... lived across the street from Artemis Ward Elementary), came home for lunch in time for Captain Penny's Noon Show; went back out until 4:00 and time for Barnaby's show and then Captain Penny's 4:30 show, and then clean up for 6:00 dinner. If it was Summer, we'd go back out and had to be coming in the door by the time the street lights came on.

Boomers drank a lot of water from hoses, and spent a lot of time doing things outside.

Being a kid was an adventure and it was educational. You learned how to get out of trouble without involving adults.


Barnaby - "If anybody calls, tell them Barnaby said hello. And tell them that I think you are the nicest person in the whole world... Just you." As a result, the character is remembered for the catchphrase "Tell them Barnaby said Hello."


Captain Penny - "You can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool mom."

Capt Penny almost got the Three Stooges banned from his show. He finally got by saying before each episode, "we laugh at them, we laugh with them, but we don't do as they do!"

Showing the cute dogs and cats up for adoption from the Animal Protective League. We’d beg my mom every day for one and she always said No. of course I remember the other shows too.

I remember it all! Even the signature phrases!

Jungle Larry, of course. Do you remember Woodrow the Woodsman?

Kids’ show hosts were a lot kinder and gentler back then for the most part, IIRC.

the 1980's? Until I entered high school, during the summer, yeah, we basically stayed out all day (usually at the pool), came home for lunch and dinner, and went back out until after dark and someone's mom opening the door and yelling some variation of "you kids get your butts in the house, NOW!"
Several of us were also latch key kids. No was horrified by this, it was called learning to be responsible for yourself. We did have to call mom at work to let her know where we were going, but other than that, we were on our own.