Axel and the Malty Bird in about March 1955. For days, Axel and the viewing audience had been waiting to see what would hatch from the large spotted egg in the nest. Surprise -- the Malty Bird was a character created to promote Malt-O-Meal! Like Towser and Tallulah, the puppet was played by Don Stolz.

The tree in the foreground had just been added to the set. It would remain a part of the Tree House until the TV show ended in 1966.