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Comparing
the "I
was about 12 when the second Winky Dink series appeared in syndication
(in L.A. on KCOP Channel 13). I considered myself too old to really
partake of the whole drawing exercise, but I was very into animation
and liked the graphics. I was also completely taken in by the novelty
of the cartoon's interactive nature (not to mention that catchy theme
song).
"Recently, I visited the Museum of TV and Radio Broadcasting and saw the mid '50s version for the very first time. So, let me assure those who are nostalgic: the late '60s show was a definite improvement. "The earlier Winky Dink series was a live action telecast with Jack Barry as the host who talked to Winky Dink (who appeared on a nearby television screen - sort of like "Fred on Channel 1" on Captain Kangaroo). "The main focus of the show was two approximately 10 minute episodes using EXTREMELY limited animation and featuring a variety of characters in ongoing storylines (all voiced by Mae Questel, who had voiced for Betty Boop and Olive Oyl and would later gain additional fame as Aunt Bluebell for Scott Towels). Barry would narrate the story and prompt the kids when to draw. "In-between cartoon segments, the host would also banter with live action actors (one was Dayton Allen - who was cast as the beleaguered director on the "Lucy's Hollywood Movie" segment of 'I Love Lucy'). "In contrast, the late 60's version of Winky-Dink completely eliminated the concept of a live host (so integral to ANY daytime kid show during the 1950s) and instead concentrated on Winky Dink himself, featuring Winky in every cartoon as well as having him prompt the kids to draw. (Standard TV commercials were the only thing that separated the episodes.) Apparently, however, Jack Barry was still connected with this show. In this day of interactive computers and videos, it would nice to see some of the old shows recycled to at least give Jack Barry his due." - Bob Cruz
"I started a new job last week and began this story of how I got my nick name... and one of my new work pals pulled up your web site for Winky Dink. I was so shocked! I just wanted to stop work and read it right away...but in a new job...I waited until after hours. He played the theme song for me too (as he proceeded to dance around his office). It sure made a good subject for the water cooler (which by the way is 5 feet from my desk) and it was very exciting for me to finally find out "up close and personal" about my name sake. "I have only met 2 other "Winky(s)" in my life, neither one were named that because of the show. I enjoyed the the web page and am considering ordering Winky Dink for my 3 yr. old son, the legend lives on!" - With
much thanks! "It's great reading the letters from other Winky Dink fans. How many remember that Winky Dink had a couple of friends named Merton the Mouse and Poo the Indian Boy? I confess - the only reason I remember them is, I have one of those fabled deluxe Winky Dink kits. I have heard rumors that a pristine kit will bring several thousand dollars in the marketplace. Sorry, mine is anything but pristine. A couple of the crayons and some if the little plastic geometric shapes are missing, and the box shows some wear. But it's priceless to me, and it's a small miracle that it's lasted all these years." - George Pirkle
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Barry lamented
the loss, but said at the time, "It (Winky-Dink) strictly didn't rate
that well. Winky-Dink
was
on for almost four and a half years, but it never got the kind of audience
the straight cartoon shows started pulling."
Twenty-one,
on the other hand, was riding the crest of popularity that game shows
were enjoying on Fifties' prime-time schedules. Twenty-one was as popular
in 1957 as 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' is today.
Jack Barry
(as host and producer of the show that broke the industry wide
practice of prompting some contestants) took the brunt of the bad publicity,
his career went into freefall.
Because of
the immense scandal and moral outrage that ensued when people found out
their favorite quiz shows were rigged (the end of innocence in America,
it might be argued) it was another ten years before Jack Barry worked
on American television again. Instead, he went to Canada and hosted a
kid's game show called "The Little People".
Barry also
hosted a syndicated children's version of the 'The Joker's Wild' In a surprise development,
as I was preparing this book, I got word that the Winkster was about the
undergo a revival.
"Kids have never
needed Winky Dink more than today." That's what renowned media psychiatrist
Dr. Carole Lieberman thinks and she's spent the past decade working to
bring Winky back." believe that Winky Dink is the best TV show ever
produced, because of its unique ability to empower children. Each time
a child creates something that helps Winky and Woofer solve a problem,
they get that 'I can do it!' feeling which builds self-esteem. And this
generation of children, facing problems that are tougher than ever --
from divorce to terrorism -- need to feel they can find the creative solutions
inside themselves!"
Makes sense, if the
Ford Thunderbird can make a comeback, why not Winky Dink?
Warning:
Do not color with crayons on your monitor. |
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"I
was too little to remember Winky Dink, but have an older sister who nicknamed
me "Winky" at age 3. At 45 yrs. old now, I still prefer to be called Winky.
Everyone always asks "how did you get that nickname - did you wink a lot
when you were young?". Then I begin to tell them about the Winky Dink
and You show. Not too many people have heard of it.
Fresh from his daytime successes, in 1956 Jack Barry
began hosting
a wildly popular prime-time game show (that he also co-produced) called
In
the fall of 1958, Twenty-one (and almost every other network game
show) was driven off the air when it was revealed that 'Twenty-One's big
$129,000 winner Charles Van Doren was given some of the answers in advance.
(The story was told in the 1991 movie 'Quiz Show'.) The stakes were high
- $129,000
was worth well over a million in today's dollars.
In 1969, Winky-Dink
was revived (without Barry and Enright), this time as a stand alone five-minute
cartoon feature, complete with a new Winky-Dink kit for kids to send off
for. Consumer
groups argued that kids shouldn't be playing with their eyes so close
to the television sets, and the character was quickly withdrawn.
Jack
Barry was the host of the long-running CBS daytime and syndicated game
show The Joker's Wild, a show he hosted from 1972 until his death
in 1984.
called
Superbly
produced by Adam Snyder, of Rembrandt Films, and distributed by Vanguard
Cinema, the new 'Winky Dink and You' kit comes in an adorable clear lucite
suitcase and includes a magic plastic screen, magic crayons, a cloth eraser
and a video with 9 Winky Dink episodes. The new character design harkens
back to the 1969 version, but the packaging also has a small picture of
the original Winky. Kids who like 'Blues Clues' will absolutely go crazy
for this!
MORE
FOR YOU!
