Puppet, Hand

Object number2011.110.1 a,b

Manufacturer Craft Plastic Company

Date1972

Mediumplastic; vinyl

Credit LineGift of Justin Kurtz

DescriptionWillie the Duck hand puppet with cardboard box.Dimensions(a) Height: ~13 ; width: 4.5 ; Length: 10.5
(b) W: 4.625 ; L: 12.625 ; Depth: 4.75
Inscriptions(b)
Printed in black and orange is text, "WILLIE THE DUCK" ; "WATCH / WILLIE THE DUCK / ON NEWS WATCH 11 / NOON-6 & 11 PM WIIC-TV CHANNEL ELEVEN".

Address label attached has text "Mrs. Jess L. Martin . Box 566 / Vanderbilt, Pa. 15486".

Postage stamp from McKeesport, Pa.
Marks(a)
White stamp on bottom edge of cover "© 1972 / DON RIGGS / Designed-Mfg'd in U.S.A. / Craft Plastic Co."
Historical NotesWillie the Duck puppet and box. Willie the Duck was the popular puppet sidekick of WPXI reporter Don Riggs. Riggs invented the puppet in the 1950s while working in radio and television in Ohio. He came to Pittsburgh in 1960, eventually moving to Channel 11 in the 1970s. Willie the Duck debuted on Cartoon Colorama, introducing with Riggs a local show that showed full color cartoons. In the 1970s newspaper strike, Willie, who was voiced by Riggs, read cartoons on air to local children. WPXI originally used the call sign WIIC-TV when it signed on in 1957. In 1981, the station changed its call sign to WPXI, with the "XI" being the Roman Numeral for 11.

Related person Don Riggs

Related institution WIIC-TV

Related institution WPXI

Related person Mrs. Jess L. Martin

Subjects