Seattles Own..J.P. Patches may retire next year

[rsmith6621]

Iconic clown J.P. Patches – the fictional mayor of the city dump who arguably has a higher approval rating than the real Seattle mayor – may retire.

"I think this is going to be my last year of getting out and meeting all the kids and all the Patches Pals," he told KIRO radio's Dori Monson.

The "J.P. Patches Show" was on KIRO from February 1958 to 1981 and once ranked as the nation's longest running, locally produced kids' show.

Chris Wedes, the man behind J.P., was diagnosed with a blood cancer, acute myeloma, in 2007. In an interview with the P-I the following year, he said his condition was treatable with regular dialysis – and he hadn't lost his wit.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/J-P-Patches-may-retire-next-year-2071278.php

[shanti]

1. omg, i remember j.p. patches!

from when i lived near seattle as a child in the late 50's! wow, what a blast from the past, thanks for sharing!

[haele]

2. I loved that show. Where else could you get your fill of Bullwinkle and Rocky, and Loony Tunes?

The storylines (at least in the 1970's) weren't too patronizing to kids - it was pretty much geared to the 8 year old to 12 year old "before you go to school" crowd - and appeared to be fairly agreeable to the adults in the room. Not too silly, but not too edgy and the innuendo was very, very mild. (Mainly because there were no charactors that were actually women in the 1970's when I was watching...Gertrude was a drag clown...)

For you young kids - what I remember is that the show was more like a toned down PeeWee's Playhouse with cartoons every 15 minutes than it was like Capt. Kangerooo...and they tried to keep the kid-geared (toys and sugar cereal)commercials to a minimum.

Mr. Wedes was still playing J.P. after 57 years? Wow, what a career...

Haele

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. I remember him when I was a kid.

One of the shows I got to watch regularly.
Had no idea he was still going strong.
Wow.

[Generic Other]

4. Another Patches Pal here!

He's awesome!