Stu Kerr facts for kids

Thomas Stewart "Stu" Kerr (born March 9, 1928 – died July 17, 1994) was a well-known television personality from Baltimore. He created and hosted many TV shows in Baltimore from 1952 through the 1980s. He was especially famous for his children's programs.

Stu Kerr's Early Life and Career Start

Stu Kerr was born in Yonkers, New York. When he was a teenager, he worked as an NBC page at the network's main office in Rockefeller Center. He remembered practicing reading scripts in famous broadcaster Lowell Thomas's seat.

His first full-time job in broadcasting was on the radio when he was 19 years old. In 1950, he joined the U.S. Army. He served during the Korean War.

Becoming a TV Star in Baltimore

Stu Kerr's television career began in 1952 at WMAR-TV in Baltimore. He created a late-night show called The Janitor. This show really showed off his talent for making things up on the spot.

He then became a big part of children's television at WMAR-TV. He started with shows like The Early Riser and Bozo the Clown in the 1960s. Later, he created his own popular character, Professor Kool. His show, Professor Kool's Fun Skool, aired on Saturday mornings from 1967 to 1977.

Stu Kerr was also the weatherman for the early and late evening news programs for most of the 1970s. The weather set at the station was special. It had dials that looked like digital thermometers and barometers, but you could move them by hand!

He also hosted Dialing for Dollars on WMAR-TV. This show was very popular until it ended its 38-year run in 1977. While working on a show called Caboose in 1978, he helped discover future puppeteers Kevin Clash and Todd Stockman.

After WMAR-TV

After leaving WMAR-TV in 1981, Stu Kerr continued his career. He worked as a weatherman for WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.. He also performed in a puppet show called 54 Space Corps. This show was on WNUV-TV in Baltimore.

For several years, he hosted a call-in gardening show. This show aired on Saturday mornings on WCBM radio.

Stu Kerr also had small roles in a few movies. He appeared in the 1982 film Diner. He also had parts in "The Adventure of the Action Hunters" and Morgan Stewart's Coming Home, both filmed in 1987.

He created a fun, repeating character named "Scoop Toot" for the national children's show Captain Kangaroo. This show was watched by many kids across the country.

Stu Kerr passed away in Baltimore on July 17, 1994, after battling an illness.