Abstract
Romper Room was an educational television show for preschoolers that aired from 1953 to 1994 across the country and around the world. Created in Baltimore for WBAL-TV by Bertram H. and Nancy Claster, the show introduced novel ways of using the new medium of television to educate and entertain youngsters. Bert Claster centered the show around children’s activities in a classroom setting, reasoning that “kids like to watch kids.” That hunch paid off when Romper Room became an instant hit and a generational cultural touchstone. The show that set children’s television production standards would eventually struggle to keep up with societal demands for changes to those very same standards, but mentions of Romper Room still evoke instant nostalgia.