That's Cat

I loved this show even though I was about 20 when it was on the air, Whitman Mayo as 'Grampa' was so sweet and such a surprise even in the 70's to see a African-American just portraying a paternal figure for all kids not just this or that group of children.

The music was also interesting and different for most children's shows in that it wasn't the typical sappy, saccharine type of music that many other shows for children had, This one deserves to take it's place next to other ground-breaking children's shows like 'Sesame Street' and the like. Possibly if 'That's Cat' had been on public television, it would have lasted longer and be better remembered by more people.

I have to admit though, every time I see Mr.Mayo in something, the memories of this little gem of a show just makes me smile and wish something like it was around today or at least release this on DVD. Hope springs eternal.

I wish knbc would dig these out of storage and put them up on YouTube. No one had VHS recorders back then, so I guess there is no way to see any of them again. My search led me here. It seems as though just about everyone involved with this show has passed away. I watched these as a child in the 70's in the Los Angeles area along with the likes of the new zoo review, captain kangaroo, mr. Rogers, davey and Goliath, fat Albert, Popeye and the Tom Hattan hour, electric company, Sesame Street and great space coaster. If anyone finds even just one episode of this somewhere, look up my profile and send me an email. Thanks. Oh, to review, if you find this to watch, watch it, record it, buy it, put it on YouTube. Very Nostalgic.

I grew up in Inglewood, CA... and there was a travel agency on Manchester that Whitman Mayo owned.. aptly named Mayo Travel Agency... and I went in with my mother...I had to have been 4 or 5... he came out of his office to sit with me while my mother make travel plans...I was grinning from ear to ear because I totally knew who he was from that's cat... my mom of course knew him from Sanford and Son!!! Talk about meeting your hero!! He was super nice and funny!!! I wish they had shows like this again for kids... romper room, the great space coaster, the original electric company, shows that taught you things, morals, manners, social skills!!

One year they had a "cutest cat" photo contest. I submitted a photo of one of the kittens our Persian cat had with a local alley cat that was particularly cute. By the time they had selected the winners, the kitten had been rehomed and grown up from the cute kitten in the photo. Anyway, we had to track down the new pet owners to borrow him for the episode as we were supposed to bring said cute cat with us to show off on the episode. I believe there were 4 or 5 winners as i recall back to my 9 year old 1976 self. We did not have a VCR yet so the only thing I have to remember it is a letter we received from KNBC inviting us to the show and instamatic 110 camera photos of the TV screen. I remember meeting the cast and "Me" staying in character the whole time, until after the taping ended we left but I had left my sweater so I came back to see him let out a loud relief yell that it was over.

Like an Indian drum or a kiss for your mom or keeping something under your hat...ba dum dum that's cat!!

Hey! Anybody remember Dusty's Treehouse? I loved that little spider in sneakers! He was totally "cat"!