|
|
|
Local Legends presents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click HERE to listen to Sally "Hobo Kelly" Baker |
|
|
|
|
|
Hobo Kelly is
probably one of the most beloved and well-known Children's show hosts for
kids growing up in the Sally Schurman was raised on the north side of Chicago where
she worked hard to eliminate her neighborhood trademark, a pretty Irish
brogue that reveals a family history of Irish roots that go back through 12
generations to the county of Cork. Sally began her
children's show in Peoria, |
|
|
|
|
|
Hobo Kelly bumpersticker! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hobo Kelly and
Her Puppets began
on KTTV in 1965 and was wildly successful. She started out weekday mornings
from 7:30 to 9 am on channel 11 and in her first 11 months on the show,
received some 350,000 pieces of fan mail. Hobo Kelly received more fan mail
than all the other KTTV shows on at that time combined. Many children
maintained a running correspondence with their young Hobo friend who
magically "sees" her audience through oversized glasses that she
dons from time to time. After being on the
air for14 months, she was asked by Mayor Yorty to
raise the Irish flag over City Hall for St. Patrick's day. She was the
reigning TV Queen of the City of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KTTV's letter head for the Hobo Kelly show. Did the artist know that Sally is a she? |
|
|
|
|
|
More ideas on how to
present Hobo Kelly to |
|
|
|
|
A character look is settled on. The original art for her logo. |
Original sheet music to
the Hobo Kelly Theme song. Click HERE to hear it. (Real Media only) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Original sheet music for the Ring-a-Ding-Ding song. |
Click HERE for Hobo Junction music. (Real Media only) |
|
|
|
|
Sally Baker writes lyrics as well. This one is about a kitten named Muffen. Her vocal range was F below middle C to G above. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Station Fan Photo. Click HERE for a message from The Hobo Kelly Show |
|
|
|
|
|
Click on the letter above to see what Dolores is talking about! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
According to the note that accompanied this 1966 article, Variety wasn't entirely correct. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sally Baker (married
to another broadcasting original; Walt Baker) was
truly a pioneer for women in broadcasting by producing, writing and starring
in her own show on a daily basis. One of the first women in television to
really control the content of her show and what went out to the kids, her
husband Walt Baker was the director on the show making it a truly family
affair. In a sea of cowboys
and skippers, came her lovable character of Hobo Kelly, a stand out from the
start. Many will remember her huge toy machine that she would fill with junk and then miraculously as she cranked it the junk would turn into fantastic toys to be given to a lucky mischief maker from her viewing audience pulled at random from a large turning tub. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click HERE to see Sally and Fred Rice contract for the Hobo Kelly character. There seemed to be Hobo Kelly merchandise possibilities everywhere. Little of it seems to have survived to today. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jumbo Mouse? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hobo Kelly at the circus. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The magic paint that
she used to paint the screen and expose pictures with was a popular feature
on her show. It stressed a creative magic spark for all children and carried
on to her later show, The Froozles. The Hobo Kelly
make-up would take about 45 minutes to put on and almost as long to get off.
"It's like cleaning a carburetor," she says. "I use endless
chemicals." Preparation of some
175 different sound effects went into the show each week. By 1971, the Hobo
Kelly Show is seen on KCOP channel 13 in |
|
|
|
|
|
Click HERE to see Sally "Hobo Kelly" Baker on "What's My Line?" (Real Media only) |
|
|
|
|
|
Proposed Hobo Kelly
hand puppet prototype. Want to read a TV game show proposal with |
|
|
|
|
|
Mod Patch proposal |
|
|
|
|
|
Hobo Kelly made many
personal appearances in the LA area, handing out little gifts and winning
even more hearts. Living in |
|
|
|
At the Hollywood Bowl Hobo Kelly is swamped by Mischief Makers |
|
Los Angeles Home Show
publicity photo reads: "Here we are at the
Home Show," says television star, Hobo Kelly, to tow of her young fans,
four-year old twins, Michael and Robert Flory.
Hundreds of youngsters are expected to visit the Hobo Junction set at the Los
Angeles New Style Home Show, Aug. 20-29, at the city's |
|
|
|
|
At the Los Angeles Home Show; the view from the inside of Hobo Junction |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hobo Kelly was such a popular show from the start that soon talk turned to going "national" not unlike Bozo. Included would be product endorsements like the one above in this food contract. Click HERE to see more info on her food contract. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spurred by her enormous success, The Hobo Kelly Show aims to go national. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The unfortunate response from the east coast network headquarters. They decide not to pick up the Hobo Kelly Show for a national audience. Kid's shows are already on the slide down in network popularity. |
|
|
|
|
|
After her run as Hobo Kelly, you could still catch Sally Baker in the very popular and delightful (not to mention award winning) show from the mid to late 1970's called "The Froozles" where she used some of the very same effects she had perfected at Hobo Junction. The Froozles remained in syndication for quite awhile proving that Sally Baker's talent was appreciated and exceptional. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Would you like to
see more Hobo Kelly? Click on HOBO KELLY PHOTO GALLERY |
|
|
|
|
|
Read an exclusive Local Legends interview with |
|
|
|
|
|
return |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|