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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
