Patricia Merbreier
Encyclopedia
Patricia "Pat" Merbreier (July 12, 1924 – June 23, 2011) was an American
television personality and actress. She was best known for playing Mrs. Noah on the Philadelphia-based WPVI syndicated children's program, Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
, for approximately 3,600 episodes between 1967 and 1994. Her real life husband, W. Carter Merbreier, who played Captain Noah, created and co-hosted the show.
Born Patricia Bosley, she majored in vocal studies at Oberlin College
. she began singing opera in Cleveland, Ohio
in 1946. Merbreier switched to roles in television commercials as television gained popularity. She also worked as an "industrial show entrepreneur
" and a model
, according to an article published by the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1975.
Merbreier's husband, W. Carter Merbreier, an ordained Lutheran minister, created Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
in 1967 in conjunction with the Philadelphia Council of Churches. It initially started as a religious program, but switched to a children's television format in 1970. Pat Merbreier co-hosted the show as Mrs. Noah alongside her husband from 1967 to 1994. In addition to co-hosting the series as "Mrs. Noah", she also acted as the show's chief puppeteer
. Funding for a the original puppeteer's salary
ran out during the show's 13th week on-air, so Pat Merbreier took over the role. Some of her more well known puppets included Maurice the Mouse
, Mumwup the Monster and Wally the Walrus
.
The show was syndicated and broadcasted to television stations in twenty-two media market
nationwide at its peak popularity. Numerous celebrities appeared opposite Merbreier during the course of the show, including Jon Stewart
, Elvis Presley
, Jim Henson
, Charles Barkley
and the Philly Phanatic, who was introduced to the public on the Captain Noah show in April 1978. The Merbreiers decided to retire and end the show in 1994.
Patricia Merbreier was a member of the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. In 2001, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia jointly honored W. Carter and Patricia Merbreier as their "Persons of the Year". Both insisted that their names be listed as Captain Noah and Mrs. Noah on their award.
, after a long illness, on June 23, 2011, aged 86. Her funeral and burial was held at the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ardmore. She was survived by her husband, W. Carter Merbreier and their daughter, Pam Cowie, as well as two granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television personality and actress. She was best known for playing Mrs. Noah on the Philadelphia-based WPVI syndicated children's program, Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
Captain Noah and His Magical Ark was a television program for children and was generally broadcast around the Philadelphia area. The series aired from 1967 to 1994. It was film and produced at the WPVI-TV, Channel 6 studios in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Captain Noah and His Magical Ark, was...
, for approximately 3,600 episodes between 1967 and 1994. Her real life husband, W. Carter Merbreier, who played Captain Noah, created and co-hosted the show.
Born Patricia Bosley, she majored in vocal studies at Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
. she began singing opera in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
in 1946. Merbreier switched to roles in television commercials as television gained popularity. She also worked as an "industrial show entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
" and a model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, according to an article published by the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1975.
Merbreier's husband, W. Carter Merbreier, an ordained Lutheran minister, created Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
Captain Noah and His Magical Ark
Captain Noah and His Magical Ark was a television program for children and was generally broadcast around the Philadelphia area. The series aired from 1967 to 1994. It was film and produced at the WPVI-TV, Channel 6 studios in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Captain Noah and His Magical Ark, was...
in 1967 in conjunction with the Philadelphia Council of Churches. It initially started as a religious program, but switched to a children's television format in 1970. Pat Merbreier co-hosted the show as Mrs. Noah alongside her husband from 1967 to 1994. In addition to co-hosting the series as "Mrs. Noah", she also acted as the show's chief puppeteer
Puppeteer
A puppeteer is a person who manipulates an inanimate object, such as a puppet, in real time to create the illusion of life. The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden from the audience. A puppeteer can operate a puppet indirectly by the use of strings, rods, wires, electronics or directly by his or...
. Funding for a the original puppeteer's salary
Salary
A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
ran out during the show's 13th week on-air, so Pat Merbreier took over the role. Some of her more well known puppets included Maurice the Mouse
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
, Mumwup the Monster and Wally the Walrus
Walrus
The walrus is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous circumpolar distribution in the Arctic Ocean and sub-Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living species in the Odobenidae family and Odobenus genus. It is subdivided into three subspecies: the Atlantic...
.
The show was syndicated and broadcasted to television stations in twenty-two media market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
nationwide at its peak popularity. Numerous celebrities appeared opposite Merbreier during the course of the show, including Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is an American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian...
, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Jim Henson
Jim Henson
James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
, Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley is a former American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominating power forwards...
and the Philly Phanatic, who was introduced to the public on the Captain Noah show in April 1978. The Merbreiers decided to retire and end the show in 1994.
Patricia Merbreier was a member of the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. In 2001, the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia jointly honored W. Carter and Patricia Merbreier as their "Persons of the Year". Both insisted that their names be listed as Captain Noah and Mrs. Noah on their award.
Death
She died at her home at the Shannondell in Audubon, PennsylvaniaAudubon, Pennsylvania
Audubon is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,433 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Audubon is located at in the township of Lower Providence....
, after a long illness, on June 23, 2011, aged 86. Her funeral and burial was held at the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ardmore. She was survived by her husband, W. Carter Merbreier and their daughter, Pam Cowie, as well as two granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.