Mr. I-Magination
Encyclopedia
Mr. I. Magination was one of the earliest television shows for children. It ran live as a half-hour weekly show on CBS
from 1949 to 1952.(Info about Mr.I.Magination can be found in"Children's Television:The First Thirty Five Years:Live,
Filmed And Taped"by George Woolery;Scarecrow Press,Inc.)
The host, Mr. I. Magination (Paul Tripp
), gathered a group of children each week. The same child actors appeared on a rotating basis. Two would be selected to ask about a career, occupation, activity, etc. Tripp would then play a "magic" slide flute, he and the children would board a train, and travel to Imagination Land, where they would meet a professional from each of the two areas for that week's show. Guests were as diverse as Damu, a lion tamer from Ringling Brothers Circus
, and test pilot Scott Crossfield. The show was also a pioneer in using simple, early special effects, such as making it appear as if the opening train ride went through a tunnel to enter Imagination Land.
Yul Brynner
served as the show's director at times, but did not appear as a performer.
The show also featured performances by Walter Matthau,Richard Boone,Joe Silver,Ted Tiller and Simon Oakland.(info on "Mr. I.Magination"at "TV Party.Com")
Mr. I. Magination was also featured on several RCA
records for children, including "Billy On A Bike" and "Mr. I. Magination Meets Rip Van Winkle," an LP of which there are at least two versions.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from 1949 to 1952.(Info about Mr.I.Magination can be found in"Children's Television:The First Thirty Five Years:Live,
Filmed And Taped"by George Woolery;Scarecrow Press,Inc.)
The host, Mr. I. Magination (Paul Tripp
Paul Tripp
Paul Tripp was a musician, author and television and film actor born in New York City. He was a partner of fellow composer George Kleinsinger. Tripp was the creator of 1945's "Tubby the Tuba", a children's song that has become his best-known work. Early in his career, he was the host of CBS' Mr....
), gathered a group of children each week. The same child actors appeared on a rotating basis. Two would be selected to ask about a career, occupation, activity, etc. Tripp would then play a "magic" slide flute, he and the children would board a train, and travel to Imagination Land, where they would meet a professional from each of the two areas for that week's show. Guests were as diverse as Damu, a lion tamer from Ringling Brothers Circus
Ringling Brothers Circus
The Ringling Brothers Circus was a circus founded in the United States in 1884 by five of the seven Ringling Brothers: Albert , August , Otto , Alfred T. , Charles , John , and Henry...
, and test pilot Scott Crossfield. The show was also a pioneer in using simple, early special effects, such as making it appear as if the opening train ride went through a tunnel to enter Imagination Land.
Yul Brynner
Yul Brynner
Yul Brynner was a Russian-born actor of stage and film. He was best known for his portrayal of Mongkut, king of Siam, in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor for the film version; he also played the role more than 4,500 times on...
served as the show's director at times, but did not appear as a performer.
The show also featured performances by Walter Matthau,Richard Boone,Joe Silver,Ted Tiller and Simon Oakland.(info on "Mr. I.Magination"at "TV Party.Com")
Mr. I. Magination was also featured on several RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
records for children, including "Billy On A Bike" and "Mr. I. Magination Meets Rip Van Winkle," an LP of which there are at least two versions.