The "Percy Platypus and Friends Show" Story

Marijane Landis

It was an ordinary day.  Checked out the online forum titled "The Lancastrian" and found that one of my favorite TV personalities had died.  The long time NBC WGAL Channel 8 personality and woman's TV pioneer, Marijane Landis had died at the age of 87.  Marijane joined the crew at Channel 8 in Lancaster, PA in October of 1952.  She had been working in theater work for some time when she was asked to join the TV lineup.  She became one of the TV's first generation of on-air talent, doing commercials, hosting game and variety shows for Channel 8.  What I remember her most for though is her part in "The Percy Platypus and His Friends" show on Saturday mornings.  

Jim Freed and Marijane Landis who worked
on Per-Ki Place.  Jim operated the puppet
while Marijane talked to the kids at home.

The black and white TV show began in 1954 as a 15-minute children's show, but in 1955, when I was 11 years old, it expanded to a 30-minute show.   Per-Ki Place was fun to watch, even for an 11 year-old.  Marijane talked to the puppets as if they were real and at times I actually thought they were real.  The show was known at that time as Slapstick Theater.  She was on that show until 1974 when she created and produced Sunshine Corners which lasted for 5 years.  She worked 41 years at Channel 8 appearing as one of the station's weather girls for many years.  In 1978 she became WGAL's community service manager and personnel director.  She retired from her full-time duties in 1993, working one day a week for some time after.  She won numerous awards during her broadcasting career and then worked in charity and civic work.  Marijane was inducted into the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Hall of Famne in 1990; the first woman to have that honor.  She will certainly be missed.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Percy Platypus and Marijane Landis.