Customer Reviews

What a Card!: The Story of Clellan Card and Axel and His Dog [with DVD]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For many years in the 1950s and 1960s, the most popular kids program on Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota's afternoon and weekend WCCO television was "Axel and His Dog." It didn't matter that the hero was a nutty Scandahoovian, Axel Toprgeson, played by Clellan Card, whose use of the English language was far from that of a role model for youngsters, or if his double-entendres were even understood by the little ones, he was still the most lovable and sincere character that parents let into their living rooms to entertain their kids. With a rudimentary two-dimensional set implying a tree-house, to the phony cardboard tube telescope that Axel peered into the "forest" to watch the Little Rascals comedies each afternoon, Axel and his pals Towser the dog and Tallulah, the "pewsy-cat" were both believeable and real. Only Card appeared in view of the audience; his pals, both played by local actor and Old Log Theatre owner, Don Stolz, were gloved paws of the two animals reaching into the scene from off-camera. They tapped, poked and slapped Card's face, tickled his ears and barked and squeeled their dialogue to Card's enduring person while he crossed his eyes, guffawed and bantered with them.

Reading children's letters and jokes, making appearances in shopping malls, amusement parks and Aquatennial parades, Clellan Card endeared himself to all members of the family from 1954 to 1966. Having learned his trade and matured his style of humor on WCCO radio prior to television, Card was unique. His carryover of old radio schtick included bells, whistles and different voices, and even his sign-off with a "Birdie with his Yellow Bill" one-liners eased him into the TV spotlight. Though his real life was perforated with the tragic deaths of two sons and his eventual lymphoma, Card never appeared out of character in public. One of the first persons to appear in front of local television cameras, and surely the first to become a children's program host, card led the way for many other personalities to follow.

The scope of this biography encompasses not only the often tragic life of Card, but opens the window for readers to view what pioneer television was like in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. For Axel and His Dog fans, the book transports them back to a simpler time of live television, before kinescopes and video tapes, recorded ads, and high-buck sets and productions, to the transitional time when Howdy Doody, Hopalong Cassidy and Kukla, Fran & Ollie were television firsts. Author Julian West, obviously a dedicated fan, has written the book with the same wit as Axel, humorously describing the crazy goings-on in the studios and on the street. For the true fan, the book includes a DVD with scenes from Axel's treehouse and scrapbook pictures of Card's life in the Twin Cities area. A wonderful addition to your Minnesota bookshelf.
Noel Allard

This was a gift for my dad's birthday. He loved the blast from his past, and he and my mom had a lot of fun talking and laughing about memories from their childhood.

If you were a kid growing up in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN in the 50's or 60's you know who Axle is and you need to buy this book. But, even if didn't grow up in the Twin Cities at the time, I still recommend this book. Clellan Card (a.k.a. Axle) was an amazing and interesting character. Even though he and his show were local only to the Twin Cities, his popularity was such he could have easily gone nationally. Its my understanding it was suggested, but he was not interested. Find out why Clellan/Axle were so popular through this book. Mr. West did a very good job writing this book. Lot's of details on Clellan, his life, and his shows. But, not so much, that it becomes boring to read. In addition the book comes with a great DVD showing Axle in action. He's still funny after all of these years. His humour works on several levels. Again, buy this book a find why Clellan/Axle was so popular and fondly remembered to this day.

I received "What a Card" as a gift. As I began to read, I became enchanted with this story of a man that summoned his gifts of imagination, cleverness, humor and love, and transformed these gifts into a legendary radio and television character that brought humor and happiness to millions. This is also as true "slice of America" as Card's hard scrabble endeavors, his dedication to his family and profession are what we all admire about "being American". The author's hand is brilliant as he truly makes this book a joy to read. His pace, tone and writing style are at the level of only the best writers. He makes the pages fly and endears the story to the reader.

This book brings back childhood memories of one of my favorite
friends, Axel and His Dog. It was a show as a kid I never missed and felt that Axel was a friend to me. Thanks for writing this book.

This is a wonderful book. Clellan Card and Axel and His Dog is a great book for the people that grew up with Axel. Good Read. Enjoy

Anyone who watched Clellan Card as "Axel" on WCCO-TV will enjoy this book. Julian West's thorough research has uncovered many stories I never knew about Card. The pictures and the DVD are terrific. A wonderful remembrance of a beloved entertainer.

This was an interesting, but not great book.
Was a fun read, as I grew up watching Axel, Carmen and company.

I grew up watching Axel so this book was a must have. The pictures alone are worth the cost of the book.