Rocketship 7
Encyclopedia
Rocketship 7 was a children's television series
that aired weekday mornings on WKBW-TV
in Buffalo, New York
from 1962 to 1978 and from 1992 to 1993.
The host of the show was Dave Thomas
, who had joined WKBW in 1961. Promo the Robot was the show's other main on-air character. The person inside Promo the Robot was, for several years, Johnny Banazak. Rocketship 7 featured segments with Thomas and Promo along with cartoons and other short programs such as Davey and Goliath
, and Gumby
. Thomas left the station in 1978 to join WPVI in Philadelphia, where he assumed the name "Dave Roberts" (He remained at WPVI until his retirement in 2009). When Roberts left, WKBW canceled Rocketship 7.
When The Commander Tom Show
was cancelled in 1991, WKBW decided to continue the "Commander Tom" character of Tom Jolls
by reviving Rocketship 7 as a weekly Saturday morning series. Airing at 7 AM, Captain Mike Randall
assumed hosting duties for this version of the show with his sidekick, Yeoman Bob (Stilson), with Commander Tom Jolls, Promo the Robot, and Captain Comic (Tim Warchocki) making guest appearances.
According to a recent Facebook post (2/9/11) by Mike Randall (current weatherman at WKBW-TV), "In January 1992 The NEW Rocketship 7 debuted on WKBW-TV IN Buffalo, NY. Created & Written by Bob Stilson. The Show Starred Mike Randall as Captain Mike, Bob Stilson as Yoeman Bob, Tom Jolls as Commander Tom, Charlie Mikolajczyk as Admiral Promo The Robot, Kathy Randall As Thema Louise."
Bob would always open the show with "Yo!" Cartoons aired included Super Chicken
and George of the Jungle
. To keep with the "Rocketship" theme, the station used the term "Planet Earth" as part of the station's mailing address for feedback and contests.
Rocketship 7 was cancelled for good in 1993, as infomercial
s, public affairs
, and educational/informational programming began to dominate the Saturday morning lineup.
Former WKBW-TV Graphic Designer and 3D animator Tim Warchocki (who played Captain Comic) is responsible for Promo the Robot's updated bright paint job. Prior to the 1992 version of Rocketship 7 Tim was asked to update the robot's look for a modern audience. The original body was gray and red.
Rocketship 7 is mentioned in "The X in the File
", an episode of the Fox
television series Bones
. In the episode, Agent Booth
is excited to see a photo from the show, and claims he watched it regularly as a child. Booth is played by David Boreanaz
, son of Dave Thomas.
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
that aired weekday mornings on WKBW-TV
WKBW-TV
WKBW-TV, channel 7, is the ABC affiliate for the Buffalo, New York television market, and is one of many local Buffalo TV stations seen over-the-air and on cable in Canada. Its transmitter is located at 8909 Center Street in Colden. The station is owned by the Granite Broadcasting Corporation, who...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
from 1962 to 1978 and from 1992 to 1993.
The host of the show was Dave Thomas
Dave Roberts (David Thomas Boreanaz)
David Thomas Boreanaz is a retired American television broadcaster who broadcast under the stage names Dave Thomas in Buffalo, New York, and Dave Roberts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the main weatherman for WPVI-TV in Philadelphia from 1983 until his retirement in 2009...
, who had joined WKBW in 1961. Promo the Robot was the show's other main on-air character. The person inside Promo the Robot was, for several years, Johnny Banazak. Rocketship 7 featured segments with Thomas and Promo along with cartoons and other short programs such as Davey and Goliath
Davey and Goliath
Davey and Goliath is a 1960s stop-motion animated children's Christian television series. The programs, produced by the Lutheran Church in America , were produced by Art Clokey after the success of his Gumby series.Each 15-minute episode features the adventures of Davey Hansen and his "talking"...
, and Gumby
Gumby
Gumby is a green clay humanoid character created and modeled by Art Clokey, who also created Davey and Goliath. Gumby has been the subject of a 233-episode series of American television as well as a feature-length film and other media...
. Thomas left the station in 1978 to join WPVI in Philadelphia, where he assumed the name "Dave Roberts" (He remained at WPVI until his retirement in 2009). When Roberts left, WKBW canceled Rocketship 7.
When The Commander Tom Show
Commander Tom Show
The Commander Tom Show was a children's television series that aired weekday afternoons on Channel 7 WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York, premiering on December 20, 1965.The host of the show was Tom Jolls, who had joined WKBW as a weatherman earlier in 1965...
was cancelled in 1991, WKBW decided to continue the "Commander Tom" character of Tom Jolls
Tom Jolls
Tom Jolls is a retired television weatherman at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York, where he worked for 34 years. He was also the star of the Commander Tom Show which had a 26-year run on WKBW....
by reviving Rocketship 7 as a weekly Saturday morning series. Airing at 7 AM, Captain Mike Randall
Mike Randall (entertainer)
Michael E. "Mike" Randall is an American actor, meteorologist and reporter from Buffalo, New York. He is best known for his long run on WKBW-TV, where he has been since 1983 and has been the chief meteorologist since 1999.-Television career:...
assumed hosting duties for this version of the show with his sidekick, Yeoman Bob (Stilson), with Commander Tom Jolls, Promo the Robot, and Captain Comic (Tim Warchocki) making guest appearances.
According to a recent Facebook post (2/9/11) by Mike Randall (current weatherman at WKBW-TV), "In January 1992 The NEW Rocketship 7 debuted on WKBW-TV IN Buffalo, NY. Created & Written by Bob Stilson. The Show Starred Mike Randall as Captain Mike, Bob Stilson as Yoeman Bob, Tom Jolls as Commander Tom, Charlie Mikolajczyk as Admiral Promo The Robot, Kathy Randall As Thema Louise."
Bob would always open the show with "Yo!" Cartoons aired included Super Chicken
Super Chicken
Super Chicken is a segment that ran on the animated television series George of the Jungle. It was produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott, who earlier had created the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons...
and George of the Jungle
George of the Jungle
George of the Jungle was an American animated series produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott, who created The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. The character George was inspired by the legend of Tarzan. It ran for 17 episodes on Saturday mornings from September 9 to December 30, 1967, on the American TV...
. To keep with the "Rocketship" theme, the station used the term "Planet Earth" as part of the station's mailing address for feedback and contests.
Rocketship 7 was cancelled for good in 1993, as infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
s, public affairs
Public affairs (broadcasting)
Public affairs, a broadcasting industry term, refers to television programs which focuses on matters of politics and public policy. Among commercial broadcasters, such programs are often only to satisfy Federal Communications Commission regulatory expectations and are not scheduled in prime time...
, and educational/informational programming began to dominate the Saturday morning lineup.
Former WKBW-TV Graphic Designer and 3D animator Tim Warchocki (who played Captain Comic) is responsible for Promo the Robot's updated bright paint job. Prior to the 1992 version of Rocketship 7 Tim was asked to update the robot's look for a modern audience. The original body was gray and red.
Rocketship 7 is mentioned in "The X in the File
Bones (season 5)
The fifth season of the American television series Bones premiered on September 17, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2010, on the Fox Network. The show maintained its previous time slot, airing on Thursdays at 8:00 pm ET for the entire season...
", an episode of the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television series Bones
Bones (TV series)
Bones is an American crime drama television series that premiered on the Fox Network on September 13, 2005. The show is based on forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology, with each episode focusing on an FBI case file concerning the mystery behind human remains brought by FBI Special Agent...
. In the episode, Agent Booth
Seeley Booth
FBI Special Agent "In charge" Seeley Joseph Booth is a fictional character in the US television series, Bones , portrayed by David Boreanaz. Agent Booth is a co-protagonist of the series alongside Dr...
is excited to see a photo from the show, and claims he watched it regularly as a child. Booth is played by David Boreanaz
David Boreanaz
David Boreanaz is an American actor, television producer, and director, known for his role as Angel on the supernatural drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, and as Special Agent Seeley Booth on the television crime drama Bones....
, son of Dave Thomas.