Winky Dink and You facts for kids
Winky Dink and You was a fun children's television show on CBS that aired from 1953 to 1957. It was on Saturday mornings and was hosted by Jack Barry. The show featured a cartoon character named Winky Dink and his dog, Woofer. Winky Dink was known for his plaid pants, messy star-shaped hair, and big eyes. Jack Barry and his funny sidekick, Mr. Bungle, would introduce clips of Winky Dink's adventures.
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How Viewers Interacted with the Show
The most exciting part of Winky Dink and You was that kids at home could interact with the show! Even famous computer expert Bill Gates called it "the first interactive TV show."
To join the fun, viewers could buy a "magic drawing screen" kit for 50 cents. This kit included a special piece of clear plastic that stuck to the TV screen using static electricity, plus some Winky Dink crayons.
Drawing to Help Winky Dink
In every Winky Dink cartoon, there would be a moment where Winky Dink needed help. He would show a connect-the-dots picture on the screen. Kids at home would then use their magic screen and crayons to connect the dots. Once finished, the drawing would appear on the TV, helping Winky Dink continue his story! For example, children might draw a bridge for Winky Dink to cross a river, an axe to chop down a tree, or a cage to trap a dangerous lion.
Decoding Secret Messages
Another cool way to use the screen was to decode secret messages. The show would display an image showing only the vertical lines of letters. Viewers would quickly trace these lines onto their magic screen. Then, a second image would appear with the horizontal lines, completing the secret message!
Talking with Characters
Sometimes, the show would display a faint outline of a character. Kids with the magic screen could trace this outline. Then, it would look like Jack Barry was having a conversation with the character that the children had just drawn on their screens. This made the show even more special for those who had the kit.
Where the Idea Came From
The main idea for Winky Dink and You came from Harry Prichett, Sr. in the 1950s. He was a graphic designer working for an advertising agency. This agency handled ads for Benrus Watches, which sponsored a popular TV show called Your Show of Shows.
Some viewers were upset because a watch advertised for $39.95 actually cost more. This was because early TV sets sometimes "cut off" the edges of the picture. Harry Prichett put a clear film over his TV screen to see exactly what parts of the commercial were visible. While waiting, he started drawing on the screen with a special pencil. He erased his drawings and added new ones. He quickly realized that children would love to do this with their own TVs!
Why the Show Ended and Came Back
Winky Dink and You was very popular because it was one of the first shows to let viewers interact. Winky Dink became a famous character in the 1950s. However, the show stopped being made, even though it was so loved.
One reason was concern about X-rays coming from early TV screens, especially color TVs. Also, CBS worried about parents complaining. Some children who didn't have the magic screen were drawing directly on their actual TV screens!
The show later returned in syndication with new episodes from 1969 to 1973. In the 1990s, a new "Winky Dink Kit" was sold. It included a screen, crayons, and new digital versions of the old Winky Dink and You episodes.
Images for kids
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Winky Dink and You title card
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Children interacting with the Winky Dink and You program
