In the show, a cast of characters led by Sheriff Don (played by Don MacAllister)[7] would teach children manners, values and Biblical history.[1] It was targeted at children 4 to 13 years of age.[1]Joy Junction encouraged children to write in weekly to receive Bible lessons and games.[8]
Since the show stopped airing reruns, almost all Joy Junction episodes are considered lost media today.[9]
Cast
Don MacAllister as Sheriff Don
Forrest Padley as Professor Klodhopper
David Brantley as Whittler Dan
Ronald William Brown as Ron and Marty
Controversy
The show became controversial and was quickly pulled from broadcast in the early 2010s after it was discovered that a prominent cast member, Ronald William Brown, possessed child pornography and photographs of dead children, and had expressed a desire to rape and cannibalize young boys.[10][11]
Brown's character on the show was a ventriloquist with a dummy named Marty.[12] The pair taught children lessons about right and wrong, including about the supposed dangers of "dirty pictures" and "evil thoughts".[12] In doing so, Brown often interacted with children on set.[12]
Brown first drew police attention in 1998, when boys' underwear was found in his possession.[13] However, he was let go after claiming they were for his puppet.[13][14] In 2012, Brown was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography and conspiracy to kidnap a child after police discovered messages on a dark web chatroom detailing this.[10][15] Brown died on August 5, 2020, aged 65, due to a motor neuron disease.[16]
