The McCarty Metro - When I Was A Kid

Detroit television in the 1960s was a vibrant local market famous for its creative children's hosts, the launch of Channel 50, and pioneering local programming.

Iconic Local Children's Shows

Johnny Ginger: Hosted popular kids' programs on WXYZ-TV Channel 7, first playing "The Janitor" on Curtain Time Theater and later transitioning to The Johnny Ginger Show as a head bellboy. He later hosted Captain Detroit on WKBD.

Other Local Favorites: Detroit kids grew up watching beloved local personalities like Milky the Clown, Captain Jolly, Jingles, and Poop-Deck Paul, who frequently showcased classic shorts like The Three Stooges.
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Soupy Sales: Though he started his national rise earlier, his slapstick, pie-in-the-face style set the foundational tone for Detroit children's television formatting well into the era.

Major Station Milestones

WKBD Channel 50: Launched on January 10, 1965, transforming the local viewing landscape. While initially focused on sports, it quickly captured young audiences with syndicated favorites, Captain Detroit, and cartoon classics.

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WTVS Channel 56: Detroit's educational station (now part of Detroit PBS) broadened its instructional roots in the mid-1960s by introducing general audience cultural programs like People in Jazz in 1966.

CKLW Channel 9: Operating out of Windsor, Ontario, but broadcasting heavily into the Detroit market, CKLW featured popular local hosts, movies, and teen-centric programming before shifting formats later on.

NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE,
WHEN YOU GOT HOME FROM SCHOOL,

WHAT TV SHOWS DID YOU LIKE TO WATCH?

TV SHOWS YOU WATCHED?

ANY MEMORIES TO SHARE?

YOUR NAME:

Your replies will be tallied and published in our next edition
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Last Month's Results....

WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS MEMORIES WHEN YOU WERE A KID?

Items submitted by our readers: Elias, Phil, Austin, Scholl, and Elias

Going to a Tigers game and watching the Tigers beat the Yankees in a double hitter. The NY Giants - Baltimore Colts sudden death football game. Late 90s /early 00s Red Wings run. Watching Red Wing games at Grandma Jeans. Of course the Avalanche and Wings rivalry, but I always like the Phoenix Coyotes games since we'd always play them early in the playoffs. Those were fun and had some crazy goals. The 04 Pistons was fun but I don't really remember a ton of it other than the Pacers series. First time going to Tiger Stadium. In 1976 I was 8 years old. It was a night game in the summer vs the Baltimore Orioles. I still remember walking up the ramp and just seeing the giant field of green grass. The stadium seemed so massive. I still remember going to the Lions training camp at Oakland University in the 1980s. The players were so close. I still have all the autographs. Going to a Tigers game and watching the Tigers beat the Yankees in a double hitter.

My favorite Halloween clip from when I was a kid


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If you have a submission, or idea for "When I Was A Kid", please submit it to mccartymetro@gmail.com