Cliff Holman facts for kids

Cliff Holman (born James Clifton Holman, Jr., June 29, 1929 – September 8, 2008), was a much-loved television star in Birmingham, Alabama. He was best known as "Cousin Cliff" and hosted many popular children's shows. His longest-running show was seen daily on WABT, which later became WAPI.

Early Life of Cliff Holman

Cliff Holman was born in Mobile, Alabama. His family soon moved to Birmingham, Alabama. He went to Woodlawn High School. It was there that he started performing magic tricks. These tricks would later help him get on television. Before becoming a TV star, he also worked at a creamery and ran his own grocery store.

Cousin Cliff's TV Adventures

Cliff Holman began his television career in 1950. He started as a puppeteer for a short show for a department store called Loveman's. After serving in the United States Armed Forces during the Korean War, he came back to Birmingham. He wanted to work in entertainment.

How "Cousin Cliff" Became Famous

His big chance came in 1954. A local bakery started a children's show on WABT called Tip-Top Clubhouse. The show was 15 minutes long. After a couple of years, the bakery stopped sponsoring it. But the TV station kept the show because it was so popular! They made it 30 minutes long and showed it five days a week. They renamed it Cliff's Clubhouse. This show later became The Popeye Show. It had a live audience and showed Popeye cartoons.

Cousin Cliff's Trademark Look

During his shows, Cliff Holman always did magic tricks. His special captain's hat and ribbon tie became his famous look. He was also known for his main sponsors: Pepsi-Cola and a local fast food chain called Jack's Hamburgers. The show was so popular that kids who wanted to be in the live audience often had to book tickets many months in advance!

Changes and New Shows

In 1968, WAPI started taping the show instead of broadcasting it live. They also moved it to the next morning. This meant most children were in school and couldn't watch. Cliff Holman was not happy about this. The number of viewers dropped a lot. So, in 1969, he moved to a new station, WHMA, in Anniston, Alabama. His show, The Cousin Cliff Show, ran there for three more years. This time, it was sponsored by McDonald's, which was Jack's main competitor.

After Cliff left, another show called The Sergeant Jack Show took over his old time slot. It starred Neal Miller, who was a real Jefferson County deputy sheriff.

Returning to Television

Cliff Holman left television for a while and worked in different jobs. But in 1985, he brought his show back on cable television. It had a short run on an independent station called WDBB. In 1990, Holman was back on regular TV with Cousin Cliff's Clubhouse. This show was only on Saturdays on WBRC-TV. It ran for two years. After that, he made another cable version of the show for Jack's Hamburgers. After a short time, Cliff Holman retired from television for good.

Cliff Holman also appeared on other variety shows in Birmingham and Anniston. He also worked behind the cameras. He was an early supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Before the famous Jerry Lewis Telethon became a national event, "Cousin Cliff" encouraged children to hold backyard carnivals to raise money. He even hosted his own carnival in the WAPI studio parking lot!

Life After Television

After leaving television, Cliff Holman continued to perform his magic and comedy act at many places. He also worked as a manager for a hotel and as a public relations manager for the local American Lung Association. He was also an announcer for WCRT radio.

In 1980, he successfully ran for a seat on the Vestavia Hills city council. However, he decided not to run for re-election because he didn't enjoy politics.

Cliff Holman's health became worse after a fall in 2001. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2007. He moved to a special care home in Albertville, where he passed away in 2008. His fight with Alzheimer's was shown in a 2009 HBO documentary called The Alzheimer's Project. His funeral was held at Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills. He was buried in Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery.

Cliff Holman was survived by his wife, Ann; his daughter, Lynn Holman Brown; his son, Kyle Holman; and two grandchildren. Another son, James Clifton Holman III, had passed away earlier in 2006.