As host of the city's first daily local program, "What's Cooking?," Barbara Angell opened the door for all the shows that would follow. Part cooking show, part talk show, Barbara tested recipes, gave household hints and, later in the series, played hostess to some of the city's - and the country's - biggest celebrities.

Barbara Angell, star of KPTV's "What's Cooking at Home" show, was the victim of a St. Patrick's day prank, when George Liberace, guest on her show, slipped a pair of overalls in the chowder.

Comely Barbara, who has had the homemaking program on Channel 27 since the station's inception, loves her work and is quick to say so.  Recently, the program was reformatted to include interviews with visiting celebrities and local people of interest.  Barbara, who admits she's a real "ham", handles the busy half hour of cooking and interviews in a leisurely and natural fashion that makes the viewer feel as if she is right in her own home.

Equally at ease with celebrities like George Liberace and Miss America or child models and pet show winners, Barbara ran into a guest the other day that would challenge the courage of the bravest of men. The guest was a very reluctant African cheetah and the surprise performance of a "domesticated" cheetah had KPTV, Portland, staffers hiding behind closed doors at intervals over a two-hour period Thursday, March 8.

The cat, who belongs to Dr. Don Nickelsen of the Portland General Hospital, was slated as guest star on Barbara Angell's "What's Cooking at Home" show at 2:00 that afternoon.  He did his guest stint, all right, but under great duress, lying on the floor just inside the door of Studio B.

It seems that "Chui" doesn't like to be rushed.  When it came time for Chui to get out of the Nickelsen station wagon for the appearance, he decided he would rather not be a TV star and let the doctor know it by loud growls and hisses while straining against his leash all the way to the front door and up the stairs to the station's lobby.  At the first growl inside the door, the group waiting to welcome Chui dwindled in size.  Everyone just happened to think of something he had to do at his desk right at that very moment.

Once in the lobby, Chui found a nice comfortable davenport and claimed it for his very own.

The battle between man and domesticated beast was renewed when the word came that Chui was "on."  Growling and fighting his leash like the brave and determinedly reluctant cat that he was, Chui was dragged by the doctor to Studio B for his feline personal appearance.  Being "on camera" didn't bother that cool cat, he just plopped down and played "dead cheetah" for the viewing public---"nutz to 'em" was his attitude.

Barbara Angell, as brave a hostess as Chui is a brave cat, stood her ground and tried to interview him.  He was not as responsive as most guests.  Perhaps because he didn't quite make it to the living room to be entertained and interviewed properly.  At any rate, the doctor politely answered the questions of Miss Angell for his silent pet and told some of the animal's history.  Chui has lived with the doctor and his family for eight years and has been a wonderful house pet.  Sweet and docile with children and other pets, it just took the rush of getting to a TV appearance to bring out the temperamental star in Chui.

Article in TV Radio Prevue, March 18, 1956.