Country of origin United States Picture format Black-and-white Related shows Network DuMont Television Network Original network DuMont Cast Don Hastings | Running time 30 minutes Original release November 1, 1948 First episode date 1 November 1948 Presented by Don Hastings Audio format Monaural | |
Similar Captain Video and His Video, As the World Turns, The Edge of Night | ||
Your Television Babysitter, also billed as Your TV Babysitter, was a daytime live television children's series which debuted November 1, 1948 on the DuMont Television Network, and was hosted by Pat Meickle and created by her husband Hal Cooper.
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Broadcast history
Your Television Babysitter was hosted by Pat (Mary Patricia) Meikle. In each episode, Meikle would tell a story using her "magic chalkboard", from which colorful fairy-tale characters would appear, including Maxwell the Mouse. The series was produced by Hal Cooper (February 23, 1923 - April 11, 2014), Pat Meikle's husband. The married on December 21, 1944, had two children Bethami (b. August 16, 1954) and Pamela. Meikle and Cooper divorced in 1970.
Your Television Babysitter, which aired Monday through Friday 8:30am to 9am ET, led to a spin-off, Meikle and Cooper's The Magic Cottage, which was aimed at slightly older children, and aired on weekday evenings from 6:30 to 7 pm ET.
According to the book The Forgotten Network, both series were well received by television critics at the time. Meikle was described by Variety as "the answer to a mother's prayers. She's already being touted as a new TV star." The Magic Cottage continued on DuMont's flagship station WABD until 1955. Meikle continued to work at WABD after both series had finished their runs.
Episode status
As with most DuMont series, no episodes are known to exist.