Network: CTV Television Network
Broadcast Run: 1962 to 1963
Broadcast Medium: Television
Johnny Jellybean was a character created for children’s television in the U.S. by comedian Ted Ziegler, who came to Canada in 1962 and hosted and produced the Johnny Jellybean show out of CFCF Montreal. He wore a perennial beanie, and a large bow tie, and developed a series of characters including the Old Wrangler, but one of the children’s favourite spots was when Johnny demolished the overly chatty “squawkbox”. While basically oriented toward a young audience, the show had many elements which were also entertaining for adults.
The half-hour series played once a week at 4:30pm on Wednesdays on CTV in 1962-63, but continued for several years in Canada in syndication. Ziegler and his sidekick Peter Cullen later went to Los Angeles to work in television there.