The following is from the January 25, 2008 edition of “The Courier Post“:
By CHUCK DARROW
Courier-Post Staff
WATERFORD Sally Starr’s birthday wish didn’t come true.
The legendary children’s television personality didn’t want a fuss made over her 85th birthday. But her friends and fans wouldn’t hear of such nonsense.
Which is why some of Starr’s close friends and admirers gathered Thursday night at Fairchilds restaurant to honor her on the eve of her big day.
“I didn’t want to (celebrate) early on,” insisted the longtime South Jersey resident as she sat at a table containing the equipment she’d use for her weekly Thursday night broadcast on Vineland’s WVLT-FM (92.1). “But then my friends started calling me. They said, “We’re going to your bash, and we want to make sure you’re going to be there.’ ”
Decked out in a black, rhinestone-studded cowgirl outfit and matching hat, the local broadcasting icon, whose “Popeye Theater” program aired daily from 1950 to 1972 on WFIL-TV, Channel 6 (now WPVI), expressed her gratitude toward those who helped her mark the occasion — and those who helped make her one of the most beloved personalities in the Delaware Valley.
Her fans’ support through the decades “gives me a big goose bump, and the courage to go on,” she said. “My mother came to visit me a couple of years before she died. She said, “Sally, the one thing you don’t do is don’t downplay your fans. They are your lifeblood.’
“My baby boomers, God love ‘em. They’re really something special.”
The feeling was certainly mutual during Thursday night’s festivities, which featured a large cake adorned with three photos of Starr from her 1950s and ’60s heyday. Among those attending the party was local entertainer Billy Harner, who has known Starr for many years.
“She always has a glow about her, and she has such a good heart. Sally is just a sweet lady,” said the Pine Hill resident.
Rose Jones, a cookie and candy saleswoman from Hammonton, spoke of the memories seeing Starr evoked, and lamented society is poorer without her presence on television.
“There’s too much violence and rudeness and (bad) language now,” she said. “Her shows were clean and wholesome, and the family could watch them together.”
Sicklerville’s Mary Gilbert, 68, has known Starr for 56 years, and for decades has been the TV cowgirl’s closest friend. Which means she has seen facets of Starr’s personality to which few others have been privy.
“She’s cantankerous,” Gilbert admitted. “But she’ll give you the shirt off her back. She took care of me plenty of times.”
In return for the affection shown her by her friends and fans, Starr said she will “ask the Lord to give them strength to face whatever He has in store for them.
“That’s what’s kept me going.”
Reach Chuck Darrow at (856) 486-2442 or cdarrow@gannett.com
I remember Sally Starr when I was growing up and I still remember her just as much. She seems like a gentle,loving and caring person, but as frisky as they come,(besides me). I have always compared her and I alike, in a sort of way. I am from Garland,Texas. Texas women are frisky,can be down-right mischievious and being able to tell a person just like it is and if they do not like tough poo-poo. We do not claim to be bad, we are just “semi-red-necks”. We do not like to fight or argue, but when it come’s down to it, we say and do what we believe in and that’s that! Anyway,Sally has always been and always will be legend in my time. She is one “real” cowgirl! I know this is late, but I hope her birthday was a good one and she will have many more to come! (In age,I am not that far behind her) I just ran across WVLT about a month ago. It is the greatest radio station on the entire radio network!! Please keep up the good work! I have been trying to get the station on my computer to listen to sometimes, with no luck, Anyway,my hubby and I have got WVLT on our car radio’s, a radio in the garage and 3 radio’s in the house, all on WVLT! Give Sally Starr a great big “granny” hug for me!