WNBW-TV, Washington, D. C. [Now WRC-TV], For NBC
Wednesday, October 22, 1947* - c. 1951, Aired weekly, Wednesdays 5:00PM, later Saturdays afternoons beginning in 1948, Thursdays in 1950
Produced by the Junior League of Washington, D. C., later
Cast: Agnes "Bitsy" Birney ("Popit"), Bliss Schumann ("G. G., the Guessing Girl"),
The Hook: This was the first children's series on NBC to be shown in more than one TV market (or viewing area), before "Howdy Doody". Also "Popit" and the "Guessing Girl" were two to TV's earliest female favorites with young children.
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| Snippet of a press image of Agnes Birney as "Popit" of WNBT-TV's "Playtime", 1947 |
Even before the landmark "Puppet Playhouse" introduced "Howdy Doody", NBC's east coast stations (all 4 of them) featured a widely praised series for kids called "Playtime" broadcast from Washington D.C. This serious was produced by the Junior League of Washington D. C. For decades only George W. Woolery's monumental book Children's Television, the First Thirty-Five Years, 1946 - 1981 Part I Live Action, had a history of this series. With more resources available today, it is possible to take a closer look at this early series.
The hour long series featured program segments linked together by Popit a colorful elf character and the Guessing Girl an "intellectual dope" dressed in an glasses and academic gown. The two characters would perform quizzes, riddles and charades based on familiar books that served as bridges between the program segments. A clever techniques would be to have a "magic" or "super-sonic electronic" ballon appear which would be popped to reveal what segment was next. "Busy Hands" was a segment on how to make things at home; "Special Events" featured musical performances, shadow plays, and marionette plays by members of the Junior League.
Playtime aired for two seasons on the four station NBC east coast connection of D. C., Schenectady, New York, New York City, and Philadelphia. It's first run lasted at least 18 weeks with a second east coast season beginning fall of 1948 which lasted until March 1949. Playtime continued to air in the Washington, D.C. in between those seasons, and for a third season that began October 1950.
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| Snippet of press image of Bliss Schumann in character as "G. G." or the "Guessing Girl" from WNBW's "Playtime". |
Agnes "Bitsy" Birney was a native of the D.C. area and a student of Wells College, Yale University, and American University. She seemed born for the role of Popit as even one of her college year books noted her as "tiny" "fun" with a "turned up nose" and tendencies to giggle during biology classes. She was later a successful horticulturalist. Birney and Bliss Schumann as Popit and the Guessing Girl became two of TV's earliest character heroes for small children, and their parents. "Playtime" was the kind of series that parents and educators wanted, good for their children and engaging to them as well. During its second season on NBC, the series was reportedly so popular, that 70% of TV sets in the Washington D.C. area were said to be set to "Playtime" in its new Saturday evening time slot.
To my knowledge no recordings of "Playtime" are known to exist, but photos and other memorabilia my survive with private collections. If you have more information about this series or remember watching it, please comment below or write to archivebuilder@gmail.com with "Playtime" as part of the subject heading.
*Woolery's text lists November 26, 1947 as the premiere date, however coverage by the Washington, D.C. Evening Star newspapers suggest the debut date of October 22, 1947.
For more information about "Playtime".
Boushall, Frances. "Elf Is Children's Video Hero". Richmond, Virginia Times-Dispatch, December 12, 1948
Downey, Sally A. Agnes Hood, 88, actress, horticulturist, volunteer. Philadelphia Inquirer. July 27, 2009. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/obituaries/20090727_Agnes_Hood_88_actress_horticulturist_volunteer.html
Junior League offers 'Playtime' again, Evening star. [Washington, D.C.], October 01, 1950. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1950-10-01/ed-1/seq-68/
Junior League produces show for television: weekly program for children. Evening star. [Washington , D.C.], October 19, 1947, Image 58. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1947-10-19/ed-1/seq-58/