Everybody's favorite Uncle, Al Lewis, would have loved the send-off he received Saturday during a memorial service at St. Mary Church in Hillsboro.
It was total showmanship. It was the final episode of the "Uncle Al Show," which ran for 35 years on WCPO-TV.
Lewis died February 28 at the age of 84.
Stories were told. The congregation sang the "Hokey Pokey." Rev. Mike Paraniuk even divided to service in segments sponsored by the products that Uncle Al used to advertise on his show; Kahn's Hot Dogs, Mama's Cookies, Barq's plus Pat & Joe.
As people filed into the tiny church, Lewis family members gathered in the balcony to sing, "You Raise Me Up." Then, one by one, his grandchildren walked down the aisle and placed mementos of their grandfather at the front of the church as the strains of "My Favorite Things" filtered through the building. There was his famous straw hat that he wore on television, his banjo and guitar he used on the show, and finally a giant Hershey chocolate bar.
"Welcome to Uncle Al's Church. We celebrate his life today," Rev. Paraniuk said as he began the service. "You may see and hear things today that you've never seen in church before," he added.
He was right.
Rev. Paraniuk quipped that when Uncle Al got to heaven he began to teach the angels the "Hokey Pokey." Then, he asked the audience to sing the song with him. They joined in, clapped and even added a special verse, "You put your left wing in, you put your left wing out," and so on.
Al Lewis was a family man. He was married to Wanda, "Captain Windy" on the "Uncle Al Show," for 59 years. They raised four daughters and have 13 grandchildren.
"Family was number one with Al," Rev. Paraniuk continued. "Wanda was number one in his heart, and he was number one in the heart of God."
At that point, Rev. Paraniuk got the audience smiling by saying, "This portion of the service brought to you by Mama's Cookies." He then proceeded to sing the jingle. It was the same for Barq's Root Beer and Cream Soda, cans of which he pulled out from under the lectern.
"Stay tuned," he went on to say and produced a Channel 9 logo that was used on the station in 1955.
Longtime friend Ray Carr donned a straw hat and played his own accordion in leading the congregation in "Amazing Grace."
"This is the best of times and the worst of times," he said.
Then came more commercials for Kahn's and Pat & Joe's Furniture Store.
Berney Paetzel stepped to the microphone, and recalled the times he visited the Lewis farm in Hillsboro, and marveled at the perfect family he sad.
"Al was a showman and he loved to entertain," Paetzel said. "He never had a bad day in his life."
Another commercial followed , this one for Al Naish Moving.
"Al Naish can get you to heaven comfortably," Rev. Paraniuk intoned. "And, all his vans are fireproof."
Lewis' friend of 60 years, Len Goorian, was the next speaker to step to the podium.
"He was a force," Goorian said of his long-time friend. "You didn't get between Al and whatever he wanted to do."
Goorian recalled producing the "Paul Dixon Show" and needing some scenery produced. He went to Lewis, who was WCPO Art Director as well, and told him what he wanted. As Goorian talked, Lewis sketched away. The next morning, Al and Wanda were painting the artwork on nine foot tall canvas before they did the "Uncle Al Show."
It was the early days of television and Lewis would work from 8:00 a.m. in the morning until he finished the "Club Til Midnight" show, go home, then get up and do it all over again.
"There's just nobody around like that anymore," Goorian said.
Lewis came to life as a recording of his accordion music was played at the church. Songs included "Down By The Ohio," "Lady of Spain" and "Meet Me In St. Louis."
The service ended with "Uncle Al" reciting the prayer for the children used to end every show.
The final song, "It's A Small World," sent the audience into standing ovation for this television icon who was on the air from 1950 trough 1985 and featured an estimated 410,000 children in over 15,000 broadcasts.
"The man, the legend, the showman ...Uncle Al," Rev. Paraniuk concluded.
After the service Wanda Lewis spoke briefly with reporters, thanking people for their support and prayers.
