Newsmakers shares history of Springfield kiddie program The Children's Hour

(From KGCS)

When kids throughout the Ozarks came home from school in the 1950’s, Aunt Norma greeted them through their tv screens on the show called The Children’s Hour.

The Missouri Southern State University Regional Media Hall of Fame recently inducted The Children’s Hour and its longest serving host, Norma Champion.

A video documentary tells the show’s history and beginnings on KY3 based in Springfield. Champion led children in crafts, stories and other activities while puppeteer Fred Rains created her rowdy sidekicks, Skinny McGinnis and Rusty Rooster. Local fans remember the show along with Champion and KY3 news anchor Steve Grant, who appeared on the program several times.

Newsmakers is airing nightly at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. the week of December 24 on KGCS-TV and will air at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, December 30 on KOAM-TV. It is also posted on the station’s YouTube channel: KGCS - Missouri Southern State University.

KGCS programming can be seen on channel 21 and is also available on regional cable television systems such as Sparklight, Mediacom and Suddenlink Communications. The station operates as a service of the Department of Communications at Missouri Southern State University.