Princess Morning Star on TV

'Princess Morning Star' show aired in early 1960s

By Paula LloydQuestion: As a child, I was on the children's television show, "Princess Morning Star," hosted by Peggy Lang. How long did the show run?

--Brian Bobbitt, Fresno

Answer: Peggy Lang of Fresno said the American Indian-themed show began in late 1962 or early 1963 and ran for about one year on KFRE, which at that time was Channel 30.

Lang landed the hosting job after answering a casting call at the station's office. "There were about 300 people in the lobby. I almost turned around," she said.

The show was developed by "a Hollywood producer," Lang said, who at first supplied the show's scripts. When the producer stopped sending the scripts, Lang wrote the show, cobbling together bits from earlier shows and researching Indian lore.

About 10 children, ages 4 to 6, were guests on each one-hour show, which appeared Monday through Friday mornings.

There was a teepee on the set and Lang wore an Indian costume as she taught about American Indians and told stories. "And I talked to the children a lot," she said.
Comment:  Needless to say, Indian tribes didn't have princesses. I wonder how much of the "Indian lore" was genuine and how much was generic, stereotypical, or just plain wrong.

This show sounds like another attempt to revise the "savage" image of Indians. That makes it better than nothing, I guess.

For more on the subject, see TV Shows Featuring Indians.

Below:  "Peggy Lang holds a portrait of herself taken when she hosted 'Princess Morning Star' in the 1960s." (Mark Crosse/The Fresno Bee)