Saturday Morning with B.J. and Dirty Dragon: Bill Jackson, Live in Person—One Last Time

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2009

Media Contact:
Gina Loizzo, MBC 312-822-0512

Tickets for this event have sold out.

B.J. and Dirty Dragon's Bill Jackson to Revisit the Golden Age of
Chicago Children’s Television with LIVE Performance

Legendary children's television host Bill Jackson will return to Chicago for a live show featuring Dirty Dragon and other characters from his popular children's television programs.

"Saturday Morning with B.J. and Dirty Dragon: Bill Jackson, Live in Person—One Last Time" will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. to Noon at The Lake Theatre 1022 Lake Street in Oak Park.

To anyone growing up watching Chicago television during the late 60's and early 70's, the name Bill Jackson elicits fond memories. Jackson a gifted artist, comedian and puppeteer was hired in 1968 by then-independent WFLD-Ch. 32, to create a program to compete with WGN-TV's popular Garfield Goose and Friends. Debuting as Cartoon Town, the resulting show, later renamed The B.J. and Dirty Dragon Show, featured Jackson as town mayor, interacting with a host of memorable puppet characters, airing cartoons, drawing and carving the town monument, an interactive lump of clay that became known as The Blob.

Jackson was the creative force both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. He designed and built the sets, created and worked all of the puppets, wrote the scripts and was the voice of the characters.

"Bill Jackson is one of the most creative personalities in Chicago television history, a true icon who was an innovator and who inspired his audience," said MBC President Bruce DuMont. "Many of Bill's young viewers eventually moved into the creative arts, becoming producers, directors, writers and graphic artist," added DuMont.

"Saturday Morning with B.J. and Dirty Dragon: Live in Person—One Last Time" will give fans of his shows, a chance to relive childhood memories and reacquaint themselves with some of Jackson's most popular characters, including Mother Plumtree, Old Professor, Wally and Weird, The Blob—and of course that cranky postmaster, Dirty Dragon.

Jackson and his puppets appeared in a number of other shows, including BJ's Bunch, which aired locally in New York. The educationally-themed Gigglesnort Hotel first aired in 1975, was syndicated nationally and remained in reruns on WLS in Chicago through 1985. Firehouse Follies, the final program to use his characters aired 1979-1980. Jackson eventually left television and taught at the California Institute of the Arts for 12 years.

The benefit for the Museum of Broadcast Communications is underwritten in part by Me-TV, Classic Cinemas and Rubschlager Baking. Promotional considerations provided by American Airlines, the Hotel Felix and MarksPlier. Jim Engel, a curator for the Museum of Broadcast Communications and children's television historian, is producing the event along with Mr. Jackson and Rich Koz (Svengoolie) of Me-TV.

Jeanne Sparrow host of You & Me This Morning on Me-TV will welcome guests and conduct audience interviews.

Tickets for this event have sold out.