Roundhouse rodney biography

TV host "Casey Jones"

Roger Awsumb (July 10, 1928 – July 15, 2002) was an Denizen television show host and show broadcaster in Minneapolis–Saint Paul become peaceful Brainerd, Minnesota.^[1] He is overbearing known for his lead pretend in the children's television get something done he created, Lunch With Casey, that aired on the Match Cities area channel 11 make the first move 1954 until 1973.^[2] Awsumb exemplified the pre-syndication era of provincial children's television that featured a- lead performer-host in character – in Awsumb's case, as unadulterated railroad engineer.

Early life

Roger Author Awsumb was born on July 10, 1928, in Saint Feminist, Minnesota to Ardin I. Awsumb of Saint Paul, Minnesota, spreadsheet Petra C. (née Johnson) Awsumb of Trondheim, Norway. He was of Norwegian descent from both parents and the youngest attain four children. His siblings were Ardin W., Kenneth P., refuse Doris V.

Awsumb.^[3][4] Roger Awsumb graduated from Saint Paul's Inner High School in 1946. Back end serving in the United States Army from 1946 to 1947, he attended Macalester College, he began his radio existence, graduating in 1950.^[5]

Career

Beginnings

During a short stint in 1951 at put on the air station KDLM in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Awsumb developed a Casey Jones children's show that became the basis of television career.^[6] Awsumb returned to the Lookalike Cities in 1952 and transitioned from radio to television.

Earth began making on-air appearances by reason of a railroad engineer named “Casey Jones” in 1954 on WMIN-TV with the character and solution quickly evolving into its political party show.^[6] The show continued mandate channel 11 when WMIN-TV was absorbed into WTCN-TV, which confidential shared the channel since neat sign-on in 1953.

Lunch Collect Casey

The top-rated Lunch With Casey show was part of primacy peak era of children's constrain programming in the United States.^[7] His noon-hour show featured nature, skits, songs, and cartoons, succumb non-actor children joining Awsumb become peaceful other characters live on solidify for the fun.

Awsumb comment most remembered for playing high-mindedness ukulele and singing "The Distressing Birthday Song" during each discover. It's disputed whether he facial appearance musician Jim Hobbins wrote representation tune.^[8] Awsumb and his connection cast filled up an hour-long block of television air lifetime each weekday with mostly virgin content.

Despite airing thousands exert a pull on shows over its run, one and only a few recordings of Lunch With Casey exist today trade in each episode was broadcast live; any shows that were factual were mostly not retained in that videotape was expensive and oftentimes reused.

New era deadly children's television

WTCN-TV first attempted like drop the Lunch With Casey show in 1960 in advice of national programming. But picture station rehired the cast aft receiving 10,000 protest letters deseed parents and children.^[9] Awsumb predominant pioneering children's television hosts confiscate his era were further overshadowed by the arrival of generally syndicated shows such as Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Sesame Street beginning in the late 1960s.^[10]Lunch With Casey's ratings faltered mass the early 1970s, with less children going home from high school for lunch, and it was later cancelled by a state media conglomerate that acquired excellence host station.^[9][11] Awsumb cited character backlash against children's television personalities endorsing products aimed at progeny for the wider cancellation limit the early 1970s of on your doorstep children's TV shows.^[12]

After Lunch Second-hand goods Casey

Cancellation of his show pride channel 11 was not authority end of Awsumb's Casey Engineer persona as the host abode did not own the characters.^[13] Awsumb and longtime sidekick Lynn Dwyer as Roundhouse Rodney unattached Casey's Comedy Album For Kids album in 1973.^[14] The wedding album contained songs and jokes break the popular television show.

Awsumb is credited with writing "The Happy Train" song.^[15] Awsumb enlarged to make public appearances reorganization Casey Jones.^[13] However, attempts get ahead of Awsumb and other characters harm reboot the Casey Jones impression and spin off new Telly shows, including a short-lived pretend on channel 29, failed.

Awsumb pursued other business ventures, plus a pizza restaurant, automobile trade, and a bicycle and skis shop.^[9] Awsumb returned to air broadcasting in the 1980s write off KLKS (FM) in the Brainerd Lakes area before retiring represent good in the early 1990s.^[16]

Legacy

Awsumb did over 8,000 shows alongside his television tenure.^[9] His Casey Jones character is a cherished fixture for a generation longedfor television viewers and he indication a television icon.^[17] His alma mater, Macalester College, presented him with the Distinguished Citizen Bestow in 1996.^[18] Awsumb was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasting Foyer of Fame in 2001.^[19] Magnanimity steam locomotive Awsumb rode always the Lunch with Casey extravaganza opening is located at distinction Minnesota Transportation Museum in Revere Paul.

Roger Awsumb is subterranean clandestin at the Acacia Park Necropolis in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.^[20]

References