My memories of Hocus Pocus are from two separate events: the first was being in the studio audience of the Hocus Pocus show at the Group W building on Soquel Drive. Hocus Pocus asked people what they wanted to be when the grew up, and when he came to me, I said, "I want to be a captain" -- meaning a miltary officer (I guess), but he took it to mean the captain of a ship and I went along with it and nodded.
The second event was the annual Santa Cruz Halloween Parade from Branciforte Elementary school to Gault School. I was in the Branciforte Jr. High School marching band, and Hocus Pocus was one of the local Santa Cruz celebrities featured in the parade. He sat in a cool old car from the 1950s, and waved to the crowd as we marched in front of him.
Carl's wife, Florene Hansen, crafted all of his clown costumes that he used on the Hocus Pocus children's TV show, which aired on KNTV Channel 11 in Santa Cruz, from 1961 through 1971. Carl was a magician clown, with a number of magic tricks in his repertoire. He was born in 1904, and passed away in 1998 -- his obituary was published in The San Jose Mercury News.
I have his autograph from the grand opening of Tropicana Village Shopping Center in East San Jose on Story and King Road from the 50-60's era.
ReplyDeleteI met him once. I lived on Old San Jose Road. It was the early 60s, and I was selling something on a roadside stand: lemondade or maybe rabbits. He stopped and asked if my sister and i recognized him. He was not in makeup. When he told us who he was, I immediately saw who it was. His voice was very distinctive. I was also in the marching band, but it was an orchestra! I played the cello strapped to my body. Mrs. Mueller was a nut!
ReplyDeleteI rember this show quite well it was one of my favorites growing up as a kid in the 60's. My older sister new him quite well and she took me to meet him and be on the show in 1965. Such great memories. He will surely be missed...
ReplyDeleteI was on his show twice as a kid, my dad worked for KNTV at the time. Tons of fun.
ReplyDeleteI was on his show as a regular. I remember we filmed at Santa’s Village a couple of times.
DeleteI was on his his show as a kid also...I wish I could find old TV footage of the show. He was great!
ReplyDeleteI was I am my siblings were also on this show my brother was actually the one chosen to wear the fireman's helmet that episode and I too have been looking forever to find the episode that I was on and get a copy of that video I don't know where to look I looked everywhere if anybody out there finds out where I can go to get that a copy of that episode where I was on the show please contact me my email is; (Lisasjobs66@gmail.com
DeleteI was in the studio audience as a child and later, in the 1980's, ran into him at the Chuck E. Cheese Pizza Time Theater restaurant then in Capitola. He had a job distributing flyers promoting tourist attractions, the type you would typically find in restaurant and hotel lobbies.
ReplyDeleteI also appeared on the show half a dozen times or more as the kid who had the magic wand collapse in his hand after Hocus gave it to me; to try and perform the magic trick he just performed... I ran into him years later at the county fair. We had a great laugh over that. A great gentleman and performer of those times....
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I still remember being on his show...I won a Big toy clock for having the biggest smile. He picked me up from the stage and let me pick any toy they had for the kids. I just wish I could see that clip from channel 11, San jose, ca. What great memories We all can share about Hocus Pocus. He was so nice.
ReplyDeleteMy Father was the comptroller for channel 11 and so I and my sister were on the show a few times. One year channel 11 taped a special christmas show that we were on. My favorite memory was when one summer channel 11 had a company picnic. There was a large olympic size pool with a low board and a ten meter board. I was maybe 9 or 10 I suppose. This very nice old fellow started swimming with me and helped me get my courage up to jump off the 10 meter board with him. We ended up playing in the pool all day long. Afterwards my Dad asked me if I'd had fun swimming with Hocus Pocus. I didn't know what he was talking about. I hadn't seen Hocus Pocus. Then he explained that the man I'd been swimming with was the clown without his makeup. I was overwhelmed! Hocus Pocus was my friend!!
ReplyDeleteMy Father delivered Farmer Bros. Coffee to Santa's Village and knew Carl. My sister and I thought it was cool my Dad actually knew a celebrity.
ReplyDeleteMy brother's, sister and I were on his TV show numerous times. My brother and I also took magic lessons from Hocus for about 2 years and we performed at a few local talent shows around the Santa Cruz area. I have used the slight of hand magic that I learned from Hocus to perform many magic shows for my childrens' school's over the past twenty years!! They still love the old school magic!!! Hocus was truly an incredible man!!
ReplyDeleteReaders might find this interesting... http://www.ebay.com/itm/HOCUS-POCUS-Bay-Area-1960s-TV-Clown-Self-Portrait-Painting-Extremely-Rare-/251434235512?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8aa5f678
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/HOCUS-POCUS-Bay-Area-1960s-TV-Clown-Self-Portrait-Painting-Extremely-Rare-/251434235512?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8aa5f678
ReplyDeleteI was on the show at least twice- once with my cub scout den. Today KNTV studio burned down- but I will always remember it happily. Thank you, SHL Saratoga, CA
ReplyDeleteCouple weeks before the old KNTV station burned down, I drove past it and recalled when I was on the Hocus Pocus show in 1960s when I was in third grade. The class went to the station and we were the audience. TV show had cartoons and then would go live with Hocus doing stuff to make the kids laugh. They gave us toy musical instruments to play (I'm sure soundman kept our part low volume as none of us were musicians). I remember the huge cameras and tons of equipment and cables from our view that you don't see on TV. A friend found this site and forwarded to me when I mentioned being on Hocus Pocus show (hey I recall that Ch 11 logo). My perception at the time was Hocus national like Bozo and just happened to host here locally for a bit, I didn't realize he was local to this area. Too bad the home VCR was not available at the time to record it (Richard Elkus at Ampex had a team working on one but it was late 1970s when Japanese made it enter consumer markets). Hey, maybe there is footage on youtube from transferred reel-to-reel!
ReplyDeleteMike here from SJ again. A friend found these youtube videos. This of Hocus Pocus show open and close,
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlvKsImrySk
And this of vintage KNTV footage with logo similar to the NASA worm (alright, who was first?), includes comments about HP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HqSEg3l1d4
I remember of KNTV transmitter right on top of Loma Prieta, the tallest tower on the tallest mountain. Super coverage into forests of Santa Cruz county, but can still hear every 11 seconds, "bzzzzzt" on audio from Mt. Umhunum radar.
Part 2, with comment from someone else on the show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsTw-EGOYMk
I remember as a child in the 70's watching the tv show and then my Mom taking me, my brother, two sisters, godbrother and godsister to be on the tv show. We were so exicted to see Hocus Pocus and be on tv.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was Mgr. of Santa's Village & Owner of the Mystery Spot. I knew "Hockie" all my life. A really wonderful guy. He would stop by our house on Linden St. in full costume after the show. Carl was also a Champion Boxer in the Marines. He and my Dad would always end up sparring on the front lawn - with all the neighborhood kids yelling, "Get him Hockie!, punch him..." What a scene! Only in Santa Cruz.
ReplyDeleteOmgoodnees I grew up in Santa Cruz and was on the hocus pocus w/my brother Todd and cousin Ronnie thank u for bring the great past back w/all these comments even Santa's village. My 11 year old thought I was nuts making this up thank you have a blessed life u made my day ;)
DeleteHow fun! Thank you for posting these great memories! My pre-school class was taken to the studio and filmed for the Hocus Pocus show . . . but I had to have been at least 3 at the time, so it must have been in 1972 or 1973. Does that make sense? My Mother seems to remember that the studio was in San Jose by then, not Santa Cruz. Does anyone else remember that? Sadly, I remember almost nothing about the filming or the show . . . in fact, I'd been telling people I had been on Romper Room! :) Memories are so strange . . . I wish the show was available on DVD! Netflix? Hello?
ReplyDeleteI was on his show when I was probably 5 or 6. My only clear memory of it was when he asked what you should do if you saw a fire. I knew the answer from previous shows, but he called on two other kids who both got it wrong. I remember I was waving my arms frantically. He finally called me and I said, call the fire department. I got to be fire chief and wear the hat, but that is about all I remember.
ReplyDeleteI had a simular experience
Deletewasn't there an earlier clown show in the 50's? The father of a classmate at Lincoln Glen elementary--Mary Jo Morton-- had a clown show on the San Jose TV station.
ReplyDeleteI was on his show in the late 60's. I was very small and my mother got my older brother and sister on too along with a neighbor, Debbie Pennington. I don't remember much about it. At the time I didn't think much about it. Good remembering those little things in life that make you smile.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom got me on the Hocus Pocus show in 1971, I was dressed up as Raggedy Ann and my red wig fell off which made me cry, Hocus Pocus felt sorry for me and he let me wear his hat! In hide sight maybe he was just trying to stop my crying. I don't remember if kids always dressed up to be on the show or if it was Halloween. I do remember feeling so special that I was on the show! Great memory!
ReplyDeleteI remember watching the show. Once my god brother and god sister were on the show. That morning I sat in front of the tv watching, with my thumb in my mouth. My parents were always trying to get me to stop. As I watched, Hocus Pocus looked right into the camera and said "Mark, take your thumb out of your mouth" I just about choked. It wasn't until years later that I realized that my godmother had asked Hocus Pocus up to say that. I totally thought he could see me in my livingroom!
ReplyDeleteIt was 1970, I was 5 and my mom took me to the show. To this day I can remember the moment I saw my image on the screen; I was terrified! That image has stuck with me my whole life. Just recently I revealed this childhood trauma to my husband after 30 years of marriage. I remember it like it was yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThat's right KNTV 11 San Jose. Hocus Pocus has a studio here in Santa Cruz, in one of those shops at the corner of South Morrisey Blvd. and Soquel Ave. I guess nobody knows what a VHS tape is or may be eight tracks tape that was used to tape the show here in Santa Cruz and bring it over the hill to have it broadcast over the air! No cable is required to watch the TV show for kids back then in 1971. Just rabbit ears antenna and TV with dial knobs were used back then to watch the show in the afternoon? Yes, that was a Marching Orchestra that Miss Mohller(sp?) put together for the Halloween East side Parade. Ms. Mohller even made a special one wheel cap to put onto the pin at the base of the cello so the cello player could play and march on Soquel Ave. with all these kids dressed in hallowee customs! Hence it was also called a kiddie parade. The members wear white pants/white socks and white shoes white burette(sp?french style cap like the ones sousaphone players, Frenchmen wear)....The October parade was also referred to as the "Kiddy Parade" in the 1970s.
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I were on the Hocus Pocus Show around 1969 or 1970. I was about 5 or 6 years old. I remember that I got to be the fire chief and lead a parade around the stage.
ReplyDeleteI was on the show around 1968...about 5 yrs old. Won the marching contest. Would sure love to see that episode. Anyone know where to find them? If so, I'm at turkeytrackbrand@gmail.com. Thx 4 any help !
ReplyDeleteI have heard of Hocus Pocus all my life but this is the first time I have ever looked anything up on him. He was my grandfather, Viggo Hansen's brother. I recently went on a trip to their hometown of Copenhagen and it got me thinking. Actually, Hocus Pocus is responsible for my grandfather coming to the states in the first place. Its nice to see that people remember him. Too bad I never got a chance to meet him.
ReplyDeleteHello... my name is MIKE, I have ONE of his one of his paintings he,was,a friend of mine in SANTA,CRUZ..SCOTTS VALLEY
DeleteHE gave me this in 74.5 ?
My mom and he took painting lessens together..if interested contact me please.
Thank you
I was on the Hocus Pocus show in the early 70's, too. I answered a safety question correctly and got to be the fire chief for the episode. There was a part of the show where I was supposed to conduct the rest of the kids like a choir or something. Apparently, I was licking my lips repeatedly (probably because I was nervous that everyone was looking at me), and Hocus Pocus pointed it out and made some silly jokes. I can remember laughing pretty hard about it. I am glad someone was able to confirm that the studio was at Morrissey and Soquel because that's where I remembered it being. I wasn't sure so thanks for the corroboration! It would be great to find the old tapes of the show. These were fun posts to read. Thanks, everyone!
ReplyDeleteI once met "Hokie" in the Army hospital in Fort Ord in 1967. The dad of the family next door looked after the Hospital entertainment for a year or so, and one evening Hokie came down to meet the GI's which was pretty nice of him. He had a lot of those cards that had the capital "O" that straddled the Hocus Pocus name. I recall he was sponsored by "Wonder Bread" and would frequently mention them in his show.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was pretty nice of him to obviously drive all the way from Santa Cruz to see the GI's.
I was sure he had passed a long time ago, but he seemed like a really decent man.
Boze...
Must have been about 4 yrs old when my mom took her blue birds to a taping of his show.
ReplyDeleteI was visiting realitives in calif and was on his show. I knew what to do if there was a fire.I raised my hand answered correctly. I was fire chief for that show. I recall I stood out somewhaton the show because I was visiting from NJ
ReplyDeleteI lived in San Jose and I was a Brownie, we went to the Hocus Pocus show as a trip, He used me to make a commercial for Mighty Milk, and again for a trick, he said act like your scared, then he made a snake come up out of his hat 🎩, I leaned back as far as I could!!! I Never forgot him, May he Rest In Peace….
ReplyDeleteMy Dad had a service station on mission st in Santa Cruz I was six when I met him with out his make up he was having a oil change done the year was 1968 and gas was 29 cents a gallon and I will never forget that day
ReplyDeleteHocus Pocus was one of my TV shows I watched as a kid growing up in Santa Cruz. My dad had Marianne's Icecream for 57 years. Carl used to come in and buy icecream, and I used to wait on him. Nice man!
ReplyDeleteIs there a list of the Children that were on the show?
ReplyDeleteMy brother and sister were on the show in what had to be 1969. I was an infant and would not stop crying. My mom had to be moved from the studio audience to a sound-proof room with a monitor. We all got stuffed animals with a program sticker on their bellies. I got a rabbit, my brother got a bear and my sister got a monkey. We still have them to this day!
ReplyDelete