For over half a century, Bob Walterscheid helped shape television in Wichita, KS,  delivering hundreds of television commercials  and receiving a number of various awards, not only locally, but regionally and nationally. From “Putt Putt to the Pizza Hut” to 26 years of “Fordman”, his commercials truly stand out in a crowd.  In 1974, he produced a feature length film called King Kung Fu, a low budget slapstick spoof of both King Kong and Kung Fu. It’s currently available to stream on Netflix, or to buy at Bob’s website at http://wponline.com/

CaFE: You are among television’s pioneers: what is your most cherished professional memory?
BW: The euphoria I felt when we actually got under way starting the  production of King Kung Fu. Never have had that same feeling again.


CaFE: What do you think you’ll go down in history for?
BW: Making silly TV commercials, not only of Fordman, but others as well. That’s OK with me. Some think creative, I think simple. I was lucky to have clients that let me do what I did. It’s an easy sale when someone is smiling.


CaFE: Looking back, is there anything you wish you might have done differently?
BW: Been born in NY. Just kidding. I don’t think I would do anything differently. I’m happy with what I have done. Oh, one thing. If I had it to do over, I would make sure I only had much younger clients. All mine have retired, sold their business or died.


CaFE: You’ve been a Wichita fixture for years. What do you think was the best thing to happen to the town in your lifetime?
BW: I think it would be the success of Pizza Hut, as it created an atmosphere of entrepreneurship throughout the city. Couple that with Coleman,and  the aircraft industry and you have great motivation to do something.  Even today people I talk with on either coast are amazed that Pizza Hut started here, and then stunned when they learn of Coleman and planes. The business climate is good here, and a well kept secret. I just hope it doesn’t get screwed up.


CaFE: Without naming names, what is the stupidest thing you’ve ever witnessed?
BW: I have witnessed so many stupid things it would be very difficult to pin the badge on one. However my award would be the failure to combine the City and County Government.


CaFE: Give me one way you think local media could be improved today.
BW: Cut down on screaming and shouting owners of business doing their own commercials. Also keep small children from speaking on spots. The kid’s parents can understand them because they live with them but the general public can’t. That, and some innovative local programming. Having cut my TV teeth on Romper Room, Freddy Fudd, Deputy Dusty, the Old Cobbler and Santa, I saw what it did for the market. Were those the “good ole days?” Yes, they were.


CaFE: What’s your favorite joke, dirty or clean?
BW: The Bell Ringer Joke. It’s the only joke I know that has a sequel that is is as funny or funnier than the original. Too long to write, but I’ll tell it to you if you call. (Amazingly enough it is truly a clean joke) (CaFE note: I’ll transcribe this and update the interview when I do.)


CaFE: Walterscheid Productions is a multigenerational business. Where do you see it going from here?
BW: As the script calls for, “Music up and out” Super: ‘the end’ “Fade to Black.”    We are approaching this page. I’ve been doing this for 53 years and the plot is getting thin.


CaFE: Anything you or the company are working on right now that you can tell us about?
BW: We are working on a phone app utilizing segments of an infomercial we produced awhile back. Just another way to get it in front of folks.


CaFE: King Kung Fu has garnered quite a small but devoted cult following. To what do you attribute its success?
BW: If success is scored by profit, KKF does not qualify. Last I looked, the King Kung Fu Fan Club had over 80 members. To quote the second joining member, “This club looked more fun when it had only one member.” The movie gained not a new life, but just a few breaths when the fellow at Cinemassacre did a review. He was quite kind, and really spent some time to create it. It resulted in some DVD sales and the fan club. The pinnacle of success for KKF is the fact that it is now streamed on Netflix. A small pinnacle at best. So I made a movie that played in several theatres around the country. That’s OK with me. Oh, it was also available in Japan, Tiawan, and Poland. Why Poland bought it I’ll never know. That, and $1.75 gets me a cup of coffee. And I don’t drink coffee.


CaFE: What is the one question that no one has asked you that you always wanted to answer?
BW: What motivated you to do the things you did? My answer: 8 kids.

And now, the Lipton 10! These questions were formulated by James Lipton for his television show Inside the Actor’s Studio.

1. What is your favorite word?

BW: Plethora

2. What is your least favorite word?

BW: Dude

3. What turns you on?

BW: Mead

4. What turns you off?

BW: Screaming Shaking Singers and Rap.

5. What sound do you love?

BW: A hanging bell on my patio.

6. What sound do you hate?

BW: Sirens

7. What is your favorite curse word?

BW: Damn

8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

BW: Brewing

9. What profession would you not like to do?

BW: Manual Labor of any kind.

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

BW: “Hello Bob, Glad you made it!”


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