My fascination with TV, or more accurately, being a TV star, began when I was 3. There was a local version of Romper Room filmed by Channel 8 (WFLA) in Tampa, and my parents thought that I should be on it. Romper Room was a show for preschoolers that almost every local market in the US filmed a version of. Some cities showed a syndicated version, others had a local host. The host for Tampa was a lovely woman named Miss June, who last time I checked, was still alive and living in the area.
My mother had submitted my name to be on the show, and I was called over to be on the show. I wasn’t 4 yet, so they asked me to only appear for a day, but once the producers met me, they were taken with me – who wouldn’t be? Despite being only 3 1/2, I was asked to come back the next week – they thought I was mature enough to handle it! My mother wants me to make sure my readers know that she was the one responsible for schlepping me to and from Tampa each day – after working til midnight at the hospital each night.
We have an old super 8mm film reel showing me on Romper Room. In one scene, I’m following the other kids around the stage skipping (here we go Looby Loo!) and slipped, falling right on my rear. I got right up and kept on skipping, proving that even then, I knew that the show must go on!
Miss June, the host, was also writing a book at the same time I appeared on the show. At the close of each segment, the cameras would pause on a child and freeze frame. Miss June was apparently taken with me when it was my turn, because she drew a copy of that freeze frame and featured it in a book that was later published. My mother still has a copy of the book, somewhere, and Miss June autographed it for us.
Here’s a picture taken during my week on Romper Room – can you guess which one I am? (Click to embiggen)
(Duh, I’m the star – right in the middle of all the action!)
And here I am with Miss June:
So you see, my obsession started early. First Romper Room, then RockStartUp – tomorrow…who knows? (I’m fine with anything but cable access television!)
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Comments
Very cool! I’d love to see the shows!
The ironic pattern of our lives…you did Romper Room
and I had one brief starring moment on…
Bozo the Clown…
OH my gosh…look how cute! You’re right…you’re a natural!
How cool! Romper Room was one of my fave shows when I was a kid. I didn’t see yours as i didn’t live here then, but I remember the show really well.
Romper bomper, stomper do, tell me, tell me, tell me who. Will all my friends have fun at play? Did all my friends have fun today?
OMG, I so remember Romper Room!! And guess what! I picked you out right away! You can always spot the one with star quality, don’tcha know. 
Look at how ADORABLE you were!! I picked you out right away too:)
I already knew where you were, so it would be cheating if I said I spotted you, too.
Such a cutie pie!
Miss Colleen – can I please have your autograph?
(Hurry – quick! ‘Fore you get too famous!!)
You cutie, you!!
Aww! Colleenie, you’re so cute!! I spotted you right away in the first picture. *shines medal* What a great experience. I was on something similar when I was 5, I think, though I can’t remember the name of the show to save my life. It was on PBS though!
That’s really cool! Now I understand your fascination with television just a little bit more
That was so cute. Have your kids seen it?
OMG!!! I loved Romper Room!
Do bee a turn taker
Don’t be a me-firster!
I wish I could remember all those verses. I am so jealous of you. At the end of the show, when Miss Jane (that was ours) would look into her magic mirror, she NEVER said my name.
Damn, Colleen, you had that horseshoe stuck there even then, huh? (And I picked you out in the pic because I knew you wouldn’t settle for any other place but the spotlight!)
Oh, and I want your autograph, too.
Aw! Your 2nd daughter looks like you did. What a fun time that was!
Great Carnival. Thanks so much.
What a cutie ! This is a great post, Colleen
Too cute! I loved that show when I was little. They would never mention my name though which I thought was strange. Couldn’t she see me? When I got older I realized that my name is not very common and that is why it was never mentioned on the show!
I’ve never heard of it but I guess it must be a big thing for a 3-and-a-half-year-old!
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