Baltimorians, whatever happened to Lorenzo the Tramp (Gerry Wheeler)?

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• Great story, Ted. Thanks for sharing.

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  by SABOTEUR on November 16th, 2009

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• As of 2007, the guy who played him was doing voice overs for commercials. (See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4HTgHHU2yM)

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  by SABOTEUR on November 15th, 2009

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• Welcome, my friend, to the Lorenzo Fan Club.

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  by SABOTEUR on October 29th, 2009

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• Mr. Wheeler...When I read your post I had to move away from the keyboard and smoke a cigarette to compose myself. I never thought that a living relative of your father would ever grace Answerbag with their presence. THANK YOU for taking the time to reply to our queries concerning your father. This may sound odd, but I feel a sense of closure now...similar to the feeling I had when I found a long lost friend online several years ago. I don't carry many memories of my early childhood, but I've carried Lorenzo with me since I was 5 or 6 years old (I'll be 52 next Sunday). I don't think a morning went by where I didn't visit Lorenzo, and I was fortunate enough to be a guest on his show one time. Of course I was very young when he was in Baltimore, so I wasn't aware if any announcement was made concerning his departure. All I know is, he was suddenly GONE; replaced by the Bob McAllister Show, which I deeply resented. Just thinking about it now angers me. Silly isn't it? (cont)

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  by SABOTEUR on March 1st, 2009

• Anyway, I've found myself searching for information concerning your father for years and have been rather disappointed with what little information I've found. What's worse it the lack of acknowledgment given to your father by WJZ-13, the station that hosted your father's program. They broadcast other kind of retrospectives, why not one on your father? I'm rambling. Let me just say that I'm delighted that your father is alive and well. I hope he knows there are many Baltimoreans that still love him and remember him fondly. By greatest wish, though, is to see you or someone in your family publish a book about your father. I know a dvd of that one surviving Lorenzo episode would be too much to ask (hint...hint...), HOWEVER, if such a dvd is produced I would love to be among the first to be notified. Please ask your father to consider it. Once again, thank you for taking the time to post. My very best to you and your family. -Rip Washington, Baltimore MD.

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  by SABOTEUR on March 1st, 2009

• Thank you too, for my own sense of closure. Lorenzo was very special, and my siblings and I stayed glued to the tv. He's a fuzzy but very strong memory for me, and I've really somehow needed to de-fuzz that memory precisely since it is so strong and lasting. I've checked local libraries and sometimes searched the net, and turned up snippets here and there. But It is finally, so nice to know who was behind Lorenzo and that he can still do the stomp!!
  I don't know whether I watched him from Balt or Philly, as I was between the two, but it was 1968-69. Yakety sax, the Lorenzo stomp, the building blocks, the special cartoons (one still haunts me, an early Asian anime)..and boy I always envied the kids on the show! Thank you Mr. Wheeler!!!!

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  by froggy on September 8th, 2009

• As a youngster, I always watched Lorenzo & Friends on WJZ in Baltimore. I was actually on the show twice (both in 1964). Ah, the memories!!! It was shows like Gerry's that kept BAltimore's kids off the streets as well as taught them values!!! MOre shows like the old ones is what we need. Lorenzo just happened to be on WJZ with another great in the business, Bob McAllister. He, too, left for Philly then New York. Long gone are the great shows!!! It's a shame that WJZ saved none of the old video or any of his pictures. Thanks Gerry for making my childhood a great one!!!

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  by Mikie1960 on October 5th, 2009

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• Thank you so much for sharing that with me. Seems to me that everything from the past has been given rebirth is this age of the digital image. Correction...everything but my most cherished childhood memory...that of waking up to be greeted by Lorenzo. I've always thought WJZ 13 (Lorenzo's home in Baltimore) does a great disservice to the citizens by not broadcasting a tribute or retrospective of Lorenzo and Gerry. They never miss an opportunity to recycle a bunch of other stuff; why should Lorenzo be an exception? But, I apologize...I'm rambling. Your post is like that of a long lost friend. A friend you lost track of and wondered what happened to. I appreciate it so much that you took the time to share such wonderful memories of your association with Mr. Wheeler. It's comforting to know that life has been good to Lorenzo.

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  by SABOTEUR on January 18th, 2009

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• GET OUTTA HERE! If you ever see that guy, tell him he's sorely missed in Baltimore MD. I was fortunate enough to attend his show twice as a kid. Watched Lorenzo every morning until he left. I'm 51 years old now and I STILL think about that show. What's sad is there's virtually nothing written about Gerry or his show! You've certainly made my night, Anonymous. Hope you have a great week!

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  by SABOTEUR on June 22nd, 2008

• I'd love to meet Gerry Wheeler. Watched him every day to memorize and practice his dance steps. As a teen learning how to dance, he was a great tutor even if it was via tv.
  
  Thanks Gerry. We miss you a lot and will always remember you fondly.

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  by Anonymous on September 3rd, 2008

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• Just talking to guys at work about kid shows we used to watch and I remembered Lorenzo. Only one other guy from Philly remembered. Most were too young. Anyhow started looking online and found him on Utube still doing the STOMP. This was my brothers and my favorite show as kids. We loved doing the stomp. What great kid shows back then. Lorenzo, Sally Starr, Chief Halftown, Captain Kangaroo, they just don't seem to make them like that anymore.

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  by Leonard on October 6th, 2009

• You're right...they DON'T them like that anymore. Sad that kids today are deprived of simple, wholesome entertainment like that.

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  by SABOTEUR on October 11th, 2009

• I have a great Lorenzo story. My dad and I had just come from Dorney Park in Allentown,PA were we had seen Lorenzo do his act at the outdoor theatre there. I remember I had dragged my father to see him. And my father was always cool about stuff like that and took me to see him. After the show we stopped for gas, and there was a guy pumping gas in front of us. I saw the tattered clothes and the nose...could it be??? YES! It was! "Dad, that's Lorenzo!", I said. Lorenzo heard me, looked up and smiled. I remember my father introduced himself to Lorenzo, then me to Lorenzo. I think he gave me an autographed picture. He was such a nice guy! I'll never forget it. That was over forty years ago. Long live Lorenzo!

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  by wzrduvahhs on January 16th, 2010

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