1950s
A Is For Aardvark
A half-hour summer series, created, produced and hosted by Lister Sinclair. In the first show, Sinclair chose the letter "A" and discussed a number of subjects beginning with that letter. James Bannerman took Sinclair's place for the final show of the series, on "N". A radio series, which ran the full 26 weeks, from "A" to "Z", succeeded the television ...
About Canada
About Canada was a CBC series of National Film Board productions. The NFB productions varied in length from 3 minutes to half an hour. One to three films were seen in each program.
Ad and Lib
Joe Austin as Ad and Larry Mann as Lib starred in this 15-minute weekday comedy satire on the CBC. It was the story of two country people who ran a general store which didn't do too well because it is too near the large city. The actors improvised the dialogue in stories that aimed to be "gentle satire and quizzical commentary," and which generally invo ...
Adventures of Chich, The
After a three year absence, puppets Uncle Chichimus and his housekeeper/ secretary Hollyhock, returned to television in this 15-minute, 26 episode weekly broadcast. Each program featured a human companion, chosen from Larry Mann, Helene Winston, and Tom Kneebone. The Adventures of Chich made fun of fairy tales.
After Hours
Short rehearsal time helped preserve a sense of spontaneity in this variety show, which included films of well-known dance bands and live comedy sketches. Writers: Frank Peppiatt and John Aylesworth
Albert's Place
Albert was a puppet and his place was an attic filled with trunks, old books, paints, and other paraphernalia in this program of songs and stories for children. Albert's human friends included a handyman played by Robert Clothier, folksinger John Chappell, and storyteller Nonie Stewart. Writer: Kitty Marcuse Producer: Len Lauk
Alibi Room
CBHT's second musical series, the Alibi Room, had a more formal set and larger band than the earlier Alf Coward Show.
The musicians in the series included Baz Russell, Elmer MacDonald, Art Irwin, Lloyd Peach, Arne Benson, Eddie Richards, and Joe Skowronski. In the fall of 1955 a singing host, Al Foster was added to the lineup.
Producers: Robert Al ...
Along the Tower Trail
The first "live" program across the 1,680 miles of microwave linking Winnipeg to Eastern Canada aired Sept 30, 1956. It included events from Winnipeg, St. Boniface, Ottawa, Toronto, the Montreal area, and Quebec City. Winnipeg: Grain Handling in the C.P.B. freight yards. St. Boniface: St. Boniface Basilica and interviews with Father Deschambault, of ...
Anthology
Anthology was a CBC series of half-hour films, mostly documentaries, all produced in Vancouver. Some of the films had been previously aired on CBC.
Army Show
Also known as Canadians in Khaki, Army Show was a series of fifteen-minute programs from 1955 and featured John Fisher.
Around Town
Around Town was an unrehearsed half-hour in Winnipeg with Jack Wells as emcee. The series included interviews and Latin American music by Monty Levine and His Tired Two. Other regulars on the series were Winnipeg television personalities Warren Davis, Bob Willson, Ed Russenholt and Marsh Phimister. Ted Benoit produced the series.
Art in Action
Professor George Swinton of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Art, presented a series of programs to explain the basic principles of design, the artist's method of creating interest and excitement with his paint brush, and the development of art over the centuries. He had a special interest in landscape painting, and gave his views on such subjects ...
Astronomy Today
Astronomy Today was a lecture series, written and delivered by Prof. F.A. Kaempffer, physicist from the University of British Columbia. Kaempffer discussed present-day knowledge of the universe in the light of past theories, and illustrated his talks with drawings and sketches and slides from the Dominion Astro-Physical Observatory in Victoria. Prod ...
At Home with John Newmark
The CBC constructed a replica of John Newmark's living room in the Montreal studios for this series of chamber music performed by the German-born pianist, already well known in Canada for his CBC radio recitals. The premise derived from Newmark's European background, which involved group performances in the home. The apartment set included Newmark's pai ...
At the Ex
At the Ex was a series of actuality reports from the mobile unit at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.
Aubrey and Gus
Aubrey and Gus was a fifteen-minute children's show. Aubrey was a puppet raccoon who spoke with a boy's voice. As a consequence, his raccoon family could not understand him. Gus, a boy, befriends Aubrey and together they search for a boy with a raccoon's voice so they can make a switch. Producer: Don Wilson Writer: Dick Thomas Puppet Creator: Georg ...
Background
Background tried to outline a topic in the news and discuss the events leading to the current situation. Most programs concerned immediate issues. Some involved more advance planning, such as segments on international business mergers, atomic fallout, and political situations in Poland, Bulgaria, and Portugal. The host and narrator for the series was Ri ...
Ballad Singer, The
A program of folk songs for young people, performed by Greg Curtis. The short-lived, fifteen-minute broadcast was produced by Peggy Nairn for the CBC
Barney's Gang
Barney's Gang was a half-hour children's TV show from Vancouver which included filmed visits by a small group of youngsters to places of interest in and around Vancouver — a riding academy, the airport, a tugboat with a deep-sea diver, etc. From time to time west-coast Indian legends were told, with drawings to illustrate them, and there was also visits ...
Barris Beat, The
A new TV variety program called The Barris Beat replaced Cross-Canada Hit Parade early in July 1956, for the summer months. The show was named after its master of ceremonies Alex Barris, Toronto newspaper columnist. A number or Canadian entertainers, including Dave Broadfoot, Doug Romaine, Jack Duffy and Sammy Sales, appeared on the show. But the pro ...