Captain 11's Showboat
Encyclopedia
Captain 11's Showboat was a locally produced children's program, based in St. Louis, Missouri
, airing on KPLR-TV
, Channel 11 during the late-afternoon hours, starting in May of 1959, and ending in August of 1968. Captain 11, named after the channel, was portrayed by longtime St. Louis radio personality Harry Fender. The program was best known for airing Three Stooges
shorts to viewers in the St. Louis area. After the series ended in 1968, the Three Stooges shorts continued to air on the station, although the shorts currently air occasionally.
Harry Fender played Captain 11. Mr. Fender was a former performer for Florenz Ziegfeld. He then returned to St. Louis and became a policeman. Mr. Fender was a semi-regular on Jack Carney's radio program on KMOX radio. Mr. Fender claimed many times that when Florenz Ziegfeld was creating the musical version of Showboat that Ziegfeld had Fender in mind to play Gaylord Ravenal.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, airing on KPLR-TV
KPLR-TV
KPLR-TV, channel 11, is a television station in St. Louis, Missouri. KPLR is owned by the Tribune Company, and is an affiliate of The CW Television Network. The station's studios are located in Maryland Heights, Missouri, in Northwest St. Louis County KPLR-TV, channel 11, is a television station...
, Channel 11 during the late-afternoon hours, starting in May of 1959, and ending in August of 1968. Captain 11, named after the channel, was portrayed by longtime St. Louis radio personality Harry Fender. The program was best known for airing Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
shorts to viewers in the St. Louis area. After the series ended in 1968, the Three Stooges shorts continued to air on the station, although the shorts currently air occasionally.
Harry Fender played Captain 11. Mr. Fender was a former performer for Florenz Ziegfeld. He then returned to St. Louis and became a policeman. Mr. Fender was a semi-regular on Jack Carney's radio program on KMOX radio. Mr. Fender claimed many times that when Florenz Ziegfeld was creating the musical version of Showboat that Ziegfeld had Fender in mind to play Gaylord Ravenal.