Look no further--He's right here!
In 1957, WHO-TV asked staff performer Duane Ellett to come up with an idea for the station's "Pet Corner" program, to help teach children how to better care for their pets.
Ellett created Floppy, a high-voiced beagle dog that became his sidekick for the next 30 years. Ellett carved Floppy from balsa wood, and taught himself ventriloquism.
Soon Floppy had his own daily show, featuring a live studio audience of children telling Floppy riddles, beeping his nose for luck, and watching cartoons.
Duane & Floppy appeared after the noon news on the "Duane & Friend" program, and again after school for the half-hour "The Floppy Show". On weekends, the duo appeared in a variety of programs over time, from the "S.S. Popeye" program in earlier years to "The Floppytown Gazette" in the 1980s, featuring Floppy and other puppets Ellett created. The weekday edition of "The Floppy Show" ended in 1984, and became a one-hour weekly program on Saturday mornings.
Thousands of Iowans outside of Des Moines discovered the duo from their performances at the Iowa State Fair, which has honored Ellett with a plaque on the walkway outside the grandstand. Duane & Floppy also made 200 personal appearances every year at community festivals and events. They visited countless sick children in hospitals.
In May 1987, Duane & Floppy and their fans celebrated their 30th anniversary of entertaining together. Sadly, the partnership ended only a month later, when Ellett died of a heart attack while exercising. In 1994, Duane's family donated Floppy and related memoribilia to the State Historical Society of Iowa. A special display honoring the duo was housed at the Iowa Historical Museum from 1994-2013, and was one of the museum's most popular exhibits.
When the exhibit was taken down and Floppy was put into storage, fans took to social media to protest. A "Save Floppy" Facebook group was established, with 4,000 people joining the group in the first day alone.
Special film festivals were held in 2009 and 2010 honoring Duane Ellett's work; around 1,000 people braved the Iowa winter to attend each year. Film festivals were also held in 2014 in Perry, Newton, and Toledo, and in 2014 and 2015 in Des Moines.
Ellett created Floppy, a high-voiced beagle dog that became his sidekick for the next 30 years. Ellett carved Floppy from balsa wood, and taught himself ventriloquism.
Soon Floppy had his own daily show, featuring a live studio audience of children telling Floppy riddles, beeping his nose for luck, and watching cartoons.
Duane & Floppy appeared after the noon news on the "Duane & Friend" program, and again after school for the half-hour "The Floppy Show". On weekends, the duo appeared in a variety of programs over time, from the "S.S. Popeye" program in earlier years to "The Floppytown Gazette" in the 1980s, featuring Floppy and other puppets Ellett created. The weekday edition of "The Floppy Show" ended in 1984, and became a one-hour weekly program on Saturday mornings.
Thousands of Iowans outside of Des Moines discovered the duo from their performances at the Iowa State Fair, which has honored Ellett with a plaque on the walkway outside the grandstand. Duane & Floppy also made 200 personal appearances every year at community festivals and events. They visited countless sick children in hospitals.
In May 1987, Duane & Floppy and their fans celebrated their 30th anniversary of entertaining together. Sadly, the partnership ended only a month later, when Ellett died of a heart attack while exercising. In 1994, Duane's family donated Floppy and related memoribilia to the State Historical Society of Iowa. A special display honoring the duo was housed at the Iowa Historical Museum from 1994-2013, and was one of the museum's most popular exhibits.
When the exhibit was taken down and Floppy was put into storage, fans took to social media to protest. A "Save Floppy" Facebook group was established, with 4,000 people joining the group in the first day alone.
Special film festivals were held in 2009 and 2010 honoring Duane Ellett's work; around 1,000 people braved the Iowa winter to attend each year. Film festivals were also held in 2014 in Perry, Newton, and Toledo, and in 2014 and 2015 in Des Moines.
