Chris Wedes

Children's Television Host, Entertainer. He was a beloved Seattle TV icon, known to legions of loyal fans as J. P. (Julius Pierpont) Patches, Mayor of the City Dump. He hosted the longest running locally produced television show for children in U.S. history, airing for 23 years on Seattle's KIRO-TV from 1958 to 1981. During the peak of its popularity "The J. P. Patches Show" was viewed by a daily audience of over 100,000 "Patches Pals" throughout the greater Seattle metropolitan area. He began his career as a floor director for WMIN-TV in the twin cities of St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota following a brief broadcast career at a local radio station. His early responsibilities at WMIN which eventually became WTCN-TV included directing religious programming, farm reports and movie inserts for live television. Following a successful directorial period he moved in front of the camera as an on air talent, appearing as host of several children's programs, portraying the characters "Captain 11," "Chuckwagon Chuck," "Captain Squint" and "Joe the Cook" in "Joe's Popcorn Party" before landing the part of J. P. Patches. The "J. P. Patches Show" originally aired in Minneapolis and featured Daryl Laub in the original J. P. Patches role. Wedes assumed the title role in 1955 after Laub left WTCN for another broadcasting position at a rival TV station. In 1958 Wedes moved his family to the Pacific Northwest after accepting a job offer from Fred Kauffman, a former WTCN coworker to do children's programs for Seattle's KIRO television. The "J. P. Patches Show" debuted in Seattle during the second week of February in 1958, and was the stations first live and locally produced program to be broadcast in color. During the program's two plus decade run, Wedes appeared in over 10,000 locally produced episodes establishing himself as one of the regions most recognized, revered and enduring cultural icons. In 1960 he was joined by Bob Newman who alongside Wedes played the popular characters of "Gertrude," "Ketchikan the Animal Man," "Ggoorrsstt the Friendly Frpl," "Boris S. Wort (The Second Meanest Man in the World)" and over a dozen other characters. Newman would remain with Wedes until the shows cancellation in September of 1981. Many well known public celebrities would become frequent visitors to the show over the years, representing a cross section of the arts, sports and science. Notable guest stars to appear on the program included Steve Allen, Jane Meadows, Danny Thomas, Clayton Moore, Jack LaLane, Jacques Cousteau, Burt Ward, Jesse Owens, Debbie Reynolds, Slim Pickens, Tiny Tim and Colonel Harlan Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame. Following the end of the "Patches Show," both Wedes and Newman remained in high demand for personal appearances, often seen together at various civic activities, county fairs, concerts, parades, children's hospitals and private birthday functions. Wedes served as one of the primary inspirations for Matt Groening's "Krusty the Clown," a cartoon character featured on the Fox Network's animated series "The Simpsons." His notable achievements in broadcasting include Emmy's for "Best Children's Program," "Best Performer," "Best Personality," the 1992 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle Award, and the 2008 Golden Circle Award. He made his final public appearance on September 17, 2011 at the Fishermen's Fall Festival in the Ballard community of Seattle. He died following a long illness from complications of blood cancer at the age of 84.