Wonderama

I remember watching Wonderama on Sunday mornings growing up in the New York area as well as Minnesota and it was a classic kids show thanks to the men who hosted such as Sandy Becker and Sonny Fox and the host I remember the most, Bob McAllister. Bob presided over a potpourri of music, comedy sketches, celebrity guests and games that included "Snake Cans" and "Guess Your Best." And when it ended he would sing the closing theme "Kids are People Too (wackadoo wackadoo wackadoo).

What made the show a big success was that Bob truly loved kids and treated everyone with respect. He almost got a big break as a game show host when Monty Hall hired him to host a pilot called "Carnival", which didn't sell. It's a shame he's gone, since I thought he would have a great candidate to replace Bob Barker on "The Price is Right." But we'll always remember him for the way he guided a successful kids show in "Wonderama." Wackadoo wackadoo.

WOW!! i had forgotten about this show!!! Yes, Sunday mornings, 7am, channel 5 and they got the baagel necklace with their name on it from Lenders bagels, which I see in the store till this day and think about wonderama. Anyway, my father worked at IBM in White Plains, and we went to an IBM Xmas party somewhere in White Plains, and who was the guest host or whatever of the party? Bob McAllister !!! I was like 8, and had my first heart attack!! I was soo amazed he was the nicest man, it truly was one of the best things I had seen and experienced as a child.

Thanks bob!!!

PS- Wait!!!!! Remember they had a lion or tiger cub from the Bronx Zoo, and they named it Rama??? Please someone remember that!!!

I am suprised that no one has commented on this great show. Bob was a key person in my youth and I loved this show. Our generation needs to band together and pull for good programming like this for our kids. Hell, i thought the cosby kids were racy when they came out. Lets stop leaving decisions to the big wheel generation (I was too big by the time they came out) and let these kids know what good tv was and is. I met Bob in an airport when I was a kid and it is one of the few standout memories I have from my childhood. I am sorry to see there are no other posts here. Hopefully the future will hold more. Crup

I was about 5 or 6 when I watched Wonderama in the early 70's. I remember watching the show on our old Zenith Console TV (with a 4 button clicker remote), LOL. Well, one Sunday while watching Wonderama I can remember experiencing one of my first pangs of envy seeing a young boy walking an Evel Knievel Moto-cross style bicycle off the stage that he just had won.

The bike was White w/ Red, White & Blue labels all over it resembling the American Flag. I started to light up thinking how much I wanted to be on that show and win a bicycle just like it. My Father shared in my passion, since at that time, he owned 2 Motorcycle Excessory Stores, and wanted to find out what it would take to get me on that show.

The following Sunday I saw another boy who had won a bicycle, but not as flashy as the one last week. My heart sunk as the kid walked off the stage with the bike and I heard Bob McAllister say something to the effect of, "We sure hope He enjoys his prize and we realize that there are not a lot of places to ride a bike here in New York City, etc..."

I was so disappointed that it was so far away, but I still loved watching that show and now, after running across this shows again just by a fluke on this website, all these sweetie memories of that show started flooding my thoughts. I sure wish they would release more of these good ole' shows on DVD, I never understood why they hold back any shows from release, at all...

I too remember Wonderama so well. I was such a naive kid and Bob and the show were sooo cool. They gave away all the latest toys but especially the banana seat bikes with monkey bars that (I think!) were prizes for the dance contest. I wanted one so bad and I had just a regular bike, which my parents said was 'practical'. The snake can game, by far my favorite,fed my little greedy mind and I would just dream of turning the top on the can that was always so hard to remove and voilà - the bouquet of flowers!!! and all those toys!!! But I did love Bob too, it never occurred to me that he didn't love kids and love his job - kids know these things! I would have done a lot to get a chance on the show but we lived in CT and I knew there would never be a chance. We didn't always get channel 5 that good and I would literally pray (hey, it was Sunday,..) that reception would be good. I remember the show was on from something like 7-11 am and we'd watch some, go to church, come home and keep watching. What a great memory!