 |
| Romper, bomper, stomper boo... |
Kids growing up in America between 1953 and 1994 happen to all have one thing in common. At some point in our lives we watched Romper Room and we all had one simple wish. We just wanted to be given a shout out by the show's host or teacher. Were you lucky enough to be seen through that damn Magic Mirror? Because I sure as hell wasn't.
Romper Room was an educational show, which went through a variety of different pretty female hosts or teachers. They would read books out loud, partake in crafts, play music, play and basically just make learning fun. Any average American kid would kill for a chance to appear on the fun-filled show or possibly the next best thing -- be included in the Magic Mirror shout out list. It was like Barney, only cooler.
At the end of each episode, the instructor, be it Miss Molly, Miss Barbara, Miss Nancy, Miss Sally, Miss Mary Ann, Miss Florence, etc., would look into her over-sized, cutesy handheld magic mirror and finish the show with a sing-song rhyme of, "Romper, bomper, stomper boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me, do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, have all my friends had fun at play?" Names like Michael, David, Dana, Edward, Margaret, Justin, Rick, Mark, Matthew, Bonnie, Anthony, Tammy, Gregory, Mary, Jane, Amanda, Julie, Beth, Keith, Robert, John, Jennifer, Amy, etc. would follow ... where the hell was "Ally" or "Allyson?"
 |
| See me in your Magic Mirror please! |
After such constant disappointment, I reached a point where I wanted to knock out that ridiculous-looking Doo-Bee bumble bee character along with all of those smiling kids. They were all so freakin' happy. Well after waiting an entire episode hoping to hear my name, I was left frustrated and jealous. Oh whatever, I'm over it now. I just wanted to make you guys laugh. Enjoy these clips and see if they include your name in the magic mirror call out.
1970s Romper Room host sees almost everyone (but me) through her Magic Mirror in this video clip.
1980s Romper Room video clip that damn Magic Mirror never sees me!
1984 Romper Room video clip, check it out, still no Magic Mirror shout out!
Yeah I never got a shout out on romper room or the magic garden. BTW...I heard Kelly Ripa didn't either.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted those damn 'cup' stilt shoes, which apparently are called Romper Stompers.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.skooldays.com/categories/toys/ty1195.htm
I didn't get them.
yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! I was never called. Yet my brother, Michael, was called all the time. It even made me cry.
ReplyDeleteEff romper room.
I never watched that show.
ReplyDeleteOmg, I had forgotten about Romper Room! I too used to sit there and wait patiently every damn day for my shout out but never got it! Not that Diane is an uncommon name but I was born in 1971 and seems all the other Diane's I'd ever met in my life were a good 15 to 20 years older than me (and long past the Romper Room days) so it wasn't a popular kids' name at the time.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you ARE over it. LOL! I have doubts my name was ever called! Darn hard to find those little license plate thingies, too!
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend in high school was ON Romper Room! His father was a big-wig for the TV station... apparently it's who you know! ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks to my mom naming me, Belle, I didn't have my name called out. I also never met another Belle until I was in my forties.
ReplyDeleteYeah, she never shouted out, "Teachinfourth" either. What's up with that?
ReplyDeletethis is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteOMG I loved this! Don't feel bad, I never got a shout out either! I had forgotten all about it til you mentioned it...now I have to relive the trauma lol
ReplyDeleteHad she called, "I see Caution!" I might have died on the spot. SO I guess her inattention to me was a good thing?
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked about how many of my friends have no clue that this show existed - they've never heard of it! Can you believe that?! What the hell were they watching?
ReplyDeleteWe also had a Romper Room in Australia. Being the only Madeleine of my generation (well, at least the schools I went to), I never got that shout out either. If Romper Room were here today, it'd probably be a different story!
ReplyDeletePS - I adored Judy Blume's books when I was growing up :)
Never ever ever "Nina" still pissed
ReplyDeleteI loved your delightful post - I included a link to it in my post, Who Do I See? Miss Sally! at
ReplyDeletehttp://www.create-with-joy.com/2012/07/romper-room-miss-sally.html
Create With Joy
http://create-with-joy.com
LOL.. This is a very amusing post.. On June 1st 1981, I WAS ON ROMPER ROOM, My grandfather, who was a General Contractor had done some work for one of the producers who then invited me to be on the show... So it wasn't like I had to audition, because if you have a chance to see that episode, I was FAR from TV ready, running all around the set... LOL Anyhow, it wasn't like I had imagined it to be, Weeeeeks after filming, it finally aired and my family was excited until they saw me misbehaving, then I tried to hide, Hey, being an actress is hard work! LOL Now I work HVAC. My kind of life. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL.. This is a very amusing post.. On June 1st 1981, I WAS ON ROMPER ROOM, My grandfather, who was a General Contractor had done some work for one of the producers who then invited me to be on the show... So it wasn't like I had to audition, because if you have a chance to see that episode, I was FAR from TV ready, running all around the set... LOL Anyhow, it wasn't like I had imagined it to be, Weeeeeks after filming, it finally aired and my family was excited until they saw me misbehaving, then I tried to hide, Hey, being an actress is hard work! LOL Now I work HVAC. My kind of life. :)
ReplyDeleteshe never saw my sister "claudia" either.
ReplyDeleteI am 34 years old...for years I have been complaining she never said my name and I actually said it yesterday. I saw this post and guess what...I guess I missed that episode. Seriously made my night...my husband just thinks I'm silly!
ReplyDeleteI am 34 years old...for years I complained that she never said my name. I watched the show religiously. I just thought of the show again yesterday after my mother in law told the dogs "Knock it off! This isn't Romper Room" I happened to find this blog and holy crap she said my name!!! I must have missed that episode! Seriously made my night! My husband thinks I'm silly!!
ReplyDeleteI never heard of this show until today. I Was watching tv and when Leo DiCaprio was 3 he was cast for the show but never got to be in it because he was obnoxious.
ReplyDeleteI read that children had to mail in their names to get them read on the show...
ReplyDelete