A Zipper For Pee-Wee Essay, Research Paper

Ethel O’ Grady

History of Television

December 3, 1996

A Zipper for Pee-Wee Herman:

Leaders in childrens television are and always have been concerned about what

programs actually make it on the air. Most early programming for children of school age

in the 1950’s was the western program. Another type was the science-fiction thriller which

tended to be based on hero’s from the radio, comics, and films. However, a favorite of the

youngest audience was the children’s equivalent of the variety show. This usually

contained circus, puppet, and/or animal segments. “Super Circus”, which aired in 1949,

consisted of music, circus acts, animals, and of course, clowns.

In 1952, yet another type of program came about which reached a very similiar

audience as the circus variety shows. It was called “The Ding Dong School”. The Ding

Dong School offered the conversation, low-key instruction, commercials, and

entertainment of Miss. Frances, a professional teacher.

With the help of these types of shows, a new genre was born. Children’s television

which was a mixture of songs, education, fun, and a whole lot more. In 1969, the first

airing of “Sesame Street” took place. Sesame Street had programs which were sponsored

by different letters of the alphabet or numbers each day, and relied on very short,

animated cartoons with live and puppet segments which kept the interest of preschool

children. The show was an instant outstanding success, and still broadcasts today.

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In 1970, “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” was born. Mr. Fred Roger’s used puppets

and music to teach patience and cooperation, while providing guidance to help children

cope with feelings and frustrations. Mr. Roger’s land of makebelieve’s handpuppet

characters interacted with humans in the mythical kingdom of King Friday XIII. There, the

puppets and humans would deal with their feelings and emotions as they solve typical,

everyday problems.

This new genre of programming was a sensation. The children loved it, and the

parents approved of it. During the following years, many new shows came about which

still fit this genre. In the year 1986, yet another show was born into childrens television.

“Pee-Wee’s Playhouse”. This series, starring host Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) used

animation, puppets, and vintage cartoons to entertain and educate its audience. Between

Pee-Wee Herman and his extraordinary playhouse, children were given the opportunity to

let their imaginations go crazy.

The “playhouse” had no permanent residents, that is, besides the furnishings. Not

ordinary furnishings, you see, Pee-Wee’s furnishings could move, talk, dance, and sing.

These “characters” could be seen at the playhouse on a regular basis. Some of the

favorites were: Globey, a talking globe who would show Pee-Wee the countries that his

pen-pal’s letters came from; Magic Screen, a toy of Pee-Wee’s that enabled him to actually

get “inside the screen” and play a life-size game of connect the dots; Konkie, a talking

robot which revealed the secret word of the day; and of course Genie, who granted Pee-

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Wee one wish a day.

The playhouse also welcomed a series of visitors during each episode, which

could

also be seen on a regular basis. Some of these favorites included: Rina the mail-lady,

who

came to deliver Pee-Wee’s pen-pal letters everyday; Miss Yvonne, who Pee-Wee referred

to the most beautiful woman in Puppetland; and of course the King of Cartoons who

brought the “vintage cartoon of the day” to Pee-Wee.

Besides the spectacular furnishings and outrageous visitors, the television show

also

had an unusual daily theme. This theme could have been anything from “a fire in the

playhouse”, “a trip to another planet”, or even “Pee-Wee getting sick”. In all of these

situations, Pee-Wee stressed the importance of friendship, sharing, and just being nice.

One particular show, “Monster in the Playhouse”, was about being in the dark.

Pee-Wee explains that when your with your friends, the dark is less spooky. Suddenly

Mrs. Steve, a neighbor of Pee-Wee’s, begins panicking because she thinks there’s a monster

on the loose. Just then, a great monster with one eye and one leg enters the playhouse.

His name is Roger, and he stays and plays with Pee-Wee. All of a sudden Roger’s mother

is on the picture-phone saying that Roger is late for dinner. This show ends with Pee-

Wee’s elaborate closing: Pee-Wee mounting his scooter with Roger and giving him a ride

home.

Unfortunately, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse came to an startling end only five years later.

Why? Well, on July 26, 1991, Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman) was arrested for indecent

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exposure in a porno-theater. This incident both shocked and worried the leaders of

children’s television programming due to the morals, ethics, and values of the society

during that time. Questions flooded the minds of parents, teachers, and officials. People

began to fear that Pee-Wee was perhaps a poor role-model for their youngsters.

The real question is this: Should Pee-Wee’s behavior have been such a shock to

society? Lets look a little deeper into Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. This children’s television

show

was actually a refined version of Paul Reuben’s nightclub act: “The Pee-Wee Herman

Show”. It is difficult to imagine that anyone who had seen his nightclub act, actually

agreed to run Pee-Wee’s Playhouse during Saturday morning, children’s programming.

The Pee-Wee Herman Show can best be described as an adult version of Pee-

Wee’s Playhouse. Paul Reubens played the part of Pee-Wee Herman, a boy who acts out

his infantile sexuality by “playing doctor” with the ladies and looking up women’s skirts.

Numerous accounts of sexual innuendo’s are made by Pee-Wee during the entire show.

I don’t think Pee-Wee Herman ever gave the impression that he was a “Mr. Rogers-

Captain Kangeroo” kind of role model for children. Pee-Wee was who he was: a creative

comedian who had a clever way of looking at life through the eyes of a child. Whether he

was a disgusting pervert or just plain human, his television show and movies were a huge

success.

Though no longer in syndication, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse’s fire still continues to burn.

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There is now a collection of video tapes available which allow Pee-Wee to be where he

belongs: in the center of family room’s across the country.

Long live Pee-Wee Herman!

:

Textbook:

Christopher Sterling & John Kittros. Stay Tuned: A Concise History of American

Broadcasting (Revised Edition). (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1990)

The Museum of Television and Radio (NYC):

1. Pee-Wee’s Playhouse: A Fire in the Playhouse

2. Mr. Rogers Neighborhood: Superhero’s

3. Before They Were Stars III (TV)

4. Comic Relief, pt. 2 of 5 (1986)

5. Television, pt 8: The Promise of Television

6. Andrew Dice Clay: For Ladies Only

7. The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years