John Rovick
John Rovick in the early 1980s
Born(1919-10-02)2 October 1919
Dayton, Ohio
Died6 October 2012(2012-10-06) (aged 93)
Boise, Idaho
Occupation
  • TV Host
Years active1952–1970
Spouse
Jacqueline
​
(separated)​
Children2

Sheriff John was an American children's television host who appeared on KTTV in Los Angeles from July 18, 1952, to July 10, 1970, on two separate series, Sheriff John's Lunch Brigade and Sheriff John's Cartoon Time. He was played by John Rovick[1] who served as a radio operator-gunner in the United States Army Air Corps in World War II, surviving 50 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations. After the war he became a radio announcer, moving to television in its early days. He developed the program's concept himself.

As Sheriff John he began each program entering his office, singing "Laugh and be happy, and the world will laugh with you." He then said the Pledge of Allegiance and read a safety bulletin. He showed cartoons including Q.T. Hush, Underdog, Crusader Rabbit, and Porky Pig; he was often visited by farm animals.[2] An artist, Sketchbook Suzie, drew pictures requested by viewers; he would complete squiggles sent by the children and make a squiggle for them to complete. He also gave them lessons on safety and good health habits.

The show's highlight was the birthday celebration. Sheriff John read as many as 100 names, then brought out a cake and sang the Birthday Party Polka ("Put Another Candle on my Birthday Cake").[1]

In 1979, Rovick reprised his Sheriff John character on KTTV, briefly hosting a Sunday morning version of the TV series, TV POWWW. He won an Emmy Award in 1952 and appeared on the Emmy broadcast in 1998, introduced by longtime fan Michael Richards.[3] In 1981 Rovick retired from KTTV after 32 years.[1] On October 6, 2012, he died in Boise, Idaho, after a brief illness. He had just turned 93 years old.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 'Sheriff' John Rovick dies at 93; popular L.A. children's TV host
  2. ↑ "L.A. kids' Host "Sheriff" John Rovick Dies at 93". Big Cartoon News. 2012-10-08.
  3. ↑ "Sheriff John Rovick, Los Angeles TV icon was 93". LA Observed. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  4. ↑ "Sheriff John, Southland TV icon, dies at 93 | abc7.com". Abclocal.go.com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
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