Bob McAllister? Heck, I can remember when this show was hosted by Sonny Fox. Bob M. was a good replacement, but I liked Sonny better. Great kids show.
My earliest memories of television was this show. Yeah, 1972, i was 4 years old, and really liked this show. It looks different viewing it now as an adult, but it does hit my memory well. One episode I remember well was when some young Asian girl played the theme to the Pink Panther on her baritone saxophone. Hearing the baritone play that melody made me laugh uncontrollably.
I was on the show that sired Easter Sunday 1972 & got picked for 2 different game. I won Trouble and another game(can't remember) All I know is that all they gave us soda and ice cream bars to sustain for 12 hrs of shooting the show!!!!
This was my show! It was like crack cocaine to me! I recall when my mother surprised us with a trip to this show! This was at a time when I thought that al TV and movies were from California so I was wondering how we were going there. I did not win shit... I did not even get called. I am not even sure if it aired. I would love to see if I did make the air. I forgot what I looked like back then.
Do you honestly think that any of the little ignaramouses today at the age of 5-8 years old could name olympic heroes or politicians? It's a very sad sign of the times. I'm sure they can name gangster rappers though.
Oh God...stop it already with the race card...enough is enough already...the civil war ended loooong before we were all born...just enjoy this show for what it's worth....and if YOU keep segregation alive it wont go away......so knock it off already!
WHAT Bob is dead?! geez! why dont my friends tell me these things! now in the description it say ny..i lived in los angeles as a lil one and it was on there as well...as well as 'kids are people too" sigh..'memories..." my mom was alive back then as well..rip to the ones who have gone..miss you all!
I was on Wonderama 3 times when I was a kid ... once with Sonny Fox and twice with Bob Mcallister.
Sonny picked me to do the tongue twisters, and I flubbed on "Six Thick Thistle Sticks".
I was in the dance contest the first time I was on with McAllister. We danced to Midnight Confessions by The Grass Roots.
The last time I was on, I was totally bored. I was 12 at the time, and all I could wait for was the show to end so that I could get my goodie bag and take the E train back to Briarwood.
I absolutely loved this show and envied the kid who got the bouquet of roses and all of the toys, BUT, I never realized that he was excluding ethnic kids! He didn't pick one non-white child!! No latino, black or asian was picked and they were in the audience.
Love that instrumental music, Henry Manacini's 1962 Baby Elephant Walk. I note sound "wizard" Todd Dockstader's Sound FX used on MGM's Tom and Jerry when Gene Deitch produced it at the same time the elephant song came out (early 1960s).BOINNNG
I remember being dissapointed when Bob McAllister and "Wonderama" replaced "The Sonny Fox Show" as the premiere children's show. I thought Wonderama was too silly, but I ended up warming to Wonderama when it became obvious Sonny Fox was not returning. Compared to today's children's entertainment Wonderama is(to paraphrase an entertainer) "Tolstoy". Remember "The Marshmallow Song"? Apollo 3-Speeds and Schwinn 5-speeds were envied at the time. How many kids do you know today who even HAVE a bike?
I loved this show when I was growing up. I begged my parents to take me into the city to be on tv and win prizes. What was also cool, was that Bob McAllister always made every kid a winner and feel good about themselves. Wonderful memories. Thanks for posting this.
i was on wonderama when i was about 10, i got to do the snakes and won a toss across. i also got a good bag when i was leaving and have told my husband and my kids for years now about the bagel on a sting covered in shellac. so funny. i wish i could show them the show that i was on, but at least they got to see this clip.
I was on Wonderama in 1970 and I won the dance contest! I now live in my home town again and I run into people form over 30years ago and they still bring up"I remember when you won the ross barracuda bicycle dancing on Wonderama" Wondeul memories for me....RIP Bob McAllister
I went to this show with a couple friends and we were among the last to enter the studio. Because of the limited seating left I was separated from my friends. Everyone in the studio that day got a goody bag....among other things it contained Hebrew National hot dogs and a bagel on a string with
your name on it and painted with a face with your eye and hair color to be worn as a necklace...the thing was covered in shellac or something and lasted for years
I remember watching this on WTTG Channel 5 out of Washingotn, D.C. I will be 44 on July 18th.Oh the pain. I guess if you have your health live isn't all bad.
Wow! I'm 37 and grew up in Cincinnati. My biggest memory of this show is watching Boy George in Culture Club sing their first hit "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" and a curious boy innocently asked "Why do they call you *boy* George?" I remember his reaction was actually pretty professional and simple: "because I want people to know I am a boy," he says. That theme song at the end just blew my mind! I can't believe what I remember!
I'm 37, grew up in Cincinnati. I remember this show, it wasn't always scheduled at the same time I think, but I think it was on with "Shazaam," "Land of the Lost," and "Almighty Isis" reruns, along with 2 other obscure shows about a group of kids that had a smiley-faced, magical dune buggy, and the other about kids with a futuristic vehicle. What I remember most is when Boy George/Culture Club performed "Do you really want to hurt me?" An innocent boy even asked why "Boy" was apart of his name!
When my family got cable (which was known as CATV)back in the 1960's, we got New York channels as well as Philadelphia channels. Yes, I watched Wonderama.
hahaha.... at age 45 I still remember sitting in front of the television set singing KIDS ARE PEOPLE TOO, ANYBODY HERE GOT AN ARDVARK?, and the WONDERAMA theme. Thanks for the trip back in time.
OMG, I grew up in Connecticut (Waterbury) and remember watching this on metromedia channel 5out of the city! Bob McCallister was a genius of a host. Does anyone remember the dance offs on that stage w/those bulbs! My cousin was a contestant for that once. Check out at the 2:48 mark on the left side of the screen, the girl in red was pissed she did not get picked, hysterical. It sure sucks to be a kid today, glad I grew up when I did. He was just amazing with the kids.
OMG!! this is the coolest thing. i grew up in Connecticut (Waterbury) and used to watch this show all the time. My cousins were on the show once and my cousin David participated in the dance contest- remember those!!! Bob McCallister certainly was phenomanal with us kids- look how he handled the little girl and boy, just phenomenal! And us kids back then, we were so excited (and happy) to win a simple board game! I blame the way kids are today on the parents who are my generation.
It was flippin impossible to get tickets to this show and when I finally got them I got the flu!!!! Great memories of a really fun show - thanks for posting this!
What a flashback! No way on earth you'd kids now-a-days to sit for 3 hours with either a hand held video game or ipod. Sad to say but true. By the way...sweet bike! LOL!
I can't imagine how Bob McAllister kept up that level of energy (and quick thinking) for three hours at a clip. He was great. I remember watching this as a kid--and I even barely remember Sonny Fox as the host!
I was six years old when I won the dance contest on this show I'm almost 40 now...back then I was with 5 inch Fro, platform shoes and and blue four pocket jacket....with bell bottoms of course..lol. Little boy Kelly got ILL on stage..and beat girl dancing like a stripper..Wish I could find this televised video..I remember DJ Wolf Man Jack chose me as Winner..I was so Happy to win a Ross 10 Speed Bike...gave it to my Dad
Oh my gosh, I remember this show. I'm 50 so it goes way back. Didn't he use to sing the song, "Has anybody here seen an ardvaark?"? I also remember the Soupy Sales Show. We were so lucky to grow up in NY!!
I loved Wonderama. I am 43 now...and compare this show to what my kids watch. I will take the simplicity of Wonderama anyday. I loved when Ali and Frazier were on.
I am 43 as well. I really loved Wonderama. I lived in NJ during the early 70's. I also spent several yrs in Chicago and they had great shows too....such as Bozo's Circus and Frazier Thomas.
It was 3 hours long and I used to cry when it was over. I was on the show with Laverne and SHirley, and Evel Kneivel, also seen here. I was the huge kid in the back row, but I was only 10 years old. The show only lasted about one more year after that. Bob was a wonderful chap.
This clip must be from 1972 or 73 because they mention President Nixon and Mayor Lindsay.
I certainly recall the snake can game on Wonderama when I was a kid. Seeing this video brings back memories of perhaps one of the better children's TV programs.
I was on the show. During a commercial break they brought about five parents out and they said if one of these is your parents come on donw for the whose is whose game. My mon was there so i ran down. Backstage they looked at me and my older brother and said he (me) looks too much like his mom and they should use my brother. Needless to say I started crying, and they gave me a goodie bag and sent me back out. I was NOT happy. I went home afterwards and ate ring dings. I have a box upstairs.
I think I remember that episode! Cool that you have your memory of being there.
I wanted to be on that show sooo badly to win prizes. My parents laughed because I HAD all those toys already. I was spoiled. But I still wanted to WIN them on Wonderama and sing along with Bob.
I remember as well of this program, it came on Sunday mornings at 8:00 am to 11:00 am, and the snake cans are my favorite. Bob loved children and at the end of the show he gave bags of treats for everyone who didn't win any prizes so nobody goes home empty handed.
We got Wonderama on KTTV 11 in Los Angeles Sunday mornings. I don't remember it being 4 or even 6 hours long, although it could have been. It was cool.
Just Awesome.... whomever posted this on youtube deserves a medal for helping us to relive wonderful childhood memories! Songs that are embeded in my head from childhood because of this show like "Exercise" and "Kids are people too" Bob Mcalister was a great host, and continues to live in the memory of many adult to this day... Thanks Youtube!
Totally awesome! Thanks for posting this!!! This was thee best show ever! I used to watch every weekend and see the kids taking home all those great games and I would drool!
OMG I forgot what some of our bikes looked like. the huge seat.. AWESOME SHOW, bad looking bike LOL LOL but hey back then those where so cool to have.
He really treated kids with respect & had fun with it himself. Thst's why I beleive this show was so popular. He always had good musical ats as well. I remember Ali & Joe Frazier on the show together.
I met Bob McAllister at a magic convention in the Catskills when I was about 10. He was an adept magician and often had magicians as guests on Wonderama. Sigh. I miss those days. It was nice to go back if just for 8 minutes. I'll always cherish these memories.
not many people remember this show. i grew up near NYC in the 70's and this is what we all looked forward to when we were youngsters. then we went outside and played all day. there was no such thing as video games and cartoon networks and we had to find ways to entertain ourselves...which usually meant getting into trouble (ha ha). i loved this show.
Great clip! One time, Bob had a guest with a clip of what looked like little cherubs playing out the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When they ate the forbidden fruit everything went black, then the Satan character came flying out and laughing. One of the other characters said, "Oh hell!" Bob tried to clean it up by saying that of course the character said, "Oh help!" Does anyone remember that or have that clip? Thanks
Do you remember the Wonderama Go-Go dancers winning giant (presumably inflatable) jars of mayonnaise and bottles of booze? You could never give a kid a ginormous inflatable whiskey bottle as a prize today. Good times, good times.
OH MY Goodness! Amazing! I didn't think I'd find this on You Tube. What I want to know is how did you find a clip of this?? This aired before the days of VHS didn't it??? You must have worked on the show as a member of the crew or something!? Great clip! I used to watch this show when I was a kid. Thanks for sharing!
you are right back in this day there was no VHS that was out to the public. 8 MM film camera's was the #1 seller - right around 1979 is when that all changed and VHS started to take hold. back then VHS machines where "TOP LOADING" had 2 huge dials in front and where 3x the size as the ones today.
This brings back memories. I remember seeing the Jackson Five on Wonderama before Michale went nuts and had all that surgery. Also, they had all of the latest toys on this show.
Wow...how very cool and a blast from the past. I remember thinking how COOL all those prizes were. It's funny to see the audience kids get all pissed off when they don't get picked! LOL
I could dance better than any of the kids on the show by far, and the winner of the dance contest always won a bicylce with a sissy bar and a banana seat. I always had a nerdy crappy bike, and I wanted that sissy bar and banana seat bike so bad! Damn! Another wish about the fantastic youth I never had!
yes...does anyone here have an ardvark? Does anyone here have an ardvark? Everyone here has a right and left ear, but nobody here has an ardvark......no, you are not crazy
I LOVED this show and no one I know remembers it! I just knew I could've won that bike in that dance contest!! I'd still watch the show today- ha ha!!!
That was a great highlight, I grew up in NYC and would always watch this until I was a teen. I still have that song Exercise Exercise in my head! LOL I totally had forgotten the awesome bike they gave away, I loved my banana seat bike days!
Great memories! I was on the shows in February '68 ( Bob McCallister had replaced Sonny Fox not long before). "Judy In Disguise" was the song we all got to dance to. Wish they archived this stuff...
Ahh... the memories. Wonderama with Sonny Fox and Bob McAllister owned my attention each Sunday from 9 till noon. Almost forgotten till this clip brought it all back. I feel like I'm 5 again.
THANK YOU SOOOO VERY MUCH for posting this video. For years I have wished that they would run this show in reruns. It brings back wonderful memories of my childhood.
I have been singing the exercise song around the house for years; my husband had gotten to the point where he doubted Wonderamas existence, but was so used to the song that he began singing it, too. He got to see the snake cans, but so far, no, "exercise, exercise, come on everybody...hands on hips"!
Sad to think about the untold thousands of children who were set on a path of crime by their requested complicity in the fraudulent activities of Wonderama.
watching these videos just made my day! i watched it with my son who is now 12 and he knows we will never see anything like that again. Nickolodeon has slime stuff but no Snake Cans! Thanks for posting this video and bringing me back to my childhood :-)
Can't believe I found this! My youngest & I were chatting about my favorite TV shows when I was her age. Hands down...Wonderama was it. I started singing the "Aardvark" song (...anyone here have an aardvark...). I also remember the cup/saucer races. Sunday mornings were my favorite -- until we moved to FL in '72. They didn't broadcast the show there. Thanks for the smile:)
This is absolutely superb. I was about Stuart's age and size in 1972, and I watched Wonderama every Sunday morning until we moved from New Jersey in 1975. The snake can game was the staple of the show. I used to get mad someone found the flowers on the first can. No snakes, no boing, no fair!
I really hate to admit it, but in Venezuela they still have game shows like this. Try searching for them on Youtube.
Have a great day, a great night, a great week, a great month and a great spring! Puerto Rican Love from New York City!
prlad85 1 year ago
lol... oh man... I remember the wakadoo wakadoo song at the end
lloyddobblerNJ 2 years ago 17
Bob McAllister? Heck, I can remember when this show was hosted by Sonny Fox. Bob M. was a good replacement, but I liked Sonny better. Great kids show.
all66books 2 years ago 7
I hate Metromedia for taping over most of this WNEW-TV series.
MattTheSaiyan 3 years ago 6
This guys cool, real good with kids
addsfun4 3 years ago 13
My earliest memories of television was this show. Yeah, 1972, i was 4 years old, and really liked this show. It looks different viewing it now as an adult, but it does hit my memory well. One episode I remember well was when some young Asian girl played the theme to the Pink Panther on her baritone saxophone. Hearing the baritone play that melody made me laugh uncontrollably.
MannyMiles 3 years ago 12
I was on the show that sired Easter Sunday 1972 & got picked for 2 different game. I won Trouble and another game(can't remember) All I know is that all they gave us soda and ice cream bars to sustain for 12 hrs of shooting the show!!!!
jeffkilly 3 years ago 4
i used to watch this show in 3rd grade. loved it.
suburbandrudgery 3 years ago 6
Yes...we were a different generation...we enjoyed knowledge and picked the people we admired a lot better than young ones do today.
Letsallunite 3 years ago 4
Simon says do this Simon says do this, Simon says do this, do this, do this.
Malestrome 3 years ago
This is so "Let's Make a Deal-ish"
visor109 3 years ago
Wow! I never thought I'd see this show again! I watched it when I was a kid living in Southern CA. Ah, the memories!
BeachBum19647G 3 years ago 5
This was my show! It was like crack cocaine to me! I recall when my mother surprised us with a trip to this show! This was at a time when I thought that al TV and movies were from California so I was wondering how we were going there. I did not win shit... I did not even get called. I am not even sure if it aired. I would love to see if I did make the air. I forgot what I looked like back then.
n0gar 3 years ago 3
I never tried crack cocaine, but I sure do remember being addicted to this show. Every Sunday, it was a part of our lives!
sargeanthulka 3 years ago 34
Wow,Where is he now? I grew up on this show:^)
jdominod1 3 years ago
Do you honestly think that any of the little ignaramouses today at the age of 5-8 years old could name olympic heroes or politicians? It's a very sad sign of the times. I'm sure they can name gangster rappers though.
azaccone 3 years ago 3
It was cute when he asked the youngest contestant what fruit grows on a cherry tree!
Didn't this air on Sunday mornings and feature
a segment each week where the kids all moved to a song called "exercise, exercise, c'mon everybody get your exercise"?
mwp62 3 years ago 3
I remember the hands on hips part of the song.
tamapalagi 2 years ago 3
The reason why these kids could name them is because these people were guests earlier in the show.
bainsey89 3 years ago 4
I'm thinking 1972 based on the questions and the Brady Bunch garb.
radcam69 3 years ago
Oh God...stop it already with the race card...enough is enough already...the civil war ended loooong before we were all born...just enjoy this show for what it's worth....and if YOU keep segregation alive it wont go away......so knock it off already!
jpnycz2 3 years ago
WHAT Bob is dead?! geez! why dont my friends tell me these things! now in the description it say ny..i lived in los angeles as a lil one and it was on there as well...as well as 'kids are people too" sigh..'memories..." my mom was alive back then as well..rip to the ones who have gone..miss you all!
dasenuff 3 years ago
I was on Wonderama 3 times when I was a kid ... once with Sonny Fox and twice with Bob Mcallister.
Sonny picked me to do the tongue twisters, and I flubbed on "Six Thick Thistle Sticks".
I was in the dance contest the first time I was on with McAllister. We danced to Midnight Confessions by The Grass Roots.
The last time I was on, I was totally bored. I was 12 at the time, and all I could wait for was the show to end so that I could get my goodie bag and take the E train back to Briarwood.
vandertop2 3 years ago 2
I wanted to be on this show so bad.
How the heck did these kids know these things?
nutballgazette 3 years ago
I absolutely loved this show and envied the kid who got the bouquet of roses and all of the toys, BUT, I never realized that he was excluding ethnic kids! He didn't pick one non-white child!! No latino, black or asian was picked and they were in the audience.
mossymanx 3 years ago
who's the mayor of new york city? uhhhhhhhh... lol
ratbaztid 3 years ago
Love that instrumental music, Henry Manacini's 1962 Baby Elephant Walk. I note sound "wizard" Todd Dockstader's Sound FX used on MGM's Tom and Jerry when Gene Deitch produced it at the same time the elephant song came out (early 1960s).BOINNNG
SteveCarras 3 years ago
I remember being dissapointed when Bob McAllister and "Wonderama" replaced "The Sonny Fox Show" as the premiere children's show. I thought Wonderama was too silly, but I ended up warming to Wonderama when it became obvious Sonny Fox was not returning. Compared to today's children's entertainment Wonderama is(to paraphrase an entertainer) "Tolstoy". Remember "The Marshmallow Song"? Apollo 3-Speeds and Schwinn 5-speeds were envied at the time. How many kids do you know today who even HAVE a bike?
cmans79tr7 3 years ago
I loved this show when I was growing up. I begged my parents to take me into the city to be on tv and win prizes. What was also cool, was that Bob McAllister always made every kid a winner and feel good about themselves. Wonderful memories. Thanks for posting this.
jamesbx 3 years ago
my friend won a bike in the color war on this show it was cjeep fell apart
ronambrey 3 years ago
I am completely blown away!! I am in the audience of this clip!
lulubelle199 3 years ago 2
Wow!Wow! Wow! You just transported me to the 1970s. I wanted to go on this show so bad, never did though. Thanks for post!
peterproscia 3 years ago
i was on wonderama when i was about 10, i got to do the snakes and won a toss across. i also got a good bag when i was leaving and have told my husband and my kids for years now about the bagel on a sting covered in shellac. so funny. i wish i could show them the show that i was on, but at least they got to see this clip.
skub22do 3 years ago
I see all the kids are dressed nicely in their 'Brady-wear' LOL!!!
wildnites558 3 years ago
man,this show rocked!Every sunday a.m.
I'm gonna see if Mr. Wishbone is on here too.
logjammers 3 years ago
I was on Wonderama in 1970 and I won the dance contest! I now live in my home town again and I run into people form over 30years ago and they still bring up"I remember when you won the ross barracuda bicycle dancing on Wonderama" Wondeul memories for me....RIP Bob McAllister
shariann403 3 years ago
I miss this show BUT am enjoying the memories.
CALIfotoSPUD 3 years ago
BOING!
TadRapidly 3 years ago
Rest In Peace, Bob McAllister.
Translation in Norwegian:
Hvil i fred , Lodd McAllister.
KiriannasBoyARtisan 3 years ago
What a fun childhood memory this brings back! If only we still had programs like this. :)
LuvvyDuck 3 years ago
i sure do.. i remember when i was on club house 22 back in the 70's in dayton ohio
jakesteel562 3 years ago
I used to watch this on WTTG in D.C. This show seemed segregated to me. Looks like the black kids were left out.
sheba1959 3 years ago
Yeah, I noticed that, too.
Korea4Me 3 years ago
NY television the way I remember it best.
Thanks!
stewballmax 3 years ago
I noticed Bob didn't pick a single black child to play. Tsk tsk.
firstcat 3 years ago
affirmative action was in place at the time so by law maybe he should have been forced to
clarence99 3 years ago
I want to see Wonderama A Go Go.... I couldn't wait to see the kids dance and win a pair of rollerskates......
I miss being young Im 44 now LOL
SHAVEDGERMANHEAD 3 years ago
I went to this show with a couple friends and we were among the last to enter the studio. Because of the limited seating left I was separated from my friends. Everyone in the studio that day got a goody bag....among other things it contained Hebrew National hot dogs and a bagel on a string with
your name on it and painted with a face with your eye and hair color to be worn as a necklace...the thing was covered in shellac or something and lasted for years
cabstronaut 3 years ago
Man, I loved this show too ! Great for kids ! Thanks for it !!
NYer79 3 years ago
That is a nice helmet of hair, Bob! We used to love this show when we were kids!
3eyedho 3 years ago
I remember watching this on WTTG Channel 5 out of Washingotn, D.C. I will be 44 on July 18th.Oh the pain. I guess if you have your health live isn't all bad.
turnertalking 3 years ago
Wow! I'm 37 and grew up in Cincinnati. My biggest memory of this show is watching Boy George in Culture Club sing their first hit "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" and a curious boy innocently asked "Why do they call you *boy* George?" I remember his reaction was actually pretty professional and simple: "because I want people to know I am a boy," he says. That theme song at the end just blew my mind! I can't believe what I remember!
evolnieveilebi 3 years ago
I'm 37, grew up in Cincinnati. I remember this show, it wasn't always scheduled at the same time I think, but I think it was on with "Shazaam," "Land of the Lost," and "Almighty Isis" reruns, along with 2 other obscure shows about a group of kids that had a smiley-faced, magical dune buggy, and the other about kids with a futuristic vehicle. What I remember most is when Boy George/Culture Club performed "Do you really want to hurt me?" An innocent boy even asked why "Boy" was apart of his name!
evolnieveilebi 3 years ago
I remember Wonderama well, the show changed over the years but it was always fun to watch.
Oh, those plad skirts!
MeAndMyRC 3 years ago
I remember Bob from WAAAY back when he was on WJZ in Baltimore.....it's a damn shame we don't have good kids shows like that anymore.
Staszu13 3 years ago
Dang, I'm a hundred years old.
flotifa69 3 years ago
This is AWESOME!
moondevil41 3 years ago
Did he say at 7:20, "stuart you're gonna be a big girl on this bike?!" hahahaha!
DaphneDreamer 3 years ago
That kid probably got the crap kicked out of him for cruising around on a bike like that.
GreekGuy9999 3 years ago
When my family got cable (which was known as CATV)back in the 1960's, we got New York channels as well as Philadelphia channels. Yes, I watched Wonderama.
Sad to see how kids' TV programming has changed.
kimberlyKfnOphiEAGLE 3 years ago
LoL! Nixon!
sweetqueento3 3 years ago
man, i loved this show!!!! remember the songs he sang "does anybody here have an ardvark" & "kids are people too" wakka wakka doo!!!!!!!!
shirockyou 3 years ago
hahaha.... at age 45 I still remember sitting in front of the television set singing KIDS ARE PEOPLE TOO, ANYBODY HERE GOT AN ARDVARK?, and the WONDERAMA theme. Thanks for the trip back in time.
RizMil 3 years ago
"Wonderama" was always on at my house when I was a kid. Bob McCallister was a truly great host.
I remember watching the very last show. I believe Robert Merrill was on the program.
EarlSnohomish 3 years ago
OMG, I grew up in Connecticut (Waterbury) and remember watching this on metromedia channel 5out of the city! Bob McCallister was a genius of a host. Does anyone remember the dance offs on that stage w/those bulbs! My cousin was a contestant for that once. Check out at the 2:48 mark on the left side of the screen, the girl in red was pissed she did not get picked, hysterical. It sure sucks to be a kid today, glad I grew up when I did. He was just amazing with the kids.
boihitbycar 3 years ago
OMG!! this is the coolest thing. i grew up in Connecticut (Waterbury) and used to watch this show all the time. My cousins were on the show once and my cousin David participated in the dance contest- remember those!!! Bob McCallister certainly was phenomanal with us kids- look how he handled the little girl and boy, just phenomenal! And us kids back then, we were so excited (and happy) to win a simple board game! I blame the way kids are today on the parents who are my generation.
boihitbycar 3 years ago
boy does that show bring me back to my childhood! I remember watching it.
rocknrolldaze2 3 years ago
wow, shows how much smarter kids were back then...sort of sad...
flippyflyer 3 years ago
I had great memories of this show. Me and my brothers were on the show and everybody remembered us while we were living in Brooklyn.
turk56523 3 years ago
does anyone remember when bob used to sing
"has anybody here got an aardvark"?
DelilaBlack 3 years ago
This show was pure and simple....sadly i feel bad for kids today..there just not allowed to be kids anymore...so sad
badumpy 3 years ago 3
Yep, they wouldn't have a show like this today, no way.
seka1986 3 years ago
It was flippin impossible to get tickets to this show and when I finally got them I got the flu!!!! Great memories of a really fun show - thanks for posting this!
rutgersg 3 years ago
Wow...
I haven't thought about this show in a long time...
TamaSlamma 3 years ago
my mom and aunt were on the show now they are 45 and 42
mizcutey 3 years ago
Bob MCallister freaks me out!
He always did.....
and those snake cans and the goody bags of "fruit striped gum that tickles your tongue"
and "Good humor ice cream bars"
I'll be checking for him under my bed tonight!
zeelik 3 years ago
I totally loved this show!!! Man am I old...
billgatesson1 3 years ago
What a flashback! No way on earth you'd kids now-a-days to sit for 3 hours with either a hand held video game or ipod. Sad to say but true. By the way...sweet bike! LOL!
Reg197844 3 years ago
God- I never thought I'd be able to see this show again!~ YouTube is rad!! I remember the Jackson 5 -
delpadres 3 years ago
I can't imagine how Bob McAllister kept up that level of energy (and quick thinking) for three hours at a clip. He was great. I remember watching this as a kid--and I even barely remember Sonny Fox as the host!
ghb61 3 years ago
If only I had one more Sunday morning watching Bob...I used to beg my mom to go to 12:30 mass so I could finish the show....
studmanalpha 3 years ago
I was six years old when I won the dance contest on this show I'm almost 40 now...back then I was with 5 inch Fro, platform shoes and and blue four pocket jacket....with bell bottoms of course..lol. Little boy Kelly got ILL on stage..and beat girl dancing like a stripper..Wish I could find this televised video..I remember DJ Wolf Man Jack chose me as Winner..I was so Happy to win a Ross 10 Speed Bike...gave it to my Dad
One DJ KHALIF HASHAN
AngusKhanMixShow 3 years ago
I always loved this part of the show. The black kids would shove their way in front of the white kids to get Bob's attention.
stargate121 3 years ago
That was my favorite show. I'm 44 now. My friend went on that show and won this cool pedal car. "Kids are people too,wakka-doo, wakka-doo".
PINTO911 3 years ago
Oh my gosh, I remember this show. I'm 50 so it goes way back. Didn't he use to sing the song, "Has anybody here seen an ardvaark?"? I also remember the Soupy Sales Show. We were so lucky to grow up in NY!!
joycefdehart 3 years ago
YO! This was show! Wait until they start go-go dancin'
meyersd66 3 years ago
I grew up on wonderama, nice to see it again
randseed 3 years ago
How old is that guy now??? Is he even alive??
tiscollette 3 years ago
I loved Wonderama. I am 43 now...and compare this show to what my kids watch. I will take the simplicity of Wonderama anyday. I loved when Ali and Frazier were on.
Mjacopec 4 years ago 5
I am 43 as well. I really loved Wonderama. I lived in NJ during the early 70's. I also spent several yrs in Chicago and they had great shows too....such as Bozo's Circus and Frazier Thomas.
jeffroatlanta 3 years ago
Can you believe Ali and Frazier were on a kid's show like Wonderama? FANTASTIC!
seka1986 3 years ago
It was 3 hours long and I used to cry when it was over. I was on the show with Laverne and SHirley, and Evel Kneivel, also seen here. I was the huge kid in the back row, but I was only 10 years old. The show only lasted about one more year after that. Bob was a wonderful chap.
This clip must be from 1972 or 73 because they mention President Nixon and Mayor Lindsay.
reluctantpopstar 4 years ago 2
I certainly recall the snake can game on Wonderama when I was a kid. Seeing this video brings back memories of perhaps one of the better children's TV programs.
alterman156 4 years ago
I bet no kids today could answer questions about current events like these kids.
bonneville73 4 years ago 3
i bet most adults couldn't either.
johnbourbon 3 years ago
i wanted to be on this show so bad when i was a kid....i loved the cans too, and the good news song
pirategrrl775 4 years ago
Oh my~
I hadn't seen this since the 70's!!
This is incredible-
I couldn't remember much until now!!
it's like oh yeah that's right-
the snake cans the music etc...
~Thank ya for sharin'
68NYC 4 years ago
I was on the show. During a commercial break they brought about five parents out and they said if one of these is your parents come on donw for the whose is whose game. My mon was there so i ran down. Backstage they looked at me and my older brother and said he (me) looks too much like his mom and they should use my brother. Needless to say I started crying, and they gave me a goodie bag and sent me back out. I was NOT happy. I went home afterwards and ate ring dings. I have a box upstairs.
scottakruh 4 years ago
I think I remember that episode! Cool that you have your memory of being there.
I wanted to be on that show sooo badly to win prizes. My parents laughed because I HAD all those toys already. I was spoiled. But I still wanted to WIN them on Wonderama and sing along with Bob.
Now I'm craving ringdings. :)
justmetay 3 years ago
oh my , im so old
zaktuta 4 years ago
I remember as well of this program, it came on Sunday mornings at 8:00 am to 11:00 am, and the snake cans are my favorite. Bob loved children and at the end of the show he gave bags of treats for everyone who didn't win any prizes so nobody goes home empty handed.
buzzlewie 4 years ago
I remember, I remember!!! LOL
acaramelrn 4 years ago
We got Wonderama on KTTV 11 in Los Angeles Sunday mornings. I don't remember it being 4 or even 6 hours long, although it could have been. It was cool.
spsmyth 4 years ago
Just Awesome.... whomever posted this on youtube deserves a medal for helping us to relive wonderful childhood memories! Songs that are embeded in my head from childhood because of this show like "Exercise" and "Kids are people too" Bob Mcalister was a great host, and continues to live in the memory of many adult to this day... Thanks Youtube!
californiamagician 4 years ago
Totally awesome! Thanks for posting this!!! This was thee best show ever! I used to watch every weekend and see the kids taking home all those great games and I would drool!
a40sgal 4 years ago
That first girl ate peanut butter sandwiches every day for a year, that can was Costco's HUGE!
Alexltavares 4 years ago
OMG I forgot what some of our bikes looked like. the huge seat.. AWESOME SHOW, bad looking bike LOL LOL but hey back then those where so cool to have.
bedlum47o7 4 years ago
He really treated kids with respect & had fun with it himself. Thst's why I beleive this show was so popular. He always had good musical ats as well. I remember Ali & Joe Frazier on the show together.
TommyDNYC 4 years ago
I just showed my mom this....it bought back sooo many good memories she said...
heyjana 4 years ago
I met Bob McAllister at a magic convention in the Catskills when I was about 10. He was an adept magician and often had magicians as guests on Wonderama. Sigh. I miss those days. It was nice to go back if just for 8 minutes. I'll always cherish these memories.
daveb333 4 years ago
not many people remember this show. i grew up near NYC in the 70's and this is what we all looked forward to when we were youngsters. then we went outside and played all day. there was no such thing as video games and cartoon networks and we had to find ways to entertain ourselves...which usually meant getting into trouble (ha ha). i loved this show.
jeffroatlanta 4 years ago
anyone remember Professor Fingelheimer? and the song went fingelheimer fingelheimer fingle dingle heimer.
monkeymichel 4 years ago
Is it just me or did kids seem smarter back then?
artmenace 4 years ago
Great clip! One time, Bob had a guest with a clip of what looked like little cherubs playing out the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When they ate the forbidden fruit everything went black, then the Satan character came flying out and laughing. One of the other characters said, "Oh hell!" Bob tried to clean it up by saying that of course the character said, "Oh help!" Does anyone remember that or have that clip? Thanks
MusicLovingLady2006 4 years ago
Wow! I really feel old now. I remember watching this show and brings back alot of good memories! Thanks for the clip!
Irishaod66 4 years ago
Whatever became of Stewart Altman? (The kid who won the bike.)
jimyjam99 4 years ago
Do you remember the Wonderama Go-Go dancers winning giant (presumably inflatable) jars of mayonnaise and bottles of booze? You could never give a kid a ginormous inflatable whiskey bottle as a prize today. Good times, good times.
SPP62 4 years ago
OMG! I AM SO ANCIENT!
mommaiz 4 years ago
OH MY Goodness! Amazing! I didn't think I'd find this on You Tube. What I want to know is how did you find a clip of this?? This aired before the days of VHS didn't it??? You must have worked on the show as a member of the crew or something!? Great clip! I used to watch this show when I was a kid. Thanks for sharing!
goedit 4 years ago 2
you are right back in this day there was no VHS that was out to the public. 8 MM film camera's was the #1 seller - right around 1979 is when that all changed and VHS started to take hold. back then VHS machines where "TOP LOADING" had 2 huge dials in front and where 3x the size as the ones today.
bedlum47o7 4 years ago
It's always nice to see a blast from the past! This is how I spent every Saturday morning!
TinkerMazell 4 years ago
I had the chip away game. What a joke. You chipped away some clay under all the clay was a plastic statue.
BrooklynSal 4 years ago
I painted all of my Chip Away statues. Uhhh, that's what you were supposed to do.
spsmyth 4 years ago
This brings back memories. I remember seeing the Jackson Five on Wonderama before Michale went nuts and had all that surgery. Also, they had all of the latest toys on this show.
BrooklynSal 4 years ago
God bless the host,may he rest in peace. Such wonderful childhood memories.
muhammadsalaam 4 years ago
Wow...how very cool and a blast from the past. I remember thinking how COOL all those prizes were. It's funny to see the audience kids get all pissed off when they don't get picked! LOL
bythebikerack 4 years ago
I could dance better than any of the kids on the show by far, and the winner of the dance contest always won a bicylce with a sissy bar and a banana seat. I always had a nerdy crappy bike, and I wanted that sissy bar and banana seat bike so bad! Damn! Another wish about the fantastic youth I never had!
fairalways 4 years ago
The girl with ponytails looks alot like a 'baby' marcia brady lol.
USAGiant 4 years ago
"....everybody here has a right and left ear, but nobody here has an aardvark"
pdangelo1 4 years ago
Has anybody here seen an aardvark? You're not crazy.
Kikirose5 4 years ago
Does anyone remember the aardvark song from this show or am I crazy?
bcakes2003 4 years ago
yes...does anyone here have an ardvark? Does anyone here have an ardvark? Everyone here has a right and left ear, but nobody here has an ardvark......no, you are not crazy
FDR5555 4 years ago
You are definitely not crazy! I remember this particular song...I am in my late 40's.
A few of my childhood icons are no longer with us such as Captain Kangaroo, Wonderama and yes, (for me anyway), Romper Room.
EastHarlem45 4 years ago
I LOVED this show and no one I know remembers it! I just knew I could've won that bike in that dance contest!! I'd still watch the show today- ha ha!!!
camifromcville 4 years ago
Wow, Wonderama. What a nice guy Bob McAllister was!!!
Jhensy2001 4 years ago
When I was a kid, This was always my favorite part of the show. I still remember the girl that went up and got the flowers on the very first can.
sjborris 4 years ago
This show also was aired in LA
thatonetallguy2 4 years ago
That was a great highlight, I grew up in NYC and would always watch this until I was a teen. I still have that song Exercise Exercise in my head! LOL I totally had forgotten the awesome bike they gave away, I loved my banana seat bike days!
verbusen 4 years ago
was there ever a better kid's TV host?
Nope.... BOB RULED
jtj909 4 years ago
anybody remember the apollo three speed racer with the bananna seat and sissy bar
xm2vortex 4 years ago
my friend stacy won the dance contest and the apollo three speed racer with the bananna seat and sissy bar...i am a fossil !!!
xm2vortex 4 years ago
Great memories! I was on the shows in February '68 ( Bob McCallister had replaced Sonny Fox not long before). "Judy In Disguise" was the song we all got to dance to. Wish they archived this stuff...
pcsbeat 4 years ago
What a fantastic post. What memories this brings back. Thanks so much for the memories !!!
Johnnyboy792 4 years ago
2 words: Sabado Gigante
muziktrkr 4 years ago
Ahh... the memories. Wonderama with Sonny Fox and Bob McAllister owned my attention each Sunday from 9 till noon. Almost forgotten till this clip brought it all back. I feel like I'm 5 again.
ricrac123 4 years ago
THANK YOU SOOOO VERY MUCH for posting this video. For years I have wished that they would run this show in reruns. It brings back wonderful memories of my childhood.
Leiflover 4 years ago
Bri You are hilarious.
thedavisgroup 4 years ago
Know of any clips from the Wonderama kids dance contests?
RockthatVoot 4 years ago
Did you ever get any responses to your question? I won the dance contest in Feruary of 1970 and would love to get a hold of this episode....
shariann403 3 years ago
Imagine all the lead in those toys, it's a wonder we are still alive.
bri824 4 years ago
I have been singing the exercise song around the house for years; my husband had gotten to the point where he doubted Wonderamas existence, but was so used to the song that he began singing it, too. He got to see the snake cans, but so far, no, "exercise, exercise, come on everybody...hands on hips"!
MissusCod 4 years ago
ahh, the memories. And wow, you would never see a grownup even so much as be able to pick a child up like that anymore on TV...what a shame.
I wanted to be on this show sooo bad...that bike was awesome!
jetboy33 4 years ago
yeah, it's a shame we've all be come so paranoid of everything in america.
Zorsha 4 years ago
I was on the show in 1968 my brother was the snake charmer to bad they didnt save the tapes
stonesharve 4 years ago
Hi! I appeared on February '68--we danced to Judy In Disguise. i wish they saved those tapes but no doubt they wiped them once the show aired..
Paul
NYC
pcsbeat 4 years ago
I remember this show when Sonny Fox was the host, way, way back in the early 60s.
bobjfs 4 years ago
Wow this show brings back many memories from my childhood... Dang!!!
DatGirlG 4 years ago
Thanks so much for this - what a trip. I feel like I'm 5 yo again. I watched it on KTTV Channel 11 (now fox) here in LA.
eartopsy 4 years ago
Wow ! I grew up watching Wonderama in Upstate New York ! It was really a blast from the past to watch this video ! Thanks for posting it !
AstringOfPoloponies 4 years ago
That last kid who won the bike could fly with those collars
tuttt99 4 years ago 3
My sister and I were on Wonderama in 1972. My sister won a bike and 12 prizes from the snake can game. How can I possible get a copy of the video?
yooel 4 years ago
Wow, these kids were smart! Imagine today's Playstation-addled kids answering trivia questions like that.
paktype 4 years ago
The answers to the questions were given to the kids just before they were called up.
How do I know this? Because my cousin, who appeared on Wonderama in 1971, told me.
She later served three years in a New York State women's prison for possession of a controlled substance (Cocaine) with intent to distribute.
jherskine 4 years ago
Sad to think about the untold thousands of children who were set on a path of crime by their requested complicity in the fraudulent activities of Wonderama.
sandysoup 4 years ago
Thank you, thank you, thank you... I have been looking for Wonderama footage. I loved this show so much as a kid. Such fond memories of being young.
mvanaalst 4 years ago
watching these videos just made my day! i watched it with my son who is now 12 and he knows we will never see anything like that again. Nickolodeon has slime stuff but no Snake Cans! Thanks for posting this video and bringing me back to my childhood :-)
March4Revenge 4 years ago
I remember this show - on Channel 11 in Los Angeles. I loved this disco dance contest!
frsfca 4 years ago
Can't believe I found this! My youngest & I were chatting about my favorite TV shows when I was her age. Hands down...Wonderama was it. I started singing the "Aardvark" song (...anyone here have an aardvark...). I also remember the cup/saucer races. Sunday mornings were my favorite -- until we moved to FL in '72. They didn't broadcast the show there. Thanks for the smile:)
bif1961 4 years ago
This is absolutely superb. I was about Stuart's age and size in 1972, and I watched Wonderama every Sunday morning until we moved from New Jersey in 1975. The snake can game was the staple of the show. I used to get mad someone found the flowers on the first can. No snakes, no boing, no fair!
bainsey89 4 years ago
Zoinks! That brings back too many memories.
actiscenei 4 years ago
great!, thank you for bringing back my childhood,
neotheone999 4 years ago