November 18th, 2010
The Romper Room & The Spotlight
Before I move on, I wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who reached out after my last post, with encouraging words, sympathy and deeply personal stories. I’m bowled over and am extremely grateful, and I’m going to be working through all the notes you left for me this weekend :)
I’ve never been an “in front of the camera” person- I’m all about behind the scenes. I worked steadily in entertainment for nine years (since I was 15!) and loved every minute of it, from calling cues as a stage manager to marketing and designing in music. I knew it was time for me to leave the industry last year, and since then I’ve been figuring out what my life looks like without the opening nights and sound checks- but I’ve never felt a pull toward performing like many of my friends.
But that’s not to say that it doesn’t run in the family!
My grandma (who I call Baba) used to be “Miss Roma” – the original host of the children’s show The Romper Room in Manitoba in the early 1960s, and the station she worked for is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary this year. As part of their celebrations they’ve released archival photos of all their programming, including images of her working on set that haven’t been released until now. I just found them this week and I love the peek behind the scenes they give into my grandma’s life as a young working mom…
As a classically trained singer, being in the spotlight was totally natural for her. And another fun family fact? My grandmother’s cousin also had her own television show in the 1960’s and was one of the CBC’s first singing television stars- “Our Pet” Juliette on The Juliette Show. All I have to show for those genes is that I’m convinced I can rock “Zero” at karaoke after one too many ;)
Do you like being in the spotlight?
If you are, what’s your favourite way to perform? And if not I’d love to know what your favourite off key, super enthusiastic karaoke song is. I know you have one…
{images: CTV Manitoba}
Those photos of your grandma are so amazing!!!! OH my goodness. She was fabulous!! That show looks adorable, too!! I’m more of a “behind the scenes” person myself, too! I’ve had “Total Eclipse of the Heart” stuck in my head for a week so I’d say that would be my top Karaoke song of the moment! Haha!!
Oh what a treasure these photos are, Kyla! Your grandmother was beautiful.
SO awesome! What a lovely family story :) You must be so proud of your grandma!
Hi.
I just discovered your blog and I think we are soulmates.
beautiful blog!!!
<3
That is so freaking awesome! I loved Romper Room. Obviously it wasn’t when your Baba was the host but still that is soo cool. The host from the early 80’s never “saw” me. :(
Your grandmother was so beautiful!! (And still is, I’m sure!) I LOVED this post and the glimpse into some personal and Manitoba history!
I’m a strictly behind-the-scenes girl, although in high school my friends and I would do air bands and lip sync competitions. Maybe it’s a maritime thing, but it was huge in my hometown. Otherwise I organized a lot of punk shows, mostly for charity (I did a lot of volunteer work for the Children’s Wish Foundation back in the early 00’s). Fave karaoke song has got to be “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi or “Take On Me” by A-Ha.
That’s so neat! We had a Romper Room in Australia as well, complete with Mr Do-Bee.
My favourite karaoke is anything Bon-Jovi. I’m SO awful, which makes it so much better.
Oh wow! That is super neat! You resemble your grandma.
I was a S’Kiddle Bit kid when I was five. That’s about my claim to local television fame.
seriously that is such a cool family history, i love it!
oh my gosh AWESOME! look at all these talented women in your family! that is SO awesome your grandma was a working momma way back then and had such a powerful and prominent position as a performer. I really admire that. <3
ps, I experienced a little bit of racism in Vancouver and I would love your thoughts. Read my latest post. Weird experience.
<3 moo
Oh and by the way, I rock “Born to Run” at karaoke. Hate to brag, but let’s face it, it’s a crowd pleaser!
Love those pictures! How cool to have that as a memento of your grandmother. I come from a family that’s been in the business for 3 generations too. And that era of television is just so fascinating!
i used to act in high school and that was the only time i liked the spotlight. in normal everyday life i’m not one to grab attention
Oh wow, your Baba is beautiful!
what amazing photos!! such a treasure…
WTF KYLA! I was just reading about that Juliette show 30 minutes ago in Todds TV North book. Erie for you to mention it! I think it’s beyond cool that your baba was a childhood icon – we all remember some form of romper room (at least I do, was it still on when you were little?).
This is amazing! Absolutely amazing! I didn’t know you had a famous grandmother! :) That’s pretty awesome. What a great keepsake!
This is SO COOL, Kyla! Love those photos!
I am one of the few people in my family who cannot sing at all! I come from a family of amazing singers but sadly I am not one of them!
Fantastic photos!
I’m not much for being in the spotlight…I’d rather be that person behind the scenes who makes sure everything goes the way it should.
Your grandma was the original host of Romper Room? That is the coolest tid bit I’ve ever heard. With your musical/performance genes and your rock star ‘do, I’m sure you can rock any situation life throws your way.
This is so so so cool!
These are fantastic!
These photos are absolutely amazing Kyla! My mom grew up in Seattle and I remember her telling me about Romper Room! So neat :]
That is so cool!!
Those pictures are so neat. What a fascinating family history!
The only place I am really comfortable in the spotlight is at home. I have no compunction about putting on a song and dance show for M. because it never fails to make her laugh. My dance class does a performance for family and friends at the end of the year and last year I was suuuuuper nervous but once we started, I got into the groove.
Oh man! I used to watch Romper Room!
I was always disappointed that I never turned up in the magic mirror thing at the end of the show, but I won’t hold that against your family :P
Oh my, this is amazing that your Grandma was a television star! The photos are so cool!
I don’t really like to be in the spotlight. Or, what do you mean with “in the spotlight”? Because I was involved in theater in elementary and high school and I also was in a dance group that had occasional performances. So, maybe I do like a little spotlight, but I usually don’t like being the center of attention. I am only good in the spotlight when I actually know what I am doing ;)
What amazing and fascinating photos!! Family history is so interesting – my Dad just came back from the UK with another box full of photos, reports, letters and newspaper clippings and I really need to start building a space to sit and dig through it all… :)
Karaoke? My favourite, hands down, has to be either Defying Gravity (badly) or Eye of the Tiger!
The pictures are amazing! So amazing your grandma was on romper room! i loved that show as a child
How interesting! I love reading about family history because you know the person writing has that personal connection that brings more feeling into the factual content.
How cool is this!? I had no idea you had a famous Grandmother! That’s amazing. Love the photos, LOVE the fashion that she wore. She’s so beautiful. Just so fun.
Spotlight? Not for me. Not at all. I kind of hate in fact. I joke that if/when I get married I’ll have to elope because I don’t think I could handle even that kind of attention as I walk down the aisle. I”d be all Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride! ;) I love watching others in the spotlight though.
Thanks for sharing this story. Just so cool!!!!
that’s so cool! i love those pictures!
Those pictures are amazing to have! What a fun thing to discover. I love that you have show biz genes and I am convinced that you can rock it out at karaoke. My favorite song to sing karaoking is Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.”
Its awesome that you are a part of our Manitoban entertainment history! She was very beautiful:)
wow, that’s amazing. i love those old pictures <3 i occasionally like being in the spotlight. only when i'm pretty confident of what I'm doing though. between highschool and my au-pair year i actually participated as a stand-in at a (big) theatre here in my hometown for a few shows. a pretty cool experience :)
Oh my gosh how awesome is this?! These pictures are amazing – and I feel like I see her in you – how you carry yourself!
I can sing, but I’ve never done karaoke. Although I will say it’s a lot easier to sing for people you don’t know than people you do know!
Oh my gosh, that is so cool! Your grandma is beautiful! How cool to see her captured in her earlier years!!
I thought it was so cool how you could interpret Brandi Carlile’s hand signals at the concert. I was like – oh, cool!
Great pictures!
I don’t have an off-key, super enthusiastic karaoke song…but only because i can sing. In fact it’s all i have really wanted to do but i have never worked out a way to do it for anything more than occasional fun.
How great that you found these! It’s interesting that she had her own televisious show. :D Thanks for sharing the photos with us!
Wow, it’s amazing to have such familiy memories!! I don’t like being in the spotlight at all, so I can relate…