Emmy-winning host of children's program was a fixture of L.A. television
John Rovick, the beloved host of a children’s cartoon show in Los Angeles throughout the 1950s and 60s, has died.
Rovick died Saturday in Boise, Idaho after a brief illness, his former station, KTTV-TV, told The Associated Press. He was 93.
For nearly two decades, Rovick appeared on the daily ”Cartoon Time” show that earned him an Emmy award for outstanding children’s program. It was so popular with young viewers that KTTV said it added another show to its midday schedule, ”Sheriff John’s Lunch Brigade,” that stayed on the air until 1970.
Staples of the show included Rovick reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, singing ”The Birthday Cake Polka” and leading viewers on a prayer before having lunch along with them. He opened the show with the song ”Laugh and Be Happy.”
Rovick created the sheriff persona because of his interest in law enforcement. He served in World War II as a radio gunner for the Army Air Forces.
Popular on Variety
The Dayton, Ohio native was survived by his wife and two daughters.
Jump to CommentsMore from Variety
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Camilla Luddington on Sticking With the Show for 13 Seasons, Jo’s Pregnancy and Alex Choosing Izzie
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Success Doesn’t Downplay Risky Reboots Coming to Theaters
How ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Pulled Off Meryl Streep and Melissa McCarthy’s Living Room Brawl
Colin Farrell Wore a Penis Prosthetic for ‘The Penguin’ Premiere’s Torture Scene: ‘They Were Kind Enough to Make Oz Anatomically Correct’
Does Streaming Hurt Theaters? This Survey Says It Helps
‘The Perfect Couple’ Killer Confesses! [SPOILER] Spills on Playing the Villain, the Show’s ‘Surreal’ Tone and Joining the Rebellion Against That Dance
Most Popular
Inside the 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Debacle: Todd Phillips ‘Wanted Nothing to Do’ With DC on the $200 Million Misfire
‘Kaos’ Canceled After One Season at Netflix
‘Menendez Brothers’ Netflix Doc Reveals Erik’s Drawings of His Abuse and Lyle Saying ‘I Would Much Rather Lose the Murder Trial Than Talk About Our…
Kathy Bates Won an Oscar and Her Mom Told Her: ‘You Didn't Discover the Cure for Cancer,’ So ‘I Don't Know What All the Excitement Is About…
Saoirse Ronan Says Losing Luna Lovegood Role in ‘Harry Potter’ Has ‘Stayed With Me Over the Years’: ‘I Was Too Young’ and ‘Knew I Wasn't Going to Get…
‘Joker 2’ Director Says Arthur Fleck Was Never Joker: ‘He's an Unwitting Icon’ and Joker Is ‘This Idea That Gotham People Put on Him…
‘Joker 2’ Axed Scene of Lady Gaga’s Lee Kissing a Woman at the Courthouse Because ‘It Had Dialogue in It’ and ‘Got in the Way’ of a Music…
Andrew Garfield Says Sex Scene With Florence Pugh in ‘We Live in Time’ Went a ‘Little Bit Further’ Than Intended: ‘We Never Heard Cut…
‘Skyfall’ Director Sam Mendes Says James Bond Studio Prefers Filmmakers ‘Who Are More Controllable’: ‘I Would Doubt’ I’d…
Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried to Star in ‘The Housemaid’ Adaptation From Director Paul Feig, Lionsgate
Must Read
- Film
COVER | Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
By Andrew Wallenstein 3 weeks
- TV
Menendez Family Slams Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ as ‘Grotesque’ and ‘Riddled With Mistruths’: ‘The Character Assassination of Erik and Lyke Is Repulsive…
- TV
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2 to Air on CBS After Paramount Network Debut
- TV
50 Cent Sets Diddy Abuse Allegations Docuseries at Netflix: ‘It’s a Complex Narrative Spanning Decades’ (EXCLUSIVE)
- Shopping
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Sets Digital and Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXJ%2BjqyanqaVZLumw9JoqqGdop6zp3nJqJ%2BnZaKkw6qvymabop2jYq61eZhsZGppYW19d3yScGxo