Yesterday, as part of writing up a response to a blog entry for a friend, uncovered a really good web site on Sheriff John, who was a children’s TV host when I was growing up (he was on KTTV Ch. 11, 1952-1970). I’ve posted his song, 
The Birthday Cake Polka, here before. This morning, I just felt like posting his other song, Laugh and Be Happy
Laugh and be happy and the world will laugh with you
When people see you smiling, they can’t help smiling too
When you look out the window to a dark and gloomy day
Break out a smile and in a while the gloom will go away
So, laugh and be happy, with a merry melody
A song will make a hatrack look like a Christmas Tree
Get rid of worry in a hurry, chase the blues away
So, laugh and be happy, all the livelong day.
[Note: While researching this, I found that Randy Newman had a song with the same title. Some lyrics from that song that I like: Laugh and be happy / Don’t you ever wear a frown / Don’t let the bastards grind you down / Laugh and be happy / It’s a simple thing to do / Believe in your dreams and / Your dreams will come through for you]
So, what memory of children’s television hosts do you have? I’m talking about folks like Sheriff John, Hobo Kelly, Engineer Bill, Billy Barty, Paul Winchell, Soupy Sales, etc. (not this PBS pablum). People born after the era of hosted children’s televisions programs (although some lasted into the 90s, most were gone by the mid-1980s), enjoy the memories of what you missed.
