Around the same time Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Club made its debut nationally, Betty's Little Rascals premiered on Little Rock television. It, too, was for children and it, too, bore a club theme. Betty Fowler, the host of the show where "every Little Rascal wears a smile," garnered further statewide fame as a TV entertainer, pianist, performer, bandleader, voice coach and teacher.
A few of those "rascals" -- no longer little, of course -- along with others turned out for a small 89th birthday celebration for Fowler on Sept. 4 at Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Little Rock. Light refreshments were served, along with a birthday cake bearing the name of Fowler's show.
Fowler shared her memories of Betty's Little Rascals, which featured 20-30 children at a time. Starting the show while she was in her 20s, she said, allowed her to be a kid that much longer. "That was just a wonderful time."
She also reminisced about co-hosting Little Rock Today with the late Bud Campbell on KARK-TV, and her time as musical director of the former media gridiron show, The Farkleberry Follies.
"I can't tell you how much fun this has been for me today," she said.
Fowler also made a name for herself through such efforts as her work with the Miss Arkansas Pageant as well as with The Gridiron, produced by the Arkansas Bar Association.
High Profile on 09/14/2014