D. B.'s Delight facts for kids
D.B.'s Delight was a fun children's quiz show that aired in St. Louis, Missouri. It was made by KMOX-TV, which is now called KMOV. The show ran for 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. It was on TV from 1977 to 1988, making it a popular local show for over a decade!
Meet the Stars of D.B.'s Delight
D.B.'s Delight had two main hosts who made the show special. One was a live person, and the other was a puppet!
The Human Hosts
The first live host was a radio personality named Young Bobby Day. He hosted the show from 1977 to 1984. After him, another radio personality, Guy Phillips, took over. Guy hosted the show from 1984 until it ended in 1988.
D.B. Doorbell, the Puppet
The show's most famous character was a puppet named "D.B. Doorbell." Many talented puppeteers brought D.B. to life over the years. These included Tom Brooks, Dale Thompson, Doug Kincaid, and Bobby Miller. D.B. Doorbell was a big part of the show's charm!
Special Guests and Prizes
Besides the hosts, the show also had funny skits. Sometimes, local child performers like Mickey Dougherty and Ryan Bollman appeared. Winners on the show often received cool prizes. These usually included special pens, pencils, and T-shirts with the show's logo.
Music and How the Show Worked
The show had a distinct musical style that changed over the years. It also had a clear format for its quiz rounds.
Opening and Closing Music
From 1977 to 1984, the show started with a song called "Attitudes" by Billy Preston. Later, from 1984 to 1988, the show used "Freeze Frame" by The J. Geils Band for both its opening and closing themes.
The Quiz Show Format
Each episode of D.B.'s Delight had three rounds. In each round, two contestants competed. These contestants were always 6th-grade students. They came from a local school, and their classmates made up the studio audience!
The Joke Board
In the early years, there was a funny segment before the show officially started. It was called the "Joke Board." This part was inspired by a show called "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In." The show's stars would tell jokes through small trapdoors in a colorful wall. It was a great way to start the show with some laughs!
Quiz Questions and Topics
During each round, the live host would ask educational questions. The student who answered correctly earned points. These points helped decide who would win that round. The questions covered many subjects, including:
- History
- Mathematics
- Science
- Geography
- Current events
Contestants also had music questions. They would hear a short audio clip of pop music. Then, they had to identify the song title or the artist.
The Winners Round and Divine Ding-Dong
The third and final round was called "The Winners Round." It began with a hilarious joke segment. Puppet D.B. Doorbell would dress up in a red turban and cape. He even held a crystal ball! The live host would introduce him as "The Divine Ding-Dong." This segment started with music from Steve Martin's "King Tut" song.
"The Divine Ding-Dong" would then try to guess the punchlines to jokes. These jokes were provided by students in the studio audience. This funny part was a parody of a famous sketch. It was like "Carnac the Magnificent" from Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show." After this fun segment, the final round began. The two winners from Round 1 and Round 2 would face off to determine the overall winner.
Who Won D.B.'s Delight?
Every show featured four students from one 6th-grade class in the St. Louis area. The most successful winners from each season were invited back for a special event.
D.B.'s Grand Delight
At the end of each school year, a special program aired called D.B.'s Grand Delight. This show brought back the four top winners from the entire season. They competed against each other for the ultimate prize!
For example, Ron Fedorchak won the Grand Delight during the 1977–1978 school year. He was playing for Lewis & Clark Junior High from Wood River, Illinois.
