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Made Possible by Viewers Like You: Maryland Public Television Turns 50 exhibit banner

Children's Programming

Children have always been a vital segment of MPT’s audience. Marylanders who grew up in the 1970s recall the well-loved weekday afternoon program Hodegpodge Lodge (1970-1977), featuring naturalist and former teacher Jean Worthley as “Miss Jean” along with her pet parrot, Aurora. Simply by opening her gunnysack on the “Discovery Table” and releasing a snake, a rabbit, or the branch of a tree, Miss Jean introduced a world many children in her audience had never experienced.

Another popular personality was Bob the Vid Tech, who served as on-air children’s host from 1993 to 2010. For 17 years, the super-enthusiastic Bob, sporting his distinctive green jacket, snazzy tie, and purple shirt, used the Vid Kid Program Satellite to teleport himself to amazing places in Maryland or travel through time. Actor/writer Bob Heck earned 10 Emmy® Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter for playing the character.

Brothers Martin and Chris Kratt gave children an intimate glimpse into the animal kingdom with their successful series Kratt’s Creatures (1996-1998).  Funded by a CPB/PBS $1.5 million grant, the Kratts showcased animals from their own menagerie and from around the world. They were joined by their friends at the Creature Club, the home base where 16-year-old Alison used her computer to track the brothers’ locations and the animal habitats they visited. The show received international distribution only three months into its run.

In 2017, MPT introduced the 24/7 children’s offering, PBS Kids, into its four-channel lineup.

Bob the Vid Tech,
“Vid Kid: Meeting the Challenge!,” 1998

Hodgepodge Lodge,
“Kinder-Garden,” 1970

Kratts’ Creatures,
“Aribbada 1: The Sea Turtle Invasion,” 1996

Tape with a Copyright Warning label, by Maryland Public Television.

"Hodgepodge Lodge" Umatic tape (2nd generation copy), circa 1980s

Kratt brothers with a chimpanzee.

Martin Kratt and Chris Kratt, circa 1997

On set of the taping of children's production, with a large group of children sitting on the floor looking at the stage where the actors are.

Children’s production, circa 1970

Cover of the Family Nature Guide book, which has a green background framing the text which is inside a beige box, with pictures of four different animals on the four corners of the beige box.

This 1976 book introduces some basic facts about plants and animals and offers suggestions for observing them in their natural setting.

Professional photograph of Don Swartz.

Don Swartz, Head of Music and Effects Department, 1969-1988

Bob the Vid Tech

Bob the Vid Tech media toolkit sent to other stations to accompany their children’s programming blocks, circa 2000-2002

Bob Heck, aka “Bob the Vid Tech,” wearing a green lab coat with pink pockets, saluting to the camera. The wall behind him is half blue and half pink, and the large clear ball in front of him has patterns in pink, green, and blue.

Bob Heck, aka “Bob the Vid Tech,” 1998

Outside cover of the toolkit with images of the characters and it also notes things that are included in the kit. The background color is a blue-green gradient, with the title "Bob the Vid Tech tool kit".

Outside Cover of Bob the Vid Tech media toolkit sent to other stations to accompany their children’s programming blocks, circa 2000-2002

Inside cover of the tool kit opened up, resembling a folder on the left side, and the right side has some information with the tape attached.

Inside cover of Bob the Vid Tech media toolkit sent to other stations to accompany their children’s programming blocks, circa 2000-2002

About

Every year, Special Collections & University Archives staff work together to create relevant and interesting exhibition on topics that are of interest to the University, the community, and to scholars.

“Made Possible by Viewers Like You: Maryland Public Television Turns 50” celebrates the 50th anniversary of Maryland Public Television (formerly the Maryland Center for Public Broadcasting), which occurred in 2019. This website showcases the best of the gallery exhibit on display in the Maryland Room Gallery at Hornbake Library between September 2019 and July 2020.

Exhibition Curator: Laura Schnitker
Graduate Assistant: Kimmi Ramnine
Graphic Designer: Jennifer Paul

With help from: Laura Cleary, and staff from Digital Conversion and Media Reformatting, Preservation and Conservation,  Maryland Public Television, Special Collections and University Archives, EPI Colorspace, and our community members.

Contact Us

Hornbake Library is located on University of Maryland’s College Park campus. This library is home to Special Collections & University Archives, the Maryland Room and Exhibition Gallery.

For general information about the library and our collections, contact us.
For questions about the exhibit and related events, email Laura Schnitker or call 301-405-9255.

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