The Beginning of Canadian Television
September 8, 1952 was when CBLT – CBC Ontario’s flagship English Television service – first aired and accidentally launched with an upside-down CBC logo. The Canadian Television Network (CTV) began operating in October 1961 and in the same year CHCH-TV in Hamilton became the first independent station.
The legacy of Toronto as a hub for children’s television started long before the launch of TVOntario (TVO). First known as the Ontario Educational Communications Authority (OECA), TVO launched in 1970. It produced children’s educational programming which aired on commercial television stations. This network was conceived by then Education Minister and future Progressive Conservative Premier Bill Davis.
TVO reported to the Ontario legislature through the Ministry of Education. This alignment ensured that children’s television incorporated curriculum for all stages of development. Even children’s series from other countries – such as the British science-fiction series Doctor Who – required newly filmed segments that supported the provincial curriculum.
Toronto in the 1950s
Toronto was recognized as the fastest-growing city on the continent, but it was still a quiet town. For many this was a period of economic stability and prosperity. Immigration levels increased as Europeans – primarily Italian, Portuguese, Polish, and British – were drawn to the city. The annual number of births in Canada rose as did life expectancy.
Toronto saw the construction of the country’s first subway and an expanding suburban landscape. In 1952, the Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC) launched Canada’s first two stations, and only 146,000 Canadians owned televisions.
The genre of “children’s television” was somewhat of an afterthought. Gifted writers, producers, and performers primarily worked in theatre, radio, and film, so the sector drew from a small talent pool that was young and less experienced, but eager to experiment.
The Rainsberry Effect
During this time, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) increased their budgets for children’s programming. They enlisted Dr. Fred Rainsberry – a former teacher and thought leader from Enniskillen, Ontario – to inject education and emotion into programs. Rainsberry had written extensively about the growing medium of television and had progressive ideas on how to best deploy its strengths for young viewers.
While many Canadians feared that television would divert children’s attention away from educational subjects, Rainsberry’s thesis found that television created the opportunity for learning during out-of-school hours.
Rainsberry and his team scouted for promising talent across North America. They soon assembled a group of entertainers with unique talents to create new content.
The new recruits included Bob Homme (The Friendly Giant) from Wisconsin, Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers) and Ernie Coombs (Mr. Dressup) from Pittsburgh, and Elwy Yost (Passport to Adventure) from Vancouver.
The Friendly Giant
September 30, 1958 saw the premiere of the CBC’s The Friendly Giant, starring Bob Homme and Rod Coneybeare who played a giant named Friendly, a puppet giraffe named Jerome, and a puppet rooster named Rusty. These characters became known for swapping gentle stories and anecdotes in the giant’s castle.
The program started in 1954 on WHA-TV – a local station in Madison, Wisconsin – before it was purchased to air in Canada by Dr. Fred Rainsberry, the CBC’s enterprising head of the children’s television department.
The Kidnapping of Chichimus
Uncle Chichimus was a hand puppet created by John Conway. The character first appeared on Let’s See, a family-oriented show. It was the first time a puppeteer did not use a puppet stage on TV – before Sesame Street creator Jim Henson’s widely known stage-free work.
The puppet’s fame proved fateful. In 1954, Uncle Chichimus and his congenial friend Hollyhock were stolen from the backseat of Conway’s car. The headline of The Toronto Daily Star (now The Toronto Star) read “Uncle Chichimus, Hollyhock kidnapped!”
After the kidnapping, actor Larry Mann took the puppets’ airtime to appear as different characters, offering up clues to the mystery of the puppets’ disappearance. A reward of almost $4000 in today’s currency was offered for their safe return.
Not long after creating new versions of the puppets, their show was cancelled. Sadly, the original puppets were never found and the crime never solved.