Jimmy
Weldon - Ventriloquist who manipulated Webster Webfoot, a
sassy, talkative duck with a baseball cap and a bandanna on the THE
WEBSTER WEBFOOT SHOW and later on FUNNY BONERS/NBC/1954-55, a game
show for children broadcast from Hollywood. Weldon created the
Webster Webfoot character in 1946 when he worked as a disc jockey at
radio station KWCO in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He made his television
debut in 1950 on THE WEBSTER WEBFOOT SHOW on WFAA-TV in Dallas, TX.
The show featured "Uncle" Jimmy Weldon and his duck friend, Webster
Webfoot.
In 1952, Jimmy Weldon moved to Hollywood to appear in various movie
and television roles. By 1959, Jimmy Weldon and Webster Webfoot
hosted the NBC show HI MOM on WRCA-TV, after its hostess,
ventriloquist Shari Lewis left in 1959. In the 1960's, ventriloquist
Jimmy Weldon and Webster Webfoot entertained children on Fresno TV
station KJEO Channel 47.
The Webster Webfoot character spawned a number of promotional
merchandise, now very hard to find, such as Webster Webfoot caps,
coloring books, dolls, records, sweaters, T-shirts, and towels.
When asked how old he was, Webster (born February 31st) replied "I'm
only three...but I'm tough!"
TRIVIA NOTE: Jimmy Weldon's "quacky" duck voice, which he used with
Webster Webfoot, later inspired the 1960 Hanna Barbera cartoon
character Yakky Doodle (Weldon had previously used the voice in the
cartoon Little Quacker released January 7, 1950). The Yakky
character made his debut in 1959 on the Auggie Doogy and Doggy Daddy
cartoon (aired as part of the QUICK DRAW MCGRAW SHOW).
