1980s
All-Night Show, The
CFMT-TV's The All-Night Show was North America's first regular late-night marathon, running live nightly from after sign-off until 6:00 AM. In-studio host Chas Lawther, as Chuck the security guard, introduced an all-night viewing consisting of comedy skits, direct from Yuk Yuk's Komedy Kabaret, followed by some old favourite series such as "Twilight Zon ...
Amateur Naturalist, The
The Amateur Naturalist featured the famed naturalist Gerald Durrell. The series featured unusual dimensions from the world of nature filmed on location around the world. Each episode included a field trip, showing what can be discovered in remote corners of the world, or in the viewer's own environment. Through the most advanced techniques of time-lapse ...
Anna Bolena
The Canadian Opera Company's production of Donizetti's opera, based on the final days of Anne Boleyn's marriage to Henry VIII. Despite her 30-year career, this was soprano Joan Sutherland's first performance in the title role of Anna, the Queen who was unaware of her husband's scheme to be rid of her. The opera began on a somber note with Anna awaiting ...
Anne of Green Gables
At the turn of the century on Prince Edward Island, Matthew Cuthbert and his sister Marilla decide to take on an orphan boy as help for their farm. But they get an unexpected jolt when they're mistakenly sent a girl instead: Anne Shirley. Anne's a dreamer with an unusual point of view, far removed from Marilla's pragmatic ways, and it's only on trial th ...
Archie and His Friends
Archie and His Friends, produced by CKY-TV Winnipeg, was an on-going half-hour series for pre-school children in which ventriloquist Uncle Bob and puppet Archie Wood entertained children with crafts, animals and birthday telephone calls. Guests of interest to children were introduced frequently. Other puppet characters on the show included Grandpa Wood, ...
Ark on the Move
Conservationist Gerald Durrell's Ark on the Move, was a CBC series focusing on the latest chapter in his lifelong effort to save animals threatened with extinction. Durrell had set up a zoo in Jersey, one of England's Channel Islands, and his breeding of rare animals there was the subject of a 1975 series, The Stationary Ark. In this 13-part series, Dur ...
Artscape
When two children, Craig and Tracy, are touring an art gallery with the aide of a handheld speaker guide, the guide comes to life and takes them to another world called Artscape to teach them about the basics of art in more detail. Soon, the kids and the guide are separated and the kids must explore their world and people in it to find their way home, a ...
Astroboy
Doctor Boyton, a brillant professor has been trying to create a new type of robot; A robot with a soul, a robot capable of human emotions. When his son runs away from home and is tragically killed in a car accident. Doctor Boyton, driven mad by his grief, goes on to secretly complete his robot with a soul in the likeness of his son.
This robot, is As ...
Babar
Based on the famous books by Laurent de Brunhoff, this is the animated story of Babar, a young elephant who undergoes many challenges and adventures. But Babar always finds the strength to rise above difficulty and search out every cloud's silver lining. Babar is crowned king of the elephants, plans and builds Celesteville, and becomes a father himself. ...
Babar and Father Christmas
Babar and Father Christmas is a fully animated half-hour special produced by Atkinson Film Arts and MTR Ottawa Productions Ltd. in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The program was scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on December 15, 1986 as family viewing. The story, Jean de Brunhoff's last book, published in 1940, is narrated by his son Lauren ...
Backstretch
The lively, colorful and always dramatic world of small-town harness racing came to life in a CBC series called Backstretch. Set in and around the harness racing track in a rural Ontario town, the series charted the ups and downs in the lives of a vivid collection of characters who were affected by the excitement, drama and disappointment of the racing ...
Ballooner Landing
Created and written by Lee and Sandy Paley, Ballooner Landing is the farm home the couple shares with their lovable dog, 'Do Good', a shy pink parrot 'Prudence', and the anything-but-shy 'Tex Critter' the flea... plus all the little critters in 'Critter Corral'. In every episode, special guests arrive in a colourful hot air balloon for a half hour of mu ...
Baloney!
Baloney was a primetime game show in which three guest comics told three outrageous stories based on a single theme, only one of which was true. Audience members voted for the story they thought was true, sharing in the jackpot if they were correct. 13 episodes were aired.
Beachcombers, The
If there ever was a show that continues to live on in the hearts and minds of people almost four decades after it was first broadcast, it is The Beachcombers. Gibsons, British Columbia was the setting for the series' 19 year run beginning October 1, 1972 and ending December 12, 1990.
Nick Adonidas was a law abiding and hardworking Greek bachelor. He ...
Beetlejuice
Lydia loves everything spooky and morbid, causing her parents, friends and classmates to wonder about her. So, to escape from blonde snobs and homework, she calls on her best friend: the Ghost with the Most, Beetlejuice. The rude prankster takes his good-hearted mortal companion on many adventures in his home the Netherworld.
Best Years, The
CBC TV's The Best Years had a weighty mission: in the words of its producers, it wanted to become the "pre-eminent voice on senior's issues across Canada". The show was primarily a TV news magazine, but it took the perspective of the country's older citizens. At the same time, it attempted to appeal to other sectors of the population as well.
Beyond Reason
Beyond Reason was a psychic panel show from Winnipeg. Each week a panel of an astrologer, palmist and clairvoyant were asked to determine the identity of two guests. Clues were the guests' exact date and place of birth, palm print and a personal object. A separate section of the program, called the "Psychic Cyclopedia," showed short commentaries on s ...
Big City Comedy
"Big City Comedy" didn't mean that no one in Medicine Hat could watch this show- it was just a way of saying that this series was devoted to hip, fast-moving comedy. Each week, the six resident zanies had a celebrity guest— and such loony characters as Johnny Toronto, roving interviewer; the Pep Girl, who'd cheer you up whether you like it or not; and U ...
Big Top Talent
Big Top Talent was an often unintentionally hilarious, low-budget children's talent show. "Big Top Talent" featured Oopsy T. Clown, perhaps the creepiest children's show host in history, and Billy Barty as the little mailman. Local children would sing, dance, juggle, etc, to impress Bonkers and their TV audience ... and everybody always won a balloon. ...
Bits and Bytes
In this series, computer neophyte, Billy Van, is guided by host, Luba Goy, to personal computers. He learns about basic principles of computers through demonstrations of various hardware and software, interviews of computer professionals and animated sequences explaining the more abstract concepts.
After Billy Van's original introduction to computers ...