That Other Superhero

That Other Superhero Named Reeves

by Gail McIntyre

He was born Joseph Reeves Bolton III on September 8^th 1910, in the town of Flushing, New York. This first generation “King of Queens” started his career in broadcasting as an announcer for WOR Radio in Newark New Jersey in 1927. In 1948 he came to WPIX in NY to become a news announcer and weatherman. So popular a personality he became in his reporting of the meteorological events of the day that in 1957 his book entitled, “The Wind and the Weather” was published. In this book the reader could get an in depth education on the weather explained for a civilian audience. Readers would learn the answers to their burning weather related questions such as What is a degree day? or What is a high pressure or a low pressure area? But in 1955, WPIX Channel 11 became the first NYC based TV station to air reruns of the Our Gang/Little Rascals film comedies on their own daily kid's TV show, "The Clubhouse Gang". The show’s program director was looking for a host for the show. Ironically it was the director’s son who at his birthday party in January 1955 said his favorite person to host the show would be "The Tasteweatherman!" All the boy’s friends at the birthday party agreed and so Joseph Reeves Bolton III became known to a generation of boomer children as Officer Joe Bolton.

Joe Bolton would host the Clubhouse Gang until September of 1957 which featured The Little Rascals. A year later, in 1958, WPIX Channel 11 became the first NYC station to air The Three Stooges film comedies on a daily show known as "The Three Stooges Funhouse" Joe Bolton’s TV relationship with the Three Stooges would last for 12 years until 1970 when parents and teachers, concerned at the time about the violence in the Stooges shorts drove the show off the air. Officer Joe, as the kids affectionately called him, presented the program against the backdrop of an amusement park. I personally remember coming home from school and recall the WPIX lineup which began at 3pm with Bill Britten as Bozo the Clown, Captain Jack McCarthy as the emcee for Popeye the Sailor and followed by Officer Joe Bolton and the Stooges which was then followed by The Adventures of Superman. Officer Joe was, for many NYC tri-state boomer kids their first experience with a law enforcement officer. I used to see policemen on the street back then and look at their faces carefully hoping that maybe one day I would find Officer Joe walking the beat somewhere in my neighborhood. Joe Bolton once hosted a musical /comedy variety kids TV special called “The Shari Go Round” with puppeteer Shari Lewis, Chuck McCann, at Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey in 1965. Oddly enough, another superhero named Reeves had also made a personal appearance at Palisades Park in 1957.

Joe Bolton had such a close personal relationship with the Stooges that he appeared in 2 Stooges films that have been released on DVD. The first, “Look, Listen and Laugh” is a compilation of clips from classic Stooges comedies. Using a series of vignettes presented by Ventriloquist Paul Winchel, he along with his well known sidekicks Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smith introduce the clips viewers will remember from their childhood including “How High is Up, 1940” and “Sock-A-Bye Baby, 1942”. Paul Winchel was also a staple of New York children’s television appearing in the afternoon on a show called “Winchel Mahoney Time” on WNEW-TV Channel 5. Joe Bolton was invited to do a cameo for this collection which was released in 1960. This DVD is a must see for Stooges fans and those who remember this friendly policeman dressed in that now all too familiar policeman’s uniform and cap along with his engaging smile.

Joe Bolton appeared in a bit of a meatier role in the stooges comedy “The Outlaws is Coming” which co-starred Adam West and was produced only a year before West would go on to become known as the one and only Batman for the boomer generation. The story, centered in Wyoming in 1871, tells the tale of The Stooges and the West character all working for a wild life conservation center back east when their boss discovers that the buffalo population out west is seriously dropping and send the crew out west to investigate. This is where they stumble upon a diabolical plot on the part of a team of, need I say it, wacky gunslingers that are out to take over the Western half of the country by pitting the army against the Indians by doing away with the Indians food and clothing supply. Joe Bolton plays Rob Dalton but have no fear because Jesse James, Wyatt Earp, and even Bat Masterson are all here too. And the best part is that they are all played by some of the country’s local TV hosts that were actively working in children’s television in 1965. Some of the stars you might recognize if you grew up in Boston, Detroit, San Francisco, Philadelphia or other cities. I won’t tell you who they are. Hope I have sparked your interest in picking up this little gem to see if you can recognize any of them. I had to look at Joe Bolton a few times. Out of his usual policeman’s uniform and sporting a mustache, western gear and a disguised voice, it was hard for me to believe it was actually him!

And now boys and girls, it is about 6pm. Be sure to join us again back here tomorrow, same time; same station for The Three Stooges and Officer Joe Bolton. It’s time now to get washed up for dinner. But don’t go away just yet! Be sure to clean your plates so momwon’t make you late. After dinner, settle down in front of your television sets so we can all watch that other Superhero named Reeves only WPIX-11 New York.

Mollie Lane

Classic Movies and Televison