Growing Up in Working Class Youngstown — Barney Bean

/ rtrube54

We would come in before dinner and plop down in front of the TV to catch The Barney Bean Show. If you were a kid during the Sixties, I’m sure you remember Barney Bean and his ventriloquist’s dummy, Sherwood. Barney and Sherwood would come out to talk with the live studio audience of children at the WYTV Channel 33 studio. Barney would wear a brown fringed vest and goofy hat with a big safety pin pinning up the brim. Sherwood was dress in a garish sport jacket, and there was always great repartee between them, with Sherwood often getting the best of Barney. They even combined on a locally produced 45 recording, “BARNEY BEAN & SHERWOOD – FOR KIDS FOR FUN.”

Barney was David William “Bill” Harris. He was a Mahoning Valley native, born April 10, 1929 in Hubbard. He graduated from Boardman High School and Youngstown College. He was a newscaster but was most well-known as the host of his children’s show. What most people remember was the segment in each show where children could send in to the show to have Barney Bean do a drawing for them on their birthday. With a sketchpad and a magic marker, he started with the child’s initials and would draw a cartoon–different every time! He spoke one time at a youth rally at our church, doing one of his drawings. I think there was a religious focus to his presentation, but all I remember was the drawing!

Locally produced children’s shows eventually gave way to national shows like Sesame Street. Bill Harris continued to live in the area working with Gordon Brothers until retiring in 2004. His obituary also indicates that he was part of the Boardman Eagles Club and visited children in the hospital. I wonder if he did drawings for them. I’m also curious whatever happened to Sherwood. Harris lived until June 21, 2008, dying at age 79, leaving behind his wife of 58 years leaving five children, ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

He also left behind a bunch of amazing cartoons and good memories for a generation of Youngstown area children!

9 thoughts on “Growing Up in Working Class Youngstown — Barney Bean”

  2. we were lucky to have people like this in our community. remember SUSIE SIDESADDLE. MY PARENTS TOOK ME TO SEE HER AT STAMBAUGH AUDITORIUM. ALSO. MS RHONDA OF ROMPER ROOM. I BELIEVE SHE WAS LOCAL AND I USED TO WATCH PINKIE LEE ON CHANNEL 5 IN CLEVELAND. MY GRANDMA HAD AN ANTENNA

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Just found this site, it’s fabulous. My parents took my sister and me to Idora Park to see Sky King and Susie Side Saddle. There was a near riot when they handed out “free” Lorna Dune cookies. I was a guest on Barney Bean when I was visiting my cousin who at the time was a Cub Scout. It was fun and interesting. I grew up in Youngstown on the west side.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. I too was a guest on Barney Bean. It was part of a string of backyard Carnival events sponsored by Jerry Lewis for Muscular Dystrophy. Each group of participants received a kit containing instructions on how to organize a carnival, along with ideas for making rides. We raised over $37.00 (in 1960s money) and donated it towards the cause. We received a signed certificate from Mr. Lewis as I recall (had to walk downtown to receive it). I must have been just 9-10 at the time. Our group on Wayne avenue in Youngstown included David White, his sister Janet: older brother Jimmy and little brother Joey. I, and with my younger brother Freddy. We had Bobby Stanko (slush-bucket we called him owing to his chubbiness), from across the street, (held in his back yard by the way). Joyce and Eddie (from down the street), with the support of parents and friends. My name was Michael Thompson during those years. It really would be nice to see WYTV unpack the show from their archives for a special viewing. It would give me such joy!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Sark Mevachko Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.