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=== Charlie Baxter and "Toby the Robot" === Charlie Baxter's broadcast career began at age 14 when he joined a [[Toledo, Ohio]]–based radio dramatic group and, like Clayton, joined WCKT at its 1956 launch.<ref name="MiamiN19560729p20a">{{Cite news |date=July 29, 1956 |title=Announcer Charles Baxter Started In Radio At 14 |page=6B |newspaper=The Miami News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97509513/announcer-charles-baxter-started-in/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Baxter was initially a booth announcer<ref name="MiamiN19590313p9">{{Cite news |last=Grace |first=Art |date=March 13, 1959 |title=Many Laughs In 'Dungeon' |page=7B |newspaper=The Miami News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97517668/many-laughs-in-dungeon/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and filled in for vacationing staff.<ref name="MiamiH19570904p26">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack |date=September 4, 1957 |title=Mike Wallace Inquisitions Appear Bit Inane in Frank Wright Show |page=6B |newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97512149/mike-wallace-inquisitions-appear-bit/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Management asked Baxter to create a [[horror host]] character but did not offer any direction, saying, "We need a monster. You're it."<ref name="MiamiN19721125p49">{{Cite news |last=Heinrich |first=Ken |date=November 25, 1972 |title=Charlie Baxter: the unlikely monster |page=3:TV Week |newspaper=The Miami News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97516461/charlie-baxter-the-unlikely-monster/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Baxter developed "M. T. Graves" for the Sunday afternoon horror movie showcase titled ''The Dungeon''<ref name="PalmBe19600131p 110">{{Cite news |last=Hulick |first=Budd |date=January 31, 1960 |title=Looking In |page=9:TV Week |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97495793/looking-in/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> after improvising with makeup and establishing a design that took 45 minutes to properly apply.<ref name="MiamiN19641206p71">{{Cite news |last=Ash |first=Agnes |date=December 6, 1964 |title=Will The Real Charlie Baxter Please Lie Down And Take It Easy For A Second? |page=14:Miami Magazine |newspaper=The Miami News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97500048/will-the-real-charlie-baxter-please-lie/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Baxter crafted a [[backstory]] for "M. T. Graves": born in [[St. Petersburg, Russia]], Graves learned the art of the [[occult]] after being adopted by [[Romani people]], was imprisoned in [[Budapest]] and fled to America, then was trapped in an underground "dungeon" which the WCKT studios were built on top of.<ref name="PalmBe19590823p 95">{{Cite news |last=Fulton |first=Yvonne |date=August 23, 1959 |title=Horror on TV |pages=6–7:TV Week |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97495462/horror-on-tv/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="FortLa19590616p 16">{{Cite news |date=June 16, 1959 |title=M. T. Graves To Appear At Florida Tomorrow |page=6B |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97516695/m-t-graves-to-appear-at-florida/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> ''The Dungeon'' became immediately popular with younger viewers who were drawn to Graves's clown-like antics and jokes,<ref name="MiamiN19590320p14">{{Cite news |last=Grace |first=Arthur |date=March 20, 1959 |title=Lady Likes M. T. Graves |page=4B |newspaper=The Miami News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97516529/lady-likes-m-t-graves/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> were unfazed by his appearance or "villain" role, and saw him as a hero.<ref name="FortLa19601023p 18">{{Cite news |date=October 23, 1960 |title=Situation 'Graves' |page=2B |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97495966/situation-graves/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> After relaying the story of a seven-year-old girl reacting with joy to a phone call from M. T. Graves similar to [[Elvis Presley#Crazed crowds and film debut|teenage Elvis fans]], ''Herald'' critic Jack Anderson mused, "Now, what's that again about TV's scaring the daylights out of the very young? The only thought that lingers with me... is that her taste had better improve."<ref name="MiamiH19590314p12">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack |date=March 14, 1959 |title=Steel Hour Tendered Fans Seldom Seen Comedy Type |page=16A |newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97495334/steel-hour-tendered-fans-seldom-seen/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In addition to Graves, Baxter portrayed "M. T. Space" (Graves's [[astronaut]] brother who orbited "[[Ganymede (moon)|the seventh moon of Jupiter]]") for a Saturday morning [[science fiction film]] show, and "Charlie Baxter" (in-character as a young child) for a daily children's show.<ref name="MiamiN19621203p15">{{Cite news |last=Dunn |first=Kristine |date=December 3, 1962 |title=M.T. Space Into Exile |page=3B |newspaper=The Miami News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97532393/mt-space-into-exile/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Baxter was still easily recognizable to younger fans as M. T. Graves even without wearing the makeup.<ref name="MiamiN19620805p40">{{Cite news |last=McHale |first=Joan Nielsen |date=August 5, 1962 |title=These 'Baby-Sitters' Are Well-Screened |page=2E |newspaper=The Miami News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97498763/these-baby-sitters-are-well-screened/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> [[File:Charlie_Reads_the_Comics.jpg|thumb|275x275px|Toby the Robot (Charlie Folds) and Charlie Baxter, co-hosts of ''Charlie Reads the Comics'']] Charlie Folds, who started at WCKT in 1958 as an editor [[Film stock|removing profanities from movies]],{{r|Miam031206}} joined ''The Dungeon'' as sidekick "[[Count Down]] the [[Vampire]]", establishing both a close friendship and partnership with Baxter.<ref name="MiamiH19690807p79">{{Cite news |last=Fay |first=Jack |date=August 7, 1969 |title=Former Vero Resident Now Is Friendly Robot |page=C1 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97486627/former-vero-resident-now-is-friendly/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In addition to "Count Down", Folds played "Buffo the Clown" on the Sunday morning ''Seven's Circus'' and "Toby the [[Robot]]" for the Saturday morning ''Superheroes'', the latter being in-studio [[Interstitial television show|wraparound segments]] for ''[[The Marvel Super Heroes]]''.<ref name="MiamiH19661127p222">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack E. |date=November 27, 1966 |title=Superheroes And Pies |page=8:TV Preview |newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95241886/superheroes-and-pies/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Drawing inspiration from a similar robot character he had portrayed several years earlier,<ref name="FortLa19701127p66">{{Cite news |last=Markus |first=Bette |date=November 27, 1970 |title=Toby Robot Is Really Sensitive TV Actor |pages=12F–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97538242/toby-robot-is-really-sensitive-tv/ 13F] |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97538215/toby-robot-is-really-sensitive-tv-actor/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Folds assembled Toby's costume from several [[garbage cans]] and assorted pieces of junk that weighed {{Convert|40|lb|kg|lk=on|abbr=on}}<ref name="SunTat19700221p36">{{Cite news |date=February 21, 1970 |title=Toby, Robot Will Lead Irish Parade |page=18B |newspaper=Hollywood Sun-Tattler |location=Hollywood, Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97525949/toby-robot-will-lead-irish-parade/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and [[Intonation (linguistics)|intoned]] "beep-beep-beep" as the lone method of communication. This became Folds's defining character.{{r|Miam031206}} Success for Charlie Folds came despite substantial [[shyness]] whenever in front of a camera;{{r|FortLa19701127p66}} while performing a skit during a live broadcast, Toby's helmet accidentally fell off revealing Folds's face, which he later deemed as his "worst moment".{{r|Miam031206}} Toby was soon regarded as one of the more popular children's television personalities in Miami,<ref name="FortLa19701106p56">{{Cite news |date=November 6, 1970 |title='Robot' To Emcee Auction |page=6F |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97525876/robot-to-emcee-auction/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> frequently being booked for public appearances months in advance.{{r|FortLa19701127p66}} {{Quote box | quote = I communicate (when playing Toby the Robot) by beeping. By acting inside, I can make the kids laugh or cry. The kids actually know what I'm saying... kids either like a mechanical thing or a clown, if I wasn't a robot, I'd be a clown. | author = Charlie Folds{{r|FortLa19701127p66}} | align = left | width = 250px | qalign = left | salign = right }} ''The Dungeon'' ended production on September 7, 1967, after Baxter claimed the station ran out of horror movies to show; during the show's final year, the [[Jungle Jim (serial)|Jungle Jim]] serial was featured.<ref name="MiamiH19670821p14">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack E. |date=August 21, 1967 |title=M. T. Graves Ends Long Stay In Dungeon—No More Films |page=12C |newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97534266/m-t-graves-ends-long-stay-in/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> ''Superheroes'' was succeeded by ''Batman-Batkids'': ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' reruns with local segments hosted by "Charles Baxter, [[Esquire]]"; these segments reprised several ''Dungeon'' characters, with Folds as Baxter's [[valet]] "The Count".<ref name="MiamiN19680921p5">{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Lois |date=September 21, 1968 |title=Charlie Baxter Hosts New Series |page=5A |newspaper=The Miami News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97486403/charlie-baxter-hosts-new-series/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Created by Sidney Ansin, ''Seven's Circus'' had high ratings, a loyal audience and a [[fan club]] boasting 200 members—with Baxter, George DeVries and Bill Barry as successive "[[Ringmaster (circus)|ringmasters]]"—but was cancelled on January 4, 1968, after years of being a [[loss leader]].<ref name="MiamiN19680104p16">{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Herb |date=January 4, 1968 |title=Ratings High, $$ Low, WCKT Drops '7' Circus' |page=4B |newspaper=The Miami News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97536766/ratings-high-low-wckt-drops-7/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> WCKT and the ''Herald'' partnered for ''Charlie Reads The Comics'', a Sunday morning show that launched on July 22, 1969, with Baxter reading the newspaper's [[Comic strip|Sunday comic strips]] to a [[studio audience]] of children and Folds as Toby.<ref name="MiamiH19690614p33">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack E. |date=June 14, 1969 |title=Round-the-Clock TV Coverage Planned for Landing on Moon |page=2C |newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97535591/round-the-clock-tv-coverage-planned-for/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="MiamiH19690621p18">{{Cite news |last=Meyer |first=James |date=June 21, 1969 |title=Baxter, Youngsters to Begin Reading Comics on Sunday |page=22A |newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97551771/baxter-youngsters-to-begin-reading/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Baxter resigned from the station on April 29, 1970, while on vacation;<ref name="MiamiH19700429p332">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack E. |date=April 29, 1970 |title=Survey of Communes Well Done But In-Depth Study Is Needed |page=5D |newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97517691/survey-of-communes-well-done-but/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> later attributing his departure to [[Occupational burnout|burnout]], Baxter eventually revived his "M. T. Graves" character on [[WSCV|WKID]] (channel 51).{{r|MiamiN19721125p49}} Stage actor Wayne Chandler was hired as Baxter's replacement for ''Charlie Reads The Comics'', which was re-titled ''Sunday Funnies''.<ref name="MiamiN19700619p24">{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Herb |date=June 19, 1970 |title=We'll Sing Along with Mitch in summer |page=6B |newspaper=The Miami News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97536349/well-sing-along-with-mitch-in-summer/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="SunTat19700613p15">{{Cite news |date=June 13, 1970 |title=Actor Joins WCKT's Staff |page=15A |newspaper=Hollywood Sun-Tattler |location=Hollywood, Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97536588/actor-joins-wckts-staff/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Even as other locally-produced children's television shows largely ceased during the 1970s due to declines in ratings and advertising,<ref name="MiamiH19790819p409">{{Cite news |last=Earley |first=Sandra |date=August 19, 1979 |title=Kids' TV Has Lost Ads and Audience |page=3BW |newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97550927/kids-tv-has-lost-ads-and-audience/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> WCKT kept ''Sunday Funnies'' on the air under the belief it remained an instructional tool for [[literacy]].<ref name="MiamiH19790819p407">{{Cite news |last=Earley |first=Sandra |date=August 19, 1979 |title=Trash Can Man: Why He Wants Your Kids to Love Him |pages=1BW, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97550871/trash-can-man-why-he-wants-your-kids/ 3BW] |newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97550803/trash-can-man-why-he-wants-your-kids/ |access-date=March 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
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