Gene London was more than just a TV legend

Gene London, born Eugene Norman Yulish, died Sunday in Reading of a cerebral hemorrhage after a fall.

He was Fred Rogers before there was Fred Rogers.

At least in southeastern Pennsylvania. If you grew up in the Philadelphia area in the 1960s or ‘70s, the name Gene London was magic.

From 1959 to 1977, he hosted a show on WCAU (Channel 10) called “Cartoon Corners.”

Gene London, whose real name was Eugene Norman Yulish, died Sunday in Reading of a cerebral hemorrhage after a fall.

He was 88.

On his show, the mildmannered London would dazzle kids as an artist and storyteller, using a sketch pad to illustrate his story as a region of wide-eyed kids looked on, mesmerized at the ease with which he composed his creations, illustrating scenes and characters drawn from classic novels, mythology and fairy tales.

Sets included the haunted “Quigley Mansion” and “Mr. Dibley’s General Store,” where London’s character worked.

Every trip to London’s show and his “General Store” provided kids with an important life lesson.

London proved the equal of other Philly children’s TV icons such as Pixanne, Sally Starr, Captain Noah and Chief Halftown.

His death is another tough loss of a childhood icon of the past, coming on the heels of the December death of Caroll Spinney, who portrayed Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on “Sesame Street.”

Recalling such individuals takes many of us back to carefree childhood days.

Though the real world was quite tumultuous back then as it is now, figures like London offered hope for a better future. Such examples are sorely lacking in today’s media landscape.

And the dizzying array of choices for home entertainment has made it much more difficult for any performer or program to capture the imagination of an entire generation in a particular region, as London did.

But London’s television career is only part of his legacy. For people in Reading, London was more than just a beloved children’s entertainer from the past. He was a neighbor.

Initially folks in the region got to know him through his frequent appearances at Boscov’s stores with company chief Al Boscov, with whom he became good friends.

It was Boscov who enticed London to retire in Reading after a second career in the New York fashion industry, designing for private clients, Broadway shows, television and films.

London was a longtime resident of Reading and a tremendous contributor to the local arts scene.

He became well-known late in life for his spectacular collection of movie costumes from the golden age of Hollywood. Rather than keeping his treasures under wraps as so many collectors do, London was eager to share them with the public.

London often put pieces of his collection on display for the benefit of local and regional arts organizations. The Reading Public Museum hosted a major exhibition of London’s collection about a decade ago.

Just this past year his costumes were a major attraction at the Allentown Art Museum.

He has put his costumes and artistic talent to work for the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts.

He appeared at the Reading Film Fest to discuss the art of Hollywood costume design.

While his costumes showed up at major events such as the Philadelphia Flower Show, he was just as willing to put them on display in support of fundraising efforts for smaller activities benefiting causes such as the Reading Public Library and Reading’s Genesius Theatre.

Between London’s status as a beloved television celebrity and gifted artist and the glittering appeal of the costumes he owned, he had tremendous power to draw attention and crowds.

It was a blessing to his community that he chose to use those gifts in such a positive way.

Rest in peace, Gene London. You were a friend to Philadelphia-area kids and a tremendous blessing for the region’s arts community.