WGN Channel 9 - Ray Rayner and His Friends (Nearly Complete Broadcast, 11/5/1979) 📺

[@IznbranahlGoose]

Ray Rayner was an important part of our day. I didn’t quite remember until re-watching this but in addition to cartoons, crafts and puppets he was ‘our’ morning news show with sports, weather, and most importantly - school closings during winter storms.

[@Nsan]

Yes! When Ray announced that my school was closed I always got soo happy

[@boyd-u9t]

I truly loved Ray and Frazier. I had a bad home life and the shows on WGN in the 60s were a blessing.

[@luisreyes1963]

For me as a school kid in Chicago, the best part of waking up was catching Ray Rayner on TV before leaving for school. Thanks for the memories. 📺

[@concorde2003]

Not Folger's in Your Cup?

[@luisreyes1963]

​@@concorde2003 I was too young for coffee. ☕

[@shawnmcculley2995]

I miss these 1970s kid shows. So many happy memories. 😊

[@jimmyb1559]

I love the way the show seemed to be unscripted and relaxed. They all seem to have had as much fun as we did watching.

[@KOOLBadger]

They were drinking..😂❤❤

[@jimmyb1559]

@@KOOLBadger HaHa! You could be right! 😂

[@MsMadmax1]

This show holds a lot of fond memories for me. If I was sick or it was a snow day, I could watch all of Ray Raynor, Garfield Goose and at lunchtime, Bozo! I lived in the S.E. suburbs for 56 of my 62 years. It was a great time to grow up. Now I live in another state, but my heart will always be in Chicago.

[@TomsChevelle]

Ray got me through the hell of grade school. R.I.P. Ray Rayner.

[@robertonline6543]

Me too I miss Ray and those flash Gordon serials

[@shirleyvitela3272]

And high-school, too! Wish we had some of his Thanksgiving shows available. Watching him carve those cold turkeys was always such a hoot.

[@WalterDWormack214]

@@shirleyvitela3272 You DO know that carving those turkeys, was Ray's way of getting his REVENGE on "Chelveston The Duck"! Because Chelveston the Duck, TERRIFIED poor Mr. Rayner! P.S., Do any of you remember the OTHER WGN-TV after-school children's programs that Ray Rayner hosted?

[@shirleyvitela3272]

@@WalterDWormack214 yes, I recall reading several times that Chelveston terrified him. And you could sure see it in Ray's body language!

[@jonjonas2528]

Long live Ray Rayner the greatest host in history he was so nice and kind Ray Rayner will live forever

[@ravensheldon1543]

We did that every morning before we went to school

[@KOOLBadger]

I love him. I watched him everyday before school. So did my brothers and sisters!❤😊

[@aruglaempire2518]

Ray Rayner a true Chicago GEM.

[@TerrenceAlanRamsey-x7y]

The days I didn't go to school, I'd watch Ray Rayner! But almost every time he'd say "Bye bye bye!", I felt like crying! That day, 11/5/79, I was preparing for the bus stop at the corner block of my neighborhood; a little 12 yr old, 6th grader!!

[@TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

Just incredible history here. Brings back memories of sitting home on a snow day in front of the television set

[@TS1964]

If only kids had real, simple, sincere shows like Ray Rayner and Garfield Goose to wake up too. I really do miss the Chicago I grew up in. Nice to be brought back in time.

[@wendyeames5758]

Life is so complex now, too complicated much if the time even for adults. I agree, a variety show aimed at kids with a host who's authentic, down to earth & wouldn't talk down to kids would be great. Not flash, craziness & commercialism. Kids get too much of that already.

[@robertonline6543]

Same here. I miss old Chicago. Especially Xmas on state Street. ,Kiddieland animal kingdom. Good times plus son of svengoolie and bozo. Larry lujack, Murphy, the loop . I miss those times

[@KOOLBadger]

​@@robertonline6543my great grandfather built Kiddieland!

[@donaldheisler4322]

Ray was on our tv every morning while we were getting ready for school and eating our morning cereal. My love for Warner Brothers cartoon's is totally to Ray's credit. I think of Ray every time one comes on or even see a picture of Bugs and friends. Great memories. Really miss those days.

[@StopCensoringFreeSpeech-zf5qy]

Well now we live in a society that’s been destroyed and is being ciontrolled by sick & demented j€wz.

[@dianameynart3582]

I LOVE CHICAGO & ALL ITS BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES~I WAS BORN AT A PERFECT TIME SEPT 66- WOULD'NT WANT TO BE BORN ANYWHERE ELSE THAN CHICAGO IN THE LATE 60's GREAT MEMORIES!!!!! THANK YOU!! I AM SUPPORTING YOUR CAUSE!!!!

[@Marcg-b4n]

Born in 1965. I grew up in La grange and Hinsdale. A great time.

[@michaelwayne7887]

Same here, Sept 1966. A great time to have been a child... before the creepy political indoctrination of children started in earnest. Poor children these days know nothing else than the weirdo political brainwashing the creepy adults shove down the kids' throats 24/7.

[@jesusnodal8948]

I sure miss this show and I miss Ray Rayner very much!!! Thank you very much for posting this!!!

[@scottfree7089]

Great show! A childhood staple. Love the Chicago Bears clips!

[@davidhugaert8006]

Thank you sooo much for posting this full episode of "The Ray Rayner Show" - a.k.a. "Ray Rayner and his Friends"!!! Please post more full episodes of this and "Bozo's Circus"!!! I would religiously watch "The Ray Rayner Show" and "Bozo's Circus" (like thousands of other kids) either every weekday morning before heading off to school or if I was home for lunch during noontime. Memories to share: Oh, how I remember the Dr. Lester Fisher segments featuring a clip of The Irish Rovers' "The Unicorn" @ the start & ending of each segment; Ray's "fair-to-middlin'" attempts at making arts and crafts-type projects, Chelveston The Duck, Cuddley Dudley, the dual Sox/Cubs baseball cap/helmet, Ray reading the Slippery Rock College scores...the list is endless! In regard to "Bozo's Circus", I remember Ringmaster Ned Locke and later Frazier Thomas (R.I.P. to both), Cooky The Cook's failed attempts at getting Bozo to get him to lead "The Grand March" @ the end of every show, and last but not least...the GRAND...PRIZE...GAME!!! :-)

[@Staszu13]

I'm sure they would be most of the original tapes would have been wiped for reuse years ago. Much of what is available is from early VCRs

[@octofish]

I watched Ray from my earliest memories. Loved when he hosted Dick Tracy cartoons, Rocket to Adventure. This was taped when I was a senior in high school. But I watched him every morning then too. Never gave any thought to that ever coming to an end.

[@robertonline6543]

I feel lucky to had you growing up as a kid. You were a kids best friend... I miss you Ray. You were the best. I miss the duck too! Lol

[@razmo21]

Chelveston

[@KOOLBadger]

Chauncy..😂❤❤❤

[@JaneEva]

Awesome! Thanks so much! Takes me back!

[@kennethspencer2122]

This was so awesome to see. By the time of this airing I had moved on to watching other stuff. I turned 13 the summer before and I announced to my mom that I was too old for cartoons. Instead I decided to watch the Today show. My loss!!! Glad I could see this broadcast!

[@christopherneyfeldt4587]

Kids today and even my grown kids sure missed out on some great TV. I’m definitely convinced that Ray invented post it notes.

[@corn1971]

Man I've been looking for an episode of Ray's show forever online. Thanks for sharing, you've made this then 8 year old very happy.

[@tomhynek9890]

corn1h971

[@TheBambam2371]

corn1971 Praying for you my friend. I hope you feel better and recover soon. I hope all goes well for you. God bless you my friend. God loves you. Remember forgiveness towards the people that have hurt you can really help you.

[@samanthanickson6478]

loved ray rayner! watched him well into junior high and the beginning of high school. thanks for posting! 😊

[@BarekHalfhand]

I remember he used to wear this jumpsuit with a bunch of notes stuck to it😁

[@yourthaiguy]

Omg…the commercials bring as many memories back as watching TV POWWWW!! Was there ever a more low tech cheesy kids show on TV?

[@mariocisneros911]

1 of my all time favorite personalities from chicago. + Bill Jackson. Just wished his show had come on after school. Oh so many shows I wanted to stay home and watch

[@rickyd.graham5904]

ON DAYS WHEN SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED OR YOU WERE SICK , YA GOT TO WATCH THEM , ONLY PROBLEM WAS AFTER A CERTAIN TIME YA GOT THE BORING STUFF LIKE CAPN. KANGAROO THAT WOULD PUT ME TO SLEEP. OR YA HAD A CHOICE BETWEEN COOKING SHOWS OR SOAP OPERA'S. TORTURE TO A CHILD. WAITING FOR AN ETERNITY FOR THOSE AFTER SCHOOL SHOWS . DARK SHADOWS THE ONLY GOOD SOAP OPERA, GILLIGAN'S ISLAND AMONGST OTHERS.

[@WalterDWormack214]

Bill Jackson's "Gigglesnort Hotel" with Dirty Dragon, Wally GoodScout, Mother Plumtree, and The Old Professor, and of course, You can't leave out, The BLOB! The morphing statue!

[@solitaryman777]

Yeah, Cartoon Town was a dandy piece of televised children's theater. Funny how the set was so sparse, when WFLD was still finding it's way as a local station. Bill Jackson was an affable dude and a good artist.

[@dreammerchant4442]

1979 was great was a sophomore in Kelvyn park HS what a great decade.. I watch Ray since 70 every one in our home didn't miss one. Our weather daily look at time to see if it's time to walk to elementary school.seen so many jelly bean contest lost count. Can't believe I'm 58 now.

[@idontreadyourrepliesever8032]

Watched every weekday of my life from the time I was 5. I was a senior in high school when this was broadcast. I actually remember the jelly bean contest.

[@a1wireless1964]

Thanks for posting this really brings back the memories and makes me once again realize how much I hate being an adult kids of today will never know

[@scottdavidson9963]

Morning b4 school i got my cartoon, weather and sports. AWESOME.

[@thatkyguy]

This is awesome! Fun fact, I was accepted at Slippery Rock for college!

[@mikehughes4969]

This was my childhood.

[@That0neMonkey]

This is fantastic! Thank you for all the Ray clips, they bring such happy memories from my grade school days. I'd forgotten all about the jelly bean contests. So awesome. No doubt that I was watching on that very morning. Thank you Fuzzy!!

[@jeopardy60611]

19:44 I remember seeing the commercial for Fashion Plates, and I recall going to a Chinese restaurant with my father and seeing some girls, probably the owner's daughters, doing Fashion Plates in one of the booths. That stuck out in my mind because of seeing the commercial.

[@herbertlyles190]

Good old days happy time

[@southwesttexasm]

More More More complete shows!!!!!! Please!!!!! Thank you for posting.

[@jonjonas2528]

Broadcast more Ray Rayner on you tube there has to be more VHS tapes of rày Rayner find those tapes how about the family of Ray Rayner or when there has to be more VHS video tapes of Ray Rayner find those tapes now

[@jeopardy60611]

I saw an episode of Ray Rayner where he actually counted all the jellybeans in the container while on the air. Someone was on split-screen with a mechanical counter to keep track of the count as Ray pulled them out of the container.

[@GGMMOLLY01]

We all know that just as many adults (as well as kids), watched this show. Whether you are going off to school or going off to work, you have to load in some crazy before you can deal with all that.

[@robrubio7583]

I remember Ray Raynor every morning , eating my cereal or eggs, watching TV 📺 at the kitchen table. Dr.Fischer a smart intelligent man, cuddle dudley, the cartoons, I thought it was awesome they always showed the clock ⏰ times. Treasured memories for sure.

[@robrubio7583]

And the school closing I looked forward too , I didn't want to say it, cus everyone else did, especially in the blizzard of 1979.

[@X1rerunpun]

Wow! I have not thought of this show in decades,

[@SimplyDudeFace]

Thanks for including the commercials. I have more fond memories of those then the cartoons.

[@richardszablewski1420]

Thanks for the Memories

[@jeopardy60611]

It sticks out in my mind that Ray always wrote the date, sports scores, and weather on the chalkboard, with the weather dictated by phone. At one time, it was called in by Harry Volkman, and this episode has someone else (Roger-somebody) doing it. I forgot that he wrote the forecast temperatures on the right side of the board.

[@wmbrown6]

Roger Triemstra.

[@waverider34]

How cool. Great nostalgia trip

[@jonathankidd7215]

wow i remember watching this before i had to go to school

[@TomsChevelle]

Thank you for posting!! Memories!

[@rogermoore5764]

Ray Rayner in the morning and Johnny Carson at night, now that's entertainment.

[@RusstheTroubadour]

Much simpler times. The proliferation of cable was growing on practically a daily basis. I believe this was seen across the country on superstation WGN. I was much younger then...I'm older than that now.

[@latkagravas9011]

I was a sophomore in high school when this one aired. I was 15 years old in november 1979. Sadly, I stopped watching Ray in the morning a couple years before this one. I'd wake up, get dressed and I was out the door to go to school when in high school. I was really sad when the show went off the air though. I regretted not watching it the last few years it was on. I watched it religiously through middle school though. If I remember right, when Ray left, they moved bozo's circus from noon to 7am. I may caught it once before I was off to school. Frazier Thomas from Garfield goose was the new ring master when Ned left in the 70s. I remember alot, just not specific dates. I'd say that it was around 75 or 76 when Ringmaster Ned left bozo's circus.

[@Staszu13]

1976 Ned retired. And they moved Bozo in part because the Chicago Public Schools no longer allowed having lunch at home

[@solitaryman777]

The Blizzard of 1979 was on it way in about two months

[@rkrw576]

I grew up watching him. Imagine.

[@shirleyvitela3272]

Ok, fellow Chicagoans, before I moved away I had the chance to see Ray play Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at the Candlelight in the round theater. Does anyone know if they're still in business? He had a very nice singing voice.

[@mountnman3609]

Closed in '97 then torn down

[@shirleyvitela3272]

@@mountnman3609 Oh, how sad, but thx for letting me know. Almost as bad as Riverview being torn down.

[@mountnman3609]

@@shirleyvitela3272 We used to live about half a dozen blocks from Riverview. We moved about 6 months before it closed. I have some memories from being at Riverview, but only a few. I was about 5 when we moved. The place was iconic of Chicago, just like Ray, Bozo, Garfield Goose, Family Classics.

[@solitaryman777]

@@mountnman3609 nothing ever sticks around forever, except graft at City Hall

[@WalterDWormack214]

The REAL AGONY is the fact that all of these great old Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoons have been 'TOSSED' because some smart-ass thinks that these classic cartoons are somewhat inappropriate in this 'enlightened' day and age.

[@luisreyes1963]

Fun Fact: The Infantry soldiers at the mess hall were caricatures of the actual animators of that Warner Bros. cartoon.

[@vlgrock8066]

Such happy times back then

[@cindyroman5126]

I am in my 50's and I am enjoying this nostalgic show. Great memories

[@MichelleUS66]

Those off-model cartoon characters in the background are fantastic! 😂

[@jeopardy60611]

50 years in the future, the jellybean contest would be done with a web form. You go to the link with the form, type in the number of jellybeans, your name, address, phone number, and email address, and click "submit."

[@525Lines]

Writing stuff along the frame of the blackboard. Give Ray a bigger blackboard!

[@charlenevarada--Stargazer]

I remember Ray Rayner when he was Sgt Pettibone (a cop) & he featured cartoons with Dick Tracy, QT Hush & Col Bleep! Those are my memories of him. 😊

[@solitaryman777]

And Oliver O. Oliver on Bozo's Circus

[@ronnyvonallmen6892]

Greatest Childhood Ever….

[@joycegresham9044]

Thanks for the posting!!!

[@jonjonas2528]

Ray Rayner the greatest ever

[@Rlotpir1972]

This was BEFORE Turner remastered and stripped the golden era Looney Tunes (pre-1948).

[@boyd-u9t]

The number one morning show for several. Oh, how I loved WGN growing up in the 60s.

[@justtrust426]

If I could turn back the hands of time.

[@howardjohnson8831]

This Ray Rayner show on 11/05/79 was my 17th birthday. On the 29th of November was on my way to Army Basic training.

[@slswopes]

This brings me back to my childhood memories!!!

[@mexton]

Miss Ray

[@Musicradio77Network]

27:18 is a Bugs Bunny cartoon called “Gorilla My Dreams”. This cartoon has the AAP logo at the beginning. This cartoon was taken directly from a 16mm film chain which was completely washed out, and it was a not in the best print in its existence. On one of the “Looney Tunes Golden Collection” DVD sets, the cartoon is fully restored. You have to be careful if you have to upload this along with the other WB cartoons on this show, because WB will get them blocked for copyright issues. The other one, “Rookie Revue” and “Foney Fables” are in the Public Domain.

[@wmbrown6]

I have to presume the film chain WGN used at the time of this airing was RCA TK-27's. From what I've been reading on YT of people who viewed clips from stations with such chains, auto-iris issues were endemic in TK-27's.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@@wmbrown6 I wouldn't doubt that that was pretty common on a lot of stations into the 80's.

[@Musicradio77Network]

I have “Gorilla My Dreams” on 16mm along with the rest of the Bugs Bunny cartoons on one larger reel. It was shown on Discovery Family yesterday.

[@Marcg-b4n]

The show on before Ray Rayner was the Farm report or something like that.

[@angelapianomusicstudio3816]

Orion Samuelson, I believe?

[@Marcg-b4n]

@@angelapianomusicstudio3816 wow that sounds familiar! Blast from the past. Thanks!

[@mountnman3609]

Yup, with Orion Sameulson. I remember the sound of his deep voice. Looked him up on the web about a week ago. Still alive at 88. IIRC, he just retired from broadcasting within the last year or 2

[@rmelcornelious8847]

Ray Rayner had the best cartoons! I actually got a Cuddly Dudley with a cardboard airplane ✈️! Ray Raynor always let you know what time it was because if no

[@rmelcornelious8847]

Not we would have been late for school 😊

[@andyman0231]

I always loved when he carved the Turkey for Thanksgiving

[@juliemcarthur3004]

I grew up with him I loved cuddly duddly

[@GregGrajek]

fun memories

[@scottdavidson7001]

Just awesome

[@billharding6693]

I so wanted that Battlestar Galactica playset

[@BRuane-pw6xq]

Ray was a native New Yorker who , like Sonny Fox a NY area host of The Sunday Morning Kids Show Wonderama , was a WW 2 Vet and a POW imprisoned at one time in The Camp that was the location of The Great Escape. Ray in Chicago , Sonny Fox , Officer Joe Bolton and Captain Jack McCarthy in NY left many children of the 60 s and 70 s with great memories.

[@jimgardner1306]

I wonder if the jelly bean winner still has that t-shirt?

[@jonjonas2528]

Ray Rayner what a great man I watched his show from nineteen seventy three all the way to nineteen eighty I went to a very mean grade school the teachers students and parents were awful terrible people all they did was pick on me every day I watched Ray Rayner everyday before I went to that rotten school every day he gave me some happiness and peace before I had to go that terrible school each day Ray Rayner was my roll model and friend each day before another mean day at grade school he kept me happy each morning before I had to face another terrible day at my rotten grade school they were so mean to me Ray Rayner was so nice to watch a great tv friend long live the great Ray Rayner thank you for the cartoons and fun each day for nine years on when tv Ray Rayner the liegend the greatest television in history Ray Rayner the greatest ever thank you forever

[@OldUncleMike]

I liked when he wore the jumpsuits.

[@TommieHindenburg]

My little brother loved Cuddly Dodley...he had one from the Tribune when they were giving them with subscriptions

[@donalddavis706]

Chauncy still makes things for me.

[@pdusainc]

Did not know this existed, I was born March of 79'

[@tom1644x]

She looks really impressed! 27:00

[@pamczech5984]

I remember Ray Rayner cuddly duddly chelviston the duck rosie all the craft projects the crazy info he always gave us the weather and school closings diver Dan miss Minerva visits to Lincoln Park Zoo so many good times what more could we ask for he gave us love thru a tv show

[@Erich-sx3ye]

My childhood

[@dreammerchant4442]

His voice sounds so familiar yet warm from a time before the change of 911 we never went back to these years when things were just so America.its 7/10/2020...king con the terrible.

[@Stancify]

I loved watching this before going to school to be bullied. Great memories.

[@a1wireless1964]

Wow does anyone know who the actual winner of that Jelly Bean contest was? I'm sure lots of us would pay good money for that T-shirt If it's still around.

[@ronaldhansen2378]

I really miss the ray Rayner show and Friends I think it was a really good show to have news weather and sports and something for the kids to watch like cartoons so they can get ready to go to school each each everyday for Monday through Friday in the know about art projects and all that stuff really is an institution just like Bill Jackson they will be missed and I miss them too and part of me lost its childhood when rain Rainer went off the air and Bill Jackson there won't never be souls like that ever again because now we have cable and internet and all those all the other things that go with it I just missed the old shows his projects and everything else he was always like you could be messy and everybody always said all out there all kids it's like this now you know this is how it is I go but the other guy who did the Chauncey always did the projects really good and one thing I really miss is Dr Lester Fisher in the ark in the park. A really big fan Ron Hansen.

[@peterkay2406]

Dr. Fisher reminded me of Columbo, oh the memories

[@mountnman3609]

Dr Fisher passed away Dec. 2021 He was 100 years old (2 months short of 101)

[@Musicradio77Network]

43:50 is “Foney Fables” where it will be showing on Discovery Family someday.

[@davidcoates7615]

135 jellybeans!😛

[@mwatts-riley2688]

Ok So it's presumed that 110% of every person here is, in someway, a Chicagoan? Which means that 110% of every person here is, in someway, a brilliant person? M. IL.

[@Legend813a]

Someone must have lost an eye because of the missiles.

[@lisarozelle3692]

My husband was on the ray rayner show with the Percy L. Julian foot ball team in 1979. He would really love a copy of this episode anybody have any idea how to find it?

[@8manAbe]

So...how many jelly beans were there?!

[@IznbranahlGoose]

my guess is 935

[@solitaryman777]

@@IznbranahlGoose bet that's pretty close, maybe a little higher

[@NEPatriot]

Ironically, WGN's NYC sister station, WPIX, did not show Warner Brothers cartoons. That was the territory of WNEW-TV Channel 5, which in the 80's would become WFLD's sister station as Metromedia brought 32 from Field. And WNEW did show these pre-1948 cartoons with that AAP clip. The same with the Famous Studios Popeye cartoons they aired as well in the 80's though it cut off the Paramount logo. As for WPIX, which aired Popeye in the 60's, Tom and Jerry was their big cartoon. Many of these cartoons would go to in the late 80's WWOR-TV Channel 9. BUT...for all the digital enhancements of the cartoons on DVD and streaming sites like Boomerang, there was something magical about these so-called dirty prints...not based on content, but film condition. Just some kind of charm about it.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

NEPatriot That was the charm! Nobody understands it anymore.

[@wmbrown6]

WNEW and WGN also both ran the post-'48 Warners' toons. And it isn't just the film condition that exudes "charm" of old local TV airings . . . the limited nature of film chains such as RCA or GE or Cohu that tamped down the reds big-time, for example. WNEW, in the early 1980's, also ran the '60's Popeyes that WSNS had in '74-'75 when Steve Hart hosted 'em.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Another amusing note is recalling a local station had serious dot-crawling and auto-iris issues with theirs I recall seeing the post-48 WB package have on my videotapes my mom left me!

[@Musicradio77Network]

wmbrown6 And then by the late 80’s, all of the WB cartoons (both pre-48 and half post-48 along with the redrawns) are moved to WWOR-TV (channel 9) in 1987 and also appeared on “Steampipe Alley”.

[@tomn5985]

What a great memory of when I was growing up along with Bozo and Garfield goose