January 17: Shari Lewis

Puppeteer and master ventriloquist Shari Lewis (Shari Phyllis Hurwitz) was born on this date in 1934. Instructed as a child in magic, acrobatics, juggling, piano, violin and more, she dropped out of Barnard College after one year to pursue a career in show business. After winning first-place in 1952 on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, Lewis became a guest on Captain Kangaroo and was soon hosting Kartoon Klub, which evolved into The Shari Lewis Show (1960-63). Her puppets, Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse, and Hush Puppy, were among the first television characters to be mass-marketed as toys. Lewis’ career quieted after her show ended its run, but she staged a comeback with Lamb Chop’s Play-Along on PBS in 1992, providing creative, positive entertainment for the kids of the kids whom she had “raised” as a performer in the early ‘60s. The winner of 12 Emmy Awards, Lewis wrote over sixty children’s books, co-authored one Star Trek episode, and produced several videos, including Lamb Chop’s Special Chanukah in 1995 and Shari’s Passover Surprise in 1996. She died at age 65. To see a young Shari in action, look below.

“Shari to Lamb Chop: ‘Did you ever wish upon a star?’

“Lamb Chop to Shari: ‘I once asked Mr Rogers for his autograph.’” —Shari Lewis