Before the nation's two or three media conglomerates bought them all, local TV stations used to air locally produced programming.
Sure we have local news programs now, but they're pretty much 15 minutes of weather, sports and car crashes. There was a time you got to know what was going on in your city. Shows for kids and adults introduced you to your mayor, your zoo keeper and your grocer.
One such show for children in the '60s and early 70s in Philly was "Pixanne." Pixanne was a Peter Pan-ish character who lived in an enchanted forest and she told stories and introduced kids to their city and who brought it to life, and never in a condescending way.
And I was glued to my seat ... or the floor. .. in front of the TV, with my brother, each of us with our fist in a box of cereal.
Needless to say, she was the first crush of many young boys.
Her real name was Jane Norman and she just passed away.
She had to know how much of an effect she had on Philly kids. Including me.
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