Uncle Bruce and L'il Mike

by Jonathan Morrill

Original - Sold

Price

$300

Dimensions

16.000 x 20.000 x 0.500 inches

Title

Uncle Bruce and L'il Mike

Artist

Jonathan Morrill

Medium

Painting - Acrylic On Canvas

Description

Uncle Bruce was local kid's show in the Tampa/St. Pete area in the early 1960's.. 
It was hosted by Pastor Bruce Rodrick, the show had the usual peanut gallery
of children and featured Mr. Magoo cartoons. 

"The Uncle Bruce Show" was broadcast on weekdays from 4:30 through 5 pm,
in the early 1960's, on the Tampa/St. Petersburg NBC Station, Channel 8, WFLA.

The real draw was Uncle Bruce himself, a talented host who was also a ventriloquist. 
With his dummy, 'Little Mike,' and a cast of animal puppets
including 'Bushy' the squirrel and 'Zookey' the crow,
Rodrick promoted higher morals and behavior to the young viewers. 

Rodrick originally hosted a Sunday morning program on Channel 8
called "Kids Bible Club." 
The program's format included Bible drama performed by a cast of puppets,
songs, and a Bible quiz.
"Kids Bible Club" became very popular and Rodrick was soon given a weekday program called "Kid's Carousel," which was later re-titled "The Uncle Bruce Show."

Rodrick continued to host the "Kids Bible Club" which taped every Tuesday evening, allowing him to be with his congregation on Sunday mornings. 
Shortly after starting the daily show, the reality of working in the world of commercial television became crystal-clear. 
"I had assumed that if you did your best and turned out a good show
all was well," explains Rodrick.
"When I learned how competitive it all was and that my job depended
on the ratings the whole thing took on a new atmosphere not to my liking. 
However, by the end of the first year, we captured first place and held it until the daily live programming was stopped for the very reason you described in "The Mary Ellen Story".  Money!" 

One of the aspects of the show that made Uncle Bruce a ratings contender was the addition of a new character: Barney Bungleupper,
a clown cast in the tradition of Emmett Kelly
and Red Skelton's 'Freddie the Freeloader.' 

"Barney (Jerry Martin) was a floor director when I first met him,
but there was something about his mood and attitude that gave me the idea
he would be a great clown. 
I tried to pattern him after "Freddie the Freeloader" on Red Skelton,
and the classic clown Emmett Kelley. 
I had that idea in mind and Jerry was incredible.  He was a natural. 
It really was great.  He was a big boost to the show. 
We started filming the adventure stories, starring Uncle Bruce, Barney, and 'Little Mike,' and it was about that time that the ratings started to shoot up. 
I bought a 16mm camera, and Marj and I did all the filming.
 
I remember doing several adventure stories with cliffhanger endings…tune in tomorrow to see how things work out. 
We did one about auto racing at Daytona Speedway, and an underwater adventure at Weeki Wachee.  Barney starred in one we did at Cypress Gardens. 
We did one called "Showdown at Six Gun Territory,"
and Clu Gulager was in that one with us. 
When both of us were on camera, Marj would be the camera operator. 
In Daytona, we had her hanging out of the back end of a car,
going down the track…it was incredible. 
Marj even learned to scuba dive at one time. 
She had a great time, and said many times that she never dreamed
she'd have such an adventurous life."
Rodrick's son David also joined the act.
"David impersonated 'Little Mike' in one adventure.  Mike was playing a detective in a raincoat, and we dressed up Andy so that Mike could 'walk.'  
You'd see Mike walking away from the camera, but it was really my son. 
Then we had to rush back and beg them to process our film along with the film shot that day by the news department."
In his heyday, "Uncle Bruce" was extremely popular and made many personal appearances.  

Uncle Bruce also had the unique opportunity to be broadcast in color for a day in 1963 when one of NBC's color mobile units set up shop at WFLA.
"We had some glorious times together at WFLA," recalls Rodrick fondly. 
"After the daily "Uncle Bruce" show ended, we continued to tape our Sunday morning
"Kid's Bible Club" and did the lead-ins for the Saturday morning lineup for a while.
One weekend I went to a Christian Convention over on the east coast of Florida and there was a speaker on the program that really struck me with his presentation
and the message that he gave. 
And I felt like I ought to go back to preaching…that was what I was supposed to do. 
Maybe it was the Lord speaking and he knew what the future held in television,
because at the time I felt secure, but the way everything turned out later on
I'm not sure it would have lasted.  So, I think by God's grace I got out of there
at the right time.  I  accepted a call with a church near Atlanta, Georgia. 

This painting pays tribute to Uncle Bruce, Little Mike, and Barney the Clown,
their 16mm production of "Monster of the Amazon" (1963).

Thanks to Mike Clark for additional background information.

Uploaded

April 22nd, 2019

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