Mom Would Let Us Watch Ramblin’ Rod While We Got Dressed For School

Local morning cartoon shows were a mainstay of kid culture. In Portland, Oregon, Ramblin’ Rod was the cartoon host for decades. 

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The cloths would be folded and sitting in front of the television set. Paulie and I would sit down with the cloths in front of us, sleep still in our eyes.

The TV would be on channel 12. Ramblin Rod would be talking to some cub scout, or brownie, or a lucky kid whose parents brought them to the show for their birthday. After a few questions, Ramblin’ Rod would shout out,

“And, now it’s time for a Popeye (or Bugs Bunny, or whoever the main character would be) cartoon!”

We would be fumbling with our cloths, trying to get our shirts over our heads quickly so we wouldn’t miss a single second of animated bliss. Our eyes glued to the small screen.

Mom would be calling us to the kitchen to get our breakfast while we ignored her, intent on watching Popeye mop up the floor with Bluto (or Brutus, same guy different name.) Or, watch Bugs Bunny outwit a hunter.

During a commercial, we would run to get a bowl of cereal from Mom (Life cereal) and run back to our place on the floor. Paulie would have lost a shoe somewhere in the living room and he would be frustrated and tired. Yet, he was also all pumped up from the technicolor heaven in front of us.

Original artwork courtesy of the author

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