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Mr. I. Magination

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Paul Tripp as Mr. I. Magination

Mr. I. Magination was one of the earliest television shows for children. It ran live as a half-hour weekly show on CBS from 1949 to 1952 and was broadcast from Manhattan.[1][2][3] (Information about Mr. I. Magination may be found in "Children's Television: The First Thirty Five Years: Live, Filmed And Taped" by George Woolery; Scarecrow Press, Inc.)

The host, Mr. I. Magination (Paul Tripp), dressed as a train engineer, gathered a group of children each week. The same child actors appeared on a rotating basis. Two would be selected to ask about a career, occupation, activity, and such. Tripp would then play a "magic" slide flute, he and the children would board a train and travel to Imagination Land, where they would meet a professional from each of the two areas for that week's show.

Guests were as diverse as Damu, a lion tamer from Ringling Brothers Circus, and test pilot Scott Crossfield.[4] His wife, Ruth Enders Tripp, also acted in the show.[1] The show was also a pioneer in using simple, early special effects, such as making it appear as if the opening train ride went through a tunnel to enter Imagination Land, emerging from the smoke from its engine.[4][5]

Yul Brynner served as the director of the show at times, but did not appear as a performer. The show also featured performances by Walter Matthau, Richard Boone, Joe Silver, Ted Tiller, and Simon Oakland.[4]

Mr. I. Magination also was featured on several RCA records for children, including "Billy On A Bike" and "Mr. I. Magination Meets Rip Van Winkle", there are at least two versions on a LP (long playing) record.[6][7][8][9][10]

References

  1. ^ "I. Magination" To Get Col. Wax. Billboard. 8 July 1950. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  2. ^ Life Tours the Children's TV Shows. Life. 24 December 1951. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  3. ^ Hollis, Tim, ed. (2001). Hi there, boys and girls!: America's local children's TV shows. University Press of Mississippi. p. 361. ISBN 1-57806-396-5. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  4. ^ a b c Honan, William H. (1 September 2001). "Paul Tripp, 91, Early Children's TV Host". New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  5. ^ Gould, Jack; Gould, Lewis L., eds. (2002). Watching television come of age: the New York Times review. University of Texas Press. p. 266. ISBN 0-292-72846-8. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  6. ^ Mr. I-Magination Meets Rip Van Winkle. Billboard. 3 March 1951. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  7. ^ Spaceship to Mars (with Mr. I-Magination). Billboard. 22 November 1952. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  8. ^ TV and Disk Springboard For Greatest Number of Acts on Way to Stardom. Billboard. 8 July 1950. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  9. ^ Columbia Hypos Kidisk Etchings. Billboard. 15 July 1950. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  10. ^ Columbia Adds to Kidisk Line. Billboard. 16 August 1952. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
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