Capn’ Bill Killebrew touched the hearts of many children and adults through his caricature drawings and his friendly personality.
William Thomas “Cap’n Bill” Killebrew was born in 1911 in Dresden, Tennessee. A self-made artist, Bill began his artistic career drawing advertisement for the local high school basketball team, using colored chalk on the town’s sidewalks. In addition, he drew some cartoons for Dresden’s newspaper.
In the 1940s, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee. His first job was a draftsman for Memphis Light, Gas and Water. In 1949, Bill was hired and worked as an artist for nearly ten years on a TV show on WMC-TV Channel 5 called “Spinning Images.” During this time period, Bill became advertising manager for the Summer Avenue Hart’s Bakery. He was the host for several children’s shows sponsored by Hart’s Bakery on WMC-TV Channel 5 and then, WHBQ-TV Channel 13. The children’s shows were “Hartoon Time,” “Bill and Charlie’s Diner,” “Captain Bill’s Cliff Hanger Club,” “Adventure Time,” and “Cap’n Bill.” As host, he drew caricatures of the children and brought his pet chimpanzee “Scatter,” as an added attraction. When his television career ended, he drew a newspaper comic strip called “Orbie Orbit.”
On January 14, 1987, Cap’n Bill Killebrew passed away in Memphis, Tennessee and was buried in Dresden, Tennessee.
Information gathered from Memphis Magazine October 2013 and December 4, 2020
William Thomas “Cap’n Bill” Killebrew was born in 1911 in Dresden, Tennessee. A self-made artist, Bill began his artistic career drawing advertisement for the local high school basketball team, using colored chalk on the town’s sidewalks. In addition, he drew some cartoons for Dresden’s newspaper.
In the 1940s, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee. His first job was a draftsman for Memphis Light, Gas and Water. In 1949, Bill was hired and worked as an artist for nearly ten years on a TV show on WMC-TV Channel 5 called “Spinning Images.” During this time period, Bill became advertising manager for the Summer Avenue Hart’s Bakery. He was the host for several children’s shows sponsored by Hart’s Bakery on WMC-TV Channel 5 and then, WHBQ-TV Channel 13. The children’s shows were “Hartoon Time,” “Bill and Charlie’s Diner,” “Captain Bill’s Cliff Hanger Club,” “Adventure Time,” and “Cap’n Bill.” As host, he drew caricatures of the children and brought his pet chimpanzee “Scatter,” as an added attraction. When his television career ended, he drew a newspaper comic strip called “Orbie Orbit.”
On January 14, 1987, Cap’n Bill Killebrew passed away in Memphis, Tennessee and was buried in Dresden, Tennessee.
Information gathered from Memphis Magazine October 2013 and December 4, 2020
Capn’ Bill Killebrew touched the hearts of many children and adults through his caricature drawings and his friendly personality.
William Thomas “Cap’n Bill” Killebrew was born in 1911 in Dresden, Tennessee. A self-made artist, Bill began his artistic career drawing advertisement for the local high school basketball team, using colored chalk on the town’s sidewalks. In addition, he drew some cartoons for Dresden’s newspaper.
In the 1940s, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee. His first job was a draftsman for Memphis Light, Gas and Water. In 1949, Bill was hired and worked as an artist for nearly ten years on a TV show on WMC-TV Channel 5 called “Spinning Images.” During this time period, Bill became advertising manager for the Summer Avenue Hart’s Bakery. He was the host for several children’s shows sponsored by Hart’s Bakery on WMC-TV Channel 5 and then, WHBQ-TV Channel 13. The children’s shows were “Hartoon Time,” “Bill and Charlie’s Diner,” “Captain Bill’s Cliff Hanger Club,” “Adventure Time,” and “Cap’n Bill.” As host, he drew caricatures of the children and brought his pet chimpanzee “Scatter,” as an added attraction. When his television career ended, he drew a newspaper comic strip called “Orbie Orbit.”
On January 14, 1987, Cap’n Bill Killebrew passed away in Memphis, Tennessee and was buried in Dresden, Tennessee.
Information gathered from Memphis Magazine October 2013 and December 4, 2020
William Thomas “Cap’n Bill” Killebrew was born in 1911 in Dresden, Tennessee. A self-made artist, Bill began his artistic career drawing advertisement for the local high school basketball team, using colored chalk on the town’s sidewalks. In addition, he drew some cartoons for Dresden’s newspaper.
In the 1940s, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee. His first job was a draftsman for Memphis Light, Gas and Water. In 1949, Bill was hired and worked as an artist for nearly ten years on a TV show on WMC-TV Channel 5 called “Spinning Images.” During this time period, Bill became advertising manager for the Summer Avenue Hart’s Bakery. He was the host for several children’s shows sponsored by Hart’s Bakery on WMC-TV Channel 5 and then, WHBQ-TV Channel 13. The children’s shows were “Hartoon Time,” “Bill and Charlie’s Diner,” “Captain Bill’s Cliff Hanger Club,” “Adventure Time,” and “Cap’n Bill.” As host, he drew caricatures of the children and brought his pet chimpanzee “Scatter,” as an added attraction. When his television career ended, he drew a newspaper comic strip called “Orbie Orbit.”
On January 14, 1987, Cap’n Bill Killebrew passed away in Memphis, Tennessee and was buried in Dresden, Tennessee.
Information gathered from Memphis Magazine October 2013 and December 4, 2020
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