The 1950’s and 60’s were a special time for children in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Each day there was a kiddy television show called Lunch With Casey. It featured Roger Awsumb as railroad engineer Casey Jones and aired on WTCN channel 11. Roger Awsumb was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota on July 10, 1928 to Ardin and [more]
Here is a very early article about Casey Jones and the Noontime Express from TV Guide in July or August 1954. The program had just debuted in June 1954 and already was very popular. Casey asked viewers to mail in letters about “what they liked to eat” and quickly received 2000 responses. Many of the [more]
Here’s a cool poster from a 1971 Christmas event promoting appearances by Casey Jones, Clancy the Cop, and Willie Ketchem, along with a few Hollywood celebrities, and Santa Claus. Charlie McCarty was the mayor of St. Paul at the time, and was known locally as “Super Mayor.” This is a cleaned up reconstruction of the [more]
We all remember Bob Duerr’s frequent visits to Lunch With Casey. This is a vintage press photo from 1967. The caption that came with the photo reads “What a way to weigh a python. Bob Duerr, Como Zoo reptile keeper, stands on a scale with a 16-foot, 1-inch female regal python wrapped around him 1/9 [more]
Here’s another Casey’s Column from December 14, 1968. The puzzle shows Santa Claus, and it is printed upside down!
Chef Hank Meadows was a well known personality on WTCN-TV, frequently delivering meals to Casey Jones. He hosted a daily cooking show, which ran for 15 years on channel 11. He promoted his program by creating the “Tired Housewives Club,” who would meet monthly for lunch with local celebrities. The group at one point claimed [more]
I received this photo a few years ago from Doug Kenyon. He said this photo showed him with his sister Marilyn with Casey at the Pioneer Village in Shakopee. This was taken in the summer of 1968.
Several years ago, Jo Ann Merritt shared a number of photos of Roger Awsumb performing at various events in the Brainerd Lakes area. Here he is as Santa at a Christmas dance. More of Jo Ann’s photos can be seen here
Time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Enjoy the classic Walking in My Winter Underwear. This is Casey Jones lip syncing to Jimmy Jenson’s recording.