Judy Valentine
Encyclopedia
Judy Valentine an American singer and actress, was born 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts. While still a teenager, Valentine began singing professionally in local nightclubs. At 22, she married songwriter/disc-jockey Sherm Feller
, who assumed an active role in promoting her career.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s she recorded a series of hits including “I'm a Little Teapot
”, “Kiss Me Sweet” (given the distinction of being banned by CBS
due to Valentine’s suggestive delivery of the refrain ‘Kiss my little . . . cares away’ [unintentional, according to the artist]), and “She Was Five And He Was Ten” (co-penned by Feller), all of which showcased her child-like soprano. At this time, her husband hosted radio station WEEI’s musical variety program Club Midnight, where Valentine found herself periodically taking over duties for the absent Feller, who had a fondness for cards. The marriage eventually dissolved and in 1960 Valentine was approached by Boston television station WHDH
/Channel 5 to appear in a summer television children’s series ultimately titled Judy and Goggle. Goggle was a hand-puppet and operated by then unknown puppeteer Carroll Spinney (later known as ‘Big Bird
’ of Sesame Street
).
The success of Judy and Goggle led to its performers being asked to join the cast of The Bozo Show
, where Valentine appeared as Bozo’s sidekick, singing popular children’s songs and dancing. The show ran for 12 years, and was likely the most successful of the Bozo the Clown
franchises, subsequently being selected in 1970 for U.S. national broadcast syndication (Valentine’s performances were omitted from syndication prints in order to avoid the necessity of paying music-related royalties.) During this same period, Valentine made a series of guest appearances as 'The Dancing Doll' and 'Bixter the Leprechaun' on the long-running Captain Kangaroo
show, and was featured in several now well-known radio and television commercials (“How many cookies did Andrew eat? Andrew 8-8000” [Adams & Swett]). Following the cancellation of "Bozo" in 1970, she took a several-year hiatus to raise her two children from a second marriage. Valentine later resumed work in commercials and theater but did not return to serial television performance. She has done considerable charity work for children’s causes, and still makes media appearances from time to time. A compilation of her recorded vocal performances, "Favorites, Vol. I," was released in 2007. Her son is composer/pianist Ross Berkal.
Sherm Feller
Sherm Feller , was an American musical composer and radio personality, perhaps best known for serving as the public address announcer for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park for 26 years....
, who assumed an active role in promoting her career.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s she recorded a series of hits including “I'm a Little Teapot
I'm a Little Teapot
"The Teapot Song" is a song describing the heating and pouring of a teapot or tea kettle. The song was originally written by George Harold Sanders and Clarence Z...
”, “Kiss Me Sweet” (given the distinction of being banned by CBS
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...
due to Valentine’s suggestive delivery of the refrain ‘Kiss my little . . . cares away’ [unintentional, according to the artist]), and “She Was Five And He Was Ten” (co-penned by Feller), all of which showcased her child-like soprano. At this time, her husband hosted radio station WEEI’s musical variety program Club Midnight, where Valentine found herself periodically taking over duties for the absent Feller, who had a fondness for cards. The marriage eventually dissolved and in 1960 Valentine was approached by Boston television station WHDH
WHDH
The call letters WHDH may represent:* WHDH : a television station in Boston, Massachusetts that currently exists...
/Channel 5 to appear in a summer television children’s series ultimately titled Judy and Goggle. Goggle was a hand-puppet and operated by then unknown puppeteer Carroll Spinney (later known as ‘Big Bird
Big Bird
Big Bird is a protagonist of the children's television show Sesame Street. Big Bird, like many of the other Sesame Street characters, is a Muppet character. He is sometimes referred to simply as "Bird" by his friends....
’ of Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
).
The success of Judy and Goggle led to its performers being asked to join the cast of The Bozo Show
The Bozo Show
The Bozo Show is a locally-produced children's television program that aired on WGN-TV in Chicago and nationally on what is now WGN America. Recognized as the most popular and successful locally-produced children's program in the history of television, it only aired under this title for 14 of its...
, where Valentine appeared as Bozo’s sidekick, singing popular children’s songs and dancing. The show ran for 12 years, and was likely the most successful of the Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
franchises, subsequently being selected in 1970 for U.S. national broadcast syndication (Valentine’s performances were omitted from syndication prints in order to avoid the necessity of paying music-related royalties.) During this same period, Valentine made a series of guest appearances as 'The Dancing Doll' and 'Bixter the Leprechaun' on the long-running Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
show, and was featured in several now well-known radio and television commercials (“How many cookies did Andrew eat? Andrew 8-8000” [Adams & Swett]). Following the cancellation of "Bozo" in 1970, she took a several-year hiatus to raise her two children from a second marriage. Valentine later resumed work in commercials and theater but did not return to serial television performance. She has done considerable charity work for children’s causes, and still makes media appearances from time to time. A compilation of her recorded vocal performances, "Favorites, Vol. I," was released in 2007. Her son is composer/pianist Ross Berkal.