Who are Ponch and Jon?
Between 1977 and 1983, the television series CHiPs aired on NBC. The show featured two CHP motor officers, Frank “Ponch” Poncherello (Erik Estrada), and Jon Baker (Larry Wilcox). Ponch and Jon gained worldwide recognition, representing the CHP as “typical” officers. The series followed the exploits of the two officers and was often filmed on new, yet unopened, sections of Los Angeles freeways for added realism.
This display highlights some of the many toys, stickers, and memorabilia from the series, including a signed motorcycle gas tank, anniversary badges and shoulder patches, and publicity photos from the series. The square frame in the lower back contains four photos from the 1955 to 1959 TV series “Highway Patrol” that starred Brodrick Crawford. The belt buckle shown contains a diamond for each show where Frank Runyon, an active CHP officer at the time, served as a consultant. There is also a hat from the 1993 through 1999 TV series, Real Stories of the Highway Patrol.
