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Teacher of the Year

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17. I was the substitute kid for the west coast live Romper Room

Fri Jun 13, 2025, 04:26 PM

Jun 13

Back in 69/70. The show got new kids every two weeks. We lived close to the TV station so if a kid was sick or late, they would wisk me over to take their place. I was on enough that I was recognized in public and got my cheeks pinched a lot and, ew, people running their fingers through my very red hair. I was a STAR in kindergarten. I had afternoon kindergarten so everyone had watched Romper Room in the morning and there I was in class a few hours later.

It might sound fun, but I hated the attention and absolutely hated being touched by strangers. At school it was horrible because all of these aggressive kids who wanted to be my "best friend" but were frantic about it and pushy.

We moved and at my new school I was a nobody. My best friends were the shyest kids who liked to play off on the edges of the group. I finally had friends who I trusted to like me for me. I was offered a TV show later in life, on a popular station in a prime time slot, and declined. I 100% knew that that was NOT the life for me.

(Here is a twist though... many, many, many years later I was dating this really nice fellow. We were at a party and his friend asked him how he knew he was gay. He told her that as a kid he would watch Romper Room and that there was this red-headed boy that he had a crush on and that he wanted to marry. When we left the party I told him that I was that red-headed kid. At home I showed him the big romper room picture I had and his mouth fell open. I'd met his kids, we were getting along so well, and the next day he broke it off with me and simply sobbed that it too much for him to deal with.

No happy ending to the tale, I'm afraid. I warned him that it would not sit well, and it did not. I wish him love and happiness but it was not with me.)

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debm55

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Were you ever an extra in a movie, TV show, kid show included ---speaking or nonspeaking part. I was a zombie in George [View all] debm55 Jun 13 OP

You mean George Romero? johnp3907 Jun 13 #1

Thank you I edited it. debm55 Jun 13 #5

Well now we need to know which zombie you were! johnp3907 Jun 13 #6

It was shot in the Pittsburgh area. My friend's sister was a student at the Art Institue, They were given a casting debm55 Jun 13 #11

Which Zombie????? CanonRay Jun 13 #9

I was in a group of zombies---no lines. Clothing from the Goodwill Store were brought in, We were told to tear and rip debm55 Jun 13 #19

Cool debm 😎 Clouds Passing Jun 13 #2

Thank you Clouds Passing debm55 Jun 14 #51

I remember you, debm55. You were magnificent! chouchou Jun 13 #3

HAHAHHAHAH, Thank you very much chouchou debm55 Jun 14 #52

I was in a nation wide TV advertisement (circa 1961-62) for the Boy Scouts of America. surfered Jun 13 #4

Thank you very. surfered. Your career was short .but a memorable one debm55 Jun 14 #56

I was featured in a Cold Case Files CanonRay Jun 13 #7

Thank you CanonRay, Were you in the crowd or a speaking actor debm55 Jun 14 #57

I was interviewed. It was a documentary about an investigation I did. CanonRay Jun 14 #63

Thank you very much CanonRay. You are a star. debm55 Jun 15 #65

I was a tree, in 1rst grade. Archae Jun 13 #8

HAHHAHAHHAha. thank you very much Archae. A star is born debm55 Jun 16 #77

My Dad was on an episode of the Brady Bunch Nittersing Jun 13 #10

I remember that episode! Americanme Jun 13 #26

Lolol. Brady Bunch set stories are the best. 😁 blm Jun 14 #53

Thank you very much, Nittersing. debm55 Jun 16 #78

In the event of a zombie apocalypse... discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 13 #12

HAHAHAHHAHA. Thank you very much, discntnt_irny_srcsm , You are welcome to join us. debm55 Jun 16 #79

I was on the Happy Hal Show as a tot. LudwigPastorius Jun 13 #13

Thank you very much LudwigPastorius, You had some great memories. I didn;t know that my movie was in the National Film debm55 Jun 16 #80

Scandal enid602 Jun 13 #14

I remember the McMartin case. Wan't the mother, and brother involved too. debm55 Jun 13 #21

McMartin enid602 Jun 13 #22

this AllaN01Bear Jun 13 #33

Thank you enid602 Jun 14 #37

Gasp! I am soooo jealous! Laffy Kat Jun 13 #15

There was also a George Romero that was done at Monroeville Mall, It wasn't too far from my home. However, I couldn't debm55 Jun 13 #32

Cool Thread ProfessorGAC Jun 13 #16

Thank you ProfessorGAC. debm55 Jun 16 #82

I was the substitute kid for the west coast live Romper Room Teacher of the Year Jun 13 #17

My heart goes out to both of you, Teacher of the Year. You are loved here by use. I wish you well. debm55 Jun 16 #83

Capt. Billy's Playhouse in Albuquerque, KGGM, 1966 Onthefly Jun 13 #18

Thank you very much, Onthefly. I always wanted to be the peanut gallery. My girl scouts never got invited though. debm55 Jun 16 #81

We did have fun. Waiting to go on air was the time for donuts and milk. Onthefly Jun 16 #84

Great and thank you again. Onthefly. debm55 Jun 16 #86

In my youth, I was in several sex scenes almost throughout an entire movie (in the back row of the movie theater!). Doodley Jun 13 #20

This message was self-deleted by its author debm55 Jun 13 #35

Ha! It's a rite of passage almost. (For some of us older folks... it was in drive-in theater.) LOL Oopsie Daisy Jun 14 #39

Thank you very much, OOpsi Daisy. debm55 Jun 16 #76

I drove my taxi DiverDave Jun 13 #23

HAHAHAHHAHAHHA. Thank you very much DiverDave. debm55 Jun 16 #74

Jaws 2 Florida Dem Jun 13 #24

Thank you very much Florida Dem. I will be looking for you the next time I watch the movie. Thank you for sharing. debm55 Jun 16 #73

Did you have to chew on raw pig guts, debm55? nuxvomica Jun 13 #25

No I was in crowd scene. Thankfully not eating pig guts debm55 Jun 14 #50

I was in one of the crowd scenes grumpyduck Jun 13 #27

Thank you very much, grumpyduck debm55 Jun 14 #49

You must provide a signed 8x10 glossy! DBoon Jun 13 #28

Thank you DBoon. I have never seen any of his other movies. too scary debm55 Jun 13 #31

I had a miniscule nonspeaking bit part in a Japanese historical drama... 3catwoman3 Jun 13 #29

HAHAHAH, Thank you very much 2catwoman3 debm55 Jun 14 #48

I came close to being on TV but missed it nuxvomica Jun 13 #30

So sorry about your chance to be a star. nucvomica. You did get to talk with Jerry Lacy. And you did get a Polaroid debm55 Jun 14 #47

hmm,, lets see,,, AllaN01Bear Jun 13 #34

Thank you AllaNO1Bear. A Star is Born, debm55 Jun 14 #42

I was in a series of education videos for the state of Georgia back in the late 60s early 70s. Solly Mack Jun 13 #36

Great thank you very much, Solly Mack debm55 Jun 14 #41

I was on Dick Clark's American Bandstand jitterbuging womanofthehills Jun 14 #38

Thank you very much, womanofthehills. debm55 Jun 14 #40

Nope. My Myers-Briggs type is INTP which means I avoid any kind of IRL recognition at all costs catbyte Jun 14 #43

Thank you catbyte. debm55 Jun 14 #46

Just had to tell you that yesterday for no reason (no prompt, or a reminder) I thought of "Romper Room". 😄 electric_blue68 Jun 14 #44

Thank you very much for sharing that. electric_blue68. Good memories for you. debm55 Jun 14 #45

Off hand I have no actual memories, which is why I was confused about it showing up. electric_blue68 Jun 14 #62

Thank you. debm55 Jun 16 #72

I was in Rachel, Rachel wryter2000 Jun 14 #54

Wow. thank you very much, wryter2000. What an experience. debm55 Jun 16 #71

he was really sweet wryter2000 Jun 17 #89

In high school I was part of a team of 3 "student reporters" lapfog_1 Jun 14 #55

Wow! What a great experience! nt Nittersing Jun 14 #58

That is wonderful. Thank you very much lapfog_1 for sharing your memories with us. debm55 Jun 16 #70

I was in Rocky 2 and Rocky 5. BlueTsunami2018 Jun 14 #59

Great BlueTsunami 2018, Thank you for sharing your memories. debm55 Jun 16 #69

I played a Buffalo Soldier in the TV western "High Chapparal" way back in he day. brush Jun 14 #60

Thank you very much, brush. It sounds like your experience was fun. Good for you debm55 Jun 16 #68

I was on an episode of LA law and the 2nd season finale of America's funniest home videos Basso8vb Jun 14 #61

Thank you very much, Basso8vb. Great experience and memories. debm55 Jun 16 #67

I was an extra in two scenes in 'Philadelphia' GoneOffShore Jun 15 #64

Thank you very much, GoneOffShore. I hope you enjoyed your career casting. Or still love it. debm55 Jun 16 #66

I was on a local kids tv show in the 1950's. I Emile Jun 16 #75

HAHAHAHHAHAH. That is so funny, Thank you Emile. debm55 Jun 16 #85

I was an extra in Summer of Sam IbogaProject Jun 16 #87

Thank you very much, IbogaProject. debm55 Jun 16 #88

I was in three Northern Exposure episodes. nolabear Jun 18 #90

Wow. Thank you very much, nolabear. A Star is Born. debm55 Jun 18 #91