Saw this commercial the other night for the Kia Spectra that brought me way back.
It wasn’t so much the spot’s plot: just a bunch of drivers play “musical cars” in a parking lot, jockeying for one open space. Ho-hum.
It was the music used as background.
After you’ve clicked on the above link, any boomer who grew up in the NY Metro area should instantly recognize that snippet: It's the theme song that Officer Joe Bolton used for his daily “Three Stooges Funhouse” show back in the day on Ch. 11 -- when WPIX was WPIX and not the CW/11.
BTW, the song was called “A Whistler and His Dog.” And it was written in 1905 by Arthur Pryor, a trombonist for John Philip Sousa.
I've waited 45 years to learn that piece of useless information. Gotta give a big shoutout to Kia for sparking my curiosity.
And Officer Joe, we still miss you! 
Do you remember Officer Joe? Share your thoughts here.
Comments (8)
Thanks Andy for this jolt back in time. Officer Joe,Captain Jack and those days with Ch.11 made for many afternoons of enjoyment...
Thank God! I thought I was the only one who remembered that!! Thanks for the background info..
Greg
www.denvertvguy.com
Ahhh. Officer Joe Bolton.
When TV was made by big men with big cameras and big videotape machines.
And the Yankees were always seen there, too.
Officer Joe and of course Captain Jack McCarthy were big-big. The Stooges and Popeye never had better presenters.
And later when I knew better I always thought the good Captain was in the bag when he did the St. Patrick's Day parades.
Wow...thats the music.
I've got this big smile on my face as I'm writing this and I just want to say thanks.
Officer Joe Bolton... Captain Alan Swift... Fireman Todd Russell... Captain Jack McCarthy...
The Merry Mailman (Ray Heatherton).
Ahhh...memories of a nicer, gentler time. It seems like it was so long ago.
Thanks again.
those were the days of great tv and moarals todays cartoons are garbage, im glad i grew up in the 60s
Dear Mike At Midnight,
With all due respect..the name of WPIX TV Ch.11 NYC's
first sea captain host/performer of"The Popeye Show"..
is spelt "Capt.Allen"Swift..not "Capt.Alan"Swft.
Anyway,
Thanks For Remembering the first two sea captain
hosts/performers of WPIX TV Ch.11 NYC's"Popeye Show"
Allen Swift and Jack McCarthy,
Kevin S.Butler.
Dear Mr.Edelstein,
Yes!
I remember:"Officer Joe"Bolton and his hosting
the reruns of"The Three Stooges Films on Ch.11
50 years ago this coming monday September 8,
1958(On that very day).."Officer Joe"would entertain
and inform his visitors to"The Three Stooges Funhouse!"
on WPIX TV Ch.11 in the NYC viewing area.
He also had the trio:Moe,Larry & "Curly Joe"De Rita on
the show and they were able to show themselves as talented
and caring gentlemen..something that is totally ignored
by most parents,tv critics and by the damn ACT.
"Officer Joe"also hosted "The Clubhouse Gang!"on
Ch.11 weekday evenings from Monday January 17,1955 to
Friday September 13,1957("The Clubhouse Gang!"was the
first NYC based kids tv show to screen reruns of"The Little
Rascals"Film comedies),"The Felix The Cat"TV Cartoons,
"The Mighty Hercules"TV Cartoons and as"Police Chief Joe"
Bolton?
He also hosted"The Dick Tracy TV Cartoon Show"on
WPIX TV.
He also co-hosted many kids tv specials with Ch.11's
other kids tv mc's, he did pa's at many venues and he
appeared with"The Three Stooges"in their last feature
film"The Outlaws Is Coming!"(as one of the outlaws..
Rob Dalton)and he appeared with Paul Winchell,his
puppets:"Jerry Mahoney & Knuclehead Smiff"and
"The Marquis Chimps"in "Stop,Look & Laugh!".
He was a truly sweet,caring ,intelligent and gentle
man..(Crying)..God!
I still miss him!
If you and the other users of this website have any
memories of watching"Officer Joe's"kids tv shows at
WPIX TV(Back in it's glory days..before it became a
part of The WB/CW TV Network)?
Or..If you saw him in person at a movie theater,
amusement park,etc..with "The Three Stooges",
the other former NYC based kids tv hosts/performers
or if you ever wrote him a fan letter?
Please share your memories and Thanks For
Remembering:"Officer Joe"Bolton,
Kevin S.Butler.
Dear Mr.Edlestein,
Yes!
I remember "Officer Joe" and his hosting "The Three
Stooges"Films on "The Three Stooges Funhouse" and
later on"The Three Stooges Show"on Ch.11
In Fact?
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the rerelease
of the team's films to tv.
If you and the other users of this websiet remember
watching the films on WPIX TV..or?
If you've ever seen the boys and "Officer Joe"at a
personal appearance?
Please share those memories with all of us?