Home › Blogs › stevenl's blog

3 Cats and a Penguin

Wed, 12/19/2007 - 6:48am — stevenl
It was a short-lived local show in the 1960s, can't remember which network. And when I say short I mean only a month or so. It involved, oddly enough, 3 cats. And a penguin. The penguin didn't do much, but the 3 cats had wacky adventures of the sitcom kind. There was a supporting character, an invisible cat named Joey. The show had a live audience, which was unusual for a local broadcast. The cats were given bad voiceovers by hammy actors. Like Rango or My Mother the Car, I have only hazy memories of this. Is this is a dream or did anyone else out there watch this thing?

Comments

Sat, 12/22/2007 - 7:09am — Sarah

I remember it

I remember it but I was never allowed to watch a whole episode because our dog always starting howling. Even when we put him outside, he howled and barked so loudly that neighbors complained.

The theme music was catchy. In fact now I can't get it out of my head.

Sat, 12/22/2007 - 7:57am — stevenl

Yes

That theme song was insidious. Also the show's running joke catch phrase, "Joey did it!" That's pretty funny about the dog. I don't recall a dog ever being on the show itself.
Sat, 12/22/2007 - 12:25pm — Sarah

"Joey did it."

I remember that!

I even had a lunch box with that catch phrase on it, handy when the teacher would ask me if I did something wrong, all I had to do was hold up the lunch box and everyone in the class room would shout that out.

Of course, then I really got in trouble.

Sat, 12/22/2007 - 1:59pm — stevenl

$$$$

Imagine what that lunchbox would fetch on eBay these days!

Yes, as I recall parents and teachers were not too thrilled about the "Joey did it!" phrase. That probably had something to do with why "3 Cats and a Penguin" had such a short lifetime on the air. I understand there are no complete tapes or film of Brakeman Bill and Crazy Donkey, so I suppose the same can be said for "3 Cats and a Penguin." Those are programs that will only live on in our memory.

Thu, 01/24/2008 - 10:04pm — stevenl

Another obscure bit

of children's entertainment I remember from that era that is now forgotten, Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinx.
Mon, 07/14/2008 - 6:25pm — stevenl

test

test
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 5:22am — stevenl

Yesterday

I was in a diner and happened to be sitting next to a couple geotechnical engineers and "3 Cats and a Penguin" came up. One of them sang the theme song.

Now that the song (which I had successfully managed to wash out for quite a spell) is back, I can still see their little cat-heads going back and forth during the opening credits.

Today it will be hard to concentrate on anything else. 

Tue, 10/21/2008 - 8:34am — Sarah

lost verse

Know anything about the rumored "lost verse" that was deemed too controversial for television?
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 6:14am — stevenl

Yikes!

Now there is a bit of trivia that could drive even the most devoted Puget Sound television historian over the edge. First, the rumor must be verified. Second, if true, then what were the lyrics and why were they censored?

For my own part, I'm still trying to wash the stain of the "normal" theme song out of my cranium-- adding to it with more lyrics will only shorten my lifespan, I fear.

Mon, 11/12/2012 - 9:40pm — stevenl

This program

once again entered my cranium tonight, as the earworm theme song resurfaced.

Do any other old mossbacks remember this live local TV series?

Sun, 01/20/2013 - 7:06pm — stevenl

Once again

"Joey did it!" resurfaced today from a leaking brain cell. Is this bit of Puget Sound Boomer trivia one of our best kept secrets?