Captain 11.
We grew up watching Captain 11 on TV. Any of the cousins who spent time in Kimball would have watched as well. A news item on KELO-LAND, where Dave Dedrick worked for over 40 years, can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/82512477.html
V.J. sent Tim and I a note last night about his passing, and Tim submitted his personal experience with "the Captain" when he was four years old (1957):
" When Terry was convalescing at McKenna Hospital in SF, mom took me to see Captain 11. On the wall was a huge mural of kids staring at us as if they were seated in front of a TV watching us. I imagined the 'kids' in the mural was our family. it was a pretty standard show for its time. Some talking but mostly watching a few cartoons. The studio audience was small but it was pretty exciting. Captain 11 asked us for our hometown. All the kids were screaming their town's name except me. Mom kept nudging me to tell Captain I was from 'Eureka'. Finally when the audience shut up I yelled out 'Eureka'. Captain 11 told me to come up to stage with him. Mom pushed me on. Captain picked me up and asked me a few questions which I only recall answering either 'yes' or 'no' to each. Then he allowed me to turn one of the dials to start a cartoon. BTW, Captain 11 did make it to Eureka one year. I never did make it down town where he was supposed to be. The Libis family was still living next door to us then, and I remember talking to them about the Captain. So odd why I remember that day. I remember they were watching a soap opera (the one about the 'Edge of Night'. "
KELO-TV's Dave Dedrick - Captain 11 - Dead at Age 81
Long time children's program host and weatherman Dave Dedrick passed away on Friday at the age of 81. Dedrick, also known as Captain 11, was host of the longest running children's television program in the United States. He spent nearly fourty-four years on the air and in that time became one of the most beloved television personalities in the region.
KELO Television is reporting that long time children's program host and weatherman Dave Dedrick passed away on Friday at the age of 81. Dedrick, also known as Captain 11, was host of the longest running children's television program in the United States. The Captain 11 show ran from March of 1955 to December of 1996.
Dedrick's voice was the first to be heard on the airwaves of KELO-LAND television when they signed on in 1953.
He spent nearly fourty-four years on the air and in that time became one of the most beloved television personalities in the region.
There's no question that he left a lasting legacy in the area for not only his work on television but for the person he was when the Captain Eleven suit wasn't on.
What shows just how much of a legend Dedrick was in our area is the respect he gained not only from his fellow co-workers but the respect he earned from those at other stations in the area as well.
Jim Wegner, former KSFY anchor and meteorologist, says, "biggest thing I remember about Dave is being a great competitor. He was definitely a people person. He knew people. He understood people. It was later in my career after I left Sioux Falls, I learned a lot of the things that Dave did at KELO kind of the secrets to broadcasting. Being a people person really getting out into the public and getting to know people."
REMEMBER THE LINES...
To this day, fans of the show can recite the opening to Captain 11,
which began with, "One man in each century is given the power to control
time." And at the end of every show, Dedrick issued a reminder to his
young fans:
"Remember, gang. Mind mom and dad, eat everything they tell you to
eat, brush your teeth and say your prayers before you go to bed. That's
the most important part. So long crew, nice being with you."
Barb's Recollection of Captain 11 in Eureka
I too remember when he used Dad's office to change because Dad had
introduced us when he was in his "normal" clothing. Later that day
when I attended his
Captain 11 show, he called me by name and I knew without a doubt
that he had special power- not realizing that it was the same guy
Terry's Recollection of Captain 11 in Eureka
I did meet Captain 11 in Eureka. But I met his alter ego Dave Dedrick down in dad's office. He was using dad's basement office to change his clothes. Of course it was years later that I realized that it was the captain