Ernest Christopher Memos (October 28, 1932 – July 14, 2019) was an American television broadcaster known by his stage name Ernie Mims.
[1] Mims grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire and served as a trumpet player in the United States Air Force Band.
His first broadcasting job was at WQUB radio in Galesburg, Illinois, and he adopted his stage name there.
His first cartoon show aired on Sundays, and he played Uncle Ernie, the station's janitor.
[2] The show featured cartoons intercut with segments on his riverboat the Dixie Belle, where Cap'n Ernie would chat with his puppet friend Sidney (voiced and animated by Craig Frogley), would give away prizes from his treasure chest, or interact with the children in the audience.