condensed from �It Ain�t All Cartoons� by Dave Dedrick
Copyright 2005 "Captain 11 Memories"
It was February 1955. Dave Dedrick had little idea that a meeting
with KELO-TV president Joe L. Floyd was about to dramatically
change the course of his broadcast career.
Floyd had invited Dedrick and Murray Stewart into his office to
discuss plans for a new show. Stewart had originally started as a
director at KELO-TV because of his theatrical training as director
of the local Community Playhouse. Dedrick had been appearing
on programs like �Club Video� and the �Gibson Variety Show�.
Floyd wanted to produce a local show for children similar to one
airing on sister station WMIN-TV in Minneapolis. He suggested
that one of the announcers take a trip up north to learn the
ropes. Neither man volunteered.
Only Joe L. Floyd knows exactly what happened next. He told
Dedrick to �call it� as he sent a coin spinning into the air.
Dedrick did so. Floyd snatched the coin, took a glance at it and
pocketed it without showing it to either man. He smiled and
congratulated Dedrick on winning the toss. Had Floyd rigged the
whole thing? Dedrick wasn�t sure, but he would later view this
meeting as evidence that it was his destiny to become Captain 11.
There was much to do. Dedrick was off to KELO-TV�s sister
station in Minneapolis. WMIN-TV, channel 11, was producing a
show called �Captain 11�. A young college student named Jim
Lange was hosting the show. Lange would later achieve national
fame as the host of �The Dating Game�. He told Dedrick
everything there was to know about Captain 11.
Dedrick learned how WMIN-TV had chosen to incorporate its
dial position into the name of the show. Northwest Costumes
made a blue jump-suit with gold piping. Dedrick was especially
fascinated by the show�s set. He couldn�t wait to challenge the
KELO engineers.
KELO-TV wanted to get its new show on the air quickly.
Television stations in Sioux City, Iowa were already airing local
kid�s shows. KTIV had �Commander 4�. Jim Henry was hosting
�Canyon Kid�s Corner� on KVTV (later KCAU).
Planning meetings were held at KELO-TV and names for the new
show considered. Captain 11 very nearly became Captain KELO,
but Floyd saw the wisdom in keeping the channel number in the
show�s name. A launch date of early March 1955 was scheduled.