Ernest Christopher Memos (October 28, 1932 – July 14, 2019) was an American

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

broadcaster known by his

stage name A stage name or professional name is a pseudonym used by performers, authors, and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. The equivalent concept among writers is called a ''nom de plume'' (pen name). Some performers ...

Ernie Mims. He hosted the WOC-TV

children's show Children's television series (or children's television shows) are television programs designed specifically for children. They are typically characterised by easy-going content devoid of sensitive or adult themes and are normally broadcast durin ...

''Cap'n Ernie's Show Boat'' from 1964 to 1974.''The Palimpsest'', Iowa State Historical Dept., Division of the State Historical Society, volume 75 (1994)

Life and career

Mims grew up in

Nashua, New Hampshire Nashua () is a city in southern New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 91,322, the second-largest in northern New England after nearby Manchester, New Hampshire, Manchester. It is on ...

and served as a trumpet player in the

United States Air Force Band The United States Air Force Band is a U.S. military band consisting of 184 active-duty members of the United States Air Force. It is the Air Force's premier musical organization and is based at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Wi ...

. His first broadcasting job was at

WQUB WQUB (90.3 FM) is a 28,000 watt effective radiated power radio station in Quincy, Illinois, in western Illinois along the Mississippi River. This station provides primary coverage for nine counties in the western Illinois and northeastern Missou ...

radio in

Galesburg, Illinois Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, United States. The city is northwest of Peoria, Illinois, Peoria. At the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, its population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County and the principal cit ...

, and he adopted his stage name there. He moved to WOC-TV and performed several on-air duties. His first cartoon show aired on Sundays, and he played Uncle Ernie, the station's janitor. Mims took over the ''Show Boat'' hosting duties following runs by Cap'n Ken Wagner, Cap'n Verne Gielow and Cap'n Don Warren.Hollis, Tim (2001). ''Hi There, Boys and Girls! America's Local Children's TV Shows.'' Univ. Press of Mississippi, The show featured cartoons intercut with segments on his

riverboat A riverboat is a watercraft designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury ...

the ''Dixie Belle'', where Cap'n Ernie would chat with his puppet friend Sidney (voiced and animated by Craig Frogley), would give away prizes from his treasure chest, or interact with the children in the audience. The show ran until August 1974.Stein, Jeff (2004). ''Making Waves: The People and Places of Iowa Broadcasting''. WDG Communications, None of the 2,600 live episodes were archived.

References

External links

Captain Ernie’s Showboat
(March 14, 2010), on ''TV Iowans Grew Up On,''

Iowa Public Television Iowa PBS, formerly Iowa Public Television (IPTV), is a network of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member stations in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is operated by the Iowa Public Broadcasting Board, an agency of the state education department whi ...

1932 births 2019 deaths American television personalities American children's television presenters People from Nashua, New Hampshire Military personnel from New Hampshire United States Air Force Band musicians {{US-tv-bio-stub