SEATTLE - Chris Wedes, who played beloved local celebrity clown J.P. Patches and entertained generations of kids and adults during a career spanning more than 50 years, died Sunday. He was 84.
His family was at his bedside at his death and confirmed that he passed away Sunday morning.
"We've lost an institution," said his widow, who was married to Wedes for 56 years.
The Emmy Award-winning J.P. Patches Show was one of the longest-running locally-produced children's television programs in the United States, appearing on Seattle TV station KIRO channel 7 from 1958 to 1981.
J.P. was the "Mayor of the City Dump", where he lived in a shack and welcomed frequent guests: Seattle boy scout and girl scout troops, various local and national celebrities. Among his more well-known guests were Colonel Sanders, Jacques Cousteau, Slim Pickens and Tiny Tim.
He also had a beloved cast of supporting characters - Gertrude, Boris S. Wort, Grizwold, Esmerelda and Tikey Turkey.
Many children signed up to be "Patches Pals," and J.P. announced some of their birthdays by "viewing" them on his "ICU2TV" set (a cardboard prop that created the appearance that J.P. was looking at you from inside your television).
J.P. Patches (the J.P. stood for Julius Pierpont) also made frequent fundraising appearances for local charities. He was a common sight at Children's Hospital, visiting sick kids and promoting the work of the hospital.
Wedes had suffered from a form of blood cancer for the past six years, yet still kept up a schedule of performances at county fairs and other venues. He gave his last performance in September 2011 at Fishermen's Terminal.
The guy kickstarted every kid who thought making people laugh might be a real living. His jokes-within-jokes were complex and we spent the day repeating them until we got it. When Channel 9 used to run Python at 9pm and KIRO had JP at 7am, it was great to be a 12 year old. He heard it a million times, but it was great to be able to meet the guy and tell him,"You are one funny fucker." He nodded.
Posted by: Bryan Suits | July 22, 2012 at 06:53 PM
On the surface he was a clown, which gave him cover to unleash his sly, subversive, slightly naughty humor on his child audience. As a 7-10 year old I got it. I outgrew him, but the seeds he planted enabled me to appreciate the value of not taking life too seriously. He'll always have a special place in my heart and memory. Thank you JP. Have fun on your journeys.
Posted by: Mike D | July 22, 2012 at 07:50 PM
Oh no, say it ain't so! Yet another Seattle icon leaves us. RIP indeed JP, you were an inspiration to many of us at sensitive stages of our lives.
Posted by: Squeaky | July 22, 2012 at 08:01 PM
J.P. made life better for all of us locals.
I got to be one of those kids on his show...
I know there are many requests for copies of video, but they are long gone.
Tapes were re-used over and over.
Makes the memories even more important.
J.P. was the best!
Posted by: Rat_Bastard | July 23, 2012 at 12:31 AM
Rest in Peace J.P. (Chris). I've been a life long Patches Pal. You'll be missed.
Posted by: DODJr | July 23, 2012 at 08:33 AM
Proud to say I met J.P. in person and shook his hand. As i stadn and gaze out of Grandpa Throckmoton;s West Queen Anne mansion, whixh i inherited a few years back, i spend some time thinking about the disappearance of old Seattle. I only spend some weekends and an ocaisional 3 day weekend here at the atahrockmorton estate, preferring my luxury residence athe top of Seattle's premier luxury hotel overlooking the waterfront. West Queen Anne and interbay is growing rapidly , tearing down the older, cheaper homes and apartments to make way for slick new townhouses and apartments to house the uncultured, ignoarant shmoes and boors who park their Beamers and Tahoes past the outside line of the crosswalk as they wait impatiently fo the lights to change. These people, interlopers from L.A. and back east know nothing of J.P. and the rest of old Seattle, don't care to know and could not care less.
Posted by: Hedge Fund Hal | July 23, 2012 at 01:34 PM
I understand your trepidation about us transplants. I’ve talked of J.P. with my wife about his impression on her life for a while. But for you to suggest we didn’t have the same experience is naive. I grew up watching Joe Smith and Duffy the dog on Club house 22the same Joe Smith on KGW of Portland . We care, and feel your empathy. Well not for you, but for the metaphorical you.
Posted by: BlackRhino | July 23, 2012 at 08:53 PM
It was Rusty Nails, Heck Harper, Addie Bobkins and Uncle Charlie advertising "Beep Beep Jarvis Jeep" in his train conductor outfit, if you lived in Western Oregon. I remember being quite sad when Heck Harper passed away.
Posted by: sparky | July 23, 2012 at 09:02 PM
Maybe Hal’s so caught up in his imaginative world he has no appreciation of the real world.
Posted by: Finis Hominis | July 23, 2012 at 09:17 PM
i wish you could have had met Grandpa Throckmorton in his heyday, Finis. He sure as Hell didn't take any lip off of smartasses.
Posted by: Hedge Fund Hal | July 24, 2012 at 09:00 AM