Knotts Ghost Town Talent - (Knott's Berry Farm) - Stuntmen, Actors, Dancers, Singers and Musicians

"WHITTLES", THE OLD MINER CHARACTER

Written by the very first Whittles (1973-74), Diana (Kirchen) Kelly

"Whittles" was the cute, friendly little miner character who appeared as a trademark for Knott’s newspaper ads and on ride tickets and souvenirs from the 1960’s until the mid 1970’s. This character was created in 1960 by a young Laguna Beach artist, Pete Winter. First called “The Old Timer” he was re-named "Whittles" in 1973 when he first appeared as a live costumed character greeting children in Ghost Town.

The first costumed characters to appear at Knott’s Berry Farm were the H.R. Pufnstuf characters, created by Sid & Marty Kroft. While the H.R. Pufnstuf Show ran in the John Wayne Theater in the afternoons from June to December 1972, the costumed characters appeared outside after each show to greet children. To be clear – the actors who performed in the stage show did not appear outside with the children! A separate group of Entertainment employees put on the Pufnstuf costumes, including H.R. Pufnstuf, Dr. Blinky, Ludicrous Lion, Kling and Klang.

After the H.R. Pufnstuf show finished its run, two of those Entertainment employees were called back to Knott’s in April 1973 to wear the Whittles costume. Because Whittles was a small character, the person inside the costume was always a female.

In the mornings when Knott’s first opened, Whittles would stand near the entrance gate and greet children, shaking hands, posing for photos, and giving autographs. Later in the day, when fewer people were coming in the gate, Whittles would walk around Ghost Town and interact with families -- and sometimes have some fun with the gunfighters, too.

Whittles was also involved in a number of marketing and promotional activities in 1973-74, appearing in parades, a Rams Game halftime show, as President of the Hoffy Hot Dog “Startimers” Club, and as the face of the Knott’s Prospector’s club.

The Whittles character disappeared from Knott’s Berry Farm in 1975, around the time of the opening of the "Roaring 20’s" area of Knott’s. Three new costumed characters from the "Beary Tales" ride were introduced in Summer 1975: "Flapper Bear-y", "Boysen Bear-y" and “Girlsen Bear-y.” These characters were discontinued sometime before the Bear-y Tales ride became "Kingdom of the Dinosaurs" (1986 - 2004). When Camp Snoopy opened in 1983, Snoopy and other “Peanuts” characters became the new costumed characters at Knott’s, as they continue today (2009).

Sources: The Knotty Post, Spring 1973. The Nugget, Number 22, July 18, 1975.