"My Dear", the suffering wife of Roland, was never shown on the show, and remained unseen, gurgling and chattering in a coffin-like box in Roland's dungeon, until Jean Ziegler as "My Dear" hosted the show on 18, 19 & 25 April 1958; whilst John Zacherle was stood down.
During a dispute with WCAU-TV, the station's management removed Zacherle's iconic character from the program for the 18 & 19 April 1958 broadcasts. They replaced Roland by having "My Dear", now played by Jean Ziegler, a physical character* and the new host of the show. The act reversed the roles-it was now an unseen Zacherle in the box being tormented by his wife. Newspapers attributed the dispute to either one of financial compensation or over increased daytime assignments. It was neither. The station's management was upset at Zacherle for making the hit record "Dinner with Drac." Rather than perceiving it as increasing the value of their star, they regarded it as a threat. Their mistreatment of John Zacherle over the recording and his subsequent appearance on Dick Clark's Bandstand would be added to the list of slights the actor suffered at the hands of WCAU-TV and lead to his relocation to New York City. Philadelphia was still ground zero for Roland mania. "My Dear's" performance did not go over well at all with his fans who showed up at WCAU-TV on Saturday, 19 April to protest Roland's absence. The station also received menacing telephone calls; teenagers threatened to stone the station, resulting in WCAU-TV requesting police protection for two days. There were no incidents.
On Friday, 25 April, My Dear welcomed Roland back to the dungeon and then reclaimed the confines of her box forevermore. If the newspaper accounts are correct.
On Friday, 25 April, My Dear welcomed Roland back to the dungeon and then reclaimed the confines of her box forevermore. If the newspaper accounts are correct.
Other than Ms. Ziegler's brief run, "My Dear" was an unseen male crew member inside the box-the most one might see of "My Dear's" anatomy was a hand and arm.