TV Guide (September 25, 1953)

THE 3 R’s AND MARTY I F YOU’RE very young and even if you’re not “as young as you used to be,” you’re sure to enjoy WKRC-TV’s “Play School”. Especially designed for children from the ages of 4 to 6 it has been endorsed by both the PTA and the Board of Education. You might think with such an exalted seal of approval that “Play School” is “all work and no play”. But that's just where you’re wrong. For the past couple of years, the authors of “Play School” have been working very hard to build the kind of a show that not only mothers and teachers but small fry too, will welcome. And here at last is just such a show. . . . because Marty Kay spinning a tale to an attentive youngster audience and Angie, the poodle. from all reports the children lov'e their “Play School” and mothers and teachers have echoed the children’s sentiments. The two guiding spirits of the show are well equipped for their jobs as writer and director. Martha Ransohoff is a U.C. lecturer in child development, and acts as educational director adviser at the same time assisting C’amri Cameron, wife of a U.C. Sociology professor who writes and directs the show. And who should know better how to write for chil¬ dren than a mother of two preschool children? Mrs. Cameron was associated with the theater in California and Indi¬ ana before Katie, 5 and David, 3 altered her career. Painle8»« Education Both Martha and C’amri long had cherished the belief that there must be a way for television to entertain children and at the same time sneak in a little education. With this in mind they set up the present format of “Play School” and even added some ideas to help children entertain themselves. The result is a most entertaining half hour program. The cast is a small one; it consists erf a pretty television actress, Marty Kay and a picturesque French Poodle by the name of Angie. These two with Shirlee Jester, talented staff pianist, make a very gay and interesting trio. Angie, by the way is a thorobred but she's not a trick poodle. She’ll jump over a stick or shake hands with you and generally cooperate but it’s evident she's happiest when she’s pleasing Marty. She seems only too glad to obey when commanded to relax and watches the “squiggle” game with the greatest <rf interest. The “Squiggle Game” is one of the highlights of the show. To “Squiggle” all you have to do is have paper and pencil handy. Then draw a straight line. You’re then asked to mail your “Squig¬ gle” to Marty who will turn it into a lovely bird or duck or maybe a kitten, autograph it and send it back to you. Judging from the number of “Squiggles” received this is a very popular feature of “Play School”. Equally popular is the song which Marty sings, at the same time inviting all the children at home to join her. And since no children’s program would be complete without a story, Marty tells about all her lovely feathered friends and illustrates with some of the Natural His¬ tory Museum's finest bird specimens. You may even be rew-arded for watching the program by being introduced to a real live parakeet and finding out just how to care for it. As in all children’s stories, there is a moral to Marty’s tales. And the moral of our story is if you want to know just what the small fry are interested in these days don't miss “Play School” on WKRC-TV, Channel 12 daily Mon. thru Fri., from 8 to 8:30 a.ra. \7