Kids Are People Too

-

Bob tried to continue the magic of Wonderama when he signed on to host ABC TV's Sunday morning series Kids Are People Too in 1978 (pictured above). The format was very similar to Wonderama in terms of celebrity guests and musical performers, but Bob's trademark songs and games were not part of the network's vision. Kids Are People Too was aimed more at teens (not children) and Bob's differences with the series' producers and network execs eventually led to Bob's departure from the show in November 1978 and he was replaced by two younger hosts.

In later years, Bob was honored by The Society of American Magicians, taught magic at adult classes at Stuyvesant High School, and reached a new generation of children through his educational video, ''Bob McAllister's Amazing Magic".

Always a child at heart, Bob made the rounds of Manhattan magic supply shops on roller skates. He even ran his own rink, “The People Palace”. On July 21, 1998, Bob passed away at the age of 63.

Looking back, Wonderama was truly an amazing show, finding its way into the lives of many people despite being seen, for the most part, only on local New York television. It was an important show for kids, because it made implicit the idea that "kids were people too". Like Art Linkletter before him, Bob was great with kids and he was the next best thing to Santa Claus.