~T.V. Los Angeles Archives

January 2000

'Skipper Frank' Herman Dies

"Skipper Frank" Herman, host of "Cartoon Carousel" and other 1950s children's programs on KTLA, Channel 5, has died at the age of 83 in La Jolla.

His program combining cartoons, magic and ventriloquism was a LA favorite for years, right alongside such favorites such as "Engineer Bill" Stulla, Tom Hatten, who hosted "Popeye," and Jimmy Weldon and his puppet pal, Webster Webfoot.

"What we did was mostly ad-lib. We all wrote our own shows," Herman said at the Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills in 1997.

According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, Skipper Frank and his wooden sidekick, Julius, also were required to step from the studio into supermarkets and carnivals most weekends to promote their show and hawk sponsors' products.

It was a different era. Herman and others promoted such products as Bosco, Farmer John wieners, Kellogg's cornflakes, and others. And it was all done live. "Cartoon Carousel" was the first to feature on a daily basis the Looney Tunes now shown regularly on Nickolodeon.

According to the LA Times, this was his story: " Born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Herman became fascinated with magic at age 12, and within three years was giving magic shows. After service during World War II, he moved to Edmonton, Canada, where he worked for several years in radio.

"But he was intrigued with the new medium of television, and relocated to Los Angeles, where he sensed it was developing fast. Herman initially tried the "Magic Party" show and did several late-night automobile commercials, using magic to lure buyers.

"He came to KTLA's attention when its program "City at Night" featured him in a performance of the P.T. Barnum play "The Drunkard." Herman performed several roles in the play "In 1963, Herman left the kiddie shows to host a nighttime talk show in San Diego. He spent the remainder of his career working in cable television for TelePrompter and the New York advertising firm Foote, Cone & Belding.

"A bout with cancer in the 1970s left him almost totally deaf. Herman, who is survived by his wife, Gloria, four sons and seven grandchildren, lived in Carlsbad, Calif., during his retirement years.

For more on childrens' shows in the '50s, see TV Links.

RAVEL OUT OF THE ORDINARY WITH
'MARK KRISKI'S FAIRLY DECENT NEW YORK ADVENTURE'
ON KTLA

(Los Angeles, January 3, 2000) Emmy Award-winning and erstwhile KTLA News weather anchor Mark Kriski presents an off-the-track look at the Big Apple on Saturday, January 15 (6:30 to 7 p.m. and 11 to 11:30 p.m.) on Channel 5. In this premiere episode, the first in a series of travel specials, Kriski searches New York for the unique people and places to present an eclectic collection of stories about life in America's most famous city.

Unlike other travel programs that tend to showcase the predictable sites, "Mark Kriski's Fairly Decent New York Adventure" presents a refreshingly different take and change of pace on New York. Shot entirely on location, Kriski discovers the amusing, moving and unusual:

Kenny Kramer of West 45th Street who is the real "Kramer" from the TV classic "Seinfeld" and just as kooky as actor Michael Richards portrayed him. The real Kramer is now capitalizing on his new found fame by operating one of New York's most popular tours of what else_the "Seinfeld" locations featured in the show.
An emotional tour of the legendary landmark Ellis Island that includes a look at some of the original buildings that have not been renovated or reopened to the public and today remain frozen in time. The story also features compelling interviews with local residents who passed through Ellis Island as many as seven decades ago;
The beautiful noise emanating from beneath the streets. It's not the subway or sewer, but Music Under New York, a unique program that features a wide range of performers from classical violinists to blues singers who put on one of the best shows in town. Performing right in the middle of several crowded subway stations, they make travel on the tracks a little more pleasing;
The Carnegie Deli, a NYC landmark for 65 years, where the quality of the food is only exceeded by the portions. The deli's famous entertaining waiters make sure Kriski gets a sampling of their world-renowned pastrami, as well as other delectable and hard-to-resist food items.

Mark Kriski has created his own style of reporting at KTLA. He has been with the "KTLA Morning News" since its inception in 1991, providing viewers with a lighter look at the news and weather. He has made a reputable impact on Los Angeles viewers and critics. An Emmy Award-winner, Kriski was named the "Funniest Weatherman in Los Angeles" by renowned Los Angeles Times television critic, Howard Rosenberg. A native of Montreal, Canada, the "KTLA Morning News" was Kriski's first job opportunity in the United States.

In Canada he had stints as a disc jockey, program director and weather announcer in radio. He then transitioned to television by appearing on Montreal's Weather Network and "Travel, Travel."

"Mark Kriski's Fairly Decent New York Adventure" is a KTLA News production in association with Vantage Point Productions. It is produced by Dean Kekoolani and Robert Dean. Cameraman is Mike Armijo. Marcia Brandwynne is executive producer. Jeff L. Wald is KTLA news director. KTLA, Channel 5, is The WB affiliate in Los Angeles and a Tribune Broadcasting station.

KTLA'S COVERAGE OF 2000 ROSE PARADE #1

(Los Angeles, January 4, 2000) KTLA's live coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade delivered the highest audience share among affiliate competitors with a 49 share, reaching in excess of 2.8 million households; meaning that almost half of the television sets turned on in Southern California were tuned into Channel 5. The broadcast, hosted by Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards, outperformed all network and independent competition for the 25^th consecutive year.

KTLA first broadcast the Rose Parade in 1947 as experimental station W6XYZ. Since then it has traditionally been the station of record in Southern California for the Rose Parade, frequently beating all other coverage combined in household ratings.

KTLA, Channel 5, is The WB affiliate in Los Angeles and a Tribune Broadcasting station.

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