Diode Control Unit�. Lights blinked and flashed, the hypnotic
discs on the Time Converter spun round, a wavering whistle tone
filled the air and the Captain�s smiling visage faded into a
Popeye cartoon.
The half-hour moved quickly. Captain 11 faced the camera
again to bid the crew farewell. �Remember to mind Mom and
Dad, eat what they tell you to eat, brush your teeth and say your
prayers when you go to bed. That�s the most important part.
So long, crew, nice being with you.� He tossed another salute
and activated the Time Converter again as the camera faded out.
The first show was over.
Time Converter
March 7, 1955
go to bed."
to include kids in the program. Captain 11 invited his crew to
write and promised to read their letters on the air. It wasn�t long
before the letters started piling up. One of the cartoons was
dropped in order to give Captain 11 more time to read the
letters. However, Dedrick realized the sight of him reading
letters on television wasn�t very compelling. He still wanted to
offer viewers more.
One afternoon fate took a hand. Dedrick noticed two young
boys walking a dog near the KELO-TV studios. He immediately
knew what to do. Captain 11 interviewed the boys on camera
that day. The boys talked about school and their favorite
teachers. The dog licked Captain 11�s face as he spoke to the
boys. It was fun and spontaneous and made for great live TV.
The next day other kids showed up at the KELO-TV studios.
Dedrick put them all on camera. The crowds grew in the days
afterward. Engineers included a portable bleacher section on
the set to accommodate the visitors.
Captain 11 soon started inviting birthday kids to act as co-pilots
and help him activate the Time Converter. This was the formula
for which Dedrick had been searching. It would propel the show
through the next four decades. Every kid in KELOLAND
wanted to spend their birthday with Captain 11.
The show quickly became a hit. The bleachers were overflowing
with kids every day. Captain 11 made his first promotional
appearance at Farrington�s Super Valu in Worthington,
Minnesota. Hundreds of kids jammed the store for a glimpse
of Captain 11. An appearance in Pierre had to be moved
outdoors to accommodate the huge overflow of fans.