Classic Television: "Scripture Sketches"

Scripture Sketches
TV drawing series with cartoonist Lois J. Fisher
Broadcast: June 20, 1954 - October 23, 1955 (as "Scripture Sketches"); October 30, 1955 to January 9, 1956 (as "Krayon Kronicles"). KRON-TV Channel 4, San Francisco, California, USA
Sundays at various times, originally at 1:30pm, later at 11:45am.

Lois J. Fisher drawing a Bible scene for "Scripture Sketches". From the Oakland Tribune Sunday, September 4, 1955.

For several years I have researched pioneering cartoonist, and television hostess/producer Lois Jeanette Fisher (c. 1904 - 1988). Miss Fisher combined her talents for the camera and cartooning in at least 4 television programs all broadcast before 1955. She did experimental broadcasts in Chicago in 1946 where children were asked to trace drawings on their television screens, making her one of the first people make television interactive. This was followed in 1949 by a live children's drawing program for WPIX in New York called "Trace-A-Pix" and another Chicago children's series "Lois and Looie" from 1950 - 1951. She was well known as the author and illustrator of the 1947 children's book "You and the United Nations".

At some point Ms. Fisher moved to the San Francisco area to appear on "Scripture Sketches" for KRON-TV, Channel 4. In the first episode she retold the story of "Noah and the Ark". The program was praised in a September 4, 1955 article from an issue of the Oakland Tribune newspaper.

Bible Picture Stories (cover) by Lois J. Fisher. (1955) published by Children's Press, Chicago.

According to this article, Miss Fisher's interest in Bible drawings began while she was a little girl as she drew Bible stories during the sermons and hymns.

In response to "Scripture Sketches" parents and children began requesting drawings from Miss Fisher for home study. She did mail artwork to audiences while supplies lasted. This led to the development of a book "Bible Picture Stories" published by the Children's Press of Chicago. While the program was only seen the California - Nevada viewing area, Lois J. Fisher was able to reach and teach a larger audience with her book. This book also serves as a great record of her drawing style and the content of her Bible program. The Oakland Tribune article suggests that this book was to be the first in the series, but only one was published.

Beginning in the fall of 1955 the series continued as "Krayon Kronicles" but it is not known how and if the series content changed.

If anyone reading this article owns one of Lois J. Fisher's Bible drawings that was given away during the program's run, or has fond memories of this series, I would love the hear from you.

- James R. Stewart Jr.