Carter Merbreier
Encyclopedia
W. Carter Merbreier is an American
television personality, ordained Lutheran minister and former police chaplain for the Philadelphia Police Department
. Merbreier created and co-hosted the long-running syndicated childrens television series, Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
, in 1967. The show aired until 1994.
Carter Merbreier co-hosted Captain Noah and His Magical Ark with his real life wife, Patricia Merbreier
. He played Captain Noah while Patricia Merbreier played Mrs. Noah and acted as the show's puppeteer
, beginning with its 13th week on the air. Merbreier originally created the series as a Sunday morning religious program, but switched the format to a childrens show in 1970. The Philadelphia Council of Churches produced the show, which was filmed at the studios on WPVI (Channel 6). At its peak in the early 1970s, Merbreier's Captain Noah and His Magical Ark aired in syndication on twenty-two television station
s throughout the United States
and attracted a larger local Philadelphia audience than both Captain Kangaroo
and Sesame Street
combined.
Carter and Patricia Merbreier jointly decided to retire and end the show in 1994 after co-hosting approximately 3,600 episodes since 1967. They resided at their home in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
, following their retirement from the show.
In 2001, Carter and Patricia Merbreier were jointly named "Persons of the Year" by the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia. Both insisted that their names be listed as Captain Noah and Mrs. Noah on the award. Carter Merbreier has also served on the board of directors for the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia. Patricia Merbreier died on June 23, 2011, aged 86, survived by her husband, their daughter and two grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television personality, ordained Lutheran minister and former police chaplain for the Philadelphia Police Department
Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. Merbreier created and co-hosted the long-running syndicated childrens television series, Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
Captain Noah and His Magical Ark was a television program for children and was generally broadcast around the Philadelphia area. The series aired from 1967 to 1994. It was film and produced at the WPVI-TV, Channel 6 studios in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Captain Noah and His Magical Ark, was...
, in 1967. The show aired until 1994.
Carter Merbreier co-hosted Captain Noah and His Magical Ark with his real life wife, Patricia Merbreier
Patricia Merbreier
Patricia "Pat" Merbreier was an American television personality and actress. She was best known for playing Mrs. Noah on the Philadelphia-based WPVI syndicated children's program, Captain Noah and His Magical Ark, for approximately 3,600 episodes between 1967 and 1994. Her real life husband, W...
. He played Captain Noah while Patricia Merbreier played Mrs. Noah and acted as the show's puppeteer
Puppeteer
A puppeteer is a person who manipulates an inanimate object, such as a puppet, in real time to create the illusion of life. The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden from the audience. A puppeteer can operate a puppet indirectly by the use of strings, rods, wires, electronics or directly by his or...
, beginning with its 13th week on the air. Merbreier originally created the series as a Sunday morning religious program, but switched the format to a childrens show in 1970. The Philadelphia Council of Churches produced the show, which was filmed at the studios on WPVI (Channel 6). At its peak in the early 1970s, Merbreier's Captain Noah and His Magical Ark aired in syndication on twenty-two television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
s throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and attracted a larger local Philadelphia audience than both Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
and Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
combined.
Carter and Patricia Merbreier jointly decided to retire and end the show in 1994 after co-hosting approximately 3,600 episodes since 1967. They resided at their home in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
Gladwyne is a suburban community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States along the Main Line. The population was 4,050 at the 2000 census...
, following their retirement from the show.
In 2001, Carter and Patricia Merbreier were jointly named "Persons of the Year" by the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia. Both insisted that their names be listed as Captain Noah and Mrs. Noah on the award. Carter Merbreier has also served on the board of directors for the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia. Patricia Merbreier died on June 23, 2011, aged 86, survived by her husband, their daughter and two grandchildren.