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 Pixanne
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Dressed in a Lincoln green costume with cap and feather, Jane
Norman played the part of Pixanne, a pretty fairy who lived
and flew about in an enchanted forest. The program featured
live-action, songs, stories and visitors that Pixanne
magically transported from the real world to her forest
domain. Once a visiting fireman put a hoop on fire during a
demonstration and but couldn't put the fire out despite
repeated tries with a fire extinguisher. The PIXANNE program
originated in Philadelphia on WCAU-TV Channel 10 from 1960 to
1969. Eventually, the show moved to weekday mornings at WNEW
Ch. 5 in New York City and ran from September 22, 1969 until
August 21, 1970. The program reruns were later nationally
syndicated in the late 1970s. The Addis Williams puppets
appeared regularly on the show
(Oggie the Owl, Flippy Butterfly)
as well as
characters like Wendy the Friendly Witch (Norman in a witch
costume) and the evil Captain Hook (played by the show's
resident magician Jack Adams). The origin of Pixanne's
character was inspired by J. M. Barrie's perennial youth Peter
Pan. As Jane once said "I
loved Broadway shows and always wanted to play Peter Pan so I
designed a version of Peter’s costume and I made myself look
like a pixie."
Before her Pixanne
gig, Jane Norman was already an accomplished piano prodigy,
summer-stock actress, and songwriter for children. In recent
years she has given up
personal appearances as Pixanne to start a singing career.
Jane has
recorded several record albums.
A showcase of her vocal talents can be
found in her CD of romantic ballads entitled Madly in Love.
TRIVIA NOTE: Philadelphia TV show hosts like Pixanne, Sally
Starr and Captain Noah were the inspiration for a successful
off-Broadway play called Music from a Sparkling Planet
about three men in their 30s who search for Tamara Tomorrow,
the host of an afternoon sci-fi kids
television show of their youth.
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