Ramblin' Rod Anders
Encyclopedia
Ramblin' Rod Anders born Rodney Carl Andersen, was the host of The Ramblin' Rod Show, a morning children's program, from 1964 until his retirement on August 8, 1997. The Portland, Oregon
KPTV
host was well known locally for his iconic, button-covered sweater, which he wore on air. He is also said to have been a source of inspiration for Krusty the Clown, a character on the long-running, animated sitcom The Simpsons
.
. He began his career in radio broadcasting in the 1950s, singing and playing music on Saturday mornings for Tillamook radio station KTIL. He stayed with KTIL until he was drafted into the armed forces, where he served as a radio repairman. When his tenure was up, he returned to radio, filling on-air positions at KFLW, KXL
, and KPOJ
.
While working for KPOJ, Anders heard of an opening for a children's show called Popeye's Pier 12 on KPTV. He replaced Bob Adkins (better known as "Addie Bobkins") in Popeye's Pier 12. In the early 1970s Popeye's Pier 12 was renamed the Ramblin' Rod Show.
By the late 1970s Anders had begun to put message buttons on his cardigan, all of which were given to him by adoring fans. Within a few years, most of his cardigan was covered in buttons. Over the years, he collected these buttons, and stored them in a hanger. At the time of his death, Anders had collected over 25,000 buttons from his guests.
Each year, Anders helped anchor the KPTV local coverage of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and the Easter Seals Telethon. He also was the in-house studio announcer for KPTV for many years.
In his retirement, Anders enjoyed flying and spending time with his family. He died in May 2002 of a stroke, suffered while making a personal appearance at a Portland store. Years after his death, his fanbase continues to pay tribute to him in the form of websites, blog posts and a Facebook page. In autumn of 2011, the Fizz Soda and Candy Shop, located in Portland, added a "shrine" to Anders.
, Hanna-Barbera
and Popeye
cartoons and also hosted a "smile contest," featuring the grade school audience as contestants. Anders began each show by arriving on the set on a mobile tug-boat prop. The series, originally entitled "Popeye's Pier 12", had several marine-themed characters but they were phased out over time.
The set of "The Ramblin' Rod Show" remained simple throughout its tenure. Anders introduced each guest, spoke with them, celebrated birthdays, played old cartoons, and hosted smile contests. In the early years, he played guitar and had a skunk puppet named Petunia, which he phased out in later years.
Smile contest winners and children celebrating their birthdays were entitled to free Pop Shoppe soda
.
to create the character Krusty the Clown, the bitter host of a fictional children's program on The Simpsons
. Groening, who grew up in Portland, was likely aware of Anders' show on KPTV. Although, in interviews, Groening has mentioned that Anders' predecessor on KPTV, a clown named Rusty Nails
, was the muse for Krusty.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
KPTV
KPTV
KPTV is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Portland, Oregon market, which includes most of the state of Oregon and portions of Southwest Washington. KPTV is owned by the Meredith Corporation in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate KPDX , with its studios located in Beaverton and...
host was well known locally for his iconic, button-covered sweater, which he wore on air. He is also said to have been a source of inspiration for Krusty the Clown, a character on the long-running, animated sitcom The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
.
Biography
Anders grew up in Multnomah County, OregonMultnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
. He began his career in radio broadcasting in the 1950s, singing and playing music on Saturday mornings for Tillamook radio station KTIL. He stayed with KTIL until he was drafted into the armed forces, where he served as a radio repairman. When his tenure was up, he returned to radio, filling on-air positions at KFLW, KXL
KXL
- External links :*...
, and KPOJ
KPOJ
KPOJ is a radio station located in the Portland, Oregon, area. It airs a progressive talk format and was an original Air America Radio affiliate.-History:...
.
While working for KPOJ, Anders heard of an opening for a children's show called Popeye's Pier 12 on KPTV. He replaced Bob Adkins (better known as "Addie Bobkins") in Popeye's Pier 12. In the early 1970s Popeye's Pier 12 was renamed the Ramblin' Rod Show.
By the late 1970s Anders had begun to put message buttons on his cardigan, all of which were given to him by adoring fans. Within a few years, most of his cardigan was covered in buttons. Over the years, he collected these buttons, and stored them in a hanger. At the time of his death, Anders had collected over 25,000 buttons from his guests.
Each year, Anders helped anchor the KPTV local coverage of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and the Easter Seals Telethon. He also was the in-house studio announcer for KPTV for many years.
In his retirement, Anders enjoyed flying and spending time with his family. He died in May 2002 of a stroke, suffered while making a personal appearance at a Portland store. Years after his death, his fanbase continues to pay tribute to him in the form of websites, blog posts and a Facebook page. In autumn of 2011, the Fizz Soda and Candy Shop, located in Portland, added a "shrine" to Anders.
Show
The show highlighted Looney TunesLooney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
, Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
and Popeye
Popeye
Popeye the Sailor is a cartoon fictional character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who has appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons in the cinema as well as on television. He first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929...
cartoons and also hosted a "smile contest," featuring the grade school audience as contestants. Anders began each show by arriving on the set on a mobile tug-boat prop. The series, originally entitled "Popeye's Pier 12", had several marine-themed characters but they were phased out over time.
The set of "The Ramblin' Rod Show" remained simple throughout its tenure. Anders introduced each guest, spoke with them, celebrated birthdays, played old cartoons, and hosted smile contests. In the early years, he played guitar and had a skunk puppet named Petunia, which he phased out in later years.
Smile contest winners and children celebrating their birthdays were entitled to free Pop Shoppe soda
The Pop Shoppe
The Pop Shoppe was a soft drink retailer originating in 1969 at London, Ontario, Canada. The Pop Shoppe avoided using traditional retail channels, selling its pop through franchised outlets and its own stores in refillable bottles in 24-cartons....
.
Krusty the Clown Inspiration
A decades-old rumor claims that Anders inspired Matt GroeningMatt Groening
Matthew Abram "Matt" Groening is an American cartoonist, screenwriter, and producer. He is the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell as well as two successful television series, The Simpsons and Futurama....
to create the character Krusty the Clown, the bitter host of a fictional children's program on The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. Groening, who grew up in Portland, was likely aware of Anders' show on KPTV. Although, in interviews, Groening has mentioned that Anders' predecessor on KPTV, a clown named Rusty Nails
Rusty Nails
Jim Allen portrayed the clown character Rusty Nails and was the host of various children's television shows in the Portland, Oregon, U.S. television market from 1957–1972...
, was the muse for Krusty.
See also
- List of local children's television series (United States)
- Apple Valley Airport (Oregon)Apple Valley Airport (Oregon)Apple Valley Airport is a private airport located one mile southeast of Buxton in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Built in 1994 by a Portland TV personality, the subsequent owners have pushed to expand operations at the airport. Near U.S...