1960s

Engineer John Costume

Shortly after WKJG television went on the air in 1953, John Siemer began hosting a morning cartoon show called "Cartoon Express with Engineer John." At the start of each episode, a WKJG cameraman panned across a train painted on a 14-foot backdrop and the opening included a recording of steam train sound effects. Several years later, the name of the show was changed to "The Engineer John Show." Five days a week from 1954 to 1971, Engineer John interacted with kids in the WKGJ studio. It was Engineer John's idea that each child got equal attention, making them the stars of the show. Each of the child's drawings that were mailed to the station was shown and each child in the studio was put on camera.

Children were glued to television in those days, and today, children of that era still remember "Engi-neer John." This outfit was worn by John Siemer for his Cartoon Express TV program on WKJG TV 33, from 1954-1971 in Fort Wayne. It includes a train conductor cap and a jacket, all made out of heavy blue and white-striped cotton cloth fabric with an "Oshkosh B'Gosh" label. The accompanying red bandana was tied around his neck.