Ray Heatherton as The Merry Mailman entertained the toddlers in the New York City area in the 50s and 60s, he also had a successful children's recording.
According to expert Kevin Butler: "The Merry Mailman" was seen weekday evenings and afternoons on WOR TV 9 in NYC from Monday October 16, 1950 to Friday June 22, 1956. Sadly, Mr. Heatherton became a victim of the Communist witch hunts, when a bogus supermarket chain owner wrongly accused him of being in support of 'the Red Menace'. The show began to lose ratings and sponsors as a result. Tom O'Neil didn't believe that Ray Heatherton was a communist and agreed to maintain the series as a station-supported show.
These recordings from the Merry Mailman single are scratchy but here's the theme song:
And Happy Birthday:
I'm not sure this program would work today, the mailmen just aren't that merry anymore...
Ray Heatherton's last network gig was as the co-host of 'Joey & Dad' with his daughter Joey Heatherton, a summer replacement series for Cher in 1975.
More on THE MERRY MAILMAN!
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