The Rootie Kazootie Club (1952) | Todd Russell | Frank Milano | The Paul Ashley Puppets

Rootie Kazootie was the principal character on the 1950-1954 children’s television show The Rootie Kazootie Club — the creation of Steve Carlin and featured human actors along with hand puppets. Rootie Kazootie was a boy “keen on sports” who played his “magic kazootie” and wore his signature baseball cap with the oversized bill turned up. Puppeteer Paul Ashley controlled his movements, along with those of the “great Mexican catador”, called El Squeako Mouse—a takeoff on the idea of a mouse dueling with a cat rather than a bull. Naomi Lewis supplied their voices. Lewis also provided the voice of Rootie’s girlfriend Polka Dottie. Frank Milano provided both the actions and voices for their spotted canine companion Gala Poochie Pup and for arch-villain Poison Zoomack, who constantly tried to steal Polka Dottie’s polka dots and Rootie’s magic kazootie.

Stars: Todd Russell, Frank Milano, The Paul Ashley Puppets

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