[Watchful]

Oh my the all time classic children's show had to be the Kiddie Troopers with Don Mahoney and Jeana Clair (spelling?).

For the taped opening intro and the closing "outro" they would ride up on their horses like Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Then the bulk of the show was a kiddie talent show.

Positively horrific. Twirlers, tap dancers, glittery outfits - it was awful and awesome at the same time. It was around the late 60s or so when it was on channel 39 or one of those UHF stations.

Back in the late 80s the reruns of the old shows reappeared (IIRC) on Houston access stations.

I swear they should make a DVD of the greatest hits. They were the greatest!

[Heights2Bastrop]

[editor]

Heights2Bastrop, on Sunday, September 25th, 2005 @ 4:03pm, said:

She looked hard at me, and finally asked, "Well, who are YOU?"

No tip! No tip! No tip!

[Heights2Bastrop]

Well, I did kinda sorta say that to her as if I WAS somebody.

[TJones]

Well, I am 35 and remember loving that show as a kid, it came on channel 39 on Sundays. He really did seem like such a nice man. I don't know if the shows I saw in the 70's were reruns or not. I just remember that Houston Rasslin' came on afterwards.

I just found out from my mother, that those shows were NOT reruns. That gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. AAAAHHHHH ! Goodtimes.

This post has been edited by TJones: Saturday, October 1, 2005 at 11:47 AM

[native_Houstonian]

I was a student at the Hallie Pritchard School of Dance in the 70's. Her dancers had many opportunities to perform on the Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire show. It was taped on Friday nights at channel 39 on Westpark. I remember how scratchy the bales of hay were to sit on with our costumes on. I ripped many a pair of hose on those! Don Mahoney was always kind and would call us over after the performance to ask our names and how long we had been dancing and such. Poor thing, though, he was losing his eyesight and really couldn't even make out where you were standing and had to feel around for the cowbell.

I do remember that after we taped the show, we would go to I think Antonio's Flying Pizza on Fondren for dinner.

If anyone has access to any of these old shows or would know if anyone had copies of them, I would love to get a memory from my youth!

[TJones]

native_Houstonian, on Monday, October 3rd, 2005 @ 1:04pm, said:

I was a student at the Hallie Pritchard School of Dance in the 70's. Her dancers had many opportunities to perform on the Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire show. It was taped on Friday nights at channel 39 on Westpark. I remember how scratchy the bales of hay were to sit on with our costumes on. I ripped many a pair of hose on those! Don Mahoney was always kind and would call us over after the performance to ask our names and how long we had been dancing and such. Poor thing, though, he was losing his eyesight and really couldn't even make out where you were standing and had to feel around for the cowbell.

I do remember that after we taped the show, we would go to I think Antonio's Flying Pizza on Fondren for dinner.

If anyone has access to any of these old shows or would know if anyone had copies of them, I would love to get a memory from my youth!

Antonio's was on hilcroft, between richmond and westheimer. I think it is a dog groomer's now, or it may still be there.

[nmainguy]

Watchful, on Sunday, September 25th, 2005 @ 3:27pm, said:

Oh my the all time classic children's show had to be the Kiddie Troopers with Don Mahoney and Jeana Clair (spelling?).

For the taped opening intro and the closing "outro" they would ride up on their horses like Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Then the bulk of the show was a kiddie talent show.

Positively horrific. Twirlers, tap dancers, glittery outfits - it was awful and awesome at the same time. It was around the late 60s or so when it was on channel 39 or one of those UHF stations.

Back in the late 80s the reruns of the old shows reappeared (IIRC) on Houston access stations.

I swear they should make a DVD of the greatest hits. They were the greatest!

It was bizarre and facinating at the same time. Don going blind and Jeana Claire looking like she was on a Valium drip-but me and my sisters loved it. We would roll around on the floor and howl watching my crazy middle sister try to imitate the baton twirlers with a crow bar.

Oh yeah, a peice of trivia: Annette O'Toole got her "Big Break" on the show! Now she plays Superboy's Ma on TV.

[GoAtomic]

Heights2Bastrop, on Sunday, September 25th, 2005 @ 4:03pm, said:

I was on their show in the 5th grade. A group of us from Love Elementary square danced at Woodland Park, and our group danced on the show which was taped at the Prudential Building on Holcomb.

I have very vague memories of being on some kiddie show here in Houston when I was 6 or 7, in the early 70's. All I recall of the show is that we did some finger painting or something equally tame.

This was when I was in an elementary school off Red Oak in NW Houston. It was a big deal to me, because I remember my teacher, Mrs. King, driving me to the taping in her '71 Chevelle coupe (Orange Glow paint with a white vinyl interior). And I usually don't have a very good memory ...

I've asked my dad but he has no recollection of this happening, what show this was or who with. Apparently we didn't get a tape or anything.

I wonder if this was the program I was on ... Were there others like this in Hou at that time?

[Hellsfuzzy]

Here's one for you: I was on the show in 1973--I was part of singing group from Pearland Elementary named, oddly enough, The Swinging Seabees. We wore salior outfits. Our choir director told our parents to put "lots of makeup" on us because otherwise we wouldn't show up on TV. We looked like little drag queens and sang Tie A Yellow Ribbon.

[Heights2Bastrop]

[MarthaG]

I always wanted to go on the Kitirik show. Remember the little merry-go-round that would stop so each child talked to her? Didn't she give them presents for thier birthday or something?

I did manage to get on the Don Mahoney and Jeana Clair show once. Early 60's, my dance class did a tap number. The one and ONLY time I made it on TV.

[Heights2Bastrop]

[EastEnd Susan]

[john Lopez]

native_Houstonian, on Monday, October 3rd, 2005 @ 1:04pm, said:

I was a student at the Hallie Pritchard School of Dance in the 70's. Her dancers had many opportunities to perform on the Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire show. It was taped on Friday nights at channel 39 on Westpark. I remember how scratchy the bales of hay were to sit on with our costumes on. I ripped many a pair of hose on those! Don Mahoney was always kind and would call us over after the performance to ask our names and how long we had been dancing and such. Poor thing, though, he was losing his eyesight and really couldn't even make out where you were standing and had to feel around for the cowbell.

I do remember that after we taped the show, we would go to I think Antonio's Flying Pizza on Fondren for dinner.

If anyone has access to any of these old shows or would know if anyone had copies of them, I would love to get a memory from my youth!

I was student at hallie Pritchard in 50's. I was on Don mahoney/Jeana Claire many times. I was a goofy kid but I had a blast there..

[enviromain]

Used to watch that and Captain Kangaroo! My best friend was on Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire show! Thanks for the memory!

[roym]

Didn't that come on Sunday on Channel 39 (in the 70s)? I think someone already posted to that effect earlier. Anyways, there sure wasn't much to watch in Houston on Sunday mornings back then. That and wrestling with Paul Bosch!

[groovehouse]

TJones, on Saturday, October 1st, 2005 @ 9:00am, said:

Well, I am 35 and remember loving that show as a kid, it came on channel 39 on Sundays. I just remember that Houston Rasslin' came on afterwards.

YES! Me too!!

[petemoss]

Watchful, on Sunday, September 25th, 2005 @ 3:27pm, said:

Oh my the all time classic children's show had to be the Kiddie Troopers with Don Mahoney and Jeana Clair (spelling?).

For the taped opening intro and the closing "outro" they would ride up on their horses like Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Then the bulk of the show was a kiddie talent show.

Positively horrific. Twirlers, tap dancers, glittery outfits - it was awful and awesome at the same time. It was around the late 60s or so when it was on channel 39 or one of those UHF stations.

Back in the late 80s the reruns of the old shows reappeared (IIRC) on Houston access stations.

I swear they should make a DVD of the greatest hits. They were the greatest!

[font=Times New Roman][color=#993300][size=7][i]

I never knew how many people really liked the show with Don & Jeanna. Before Jeanna Clare came along, the show was one of the first television shows in Houston. KPRC had a small building off of Hwy 610 & some of the shows were filmed there. Then they were filmed over at KGUL-TV in Galveston. This is back in the days when the draw bridge was being used & it took over 1 1/2 hrs to get there. KGUL was Channel 11 & later changed its call letters to KHOU & moved to the Prudential Building. Anyway, those were very exciting days & I knew Don & Jeanna better than anyone else did. You see, Don Mahoney was my dad & thanks for caring.

[petemoss]

native_Houstonian, on Monday, October 3rd, 2005 @ 1:04pm, said:

I was a student at the Hallie Pritchard School of Dance in the 70's. Her dancers had many opportunities to perform on the Don Mahoney and Jeana Claire show. It was taped on Friday nights at channel 39 on Westpark. I remember how scratchy the bales of hay were to sit on with our costumes on. I ripped many a pair of hose on those! Don Mahoney was always kind and would call us over after the performance to ask our names and how long we had been dancing and such. Poor thing, though, he was losing his eyesight and really couldn't even make out where you were standing and had to feel around for the cowbell.

I do remember that after we taped the show, we would go to I think Antonio's Flying Pizza on Fondren for dinner.

If anyone has access to any of these old shows or would know if anyone had copies of them, I would love to get a memory from my youth!

I am also a native Houstonian & former student of Hallie Pritchard's dance studio. I probably ran into you out at the show at times. You know, every week was an exciting experience for me. There were many times that I performed on the show as well. I remember Annette O'toole being on the show several times before she went to Hollywood. She sang each time & has a beautiful voice. She is now Superman's mom on the show called Smallville.
I understand that you are interested in some of the past shows that my dad did. Well, Jeanna Clare has quite a few of them. The only problem is is that they are big reels, & not transfered to a VCR tape or DVD disk. They would have to be taken to someone who could transfer them. I am fortunate enough to have the first show ever made by my dad. If you could see it, I guarantee it would probably bring tears to your eyes. I would love to find the kids who performed on my dad's first show. I know they would like to have a copy of that show. This is the only copy of the show that Jeanna Clare had made into a VCR tape. Hopefully you will contact me & maybe we can find one of the shows that you were on. We can contact Jeanna Clare. (Not my mom, just my dad's partner).

[PapillionWyngs]

petemoss, on Friday, September 1st, 2006 @ 2:07pm, said:

I am also a native Houstonian & former student of Hallie Pritchard's dance studio. I probably ran into you out at the show at times. You know, every week was an exciting experience for me. There were many times that I performed on the show as well. I remember Annette O'toole being on the show several times before she went to Hollywood. She sang each time & has a beautiful voice. She is now Superman's mom on the show called Smallville.
I understand that you are interested in some of the past shows that my dad did. Well, Jeanna Clare has quite a few of them. The only problem is is that they are big reels, & not transfered to a VCR tape or DVD disk. They would have to be taken to someone who could transfer them. I am fortunate enough to have the first show ever made by my dad. If you could see it, I guarantee it would probably bring tears to your eyes. I would love to find the kids who performed on my dad's first show. I know they would like to have a copy of that show. This is the only copy of the show that Jeanna Clare had made into a VCR tape. Hopefully you will contact me & maybe we can find one of the shows that you were on. We can contact Jeanna Clare. (Not my mom, just my dad's partner).

I cannot believe it!!! I tried to email you, but for some reason, I couldn't, so everyone has to read this. Sorry, all.

Your Dad "discovered" me when I was 18 months old, going through Playhouse toy store singing "Sugar in the Morning". He didn't realize how old I was until Jeanna Clare told him - so he referred my Mom to Mildren Franz school of voice and whatever it was. I was on his show many times, even went to Beaumont to do it there.

I absolutely loved your father and mourned at his passing. He was a big part of my life - even got me an audition for "To Kill A Mockingbird" and I got to sit on Gregory Peck's lap. I tried out for the part of Scout, but was too young.

If you can email me, please do so.

So nice to make your cyber acquaintance.

[enviromain]

groovehouse, on Thursday, February 23rd, 2006 @ 2:30pm, said:

YES! Me too!!

groovehouse, on Thursday, February 23rd, 2006 @ 2:30pm, said:

YES! Me too!!

[FilioScotia]

PapillionWyngs, on Friday, September 1st, 2006 @ 2:41pm, said:

I cannot believe it!!! I tried to email you, but for some reason, I couldn't, so everyone has to read this. Sorry, all.

Your Dad "discovered" me when I was 18 months old, going through Playhouse toy store singing "Sugar in the Morning". He didn't realize how old I was until Jeanna Clare told him - so he referred my Mom to Mildren Franz school of voice and whatever it was. I was on his show many times, even went to Beaumont to do it there.

I absolutely loved your father and mourned at his passing. He was a big part of my life - even got me an audition for "To Kill A Mockingbird" and I got to sit on Gregory Peck's lap. I tried out for the part of Scout, but was too young.

If you can email me, please do so.

So nice to make your cyber acquaintance.

This is why I love the Internet, and websites like this one. You meet the nicest people. Please allow me to weigh in with my own good feelings about Don Mahoney and Jeanna Clare. I never had the pleasure of meeting them, but I've heard from countless people that they were two of the nicest and most "genuine" public personalities you could ever hope to meet.

[PapillionWyngs]

enviromain, on Friday, September 1st, 2006 @ 4:28pm, said:

I love the pictures!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You made my day!

[Heights2Bastrop]

[native_Houstonian]

petemoss, on Friday, September 1st, 2006 @ 1:29pm, said:

[font=Times New Roman][color=#993300][size=7][i]

I never knew how many people really liked the show with Don & Jeanna. Before Jeanna Clare came along, the show was one of the first television shows in Houston. KPRC had a small building off of Hwy 610 & some of the shows were filmed there. Then they were filmed over at KGUL-TV in Galveston. This is back in the days when the draw bridge was being used & it took over 1 1/2 hrs to get there. KGUL was Channel 11 & later changed its call letters to KHOU & moved to the Prudential Building. Anyway, those were very exciting days & I knew Don & Jeanna better than anyone else did. You see, Don Mahoney was my dad & thanks for caring.

Oh my gosh! It is a small world!!

I would have been on the show probably sometime between 1976 and 1978. I probably did 5-6 performances total.

[petemoss]

[Earlydays]

Does anyone remember which show was sponsored by the Alvin Furniture Warehouse....was it Don Mahoney's or Utah Carl's show??

[PapillionWyngs]

Back to the tapes or DVRs - how far back do they go? Are there any from Beaumont - because I travelled to appear there, too. We are probably talking 1958 to 1968 - maybe.

[FilioScotia]

Earlydays, on Monday, September 4th, 2006 @ 11:51am, said:

Does anyone remember which show was sponsored by the Alvin Furniture Warehouse....was it Don Mahoney's or Utah Carl's show??

That was the Utah Carl Show on Channel 11, sponsored by the Gulf Coast Furniture Warehouse on Hwy 35 in Alvin. I started a thread on Utah Carl here in Historic Houston, and included a link to a wonderful biography of that famously talented local country music star. Feel free to check it out and share your own memories of Carl.

[petemoss]

PapillionWyngs, on Monday, September 4th, 2006 @ 2:17pm, said:

Back to the tapes or DVRs - how far back do they go? Are there any from Beaumont - because I travelled to appear there, too. We are probably talking 1958 to 1968 - maybe.

You know, I will ask Jeanna Clare tonight. I will call her. She has all the tapes.

[enviromain]

petemoss, on Tuesday, September 5th, 2006 @ 5:26pm, said:

You know, I will ask Jeanna Clare tonight. I will call her. She has all the tapes.

Didn't they air from Channel 13 sometimes?

[PapillionWyngs]

petemoss, on Tuesday, September 5th, 2006 @ 5:26pm, said:

You know, I will ask Jeanna Clare tonight. I will call her. She has all the tapes.

Thanks so much. I was 18 months old in the beginning, I do know that, but I am having trouble remembering exactly how long I sang on his show. I know that we went to Beaumont - no idea how many times.

Thanks so much for all your effort about these tapes.

Your Dad meant a lot to me - to many, many people.

I am sure that you are a lot like him.

B

[Native Montrosian]

[PapillionWyngs]

Did everyone who was contributing to this thread fall off the face of the earth???? Where did everybody go?????

[SpaceAge]

[Native Montrosian]

[petemoss]

PapillionWyngs, on Friday, September 8th, 2006 @ 1:47pm, said:

Did everyone who was contributing to this thread fall off the face of the earth???? Where did everybody go?????

Please forgive me for taking so long to answer you, but my computer is not working well at home & I have to answer my e-mails after work. I have the first tape of my dad's show. You would just love it. It is done in black & white & the talent was so good you wouldn't believe it. I would like to get in touch with you regarding when you were on the shows. We may have some tapes of you. Need to go home, I still need to talk to Jeanna Clare about how many tapes she has & if she has any from Beaumont.

[PapillionWyngs]

petemoss, on Tuesday, September 19th, 2006 @ 5:53pm, said:

Please forgive me for taking so long to answer you, but my computer is not working well at home & I have to answer my e-mails after work. I have the first tape of my dad's show. You would just love it. It is done in black & white & the talent was so good you wouldn't believe it. I would like to get in touch with you regarding when you were on the shows. We may have some tapes of you. Need to go home, I still need to talk to Jeanna Clare about how many tapes she has & if she has any from Beaumont.

I talked to my Mom - who is 83. She thinks that I was on quite regularly from 1958-1965. My signature outfit was a red cowgirl outfit with white fringe. One of the songs that I sang was "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" but neither one of us can remember any other songs I sang. My name was Bonnie Sue James. I would appreciate anything you could do to help me find at least one of my performances. My teenage sons would laugh - and maybe be a little proud of their Mom.

As I've stated before, I loved your Dad so much. He was a very, very sweet man - a good person.

[Ol' SEHouston Girl]

My sister and I were on Kitirik about '58 and we couldn't wait for our little brothers to be on when they were old enough. When the big time finally came, my brothers were the last 2 and they had a hard time holding it...they humiliated their sisters by dancing back and forth and holding themselves. I guess there were no outtakes or do-overs back in the day....

[Alpha]

Deleted

This post has been edited by Alpha: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 6:51 PM

[Mark F. Barnes]

Johnny Winter was one of the great musicians I listen to. It was Janis, Jimi, Jim, and Johnny. Johnny and Edgar grew up in Beaumont Texas and one of their first public performances as adolescents was on the "Don Mahoney and Jeanna Clare Show" With snow white hair and bouncy energy...Johnny TORE UP the songs "Good Morning Little School Girl" and "Johnny B. Goode". I remember it like it was yesterday, I would love to have tape of that show. Johnny is a really cool cat, have been friends with him for years, and I can guarantee he doesn't even have any tapes of that. I became acquainted with him back in the early 70's through a mutual friend that happened to have been his drummer for a couple years, Uncle John "Unc" Turner.

Anyway Don Mahoney and Jeana Clare gave stage birth to one of R&R's greatest guitar legends. The story I was told that the Winters brothers won a local talent contest of some sort and got to appear on the "Don Mahoney and Jeanna Clare Show" as part of the 1st place prize. And I am certain if a person dug in the archives there are several more big stars that got their start on "Don Mahoney and Jeanna Clare Show". What a great piece of Texas History they are and a tribute to these two people who gave back more than they ever got, from an industry that is tough to make it in. This same industry that is very cut throat and at times ruthless, they are a breath of fresh air.

Just a note, if any of you get up to Security TX (on 105 between Conroe and Cleveland) to the flea market they have there, there is a sweet little old lady there Named Mrs. Lake, Her and her husband Freddie Lake performed under the name, the lakes. They were good friends I think of Don Mahoney and Jeanna Clare. She has a neat little booth up there full of old photos and records from years and years ago. I think her first name is Gladys, but I am not sure, she's always been Mrs. Lake to me. Freddie died several years ago, but she's still around as far as I know. I haven't seen her in several months. People that are into the old days of the Ryman and the Grand Ole Opry, may be interested in Mrs. Lake.

[lamere34]

native_Houstonian, on Saturday, September 2nd, 2006 @ 9:18am, said:

Oh my gosh! It is a small world!!

I would have been on the show probably sometime between 1976 and 1978. I probably did 5-6 performances total.

Were you able to find the tapes? Looking for the same myself. Thanks.

This post has been edited by lamere34: Friday, January 19, 2007 at 11:18 AM

[Heights2Bastrop]

[FilioScotia]

Heights2Bastrop, on Friday, January 19th, 2007 @ 4:02pm, said:

From The Houston Tribune
JEANNA CLARE AND DON MAHONEY
by Gloria Cambell Cross
...Don is deceased and Jeanna lives quietly in the Heights. She remembers the words of Elvis and from time to time she still sings her songs for special occasions at the retirement home where she lives.

What a wonderful and heartwarming article about two of the finest people this city has ever known. A million thanks to you for finding it and sharing it. Is it a recent article? I guess I'm asking if Jeanna is still living. It would be nice to know which retirement home she lives in, so we could send a card thanking her for being such an important part of our lives.

[bmil128]

Here is a link to a video when KHTV changed to the CW, with a flashback of their last 40 years including Don Mahoney and Jeanna Claire:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=M08yIAxhs70

[Heights2Bastrop]

petemoss, who posted above, still talks with Jeanna on occasion, so I assume she is still with us.

[gvin2904]

HELLO EVERYONE,
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR POSTING COMMENTS ABOUT MY GRANDFATHER , JACK BARTLETT MALONEY (A.K.A.) DON MAHONEY. I KNOW YOU WEREN'T POSTING THESE COMMENTS FOR ME OR MY FAMILY, BUT I'M SAYING THANK YOU BECAUSE MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE WHO WATCHED HIS SHOW. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM TO READ ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PLEASE EMAIL ME @ gvin2904@yahoo.com. thank you.

[Vertigo58]

gvin2904, on Friday, February 2nd, 2007 @ 10:51pm, said:

HELLO EVERYONE,
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR POSTING COMMENTS ABOUT MY GRANDFATHER , JACK BARTLETT MALONEY (A.K.A.) DON MAHONEY. I KNOW YOU WEREN'T POSTING THESE COMMENTS FOR ME OR MY FAMILY, BUT I'M SAYING THANK YOU BECAUSE MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE WHO WATCHED HIS SHOW. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM TO READ ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PLEASE EMAIL ME @ gvin2904@yahoo.com. thank you.

You should be real proud as they used to reach all children from all ethnicities and backgrounds. All six of us kids would gather in a semi-circle just to watch the show! We would imitate the dancing in our living room floor! A time not to be seen again I'm afraid.

This post has been edited by Vertigo58: Monday, February 5, 2007 at 9:17 AM

[PapillionWyngs]

Vertigo58, on Monday, February 5th, 2007 @ 8:16am, said:

You should be real proud as they used to reach all children from all ethnicities and backgrounds. All six of us kids would gather in a semi-circle just to watch the show! We would imitate the dancing in our living room floor! A time not to be seen again I'm afraid.

Your grandfather was a very special man. He was very kind and caring. I was on his show more times than I can count from 1957 until at least 1967 if not later than that. I went to Beaumont to be on his show as well.

I will be 51 on Thursday, and I have SO many good memories of him!!!!