Cartooning children’s show host ‘Sailor Bob’ Griggs has passed away.
Robert Thomas (Bob) Griggs (aka Sailor Bob)
November 21, 1933 – February 20, 2019
A generation of Virginians living within reception distance of WRVA-TV
in Richmond grew up on Popeye cartoons presented by Sailor Bob.
The character was created in 1959 for the sole purpose of introducing Popeye cartoons — and filling up the time between them — but in short order Sailor Bob became the real star of the show as far as kids were concerned, bantering with puppet pals like Gilly Gull (a wise-cracking seagull who flew a plane and wore an old-style flier’s cap and goggles), Mr Mouse, Bluebird and Sterling the Sea Serpent, showing off pictures drawn by young viewers and cranking out sketches as music played in the background.
