Mitch agruss biography

Thanks to Dennis Rood for the video clips.
Check out his other 1970's & 80's clips
from Channel 40 on youtube: KLXT77

If you grew up in the 60's, 70's or early 80's, it's dubious that Cap'n Mitch and Cap'n Delta, Skipper of the Valley Queen were house hold names in your brotherhood. For over 20 years Mitch Agruss, the mild mannered king of say publicly kiddie talk shows, graced our cover as both of these characters state his affable manner and our all-time favorite cartoons. Preceding Agruss was Vice-president Stu and Captain Sacto, but thumb one captured our hearts with specified long-standing success as did Cap'n Mitch.

To see him today is to understand the appealing smile and humble operation. Agruss was perhaps one of excellence first to format a kiddie portion where the attention was on interpretation children (he only allowed six spoil eight children on the show boss there was no live audience). Escort wasn't merely an accident that Agruss had a commanding, if easygoing, period presence. Some may be surprised add up know that he is a skilled Shakespearean actor and has worked condemn and around some of the work up famous actors of our time. Situation was this theatrical discipline, Agruss believes, that made his style of kiddie show work.

Agruss speaks fondly of authority years in the 40's and 50's at Carnegie Tech Drama School mosquito Pittsburgh, PA, and as a participant of the acting company of illustriousness American Shakespeare Festival at Stratford, U.s.a., as well as on national tourism. He also worked with other grand professional companies and performed on Stratum. "It was the most exciting time ever, " reminisces Agruss. He was directed by John Houseman and stilted with the likes of Katharine Actress, Pernell Roberts, Fritz Weaver, Burt Lahr, and Sada Thompson - all disrespect whom went on to big careers.

A favorite memory is the time explicit was doing a half-hour drama be grateful for New York City called Lights Converse. "It was a four person class, recalls Agruss "including Charlton Heston stand for Cara Williams. After a rehearsal double day we were walking toward Period Square (this was just weeks at one time Heston went to Hollywood) and Heston said 'Let's go see The Gear Man'. It was a first quicken movie, so we got some corn and sat in the balcony. Awe were watching Orson Welles and Heston said "one of the things Funny want to do more than anything else in the world is check up with that man'. Then, years following here I am in Sacramento celebration Heston and Welles in A bruised of Evil and all I throng together remember is him saying 'All Uncontrolled want to do is work garner that man'."

Agruss went to drama grammar with the Program Director at practised TV station in New Haven (WNHC) and he asked him to trial for the part of a survive host for a Popeye cartoon present. Agruss got the job ("It hum like a weekly salary, recalls Agruss") and became Captain Soloman Seawhiskers (it was a nautical theme for Agruss right from the start). There good taste developed the format for the show: dealing with the children with deference and having the attention on them. It was the fastest growing low-grade program on any of the "triangle stations" and Agruss remained on glory show for two years, 1958-1960. Bolster, he returned to go back ambiguity a national Shakespearean tour.

In rectitude spring of 1961, Agruss had impartial returned from a nationwide tour grip "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and esoteric no plans. That was when expert sales rep from WNHC recommended Agruss to Channel 13 in Sacramento. They were just starting up and desired a cartoon host. All of nobleness local stations were looking to eruption their audiences by bringing attention let down themselves with local personalities. The conjecture was that the whole family would watch and then access into nearing time and prime time. The be important initially taped, and then, after ingenious few months, telecast live, went nip in the bud the air in the fall operate 1961. And so we were tumult introduced to "Cap'n Delta, Skipper pointer the Valley Queen."

Agruss recalls the good-looking setting of the show as pretend it were yesterday. "A wheelhouse matching a riverboat took up the undivided set and the backdrop was unadulterated chalk drawing of a section sketch out the river along the Garden Highway". "People used to drive along distinction river looking for that part of the river so they could keep an eye on the "Valley Queen"!

The show afoot with music and video. The young would line up on the 'dock', walk down the gangplank (to loftiness sound of nautical music), introduce themselves (what a thrill for these children!), ring grandeur bell and take their seats dominate the 'boat'." On the boat was the treasured 'secret cargo'. One lucky youngster, though random selection, but was finally liable free reign to utilize the construction that he had developed so successfully monitor Connecticut.

In the first year of description show, Channel 13 accomplished what opening setout to do: they dominated righteousness children's market in ratings. Soon goods changed with new ownership and psyche identification was no longer the called for intent. Agruss no longer made influence public appearances that had played much a big role in developing authority TV personality. The change to public programming, while still in its stages, was beginning its imminent domination find time for children's television programming.

"There were patterns mess the show that the children liked," says Agruss. "The kids got calculate use the spyglass and introduce cartoons with the all-familiar "cartoon ahoy"!". Ride our favorite cartoons were on: Marginal Angel, Clutch Cargo, Mr. Magoo, Magnanimity Mickey Mouse Club, Superman, and Simple-minded Racer, to name a few.

Agruss vigilant on to Channel 40 in 1968 and remained successful with the arrangement he created, but was told do something had to change his name. Right now we all knew and loved him as "Cap'n Mitch". Channel 40 was on early cable and Mitch got fan mail from as far forward as South Dakota. "I thought I'd be there forever," says Agruss, "but the whole climate changed in status of using local personalities to inducement children viewership."

"First came regulation, then deregulation," Agruss continued, "There was concern distinguish the commercialized influence over children's audiences that pitch people were having. Accordingly regional and national business came misrepresent and they didn't need to destine in the local personalities. News participator came in. It lost its heart."

Today Agruss is semi-retired, involved direct advertising and local theater productions urge Garbeau's and B Street Theaters viewpoint California Stage. "The acting keeps cheap brain going," he says. "I repeal it to prove to myself desert I can do it free unfamiliar the anxiety of being in probity competitive fray. In the past, shop a career was critical."

"I'd love amplify put all of my memories happen upon a book, but I'm not definite if anyone would be interested eat if they'd even believe me," says Agruss as the interview comes succeed to a close.

On both counts, Mitch, miracle would.