Not sure how well known children's show host Sandy Becker was outside of the New York area, but I wanted him to have his own thread at IMWAN.

Sandy was so popular that for a while he was on in the morning and the evening. Here are the theme songs from both versions of his show:

Well, at the very least, Linda and I will enjoy trading posts in this thread.

When I was introduced to the wonders of the internet, one of the first things I did was track down "That Happy Feeling," which I didn't know the title of, by searching for the Sandy Becker show. Next action was ordering a Bert Kaempfert greatest hits CD.

I want this song played at my funeral.

Tony Macrini, morning host at WNIS in Norfolk, VA is from NY, and he uses "That Happy Feeling" on his show regularly and always mentions Becker when he does

"Take the little bottle that says vanilla..."

"Vah-NEE-lah! Vah-NEE-lah!"

Eecops of the planet Zircon.

I don't think that I've heard That Happy Feeling since the early 70's. It was a staple on our local easy listening station.

My grandmother's maiden name is Becker. I think Sandy was her nephew and my mother's cousin.

You're welcome. You can send me money.

Is it time to play "Catch Max" yet?

(I can't find any visual representation of Max via Googling.)

Quick, Jimbo, call the station!

This show was before my time. I had Wonderama with Bob McAllister.

Apparently, Wonderama was specifically created for Sandy Becker to host on Sundays, but he was so popular he was working six days a week, so he dropped it soon after. This was a few years before I was born. I remember Sonny Fox being the host when I was little, He was just a host, an MC. He wasn't entertaining like Sandy or Soupy or Chuck.

The local kids host in Baton Rouge did an hour show on the weekday mornings, an hour show in the afternoons, and a Saturday early morning show as well. Eventually he was cut back to weekday afternoons before they cancelled his show.

Linda caught Max!

♫ Does anybody here have an aardvark? ♪

I confirmed with mother. Her Uncle George was Sandy's father. She says he was a very nice man, which I am always glad to hear. (I hate it when beloved kid show hosts turn out to be creeps.)

That's amazing. How small a world is this?

Very!

Sandy's "Hambone" 45 on the Okeh label, with the original picture sleeve:



I remember owning this, but it might have only been a regional release. It's missing from most discographies on the Internet, and there appear to be more white label promos being offered by collectable dealers than stock copies. The A-side is the original 1952 Red Saunders recording that inspired Sandy's character, but with an instrumental bridge edited out, and the rest of the track overdubbed with Hambone screaming "Yehhhh!" at the appropriate times.

I would really like to see the action that accompanies all of that!

Okay, you asked for it!

Almost all of Sandy's work has been lost or wiped. This one original Hambone sequence was found by a WNEW technician and they included it as part of an "Old Children's Television" interview special in the 1980s. Just press Play, it's set to start at the Hambone part: