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Joy Junction

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This article is about the television show. For the homeless shelter, see Joy Junction (charity).

Joy Junction
GenreChildren's
Christian
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time30 minutes[1]
Original release
NetworkWCLF
Release1979 (1979)

Joy Junction was an American Christian television program for children produced by and initially broadcast on WCLF in Clearwater, Florida, beginning in 1979.[2] Episodes were also aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (worldwide) and FamilyNet, among others.[3][4][5] New episodes were still being produced as of 1990.[6]

The theme song is a variation of Three Dog Night's hit song "Joy to the World".[7]

Summary

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In the show, a cast of characters led by Sheriff Don (played by Don MacAllister)[8] would teach children manners, values and Biblical history.[1] It was targeted at children 4 to 13 years of age.[1] Joy Junction encouraged children to write in weekly to receive Bible lessons and games.[9]

It also featured episodes of the animated cartoon series JOT.[7]

Cast

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  • Don MacAllister as Sheriff Don
  • Forrest Padley as Professor Klodhopper
  • David Brantley as Whittler Dan
  • Ronald William Brown as Ron and Marty

Controversy

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The show became controversial and was quickly pulled from broadcast in the early 2010s after it was discovered that a prominent cast member, Ronald William Brown, possessed child pornography and photographs of dead children, and had expressed a desire to rape and cannibalize young boys.[10][11]

Brown's character on the show was a ventriloquist with a dummy named Marty.[12] The pair taught children lessons about right and wrong, including about the supposed dangers of "dirty pictures" and "evil thoughts".[12] In doing so, Brown often interacted with children on set.[12]

Brown first drew police attention in 1998, when boys' underwear was found in his possession.[13] However, he was let go after claiming they were for his puppet.[13][14] In 2012, Brown was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography and conspiracy to kidnap a child after police discovered messages on a dark web chatroom detailing this.[10][15] Brown died on August 5, 2020, aged 65, due to a motor neuron disease.[16]

The show was considered lost media with selected clips/episodes resurfacing online in the 2020s.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Children's Television Programming Report". enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov. September 21, 2014. Archived from the original on June 16, 2024. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Pugh, Jeanne (October 27, 1979). "Nation's newest Christian TV station begins operations". St. Petersburg Times. p. Crossroads 1, 4, 5. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Clark, Heather (August 6, 2012). "Puppeteer Who Wanted to Cook and Eat Children Exposed in Vast International Child Porn Ring". Christian News Network. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  4. ^ Biel, Jacquelyn (July 1990). "Programming Networks For LPN What's New?" (PDF). The LPTV Report. Vol. 5, no. 7. p. 14. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  5. ^ "BEFORE THE COPYRIGHT ROYALTY TRIBUNAL Washington, D.C. 20036". Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  6. ^ Alvarez III, Cesar (July 7, 1990). "Broadcasting THE WORD". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Retro Junk
  8. ^ "Ruth JOHNSON Obituary (2017) - St. Petersburg, FL - Tampa Bay Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  9. ^ Walker, Joanne (August 7, 1993). "Interesting folks live next door". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Murdock, Sebastian (July 30, 2013). "Puppeteer Who Fantasized About Raping, Eating Children, Gets 20 Years". HuffPost. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "Largo puppeteer who wanted to cannibalize boys is sentenced to 20 years". Tampa Bay Times. July 30, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Engber, Daniel (August 21, 2013). "Another Online Fetishist Gets Punished for His Fantasies". Slate Magazine. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Carreras, Iris (July 30, 2013). "Ronald Brown, Fla. puppeteer, gets 20 year in prison for child porn, report says". CBS News. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  14. ^ "REAL LIFE HORROR: The Christian Puppeteer who Planned to Kill and Eat Children". CVLT Nation. April 22, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  15. ^ Case No. 8:12-CR-418-T-27MAP United States of America v. Ronald William Brown
  16. ^ "Inmate Deaths 2019 to 2022" (PDF). Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  17. ^ "The Dark True Story Behind This '80s Christian Kids' TV Show". MovieWeb. June 25, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
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