Voting Station

Frances Horwich

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TV Personality

The Resume

    (July 16, 1907-July 22, 2001)
    Born in Ottawa, Ohio
    Birth name was Frances Rappaport
    Hosted the children's TV show 'Ding Dong School' (1952-56,1959-65)

Why she might be annoying:

    She incorporated plugs for her sponsors into the show.
    She was particularly criticized for a sales pitch for vitamins that seemed to encourage kids to swallow any pretty-looking pills they came across.
    Like Dr. Seuss and Maurice Sendak, she was a children's entertainer who never had any kids.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She had been a first grade teacher, a supervisor of nursery schools in Chicago, and a professor of education at the University of North Carolina and Roosevelt College.
    'Ding Dong School' was the first educational program for preschoolers.
    Her technique of speaking to the viewers as if they were sitting across from her in the same room was copied by just about every subsequent children's TV host, from Bob Keeshan and Mr. Rogers onward.
    'New York Times' TV critic Jack Gould wrote, 'She imbues in the youngsters a sense of friendliness, confidence and faith that is truly magical television.'
    She refused to advertise products that she felt glorified violence.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying