I polished off a box of oatmeal this week, and as I threw the empty box in the recycle bin, I couldn’t help but think about a craft project I could have created with instruction from Betty Lou. Those of you who grew up in central Iowa and watched WOI-TV any time from 1951-1994 know exactly who I am referring to — Betty Lou Varnum, the host of “The Magic Window” for all but three years.
For you transplants or youngsters, “The Magic Window” was an educational children's TV show that featured craft-making activities with Betty Lou and a cast of puppets that would introduce clips of “Tales of the Riverbank” and “Felix the Cat.” Those puppets — which included Gregory Lion, Dusty the Unicorn and Catrina the Crocodile — were certainly fun, but my friends and I were viewing for the black-and-white episodes they introduced so we could see the adventures of Hammy the Hamster and Rodney the Rat, as well as that wonderful, wonderful cat. And, of course, we liked the crafts.
Betty Lou taught us kids how to make a variety of craft projects using simple household materials like coat hangers, construction paper, cellophane tape, pipe cleaners, tin foil and, yes, oatmeal boxes.
At 43 years, “The Magic Window” was the longest running children's television program in American history. It was a memorable part of my childhood and likely was for many of you, too. And it was from right here in central Iowa. Now that’s magical.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com | 
