The Summer of 1976 was over and my Mom wanted me the hell out of the house. Okay, it probably wasn’t that drastic, but she did try to get me in to Kindergarten that Fall because she felt that I was in desperate need of a challenge. My birthday, being on October 2, was two days over the deadline to get into school, so I needed to be tested to see if I was ready to be enrolled early. I passed every test with flying colors, except for one thing: I cried for my Mom when they took me in to be tested. I had never done that before (at least since I was a toddler) and never did it again to my knowledge.
But my Mom was furious that I couldn’t start school because of it. She had stopped working when Denise was born and would remain a stay-at-home Mom for the first two years of Denise’s life. So rather than try to contend full time with me day in and day out in addition to Denise, who was approaching five months of age, she enrolled me in Hope Nursery School on Monday, September 13. This was located in the Hope Church on Wilmington Pike in Centerville. I have only vague recollection of it, but do recall that my best friend there was named Jason.
I only went to the pre-school classes two or three days a week. Under the tutelage of Jan Painter and Pat Groeber, I flourished as both an intellect and a class clown. At one point, one of the teachers banished Jason and I out of the classroom into the hall with the strict instruction to sit in a chair facing the wall and not look at each other. I turned around and saw that Jason was breaking the rules. I yelled out to the teacher that “Jason is looking at me!!” She asked me how I would know that he is looking at me unless I was looking at him. I had no answer.
The first week I attended class must have been a pretty big one for me as it not only included my first exposure to school, but my first television appearance as well. At the age of four-going-on-five, I had been a lifelong fan of The Uncle Al Show, so I was ecstatic to have my chance to be one of the kids participating on Wednesday, September 15, just two days after starting school. The show was filmed in Cincinnati by Channel 9 and appearing alongside of me were my cousins Lori and Debby and my best friend from across the street, Andrea Ferrenberg.
I’m seated second from left. Andrea is hidden next to me. Lori and Debby are standing right in front of Uncle Al.
I can’t remember a whole lot about the experience except for the wretched marshmallow ice cream cones which I loved that we got to eat and take home after the show. Unfortunately, this was in the days before VCRs were common – and the show was aired live – so I never actually got to see it. My Aunt Diana came along with us as well in order to see her girls’ participation. After the show, we got one of those nifty black and white 8×10 photos of the cast and kids with a facsimile signature of Uncle Al and Captain Windy, Mr. Patches, and Lucky the Clown mailed to us. This was well before my autograph collecting days so I didn’t care that the signatures weren’t real! And my Mom snapped some fabulous behind-the-scenes color shots of us on the show’s set that blow away the black and white picture…
Getting the kids under control
Andrea and Lori get to participate in one of the segments…
…in front of a backdrop added in front of the merry-go-round
Lori’s sixth birthday was four days away, so she got to ride the special merry-go-round
Lori gets a hug from Uncle Al on the way out
A color version of the cast shot
Little kids on a big set
Uncle Al greets me, Debby, Lori, and Andrea
I wish I had kept my bowtie like Denise did
To see Denise on Uncle Al, click here…
Yes, it is me! Andrea Ferrenberg, long lost childhood friend of Brad – now living just outside of Seattle Washington. Boy, Brad has such a vivid memory of the show, whereas I think I just remember it from the pictures I’ve seen – I don’t even remember the bow ties. In the last picture, Brad looks like he’s trying to escape from Uncle Al… Shortly after the show, my family and I moved to the Los Angeles area and I ended up in Seattle shortly after I graduated high school. Times sure do change!
Andrea Ferrenberg
January 8th, 2008
Those pictures are great! I have some of the same ones, but mine turned out very dark. I kept them just because, but yours are much better. Whatever happened to Uncle Al? Is he still living?
Diana Claude
January 8th, 2008
Hey Brad, Andreas mom here. Yes, I remember you well from my days of babysitting you!!!I did not make it to the infamous show, but did watch it. All of you were very shy, but oh so loveable!
Brenda Rowe Reno
January 9th, 2008
I do remember bits and pieces of this day, like getting a box of cookies for participating in the craft portion of the show. I also remember those awful ice cream cones! How about doing “the twist”? I think that was my favorite part of the entire show. I would love to get a copy of these pictures to keep in my own scrape book. Thanks for sharing!
Lori
January 9th, 2008
Oops! I meant to keep in my scrap book not my “scrape” book. I guess that’s why I teach Math and not English! 🙂
Lori
January 9th, 2008
How cool – and amazing – to hear from both Andrea and Brenda more than 30 years later!
Yes, the photo prints that I have also deteriorated and no longer have any color to them at all. Fortunately, these shots were preserved as color slides, so we can see them in all of their colorful glory!
Uncle Al and Captain Windy ARE both still alive and living in Hillsboro, Ohio. In fact, I heard Uncle All on 700 WLW radio just two or three years ago.
Brad
January 9th, 2008
Lori and Debby remind me of Abbey and Elise. Same size, same age, same looks. Isn’t it fun to look back and see resemblances?
Diana Claude
January 9th, 2008
I really couldn’t remember whether or not Brenda made it to the Uncle Al show with us or if we just took Andrea. Again, Brad seems to have a better memory of these things than me. I barely even remember being there, a lot of times the remembrances just come from seeing the pictures, but it’s so fun seeing all the kids when they were little and then knowing what wonderful adults they all turned out to be.
Barb/Mom
January 9th, 2008