Researching "Animal Clinic" and “Acrobat Ranch” The 1950 Landmark Saturday Morning TV Series

Jack Alberts as "Tumblin Tim, "Uncle Jack" Stilwell, and Valerie Alberts as "Flyin Flo"
on Acrobat Ranch. Image from "TV Today", August 19, 1950. Source: Internet Archives

Roughly 76 years ago, on Saturday, August 19, 1950 the children's programs Acrobat Ranch and Animal Clinic debuted over the ABC TV network. This programming block was the beginning of network Saturday Morning programming on television for children in the United States. Both programs predate everything else that was to come from Mighty Mouse Playhouse, Scooby Doo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Saved By The Bell and the CBS Dream Weekend.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle listings for Saturday, August 19, 1950

Animal Clinic (1950-1951) was hosted by Dr. Wesley A. Young a renown veterinarian and director of several of the most prestigious zoos over the course of his career. Dr. Young was no stranger to discussing animals in mass media. While serving as chief veterinarian with the Animal Rescue League of Boston, he hosted a weekly radio series called Animals in the News (WBZ c. 1932-1936). In his own words, Dr. Young described the program as "a résumé of the activities of beasts, birds, animals, reptiles, and insects". The talk program received a positive review from Variety in 1935. 

Snippet by Dr. Wesley A. Young from 1935 about the "Animals in the News" broadcasts. From Our Four Footed Friends, February 1935.

Sadly no print of Animal Clinic is known to exist today as of this writing. From critics reviews at the time, Dr. Young turned what could have been a boring show into an engaging series with his "informal" and natural ease in front of the camera. It was literally a veterinarians clinic where the care of all kinds of animals were shown to children. To this day the host is essential in making an educational or "E/I" program work. Dr. Young would be pleased to know that so many of the programs that air on Saturday Mornings today like Lucky Do, Best Friends Furever, Dr. Chris Pet Vet, and Hope in the Wild, are based on veterinary sciences. 

Dr. Young was a highly esteemed veterinarian during his lifetime, and it is hoped that his papers or estate still exists somewhere for study. 

Acrobat Ranch (1950-1951)was a half hour series with a western circus theme hosted by “Uncle” Jack Stilwell. Produced in Chicago, the lead characters of Tumblin Tim and Flyin Flo were played by local high school siblings Jack and Valerie Alberts.

Both characters were mascots for Acrobat Shoes a product of the General Shoe company. Tumblin Tim and Flyin Flo appeared in a series of books published in the 1940s that were distributed at shoe stores as well as other promotional events. That history is another article in itself.

One episode is known to survive and was circulated by an independent video dealer in recent decades. That episode has since appeared on DailyMotion.

The program had a generous amount of advertising in newspapers nationwide as well as a few TV magazines. While the series only ran for one season, promotional ads with Uncle Jack were still featured in newspapers advertising for at least a year after its run. 

At least one premium a photo of Valerie Alberts as Flyin' Flo was created for the series. I am hoping another one was made of her brother Jack as Tumblin Tim. 

From a few items I was able to create an Acrobat Ranch archival research box

Some research form the Children's Media Archive has suggested that Valerie Alberts may still be living as of this writing. I would like to receive any leads to contacting her if that is the case. Please reply in the comments section or email archivebuilder@gmail.com with "Acrobat Ranch" as the subject line. 

Children's Television Programs of 1949 As Reviewed by Josette Frank

The following is a list of reviewed programs listed by the famed children's consultant Josette Frank (1893-1989) in the Summer 1949 pages of Child Study Magazine. Since I cannot copy the entire text word for word, I have placed snippets with some commentary. Text originally quoted by Frank is italicized.

Howdy Doody (NBC-TV) 5:30-6. Monday through Friday. A boyish and friendly marionette and a lively though wordless clown help Bob Smith entertain a studio full of children. He draws them into the program, too, and the whole has just that note of warmth and intimacy very young children love.

Howdy Doody (1947-1960) was TV’s first 5 day a week children’s series and the first on NBC, before the Today Show. NBC should recognize this program as part of its centennial in 2026.

Kukla, Fran and Ollie (NBC-TV) 7-7:30. Monday through Friday.

An engaging and original bit of fantasy revolving about a winsome serpent, a kindly little man (both puppets) and a girl (real). This program, which applies the techniques of the old Punch and Judy show minus the violence, provides enchantment for adults and children alike.

Kukla, Fran, and Ollie was a very popular puppet series that attracted a considerable adult audience as well as kids. There is now an official YouTube Channel with surviving kinescopes. 

Doris Brown and Pinhead from "Lucky Pup"

Lucky Pup (CBS-TV) 6:30-6:45. Monday through Saturday.

A girl announcer supplies the thread for a continued puppet drama about a tricky magician and his feather-brained assistant. The program has quite a following but seems to this reviewer to lack the sprightliness and charm of Kukla.-

The live hostess Doris Brown Byerly (1925-????) is believed to still be living as of this writing. Please leave a comment of email archivebuilder@gmail.com if you have more information. 

Small Fry Club (Du Mont TV) 5:306. Monday through Friday. Frank was very "frank"about the Small Fry Club. “Big Brother” Bob Emory conducts a hodge-podge of movies, animated cartoons, and juvenile participation in a “club” that drags in without rhyme or reason everything from a salute to the flag to a preachment and a prayer. 

Bob Emery was actually one of the most seasoned veterans to try a children's TV progam, having hosted kids radios shows from the late 1920s. Over the years I have heard that there is not surviving footage, but also that some clips may exist but are not publicly available. So, it would be hard to know if Frank was right when she states The whole seems to this reviewer [is] synthetic, funless and tasteless.

Cartoon Teletales (ABC-TV) 6-6:30. Sunday. "Amusing animal stories are accompanied by cartoons swiftly and cleverly sketched as the tale unfolds. Viewers are then instructed in how to draw these cartoons and invited to send in their drawings to be shown on the screen next week.

Sometimes considered TV first "animated" series in one since of the word, the Luchsinger brothers program was popular with ABC's first juvenile TV audiences. A book about the series by Kevin Scott Collier is highly recommended and he is one of the few to see surviving kinescopes in decades. 

Super Circus Episode with Bonus Claude Kirchner Marx Toy Ads

Super Circus (ABC-TV) 5-6. Sunday. Circus highlights, including stunts, acrobats, clowns and band music successfully recreate for television viewers the atmosphere and spirit of the circus. A huge hit from Chicago with "Circus Cinderella" Mary Hartline as the majorette, 6' 5" Claude Kirchner as the ringmaster, and plenty of vintage Mars Candy ads.

Before she passed away in 2020, I was able to acquire autographed memorabilia from Ms. Hartline via Ebay. It is now part of a Mary Hartline Research Collection. 

Singing Lady (ABC-TV) 6:30-7. Sunday. 

Ireene Wicker (c.1900 - 1987), radio's beloved “Singing Lady,” already had a long history in television dating back to 1931. In her 1948 ABC TV series she returned to delight television’s new young audience with her nursery tales, half sung, half told, and now also dramatized with superb marionettes. Children in the studio join her in singing the familiar signature song. Enchanting entertainment for the young in heart of all ages. Her promising TV career was interrupted from a false accusation during the "Red Scare". She would return to TV a few years later. 

Children's Sketch Book (NBC-TV) 5:30-6. Saturday.

This program was summarized as stories in verses or songs accompanied by quick sketching by artist and children's book illustrator Lisl Weil. According to Frank the series had "Excellent background music" that enhanced "an ingenious and valuable program".

Paul Tripp as Mr. I. Magination

Dr. 1. Magination (CBS-TV) 6:30-7. Sunday. Paul Tripp and a cast of children and adults take imaginary trips to far countries and storied places. Frank described the series as "an elaborate and painstaking program which has good potentialities, but she felt that some qualities were lacking in it's initial broadcast. 

Whatever flaws were noticed in its premiere didn't last long as "Mr. I. Magination" remains a well-regarded series from TV's Golden Age even with so very few surviving episodes. The program was highlighted in the pages of Look, Time, and Newsweek. 

Scrapbook (CBS-TV) 5:30-6. Sunday.

A medley of news notes and personal reports on children’s activities, hobbies, illnesses and birthdays, together with animated cartoons, folk songs, and a “club” (write for a badge). Frank was the most negative towards this program which she summarized as "a poorly synthesized and rather dull program".

To read and download Josette Franks original full article: Child Study Summer 1949: Vol 26 Iss 3 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive