Ding Dong School


Streaming video of a complete broadcast

Curator's note: This "Ding Dong School" broadcast featuring Dr. Frances Horwich as "Miss Frances" probably dates from early in the show's run (perhaps 1952), since it is unsponsored. The program was produced and directed by Reinald Warrenrath, Jr. John Natale was the technical director. "Ding Dong School" was produced under the general supervision of Judith Waller.

Above: Miss Frances (Dr. Frances Horwich) greets her pupils at the beginning of this "Ding Dong School" episode. The "Ding Dong School" set was located, for most of the program's run, on the state of the Studebaker Theater which NBC leased to supplement its Merchandise Mart studio space.

View the broadcast

[You will need RealPlayer to view this video]

View Part 1: Miss Frances rings the bell calling her class to order (note also the somewhat primitive animation in the show's open. Miss Frances introduces her guest, Lew Skalinder, who demonstrates his string bass. (Lew Skalinder was an NBC staff musician and an accomplished jazz artist who played with the Art Van Damme Quintet.

View Part 2: Miss Frances checks to see how her plants are growing and she shows her students how to make a train out of show boxes and string. She advises her pupils to observe rest periods during the day (which might include a nap).

View Part 3: Miss Frances gets down and dirty with finger paint. Then she asks her students to bring their mothers to the television so she can talk to them about the day's activities. (These daily video "teacher-parent conferences were a "Ding Dong School" signature). Closing credits and the NBC chimes end the broadcast.

QUICK ACCESS LINKS:
Introduction and main index to this site
WMAQ radio history | "Amos 'n' Andy" | "Fibber McGee and Mollie" | "The Breakfast Club"
Dick Kay | Television at the Merchandise Mart | 1970 television facilities tour | Channel 5 turns 20
The "Chicago School" of television | "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" | Dave Garroway | Mary Hartline
"Lights Out" | Sound effects | 1930 studio tour | WLS | "Empire Builders" | Barry Bernson
Floyd Kalber | The Queen of Love and Beauty | "Today's Children" | Staff announcers | Carol Marin
Ron Magers | Studs Terkel l "Chicago Tonight" | Channel 5 News scrapbooks |Roger Miller recalls
Zoo Parade | Clifton and Frayne Utley | Val Press | Len O'Connor | Johnny Erp | Bill Ray | Daddy-O
Experimental Television: 1930-1933 | Bob Deservi | Kermit Slobb | Ding Dong School | Quiz Kids
Bob Lemon | The Korshak Chronicles | KYW: The Chicago Years | WENR | O.B. Hanson | Renzo
Jack Eigen | Ed Grennan | The World's Best Cup of Coffee | Glenn Webster | Mr. Piano | Hawkins Falls
Chicago Television for Kids |
Radio Hall of Fame |The NBC News Night Report: 23 February, 1967
Audio and video downloads
About the Curator

Comments or suggestions? click here to send them to Rich Samuels

Created by Rich Samuels (e-mail to rich@richsamuels.com)