Muggs Show Joya's Fun School Captain Jack McCarthy The Chuck McCann Shows Captain Allen Swift Bonamo The Magic Clown Pixanne Claude Kirchner's Scrub Club Tinker's Workshop Surprise Show / Aniforms Herb Sheldon / Ray Forrest Mighty Hercules Sonny Fox - Just For Fun Buster Crabbe's Buddies Popcorn Theater Puppet Hotel On The CarouselBirthday HouseJohnny Andrews, Joe King Terry Tell Time Patchwork Family Lewis Anderson / Clarabelle the Clown The Ritts Puppets Shari Lewis Tom Gregory / Cartoon Playtime Wonderama Christmas Shows Thanksgiving Day Jamborees The Last NYC Local Kid Shows Roundup homepage

PR4 & PR5 Pages for ads - CHEAP!

Your Classic TV Blog!

Lost Kid Shows Homepage / Shock Theater's Zacherle / Sesame Street / Andy's Gang / Sandy Becker / TV Pow! / Hilarious House of Frightenstein / The Friendly Giant / Madison's Cowboy Eddie / Who Was Doodles Weaver? / Lost Kid Show Recordings / Winky-Dink and You / Remembering Winky-Dink / Captain Kangaroo / The Old Rebel Show / The Soupy Sales Show / Walt Disney's Shows / The Magic Garden / Mad Mad Monster Party / Houston Local Kid Shows / Boston Local Kid Shows / Fabulous Sally Starr / New York City Locals / More New York City Locals / Tooter the Turtle / Crusader Rabbit / Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney / Alex Toth's Television Work / Diver Dan and Whirlybirds / Sonny Fox's Wonderama / The Pinky Lee Show / Bizarre Kid Shows / Chicago's Kid Shows / Chicago's Ray Rayner Show / Garfield Goose and Friends / Bob Bell's Bozo Show on WGN / Bill Jackson's Shows / Gigglesnort Hotel Memories / Bob McAllister's Wonderama / Cincinnati Local Kid Shows / More Cincinnati Locals / Make A Wish / Hot Dog / Supermarionation Puppet Shows / Philadelphia Kid Shows / Philly's Captain Noah / The Chief Halftown Show / Philly's Gene London / Bertie the Bunyip / Dickory Doc / Adam Android / LA Kid Shows / The Merry Mailman / Do Do The Kid From Outer Space / Romper Room / Romper Room Around the USA / St. Louis Kiddie Shows / Religious Kid Shows / San Francisco Local Kid Shows / Johnny Jellybean / Johnny Jupiter / Shrimpenstein / Uncle Fred Sayles / Raleigh's Uncle Paul / Shenanigans and Video Village / Pip the Piper / Thanksgiving Day Cartoon Specials of the 70s / Monster Movie Matinee / Big Blue Marble / STM Club / Popeye on TV / Cleveland Local Kid Shows / Wixie's Wonderland / Jet Jackson and Sky King / The Original Animated Hercules / Ruff & Reddy