Great post, many memories for this 1948 boomer. I remember his seemingly endless energy. I seem to remember a series of young women assistants, some who became famous ?
@bartist11 Clarabell the Clown was on The Howdy Doody Show. Bob Keecham ("Captain Kangaroo") was the first of many to play the role.
I've met Pinky Lee Your Cousin in NYC back in the late 1980's..he was walking down W.57th Street. I said hello to him and talked to him briefly..he wasn't in the best of health.But he was kind enough to say hello to a fan.Sadly,he passed away three years after your father did.
Along with Ding Dong Schoolhouse, the first TV show I remember. Pinky was the guest at our college Trivia Bowl in 1972 or 1973. He came out on stage and - I guess assuming we'd all grown up - went into his Las Vegas act, laced with considerable profanity. We he saw the disappointment on everyones faces he dropped back did his old routine for us and provided a memorable show.
@hwy61media Yes, I think the old Vaudevillers knew well how to read an audience. Also at the show was Freddy 'Boom-Boom' Cannon...the room just went wild when he sang his old hits. Funny, in 1973 we thought we were hearing 'oldies' from 1962 or so...what would they be now, another 40 years on? Who today would consider music from 2000 nostalgic? :)
I had tears watching this, what joyful memories of simple times...such a quality show. Pinky was authentic & you can tell he loved what he was doing. Such fun...so glad it's on YOUTUBE. Thx for sharing this , I remembered getting a Pinky Lee hat!! MORE!!!
I Oh yeah, PINKY. The original entertainer. And from his "Shoe Store"I got a pair of those cool shiny girls shoes. We could all use PINKY these days. Think I'll watch this every morning with coffee, considering the current state of our country.
Pinky Lee was popular as a TV kid show host so they made him the sidekick to Roy Rogers in Roy's last three films at Republic. RR fans say that was the worst mistake Republic ever did because Lee's antics did not fit in with the Western sidekick motif. Lee had originally been a burlesque comic which explains a lot of his antics.
I was born in 1948 and I'm proud to say that he is my 3rd cousin on my Dads' side, his real name was Pincus Leff , I never actually met him that I know of, my Dad passed away in 1990 and I never asked him if we went to meet him or anything, we may have for all I know! ( I named my girl dog after him, I call her Pinky Lee, she's 11 yrs old)
Wow. I was born in 1947 an we had a TV by 1949. I watched this, Howdy Doody, Winky Dink, and Kukla Fran & Ollie. I am amazed to see this show now and realize that Pinky was really a smooth entertainer...and yes, Pee Wee was inspired by this generation of kids show ...which is probably I love Pee Wee too!
@avelotro As a 27 year old, I have never heard of Pinky Lee, my first thought that came to my mind was Pee Wee Herman. I guess thats how Pee Wee came about. I like this show!
@demasters420 Yeah, I recently heard an interview with Pee Wee and he said Pinky Lee was an influence as he developed his character. BTW, he went for Pee Wee after being passed over for a Saturday Night Live job.
WOW, I feel like I'm a little girl again watching Pinky on TV. It's like a time capsule being opened. Lost memories are brought out of the deep parts of my brain. Wow.
the first thing i saw when my parents plugged in our brand new roundscreen console tv was Pinky Lee. i can see it like it was yesterday. i was thrilled then, and am thrilled now to see him again. thanks for posting.
never got to see this, a bit too young...but christ, going right into a live commercial from the opening...and people get upset a product placement today
I have been tellng people for years that the Pinky Lee show was my favorite show when I was a kid. Nobody seems to remember it but me and thank goodness now I can show them these videos! I even owned a Pinky Lee blazer! Thanks so much for posting as this brings back wonderful childhood memories!
@lfeinb9640 - I remember it, and my aunt does too. She'd always rush home from high school to see American Bandstand, but my sister and I would either be watching Pinky or Howdy.
This is one of Pinky's Saturday morning shows [10-10:30am(et)] from 1955, sponsored this week by the manufacturers of "Weather Bird Shoes" {Tootsie Roll was another rotating sponsor}.
This guy looks like the local pedophile. He is just creepy. In the 50s this was alright, but if Pinky Lee came from the 1950s to 2010 parents would be calling the cops. And then I think he would get mugged by some street kids.
My mom tells me that as a baby I would wait for Pinky to pop that balloon at the show's opening....I would go crazy laughing and slobbering all over myself ! lmao
I use to watch this show when my parents were not around. They didn't want me to watch the show because it was stupid. Now I know why America is so screwed up. Every family today is a Pinky Lee family.
@happytrailstoyou999 Believe me, people aren't screwed up today from watching children's shows of the '50s. Maybe if things were as innocent now as they were back then things wouldn't be such a mess.
Yea, Pinky was a dynamo...One time he ws looking right in the camera and feel to the ground clutching his chest...Crew thought he was having the big one, but later they said it was an upset stomach...I go with the first call...Oh, my parents saw him in Vegas with topless gals and he had a sparkler in his ass...Seems he was an old burlesque comic...Two sides to Pinky...LIVE TV...the best!
I was a member of Pinky's Peanut Gallery back in 1963. My Mother and I got tickets from one of the shoe stores in Eagle Rock that sold these shoes. I still have 8mm movies of meeting him. The shows for a whole week were taped on Saturday mornings. Serously, I may be in this show! Thanks for posting this.
As a child I watched Pinky daily. It's so great to relive those happy times I spent glued to the tube. Pinky influenced not only Pee Wee Herman but also Soupy Sales, another of my favorites.
He just asked if they were hungery and then he wants to bring them to the shoe store I am hungery but not enough too eat shoe laces
Kiyoko504 1 month ago
Very interesting this firghtens me a little bit but I would rather watch this then todays crap for childrens shows
Kiyoko504 1 month ago
That guy's got serious ADHD.
darrenmuse 1 month ago
I never did get any Weatherbird shoes, just US Keds
1bountifulinc 2 months ago
Born in 45. Got our first YV in 52. This brings back memories. Thanks for posting.
herbrampe 6 months ago
Great post, many memories for this 1948 boomer. I remember his seemingly endless energy. I seem to remember a series of young women assistants, some who became famous ?
@bartist11 Clarabell the Clown was on The Howdy Doody Show. Bob Keecham ("Captain Kangaroo") was the first of many to play the role.
Zippy7823 6 months ago
Dear Hoosiermoma,
I've met Pinky Lee Your Cousin in NYC back in the late 1980's..he was walking down W.57th Street. I said hello to him and talked to him briefly..he wasn't in the best of health.But he was kind enough to say hello to a fan.Sadly,he passed away three years after your father did.
TheStanbabe 6 months ago
Along with Ding Dong Schoolhouse, the first TV show I remember. Pinky was the guest at our college Trivia Bowl in 1972 or 1973. He came out on stage and - I guess assuming we'd all grown up - went into his Las Vegas act, laced with considerable profanity. We he saw the disappointment on everyones faces he dropped back did his old routine for us and provided a memorable show.
HickysBoy 10 months ago
@HickysBoy He could read a crowd well. This must be a fantastic memory for you! -Michael
hwy61media 10 months ago
@hwy61media Yes, I think the old Vaudevillers knew well how to read an audience. Also at the show was Freddy 'Boom-Boom' Cannon...the room just went wild when he sang his old hits. Funny, in 1973 we thought we were hearing 'oldies' from 1962 or so...what would they be now, another 40 years on? Who today would consider music from 2000 nostalgic? :)
HickysBoy 9 months ago
@hwy61media Did Paul Reubens aka Paul Reubenfeld aka Pee wee Herman totally take a lot from this man?
brianpadrickdrake 5 months ago
I used to have a PINKY LEE T-shirt when I was a kid in the early 60's...
cb3961 10 months ago
I had tears watching this, what joyful memories of simple times...such a quality show. Pinky was authentic & you can tell he loved what he was doing. Such fun...so glad it's on YOUTUBE. Thx for sharing this , I remembered getting a Pinky Lee hat!! MORE!!!
TheVirajster 10 months ago
@TheVirajster I'm happy to restore these fond memories for you :) -Michael
hwy61media 10 months ago
I Oh yeah, PINKY. The original entertainer. And from his "Shoe Store"I got a pair of those cool shiny girls shoes. We could all use PINKY these days. Think I'll watch this every morning with coffee, considering the current state of our country.
SpeegBJ 10 months ago
@SpeegBJ Do you still have those shoes? That would be something! Excellent idea you have about watching this every morning considering...
Thank you for commenting. -Michael
hwy61media 10 months ago
Pinky Lee was popular as a TV kid show host so they made him the sidekick to Roy Rogers in Roy's last three films at Republic. RR fans say that was the worst mistake Republic ever did because Lee's antics did not fit in with the Western sidekick motif. Lee had originally been a burlesque comic which explains a lot of his antics.
TheFrontrowkid 11 months ago
I'll be damned. Pinky Lee!!! On the show I remember "Clarabelle" the clown and a dog named "Bloopy" who gave me nightmares.
bartist11 11 months ago
I was born in 1948 and I'm proud to say that he is my 3rd cousin on my Dads' side, his real name was Pincus Leff , I never actually met him that I know of, my Dad passed away in 1990 and I never asked him if we went to meet him or anything, we may have for all I know! ( I named my girl dog after him, I call her Pinky Lee, she's 11 yrs old)
hoosiermoma 1 year ago
LOVE this!! I have a Pinky Lee T-shirt!! it is OLD and holey....great memories!
BaristadeCasa 1 year ago
my cat is named after him
orange3543 1 year ago
Wow. I was born in 1947 an we had a TV by 1949. I watched this, Howdy Doody, Winky Dink, and Kukla Fran & Ollie. I am amazed to see this show now and realize that Pinky was really a smooth entertainer...and yes, Pee Wee was inspired by this generation of kids show ...which is probably I love Pee Wee too!
gregsoni1 1 year ago
IT's GREAT TO SEE WHERE PEE WEE HERMAN GOT HIS CHOPS FROM!! GREAT POST ......!
drumbs 1 year ago
Total pedo
metronomic1 1 year ago
@avelotro As a 27 year old, I have never heard of Pinky Lee, my first thought that came to my mind was Pee Wee Herman. I guess thats how Pee Wee came about. I like this show!
demasters420 1 year ago 2
@demasters420 You're probably right though I'd rather not think about it, lol.
hwy61media 1 year ago
@demasters420 Yeah, I recently heard an interview with Pee Wee and he said Pinky Lee was an influence as he developed his character. BTW, he went for Pee Wee after being passed over for a Saturday Night Live job.
polecat9999 1 year ago
WOW, I feel like I'm a little girl again watching Pinky on TV. It's like a time capsule being opened. Lost memories are brought out of the deep parts of my brain. Wow.
oldcodyjr 1 year ago 4
@oldcodyjr Thank you. It's great to receive comments like these! -Michael
hwy61media 1 year ago
lol i heard that tis show was live and he died during it!!
MissOrange1997 1 year ago
@MissOrange1997 He died in 1993.
LODGE4444 1 year ago
the first thing i saw when my parents plugged in our brand new roundscreen console tv was Pinky Lee. i can see it like it was yesterday. i was thrilled then, and am thrilled now to see him again. thanks for posting.
lolfoxes 1 year ago 2
@lolfoxes This is a great comment. Thank you and thanks for watching. -Michael
hwy61media 1 year ago
never got to see this, a bit too young...but christ, going right into a live commercial from the opening...and people get upset a product placement today
who was more popular? pinky or soupie?
brabon1 1 year ago
wow do I ever remember this show
Tiebor12 1 year ago
Wow, I'm so glad I found this! Pinky Lee is actually a distant cousin of mine, his mom is sister to my great grandma. :-)
Interesting to see in-show advertising even in the 50's... and you can definitely see the influence this had on more recent children's shows.
StreamerET 1 year ago
So what do you suppose Pinky was on?
diptwares 1 year ago
O yes --- I remember! I LOVED Pinky Lee!
unprose 1 year ago
I have been tellng people for years that the Pinky Lee show was my favorite show when I was a kid. Nobody seems to remember it but me and thank goodness now I can show them these videos! I even owned a Pinky Lee blazer! Thanks so much for posting as this brings back wonderful childhood memories!
Larry
lfeinb9640 1 year ago
@lfeinb9640 - I remember it, and my aunt does too. She'd always rush home from high school to see American Bandstand, but my sister and I would either be watching Pinky or Howdy.
almostacowboy77 1 year ago
This is one of Pinky's Saturday morning shows [10-10:30am(et)] from 1955, sponsored this week by the manufacturers of "Weather Bird Shoes" {Tootsie Roll was another rotating sponsor}.
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
Thank you for giving me back a bit of my innocent childhood.
BKuchau 1 year ago
@BKuchau You're welcome :)
hwy61media 1 year ago
Grotesquely marvelous, marvelously grotesque.
freestuffffff 1 year ago
This guy looks like the local pedophile. He is just creepy. In the 50s this was alright, but if Pinky Lee came from the 1950s to 2010 parents would be calling the cops. And then I think he would get mugged by some street kids.
kdeviljay 1 year ago
@kdeviljay Hahaha. So true.
thecatatemyhomework 1 year ago
My mom tells me that as a baby I would wait for Pinky to pop that balloon at the show's opening....I would go crazy laughing and slobbering all over myself ! lmao
nitrofumes 1 year ago
@nitrofumes Thanks for that great story. I can just picture it :) Pinky was great!
hwy61media 1 year ago
I use to watch this show when my parents were not around. They didn't want me to watch the show because it was stupid. Now I know why America is so screwed up. Every family today is a Pinky Lee family.
happytrailstoyou999 1 year ago
LOL. You're so right my friend.
hwy61media 1 year ago
@happytrailstoyou999 Believe me, people aren't screwed up today from watching children's shows of the '50s. Maybe if things were as innocent now as they were back then things wouldn't be such a mess.
thecatatemyhomework 1 year ago
I watched his show every day, too, but all I seem to remember is that he danced, was funny, and had that funny checkered
jacket, I must have been maybe 18 mos old or 2 years old. That's all I remember of him! So great to see this now!!
nodlon20 1 year ago
It's great to hear from people who remember him!
hwy61media 1 year ago
Yea, Pinky was a dynamo...One time he ws looking right in the camera and feel to the ground clutching his chest...Crew thought he was having the big one, but later they said it was an upset stomach...I go with the first call...Oh, my parents saw him in Vegas with topless gals and he had a sparkler in his ass...Seems he was an old burlesque comic...Two sides to Pinky...LIVE TV...the best!
tvfats 1 year ago
Considering how much energy he put into this show, I would go with the first call too!
hwy61media 1 year ago
My grandmother took me to see him in person at a theater in the early 50s. Funny, I had forgotten all about it until I saw this clip.
Thanks!
XaurreauX 2 years ago
He must have been something to see!
hwy61media 1 year ago
Pinky Lee was replaced by Soupy Sales. Yup. I remember.
dimdimbaby 2 years ago
I remember watching him as a child....
A zany madman in a land in which adults could not be questioned.....
As an old man .... I see a clean young man who genuinely loves children...
Barry Grey my 6 year old best friend from across the street claimed him as "My Pinky Lee", Well God Bless Ya' Barry wherever life took ya'
shocktower70 2 years ago
Thank you. I think Pinky was the real deal :)
hwy61media 2 years ago
I was a member of Pinky's Peanut Gallery back in 1963. My Mother and I got tickets from one of the shoe stores in Eagle Rock that sold these shoes. I still have 8mm movies of meeting him. The shows for a whole week were taped on Saturday mornings. Serously, I may be in this show! Thanks for posting this.
grayhairandblueeyes 2 years ago
What a great experience! Your movies are real treasures.
hwy61media 2 years ago
Dear DarrenMuse, Pinky Lee was not a meth head..he didn't take drugs..he
exercised and he had a natural engery,talent & love for performing for kids and adults.
143AC 2 years ago 2
As a child I watched Pinky daily. It's so great to relive those happy times I spent glued to the tube. Pinky influenced not only Pee Wee Herman but also Soupy Sales, another of my favorites.
avelotro 2 years ago 5
@avelotro And Uncle Floyd too.
LODGE4444 1 year ago
There is no way a person can do this for a living without using alcohol and/or drugs.
Religionsrbogus 2 years ago
Possibly, but not necessarily. Don't think so 21st century!
WSenator1 2 years ago
I think Pee Wee Herman got his shtick from Pinky Lee!
chazzbird 2 years ago 3
I think that is very possible.
hwy61media 2 years ago
Pinky was more handsome than Michael Jackson, and sang almost as well.
VealParmigiana 2 years ago
What a great comment! That's one of the things I try to do :)
hwy61media 2 years ago