Ding Dong School (1952) | Frances Horwich | Fran Allison

Ding Dong School, billed as “the nursery school of the air”, was a half-hour children’s TV show which began on WNBQ-TV (now WMAQ-TV) in Chicago, Illinois a few months before its four-year run on NBC (albeit still produced in the WNBQ studios). It is the earliest known preschool series to be produced in the United States, predating Romper Room by a year.

Stars: Frances Horwich, Fran Allison

The program was presented from a child’s point of view. A 1953 magazine article reported, “Low-angled cameras see everything at Lilliputian eye-level, stories and activities are paced at the slow rate just right for small ears and hands.” Each program began with Miss Frances ringing a hand-held school bell.

A precursor to Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the show was hosted live by Frances Horwich (aka “Miss Frances”), and at one point was the most popular TV series aimed at preschoolers. The program began in 1952 at Chicago’s WNBQ television. After six weeks on the air locally, the program was picked up by the NBC television network. At the height of its popularity, Ding Dong School had three million viewers.

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