From Mike, 9/26/03:
Karen: Greetings from MN or as I say it, MinneSNOWta.
I have been on your Floppy page a few times and love it. I am 46 years old, and remember seeing Floppy at the Iowa State Fair. Being from a farm in north central Iowa, we couldn't take long vacations like the "city folks' could, as Dad always said.So our big vacation every year was going to the Fair for a long day. We took in all the animals, fair booths, but at noon, we always made sure we were at the WHO TV bldg. to see Floppy. I was never on the show, but the camera always panned the crowd. so I guess I was on the show a few times.
I remember getting off the bus from school and rushing in to the house to watch floppy. When I went to College. every Noon the TV set in the Commons area had to be changed to the Floppy show at 12:15. I bet thousands of college students from all over the U.S. was introduced to Duane and Floppy at Ellsworth Community College.
I am a police officer in Southern MN and have a bloodhound as a partner. After thinking for a few days for a name for my newest bloodhound, I couldn't help but think of that old TV show. he has helped so many kids and left so many good memories with there parents. My new police K-9's name is Floppy. He will be trained as a Search and Rescue Dog, a tracker. He will not be an aggressive dog. just like Duane's lovable pooch, my Floppy will love to be with children.
thank you for your time
Mike
From Mike, 9/03:
Hi Karen,
I just found your Floppy page the other day and I wanted to thank you for electronically bringing back a lot of very happy childhood memories for me. I'm from eastern Nebraska and have lived here all my life, but my grandparents farmed in Carroll County, Iowa for many years and we would always go to visit them in the summer and for the holidays . . . and I watched Floppy faithfully every time I was there. He and Duane were old friends who never got tired or stale even after a million beeps on Floppy's nose or a million times hearing about the man who put the car in the oven.
Take care, and thanks again for helping me revisit a couple of old friends.
From Rick, 8/12/03:
Hi Karen...
Just wanted to let you know I was happy to see somebody has a site devoted to Duane Ellett and Floppy. I was a kid guest on the show in the late 60s when the station was down on Walnut Street. I was thinking of making a documentary on Duane and Floppy. I wonder if the Ellett family would be cooperative? I met Duane in 1986 at the Iowa State Fair. Little did I know that would be the last time I ever saw him. There seemed to be a little sadness in his smile that day. I bought a Floppy tshirt that I don't recall where. I don't wear it much because I want to keep it nice. I also got an autographed picture of Duane and Floppy when I saw him at the fair that year. I'll have to swing by the Iowa State Historical Building again when I go to the State Fair this week. I have seen the Floppy display. I wish it could be more, though. I'd like to see some of those old TV shows for sure.
Thanks for having this site. I'm glad you care like I do about Duane and Floppy. :)
Rick
From Del, 8/4/03:
Karen,
You did a nice job on your site. I still adore Floppy and have fond childhood memories of the
TV show. I just wish I had a t-shirt. Why don't you get a copyright and make some?
Del
From Randy, 8/4/03:
Karen, Looks good! My dad just told me yesterday he shared the state fair stage with Duane and Floppy once. My dad has a country-type music group and once at the fair, they played and in-between songs, Duane and Floppy did jokes. My dad ask Duane if he wanted to just stay on stage and sing, because Duane use to be a backup singer before his Floppy days. That was news to me.
Randy
From Ernie, 1/12/03:
Hi Karen --
I just discovered your wonderful website. Thank you! I'm 46 years old, and like most kids who grew up in central Iowa I have fond memories of Duane and Floppy. They were an important part of my childhood.
This past holdiday season I remembered that WHO-TV produced a Floppy
Christmas special back in the late 1960's (I want to say 1967, but I'm not certain). This was a charming little program, and featured many of WHO's on-air personalities from that era. I specifically remember the appearance of newsman Bob Henry. I also remember the show included Duane doing a commercial for Mountain Dew which was a relatively new beverage at the time.
It certainly would be nice to see this again. Wouldn't it be great if this classic was released on video so all of us could enjoy it every year again?
Keep up the good work. I will undoubtedly visit the website often.
Hopefully the future will bring some Floppy merchandise.
Best wishes,
Ernie
