I was on the show twice. I think it was 1985 and 1986 (so I was 6 and 7). At the time, I was part of Camp Fire, and our group would go on. I was not very impressed with the idea of being on TV at that age, only because my dad had been videotaping me since I was 9 months old. (With this ancient black and white Beta camera that had to be wired into a TV to see the picture it was recording.) So I was used to being taped and seeing myself on a TV. But like all kids who grew up in Portland then, I watched Ramblin' Rod while getting ready for school in the morning and during breakfast, etc, so the prospect of being there was exciting.

I remember we were taken to the TV station in Portland in the afternoon, like 4 or 5 P.M. My brother came along, too, as did the siblings of some of the other girls in my troup. I also brought my Cabbage Patch doll with me. (This was probably the 1985 appearance.) Those were all the rage then, and I suppose I got the idea because other girls had done the same thing. My mom also gave my brother and I buttons to give to Ramblin' Rod.

I remember being kind of disappointed that we didn't actually get to watch cartoons when Ramblin' Rod would announce that "another cartoon!" would come on. And that someone would tell us to smile and cheer and all that. The set also seemed really different in person -- not as large. (Years later, when I would see film sites for the BTTF films, this struck me anew. I think the TV cameras must warp perspectives.)

I was shy back then, so I think I was pretty intimidated by Ramblin' Rod and didn't say much more than my name and hometown, blushing and ducking my head during that. My brother had no fear, though. He was quite the charmer. When Ramblin' Rod was passing along the mic down the row where I was sitting, he got to my brother and this exchange followed.

R.R.: "What's your name?"

Mike (smiling in this angelic way he had back then): "Michael."

R.R.: "And where are you from, Michael?"

Mike (smiles innocently and shrugs): "I don't know."

R.R. (impressed): "Idaho? Where in Idaho?"

Mike (still smiling, but perplexed, holding up his hands to emphasize his soft words): "Noooo. I. Don't. KNOW."

That was like a running joke the rest of the episode.

We didn't win any smile contests -- actually, when they ran the camera up and down the rows, some kids sitting before me and my brother blocked our smiles! -- and aside from telling R.R. my name and where I was from, I don't really recall speaking more than that. It was a long time ago (OMG, more than 20 years! I feel old!), so the memory is faded now. And I haven't seen the recorded episodes for a long time, probably 10 years now, when I was collecting the hilarious 80's commercials to use in a school project.

I think the experience is kinda interesting now, only because it was a bit of a culture shock to a 6-year-old to see the set of a favorite TV show in person, and realize that, you know, it was just a set, and the grandfatherly guy in the pin jacket was really an actor. And apparently my brother charmed the pants off everyone there at the tender age of 4.



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