Sailor Bob facts for kids

Sailor Bob was a fun American children's television show. It was made by a TV station called WRVA in Richmond, Virginia. This show aired for many years, from 1959 all the way to 1969!

The Story of Sailor Bob

This TV show was mostly about Popeye cartoons. But it also had a friendly host named "Sailor Bob." His real name was Bob Griggs. Before becoming Sailor Bob, he worked as a cameraman for the TV station. Bob also studied art at the Richmond Professional Institute.

Meet Sailor Bob and His Friends

Sailor Bob wasn't alone on the show! He had many puppet friends. Bob Griggs actually designed all these puppets himself. Some of his puppet pals included Gilly Gull, Squeeky Mouse, Captain Paddles, Sparkey, and Mr. Bluebird. Sailor Bob would talk and play with these puppets.

Besides showing Popeye cartoons and chatting with his puppets, Sailor Bob had another cool talent. He would often draw his own cartoons live on camera for everyone watching at home.

A Popular Local Show

Even though Sailor Bob's show was only seen in the central Virginia area, it was incredibly popular! Lots of kids loved watching it. The show received a huge number of fan letters, sometimes as many as 8,000 letters every month! That shows how much children enjoyed Sailor Bob and his adventures.

Remembering Sailor Bob

Years later, in 2011, a special 90-minute documentary film was made about the show. It was called The Sailor Bob Story. This film first showed at the Byrd Theatre in Richmond on January 11, 2011. Later, local PBS TV stations like WCVE-TV and WHTJ also broadcast it.

Bob Griggs, the kind man who played Sailor Bob, passed away on February 20, 2019. He left behind many happy memories for the children who grew up watching his show.