Winky Dink and You (1/3)

Winky Dink and You was an early childrens' interactive television show. Its interactivity made it innovative for the time. Apparently viewers could purchase Winky Dink kits which contained a magic window that clung to the television screen with static electricity.

Children drew on the window with magic crayons while watching the show. Hosted by Jack Barry, the program aired on Saturday mornings on CBS and ran from 1953 to 1957.

Does anyone remember this program?

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Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• winky
• dink
• and
• you
• childrens'
• programming
• interactive
• television
• vintage
• classic
• early
• old
• tv
• series
• family
• entertainment

[dancingrizz]

I drew on the tv and got my ass beat

[hwy61media]

@dancingrizz Risky business, lol. -Michael

[emptynester7985]

This was one of my favorites also, I saved the vinyl "magic screen" also, until the material started degrading and got gooey. I like telling the youngsters about the show, and wonder if there is anything similar to it today, using a website?

[hwy61media]

@emptynester7985 This is an interesting story. I don't know about any shows like this today but it wouldn't be good for kids to draw on a computer screen, lol :) -Michael

[vozpit]

My mom used to tell me a story about this show. She said she wrote a letter to TVGuide saying that you could just use Saran Wrap instead of the magic screen & that TVGuide printed it. This is the first time I've ever seen the actual show. Thanks for posting!!

[hwy61media]

@vozpit Great story. I'm glad you got to see it.

[fromthesidelines]

"WINKY DINK AND YOU" was on CBS' Saturday morning schedule, either at 10:30 or 11am (et), depending on the season. Mae Questel, best known as the voices of Betty Boop, Olive Oyl and Little Audrey in Paramount theatrical cartoons, was Winky's voice.

[jeopardy60611]

My mother told me she used to watch this show and had the kit. Just as Jack Barry said to do, my mother shared the crayons with her sister.

In this day and age, there could be computer software to draw with a mouse on top of a video image--sort of like "telestrating."

[johnissoevil]

I wasn't around yet when this show aired (born in 76, so my earliest memory of Jack was, of course, The Joker's Wild). I don't suppose they'd do something like this nowadays to put over an HD screen, considering how sensitive those things are.

[johnissoevil]

@dancingrizz You weren't the only one...many parents whose kids either didn't own the kit or had yet to buy it had complained to CBS that the show had caused their children to draw on their TV screens, and it was one of the factors that lead CBS to decide to cancel the show.

[Maese91]

I watched these shows and learned from them.

[markcruiser64]

@Juliaflo With I-pad technology and touchscreen utilization this could be used in new and future kids TV shows.

[Juliaflo]

@markcruiser64 I ask that question myself.

[emvolunteer]

@dbilyeu Just the thought of the screen and crayons and I CAN smell that specific smell. I thought I was the only one. Great, fun show for us 1950's kids!

[dbilyeu]

I could not remember the show or what the plastic screen was called, but a google search found it. It is the first TV show I remember watching, and oddly what I recall the most is the smell and feel of the "magic window." Does anyone else remember the particular smell of the thing? It wasn't a bad smell, just unusual. Smells jog my memory better than anything else.

[spiritwarriorwoman]

LOVED this show as a kid, back in the dark ages. ;o)

[Kohdok]

@hwy61media Yeah, you'd think there'd be an app for it by now.