A Zipper for Pee-Wee Herman

Ethel O' Grady

History of Television
December 3, 1996

Leaders in childrens television are and always have been

concerned about
what programs actually make it on the air. Most early programming for
children
of school age in the 1950's was the western program. Another type was
the
science-fiction thriller which tended to be based on hero's from the
radio,
comics, and films. However, a favorite of the youngest audience was the
children's equivalent of the variety show. This usually contained
circus,
puppet, and/or animal segments. "Super Circus", which aired in 1949,
consisted
of music, circus acts, animals, and of course, clowns.

In 1952, yet another type of program came about which reached a

very
similiar audience as the circus variety shows. It was called "The Ding
Dong
School". The Ding Dong School offered the conversation, low-key
instruction,
commercials, and entertainment of Miss. Frances, a professional teacher.

With the help of these types of shows, a new genre was born.
Children's
television which was a mixture of songs, education, fun, and a whole
lot more.
In 1969, the first airing of "Sesame Street" took place. Sesame Street
had
programs which were sponsored by different letters of the alphabet or
numbers
each day, and relied on very short, animated cartoons with live and
puppet
segments which kept the interest of preschool children. The show was an
instant outstanding success, and still broadcasts today.

In 1970, "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" was born. Mr. Fred Roger's

used
puppets and music to teach patience and cooperation, while providing
guidance
to help children cope with feelings and frustrations. Mr. Roger's land
of
makebelieve's handpuppet characters interacted with humans in the
mythical
kingdom of King Friday XIII. There, the puppets and humans would deal
with
their feelings and emotions as they solve typical, everyday problems.
 This new genre of programming was a sensation. The children
loved it,
and the parents approved of it. During the following years, many new
shows
came about which still fit this genre. In the year 1986, yet another
show was
born into childrens television. "Pee-Wee's Playhouse". This series,
starring
host Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) used animation, puppets, and vintage
cartoons to entertain and educate its audience. Between Pee-Wee Herman
and his
extraordinary playhouse, children were given the opportunity to let
their
imaginations go crazy.

The "playhouse" had no permanent residents, that is, besides the

furnishings. Not ordinary furnishings, you see, Pee-Wee's furnishings
could
move, talk, dance, and sing. These "characters" could be seen at the
playhouse on a regular basis. Some of the favorites were: Globey, a
talking
globe who would show Pee-Wee the countries that his pen-pal's letters
came
from; Magic Screen, a toy of Pee-Wee's that enabled him to actually get
"inside the screen" and play a life-size game of connect the dots;
Konkie, a
talking robot which revealed the secret word of the day; and of course
Genie,
who granted Pee-

Wee one wish a day.

The playhouse also welcomed a series of visitors during each

episode,
which could also be seen on a regular basis. Some of these favorites
included:
Rina the mail-lady, who came to deliver Pee-Wee's pen-pal letters
everyday;
Miss Yvonne, who Pee-Wee referred to the most beautiful woman in
Puppetland;
and of course the King of Cartoons who brought the "vintage cartoon of
the day"
to Pee-Wee.

Besides the spectacular furnishings and outrageous visitors,

the
television show also had an unusual daily theme. This theme could have
been
anything from "a fire in the playhouse", "a trip to another planet",
or even
"Pee-Wee getting sick". In all of these situations, Pee-Wee stressed
the
importance of friendship, sharing, and just being nice.

One particular show, "Monster in the Playhouse", was about being

in the
dark. Pee-Wee explains that when your with your friends, the dark is
less
spooky. Suddenly Mrs. Steve, a neighbor of Pee-Wee's, begins panicking
because
she thinks there's a monster on the loose. Just then, a great monster
with one
eye and one leg enters the playhouse. His name is Roger, and he stays
and plays
with Pee-Wee. All of a sudden Roger's mother is on the picture-phone
saying
that Roger is late for dinner. This show ends with Pee-Wee's elaborate
closing: Pee-Wee mounting his scooter with Roger and giving him a ride
home.

Unfortunately, Pee-Wee's Playhouse came to an startling end only

five
years later. Why? Well, on July 26, 1991, Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee
Herman) was
arrested for indecent exposure in a porno-theater. This incident both
shocked
and worried the leaders of children's television programming due to the
morals,
ethics, and values of the society during that time. Questions flooded
the
minds of parents, teachers, and officials. People began to fear that
Pee-Wee
was perhaps a poor role-model for their youngsters.

The real question is this: Should Pee-Wee's behavior have been

such a
shock to society? Lets look a little deeper into Pee-Wee's Playhouse.
This
children's television show was actually a refined version of Paul
Reuben's
nightclub act: "The Pee-Wee Herman Show". It is difficult to imagine
that
anyone who had seen his nightclub act, actually agreed to run Pee-Wee's
Playhouse during Saturday morning, children's programming.

The Pee-Wee Herman Show can best be described as an adult

version of
Pee-Wee's Playhouse. Paul Reubens played the part of Pee-Wee Herman, a
boy who
acts out his infantile sexuality by "playing doctor" with the ladies and
looking up women's skirts. Numerous accounts of sexual innuendo's are
made by
Pee-Wee during the entire show.

I don't think Pee-Wee Herman ever gave the impression that he

was a "Mr.
Rogers-Captain Kangeroo" kind of role model for children. Pee-Wee was
who he
was: a creative comedian who had a clever way of looking at life
through the
eyes of a child. Whether he was a disgusting pervert or just plain
human, his
television show and movies were a huge success.
 Though no longer in syndication, Pee-Wee's Playhouse's fire
still
continues to burn. There is now a collection of video tapes available
which
allow Pee-Wee to be where he belongs: in the center of family room's
across
the country.

Long live Pee-Wee Herman!

Works Cited:

Textbook:

Christopher Sterling & John Kittros. Stay Tuned: A Concise

History of
American Broadcasting (Revised Edition). (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1990)

The Museum of Television and Radio (NYC):

1. Pee-Wee's Playhouse: A Fire in the Playhouse

2. Mr. Rogers Neighborhood: Superhero's

3. Before They Were Stars III (TV)

4. Comic Relief, pt. 2 of 5 (1986)

5. Television, pt 8: The Promise of Television

6. Andrew Dice Clay: For Ladies Only

7. The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years