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WWJ-TV began their first day of commercial programming on June
3, 1947. A short time later, one of Detroit’s earliest children’s shows cast
its phosphorescent glow into thousands of Detroit living rooms. Let’s See
Willy Dooit was an imaginative marionette show created by master puppeteer
Ed Johnson. For 44 years Johnson practiced his craft on over 600 TV programs and
performed more than 15,000 stage presentations at area schools, libraries and
functions, always teaching lessons through his marionettes.
Edward Stone Johnson was born in Almont,
Michigan on June 27, 1918. Soon after Ed’s birth, the Johnson family moved to
nearby Highland Park. At the age of ten, young Ed was given a set of marionettes
for Christmas. Johnson became fascinated with his new stringed companions, and
before long was performing marionette shows for his family and friends. Looking
to learn more about his newly found hobby, Johnson discovered Highland Park’s
famed Artisan Guild, where master puppeteer Paul McPharlin resided. McPharlin, regarded as the preeminent authority on the
subject of marionettes, was so impressed with Johnson’s youthful enthusiasm
that he hired him on the spot to work part-time in his studio.
Although experimental television signals
in Detroit were broadcast from the Penobscot building as early as 1938,
commercial television in the Motor City didn’t become a reality until after
the close of World War II. WWJ-TV
was the first broadcast facility in Michigan to air regular programming. In
those early, pre-coaxial cable days, the fledgling station had to generate 118
hours of live, in-house programming every week. Always on the lookout for new
ideas and talented people, WWJ hired Ed Johnson to produce a daily fifteen-
minute marionette show.
Let’s See Willy Dooit featured
the adventures of Willy, a tousle-haired, curious young boy who owned and
operated his own fix-it shop. Willy’s good friend and mentor was Professor
Smart. Molly Cuddles, Willy’s girlfriend, was the daughter of the
distinguished Senator Cuddles. The two most fondly remembered characters though
would have to be Gee-Whizzer and Applesauce the Dragon. Gee Whizzer, an
odd-looking gold skinned gnome, was constantly scheming to get Willy into
trouble. Applesauce the Dragon was
the most bizarre looking dragon anyone would ever hope to encounter. With a
dog-like head and an insect body, Applesauce accompanied Willy and Gee Whizzer
to places near and far for many exciting video adventures. The show was
broadcast live every day, with Johnson operating the marionettes as well as
supplying voices for the characters. WWJ’s wunderkind weatherman Sonny Eliot
and Toby David, CKLW’s Captain Jolly, also supplied some voices. The show’s
gentle humor was charming, and Detroit kids ate it up.
The
Johnson Marionettes legacy continues with Ed’s son Greg now pulling the
strings for Willy, Applesauce and all of the other well-loved characters. Greg
continues the tradition of performing at area schools with his father’s
original marionettes. “I get people at just about every show tell me that they
remember Applesauce when they were a kid. Some are in their 60s or older.”
There’s something comforting in the fact that despite today’s CGI
enhanced children’s entertainment like Jimmy Neutron and Monsters Inc.,
today’s children still scream with delight at the stringed antics of Willy
Dooit, Gee-Whizzer and Applesauce the Dragon, just as their grandparents did six
decades earlier.
Introduce your child or grandchild to the wonderful world of Johnson Marionettes. Applesauce the Dragon and Johnson Marionettes have entertained audiences for over 64 years. Book Johnson Marionettes for your next school assembly, church group or activity. Only Johnson Marionettes has the original Detroit TV stars Willy Dooit, Gee-Whizzer and Applesauce the Dragon. Email Johnson Marionettes at wendyluvspie@aol.com, or call 248-669-3854.