Does anyone remember "Ida Mae and Happy"?
Pittsburgh:The following is an excerpt of an email which was forwarded to PBRTV by a friend.
I remember as a child listening to the television and watching a local Pittsburgh children's program that starred Ida Mae and Happy. Not sure if it was Dumont or KDKA or public television though. She used to visit a parent at the Woodlawn Sanatorium in Moniger Pennsylvania. I lived across the street from the sanatorium. She always had her puppet Happy with her and would announce her arrival with a melodic beep of her horn. I am pretty sure it played the theme from her show??? She was so kind to a little fan. I have been searching the web for any information but have had no luck.
The cracked staff of PBRTV has also done a little bit of research and has come up with very little information. Therefore, we turn it over to you...our readers. Leave a comment by clicking the button below and we'll pass it on!
Readers’ Forum
I remember Ida Mae & Happy. They came to our school when I was in the 1st or 2nd grade (1948-49). They were always promoting dental health. When Happy had something to say, he would whisper it Ida Mae’s ear and she would relate the message, something usually on the order of “Brush after every meal and you’ll have happy teeth”. I remember her with great fondness.
Tony Gentilcore - June 28, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Ida Mae & Happy were on in the early 50’s. Not sure if it was Dumont or KDKA at that time. She also visited local schools and promoted dental health.
R Johnston - June 29, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I vaugely remember this show. A link by Google search is http://imdb.com/title/tt0324842/usercomm..
Louis Doutt - July 05, 2007 at 10:42 pm
In the 48-49 era I was always happy to see Happy and Ida Mae. She was the sweetest person to us kids and left us feeling good inside although we would have liked to hear more from happy personally…insert smiley….....
paul rush - August 10, 2007 at 09:04 am
I believe Ida Mae’s last name was “Stilly” but I’m not sure of the spelling.
I believe she was the dental hygienist for Allegheny County Health Department.
She was a personal friend of my parents and used to visit our row house on Washington Blvd.
That would have been 1948-1950 time frame.
KDKA (WDTV at that time), WQED or the health department should have some picture of her with Happy.
Happy was a black and white furry mutt.
Lee Schaeffer (URL) - October 01, 2007 at 11:40 pm
I remember Ida Mae & Happy coming to Dilworth Grade School back in the late 50’s & early 60’s. It was always a big deal when she came and she’d leave us pictures of Happy promoting good dental health to color. Too bad there’s not more info on her. She was very nice.
Marc Bodell - April 29, 2008 at 08:08 am
Ida Mae Stilley was on WDTV/KDKA-TV with the Happy Show, and she visited local schools. I believe she was associated with the County Board of Health and may have had some connection to the School Board. I remember her at James E. Rogers School when I was in kindergarten. Her visit, and Happy’s, was quite an event and the cause of great excitement.
mike silverstein - May 20, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I too have fond memories of Ida Mae and Happy. I remember watching her on TV, and I remember her visiting John Morrow School in the early fifties. She was a part of a very special era, the post war baby boomer era, of which I am one of the first.
Bob Eich,
Pittsburgh
Bob Eich - June 06, 2008 at 11:38 am
I was on the Ida Mae & Happy show. I remember sitting in a peanut gallery and presenting a book to see if a magic key would open it. Mine was not the lucky book. Happy was a little dog puppet. Very cute.
Simba - March 11, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I remember Ms Mae and “Happy” coming to my school, James E Rogers, on Columbo Street IN Pittsburgh, when I was in second grade 1960 or 61. Happy passed out toothbrushes to the kids.
greg young - April 07, 2010 at 5:29 pm
I remember when I was in the first grade, Ida Mae came to our grade school with her puppet Happy. If you got a checkup that showed no oavaties, I think you would receive a patch with Happy’s likeness embroiderd on the patch. It could be sewn on a sleeve. I think it was in 1951
stanich - June 12, 2010 at 11:04 pm
I remember when I was in first and second grade at Mary Jane Cowley and going to the show and sitting in the gallery; and also being the “happy” girl who sat in the main hallway and “sold” (ten cents) happy toothbrushes every morning. That was indeed a happy time in my life.
Darlene - July 15, 2011 at 2:45 pm
I was a dancer from a local dancing school in Canonsburg, PA and was a regular on her show. I was on it 17 times and she would call my mom a few days before I performed on her show to ask what color costume I was wearing so she could have one made for Happy. She gave me a little dog that looked like Happy every time I was on the show. I believe that my mother saved one and has it in her collection of dolls.
Judy Pallaria Bunting - September 12, 2011 at 9:33 pm