J. P. Patches

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J.P. Patches
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J.P. Patches (full name Julius Pierpont Patches) is a clown who appeared on the Seattle television station KIRO channel 7 from 1958 to 1981, after appearing for a few years on Minneapolis station WTCN channel 11 starting in 1953. He was hugely popular among viewers in the Puget Sound area and southwestern British Columbia, not only with children, but with their parents, too, who enjoyed J.P.'s frequent use of double entendre.[1] At a peak of its 22-year run, the Emmy-winning program had a viewership of over 100,000 in its local markets. When it was ended in 1981, the show was the longest-running, locally-produced children's program in the U.S.[2] The show was live. With intense barrage from off-camera crew, the show was unrehearsed, masterful improv.[3]

Chris Wedes took up the character in 1955 when Daryl Laub, the character's creator, left WTCN for KSTP-TV channel 5 in St. Paul.[citation needed] Wedes (pronounced WEE-dus) played the character from that point on, bringing him along with his move to Seattle where he became the KIRO News floor director.[1] He continues to make his living portraying J.P. at public events and private parties,[4] and by licensing J.P. Patches merchandise.[5]

J.P. Patches and Gertrude
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J.P. Patches and Gertrude

The primary conceit of the program was that J.P. was the "Mayor of the City Dump", and he lived in a shack at the dump, surrounded by his cast of stock characters: Sturdley the Bookworm, Esmerelda (actually a Raggedy Ann doll), Ketchikan the Animal Man, Boris S. Wort (the second meanest man in the world), Ggoorrsstt the Friendly Frpl, and J.P.'s girlfriend, Gertrude. Virtually the entire supporting cast, male and female, human or non-human, was played by the versatile Bob Newman.[1] The city dump was the actual Montlake Landfill (1926-66), 1972-present athletic fields, car park, and the Union Bay Natural Area of the University of Washington in the University District.[6]

Fans were called "Patches Pals." Bill Gates was one of those kids. So was former Governor Gary Locke, NW comedian John Keister, and KOMO-TV anchor Kathi Goertzen.[7] J.P. would celebrate birthdays of selected Patches Pals by "viewing" them on his "ICU2TV" set (actually a cardboard prop that created the appearance that J.P. was looking at you from inside your television). He would predict with amazing accuracy where a gift might be hidden in the child's house.[1]

Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, was a Patches Pal, having grown up in the Pacific Northwest. Along with Portland, Oregon clown Rusty Nails, J.P. was the partial inspiration for Groening's Krusty the Clown.{{Citation needed}}

Prior to moving to Seattle, Wedes appeared on multiple programs at WTCN-TV in Minneapolis. Other than playing J.P., he most notably played Joe the Cook on that station's Lunch with Casey program.[1]

Research: Character name search of the Internet Movie Database
"The character 'j. p. patches' (using whole word searching) has been played by: Nobody found with character name 'j. p. patches'".[8] Two videos exist:

  • Towey, Joe, director; in association with KIRO Television. (1993). J.P. Patches. [Vol. 4, J.P's magic house] [VHS]. Seattle: City Dump Productions. Retrieved on 2006-04-21.
    Retrieved on 21 April 2006.
    Other authors: Wedes, Chris; Towey, Joe; Newman, Bob.
    Performers: Chris Wedes, Bob Newman.
    B&W with color sequences, remaster of rescued original recordings c. 1960s–early 1970s.
  • Towey, Joe and Jones, Rich; directors; in association with KIRO Television. (1992). The J.P. Patches Show. [Vol. 1, Gertrude reveals Superklown] [VHS]. Seattle: City Dump Productions. Retrieved on 2006-04-21.
    Retrieved on 21 April 2006.
    Other authors: Towey, Joe; Jones, Rich; Wedes, Chris; Newman, Bob.
    "Performer(s): Chris Wedes, Bob Newman & cast of thousands." [Catalog data.] Remaster of rescued original recordings c. 1970s.

Note that content dates and chronology are independent of convention.

Contents

[edit] See also

Union Bay Natural Area

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Stein
  2. ^ Beck
  3. ^ (1) "OlyBlog, Evergroove Trivia pt. 37". OlyBlog.net (2005-11-13). Retrieved on 2006-04-21.
    Verifiable attribution is needed.
    (2) Wedes & Johnston; Hobson (ed.)
  4. ^ For example, second half 2005: Bellevue Strawberry Festival June 25, 2005; Yakima Fruit Market October 15, 2005; Seattle Aquarium October 29, 2005; [and private engagements].
    J.P. Patches.com.Co.Inc.Ltd.International (1647 [sic]). "J.P.'s Appeareances" [sic]. JPPatches. Retrieved on 2006-04-21.
  5. ^ JPPatches (2005). "J.P. Patches". Home > Pacific Northwest Shop > J.P. Patches. Channel 9 Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-04-21.
    J.P. Patches.com.Co.Inc.Ltd.International (1647 [sic]). "Patches Pal News". 2006 appearances, inclusive.. JPPatches. Retrieved on 2006-04-21.
  6. ^ (1) Phelps, pp. 207–208.
    (2) Center for Urban Horticulture
  7. ^ Paynter
  8. ^ "Character name search". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2006-04-21.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Further reading

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