Nancy Claster; Host of ‘Romper Room’

Nancy Claster, known affectionately as “Miss Nancy” on the pioneering and long-running children’s television show “Romper Room,” died Friday. She was 82.

Claster, whose late husband Bert created the show in 1953, died of cancer at her home in Baltimore.

Long before “Sesame Street,” Miss Nancy and her helpers “Mr. Doobee” and “Mr. Don’tbee” helped preschool children conquer fears of doctors or dentists, play inventively or learn about their expanding world.

The innovative show, which more than proved the Clasters’ theory that kids like to watch kids, was franchised in other cities and became one of the first live syndicated television programs. At its peak, “Romper Room” was telecast in 150 cities in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, England and Italy.

Following the Claster format, a “teacher” was selected in each franchise area with five local children to participate. Miss Nancy, in addition to playing teacher of the show for its first 11 years, helped write scripts and train the adult participants nationwide until 1983.

The Clasters, who first produced live variety shows in the 1940s, segued easily into television in the 1950s. They spun out a number of pioneering shows, including “Star Discovery Time,” “Silver Saddle Roundup,” “Request-a-Tune” and “Bowling for Dollars.”