MAJOR MUDD

These wonderful pictures come from Ted Lavash, who worked as a freelance artist for WNAC-TV in 1966.

To start off, here's a photo of Major Mudd looking for his "Lost Battalion":

These cartoons appeared in the "crawl" at the end of the show. The "crawl" is the credits that scroll up or down listing the personnel who put on the show:

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Thanks to artist Ted Lavash for these rare pictures!

WCVB Reporter Bill Harrington with a tribute to legenday
Boston Television personality "Major Mudd".

I know Major Mudd died quite young of diabetes in the early 70's. It is agreed he was the best TV show personality regarding his relationship to the kids. He was always available for personal appearances, mostly benefits. He was my favorite and it was devastating to the Boston area when he died.

What a Major Mudd blast reading the memories of Boston kids' shows from the '60s! We had only five or so watchable channels where I lived (and still do) in Worcester, Mass., 45 miles west of Boston, but we made the most of them!

One morning as I was getting dressed to go to school I decided to turn on the Major Mudd show. When I saw the show I could not believe it. 5 or 6 kids that lived in my area that were very, very bad kids (they would always get into trouble) were on the show. Today they are either in jail or on the run from the police. They drove him nuts, going crazy acting very wild. Major Mudd would keep telling them to stop it or they would have to leave or something to that effect. I will never forget it. It blew my mind. I will never forget Major Mudd either, he was GREAT! As all the old shows were. Its sad they don't make them like that anymore. Over and out .

- Sugarman

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My brother, sister, cousin, and I were on the Major Mudd Show circa '68 or '69. I remember having so much fun aboard 'The Nervous One'. I was just 3 or 4 at the time, and at first I was told that I was too young to participate. But my older cousin persisted and told them that I was very smart for my age, and I got to "Blast Off For Fun and Adventure" with the rest. I got to sit on Major Mudd's lap, and help him announce, I also got to blow the trumpet at the beginning of the show. I felt so important. My cousin, brother, and sister got to participate in games and things. Ed McDonnell's passing was a great loss for Boston. He is missed, but he has left behind some wonderful and fun memories.

- IBBY, Almost Too Small

I love the website, and your kind words for Major Mudd. I believe he played FEEP, the host of (was it Fantasmic Features??).

Major Mudd was my fave kids show host, I remember my older brothers being into him too. They were in high school and I seem to remember many high school banners on the wall behind the Major as he read letters (name calling time?). I went searcing at my mom's house for this postcard, there was a membership card too, but it may be lost forever. I hope you will add it to the website!!!

- IBBY, Dave Henderson

Major Mudd Memories!

I recall my next door neighbor and friend, Johnny Schiff, when I was a kid....his dad Morris Schiff, had that car or one a few years later....( we moved there in 62'). Didnt it have suicide doors?

You could put a hockey rink in that thing.
I remember the doors being so big and heavy and seemingly THICKER than my parents cars ( which were big Pontiacs!!!). I remember the seats being very posh with nice leather.

Morris Schiff, as best I recall, was a producer , or affiliated somehow with the production of the Major Mudd show here in Boston:

http://www.tvparty.com/lostbostonM.html

Once they shot a commercial in the Schiff's back yard, off Monadnock Rd, for Major Mudd Ice Cream.
I remember watching them shoot it through the trees that bordered our yard and the Schiffs.

The big deal about the ice cream was....they designed the tops of the ice cream tubs to be used as Major Mudd flying saucer toys ( Frisbees!) when you were done with the ice cream tubs.

The Schiff kids were in the ad...Johnny and his older brother were good athletes, and their sister Maura was pretty.....so they had a good cast of kids that could whip toy flying saucers for that ad right at home, plus a few other kids.

Major Mudd was ahead of his time....early re-purposing of things, in the peak of the throwaway age in America ( although I think the 21st century is even more throwaway than most admit)

I submitted this all to TVparty to add to their memories... and maybe they can jog mine and make the total picture clearer in fact, although I think this is pretty accurate. Maybe they can find that ad for the Major Mudd Ice Cream. That would be a hoot!

Regards!
Jon Golden

Boston Local TV:

Major Mudd

Locals Overview

Captain Bob Cottle

Big Brother Bob Emery

Feep / Fantasmic Features

Jim Moran's Memories

Tony Saletan &
early NET programs

Major Mudd

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Mr. Ed T.McDonell appeared in The Three Stooges' last feature film "The Outlaws Is Coming" - he played Bat Masterson in the film.

- Kevin S. Butler

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