Captain Chesapeake was a morning and afternoon children's show on WBFF (channel 45) in Baltimore, Maryland , hosted by George A. Lewis (November 24, 1926 – December 18, 2000, at Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland ) who portrayed "Captain Chesapeake". The show aired from April 1971 until 1990. Lewis hosted a similar show, Captain Pitt on WPTT (channel 22) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (which is now WPNT and is owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., the same group that owns and operates Baltimore's WBFF). Lewis began his career as the children's host of the Steamboat Bill and Mr. Cartoon shows on WSAZ-TV in Huntington, West Virginia , from 1957 until 1970. Lewis also acted as "Ghost Host" on WBFF's late night horror movie show, and did news on WBFF prior to 1988.
5-638: Children in Baltimore could become "crew members" on the show. The Captain Chesapeake show began with the poem: "A shipwrecked sailor found himself in a plight. Lost at sea he was really a sight. He swam and swam 'til he thought he'd die, when a wondrous sight appeared to his eye. A derelict boat that saved his life and put an end to his watery strife." The theme song was the Zez Confrey tune "Stumbling", as recorded by The Three Suns . This theme
10-589: The Chicago Musical College and becoming enthralled by French impressionists played a critical role in how he composed and performed music. Confrey was born in Peru, Illinois , the youngest child of Thomas and Margaret Confrey. Aspiring to be a concert pianist, he attended Chicago Musical College and studied with private teachers. He later abandoned that idea for composing, encouraged by his oldest brother, James J. Confrey, an organist. By 1916 he
15-496: The keyboard of her piano. It became a hit, and he went on to compose many other pieces in the genre. "Dizzy Fingers" (1923) was Confrey's other biggest seller. Following the 1920s, Confrey focused primarily on composing for jazz bands . He retired after World War II but continued to compose until 1959. He died at age 76 in Lakewood, New Jersey after suffering for many years from Parkinson's disease . He left behind more than
20-661: Was a staff pianist for Witmarks in Chicago. He also enlisted in the US Navy in 1917. After World War I , Confrey became a pianist and arranger for the QRS piano roll company. He also recorded for AMPICO 's reproducing piano system, which was installed in upper-line pianos such as Mason & Hamlin and Chickering . In 1921 Confrey wrote his novelty piano solo "Kitten on the Keys", inspired by hearing his grandmother's cat walk on
25-414: Was played from a 33 rpm at 45 rpm speed. Captain Chesapeake signed off each show with important advice for his young viewers, “Be somebody important, Be yourself!” Zez Confrey Edward Elzear "Zez" Confrey (3 April 1895 – 22 November 1971) was an American composer and performer of novelty piano and jazz music. His most noted works were "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers." Studying at
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