May god bless you, Ms. Norman. Not only for entertaining the masses at a tender young age, and during some of the most turbulent and changing times, but for teaching us about the importance of good diction, and how striving to achieve our highest goals, would ultimately become the most rewarding pursuit throughout our entire lives. You will forever be "Pixanne", in the hearts, and in the minds of almost three generations of Delaware Valley, and New York Metropolitan children. Rest well, Pixanne.
I don't know if my love of the woods came from watching Pixanne or I enjoyed the show because I loved the magic of the woods, but I was born in 1966 and saw the show at a very young age. I remember a period where any woods or tree full yards I would spend a lot of time looking for pixanne.and I had a lifelong yearning for the woods, entering and enjoying them any chance I got.
We all had a huge crush on her in the first years of her show. She was able to project a nice personality. Good to see her again and that she later success.
For those who don't know(not from the Philadelphia area), John Wanamaker's was a department store chain on par with Macy's. They were around until the mid 90's. The flagship store was featured in the movie Mannequin. The store was known for it's elaborate light show at Christmas. Ironically, Macy's has since taken over the store but it keeps up the Christmas tradition. Knowing this is where Ms. Norman got her start as a small child just brings it all home for us in the Philadelphia area.
She was a major component of my childhood growing up in Atlantic City, along with Philadelphia's Gene London, Sally Starr, Wee Willie Weber, Chief Halftown and Dr. Shock. While Pixanne seemed more geared toward the girls, it was a great show for all and very well done. Thanks for this informative clip!
Me too. I grew up on the mainland and I loved all of them. I met Sally Star a few times, and also Chief Halftown. As a child I used to pretend I had a children's TV show and copy Gene London.
I was kindergarten age or maybe even younger, and I loved this show. When she looked in her magic mirror to name kids that were watching and I always waited to and hoped to hear me name 😔
I know "Janie" from The Little Red Firetruck 18:30. I had that box set of cassette tapes and I wish I could find it. I still remember some of the songs. Whoever is in control of her catalog should definitely release those. They are so educational!
I remember first seeing Jane as"Pixanne"..weekday mornings on WNEW TV Ch.5 in NYC(when I wasn't in school)I enjoyed watching this charming, informative and fun series..I was also lucky enough to do an interview with her at her Pa. home..years ago. She was a sweet, talented and charming person..BTW:My interview is not for sale.
Now I know why I don't remember Pixanne (or only vaguely recognize bits of this program) - she was replaced by the Betty Hughes Show, which I definitely remember seeing on TV around 10 a.m. weekdays ca. 1970-'71. Thanks for sharing this documentary, because it details the time Pixanne aired, which I was thinking was the time slot for what I recall was that new talk show that we kids were "stuck" watching for a time (as if we had to watch the tube! Talk about being the TV generation!) I must've watched Pixanne but was too young to remember (for some reason I do remember seeing Sally Starr preceding Captain Noah around 1969-1970 and then disappearing from local TV for a long time). A shame because Jane Norman's show looks like I would have been interested as a little kid.
I know what you mean. When my family moved to California in1968 I couldn't find my favorite shows Pixanne or Gene London. I was 6 years old and didn't know they only aired in Philadelphia. I was very disappointed!!!
I had the great fortune of meeting Jane a few years ago while doing a photo shoot at her condominium complex. As she walked by, she looked so familiar. Then I asked, "Excuse me, you're Pixanne, aren't you?" She smiled and said yes. I told her I'd had a crush on her since I was 5, and she was thrilled. She said, "You must be one of my 'babies'!" She continued to walk to the elevator, but returned with a signed postcard pic. I got a photo with her and told her that it was going to make my 3 brothers insane with jealousy. We hugged, and she walked home. What a sweetheart. *sigh* Rest in Peace.
Jane Norman was a unique talent. Her "Pixanne" was a delightful children's character. In the 1960, era, there were several hosts of kid's entertainment. The "Baker Man", "Billy Barty", "Jack in the Box", "Mister Wishbone", "Engineer Bill", "Hobo Kelly", "Baby Daphne", "Sherriff John", and many more. However, Pixanne was a better quality production. Later ones featured cartoon breaks, but Jane Norman's was pure live entertainment variety!
The tune that "Pixanne"(Jane)is performing with that Dandilion puppet..is not an original song..it's a tune that Tony Newley created with his partner:Leslie Bricuse for"Dr.Dolittle".
