Here are some e-mails I have been sent regarding this site and other TVOntario shows. These people share many of the same fond memories I have. Some recall shows I didn't watch. Some need help trying to remember show titles. Others offer more links. Have a read and feel free to send me an e-mail
Jan 5/10 from Steve:
The name "Sperling" came across my screen reminding
me of Louise Sperling McNamara, who was the host of "All About You",
a children's'
show produced at WGBH. On a whim, I entered the name in Google to see if I could
find any reference to her. I had not heard anything of her since
she did those programs so many decades ago and when I was just beginning my
television production career.
I was amazed to find you not only had information about
the program, you had a listing of titles. IRAs I read them, I flashed back over
the hours
in the studio when we had recorded them. As well as being a devoted teacher,
Louise was a beautiful woman and she had all of us young studio
types eating out of her hand. Many of the people who worked on that program
(directors, producers, cameramen, stage managers) went on to
rather distinguished careers in American television and I think they all remember
Louise.
(It's always nice to hear things like this! Thank you for the great words about her!)
Jan 6/10 from Tara:
Hi!! My name is Tara and I am trying desperately to figure out the name of this kids show my little sister watched in the 90's. She was born in 1990 so it was probably mid to late 90s when she watched it. I have no clue what station it was on, I am thinking TVO Kids or YTV. It was not a cartoon and the main character was a girl and she was maybe 12 and had a best friend who was a boy. She may have lived in her grandmother's house. Iknow the house she lived in was full of old looking stuff. I know there was something about themtravelling into another dimension or something and possibly something to do with a large mirror and some sort of bird (maybe a falcon). These are just pieces of information popping into my head. I know it was centered in an old house though. And it is possible that the main characters wrote for a newspaper or something. There was definately something about going into another dimension though. PLEASE HELP ME i can not figure out what this show was!!!!! Thank you so much, lol
(Anyone know?)
Jan 20/10 from Suzanne:
Hi ! My name is Suzanne & I live in SC. I stumbled upon your site (which I absolutely love) when I was looking up shows from my childhood. Thank you .I couldnt remember the name of the show with boot & pretty (readalong), it was driving me nuts. I saw that you have dvds of readalong, dragons wagons & wax & several others that I would love to have.
(Glad to help!)
Jan 26/10 from Barb:
I am trying to see if anyone remembers show which I think was from the early 70's. It was not a cartoon but it did feature a large squirrel that was based in a wood cabin. You can write in a join the fan club and the squirrel would read your letters and show your pictures on the show. I have asked many people and nobody seems to recall anything about it. I am starting to think that I imagined the show. Can you help
(CUCUMBER!!! A true classic!)
Feb 9/10 from Carmen:
Hi my name is Carmen and I am desperatrely trying to find the name of a tv show I watched as a child... it was a french woman painter who lived in a tree and had an English speaking sock puppet who spoke to us viewers and the lady please help me
(Anyone know?)
Feb 18/10 from Jen:
I have looked all over the net trying to find any little clips from Monkey Bars, I remember it so fondly and have had flashes of this show go thru my mind for the last 35 plus years. Is there any place that I could find a clip of this show???
(If it's not on youtube, then chances are slim)
Feb 19/10 from Nav:
Do you remember some show from the 80s an educational show about learning computers about a gray haired guy trying to learn computers and he talks to a lady on a big tv screen who steps him through and teaches him how to use it? I forget the name, it was on for a while.
Thanks and great site! I wish tv Ontario would relase some of these on dvds/internet.
(Bits and Bytes)
Mar 14/10 from Georgette:
I stumbled upon your site today. I was trying to look
up old BBC series' that played on TVO. I noticed you had some of the shows I
watched listed :). I'm 42 as of March 9th.
I used to watch Tom Grattons War; Ballet Shoes; The Phoenix and the Carpet;
Tom's Midnight Garden (just found out the title for that one tonight and they
remade it in the 1990's), and of course Dr. Who. I just found another show I
liked from those days. I couldn't think of the title, but found it; The Ghosts
of Motely Hall.
I used to watch Vision On, Jeremy, Simon and his chalk garden, the green forest,
and a few other stories.
Thanks for listing the programs you used to watch. It was a really wild trip
down memory lane
Mar 15/10 from Brian:
I found your site after looking for the theme song for Monkey Bars. I could not find it on YouTube but for those unsure if it was real, rest assured it did exist. I can't remember the entire theme but it had an annoying repetion of, " Muh-muh-muh-muh, muh-muh, muh-muh-muh, Monkey Baaaaars!"
(Thanks!)
Mar 20/10 from Brian:
First, let me start off by saying thank-you for the great site. All those screen grabs sure bring back fond memories.
In helping with the info on the What If show, I actually recall it playing in the summer months (July or August) with the shows nearly back to back. I recall one of the 'lost' kids not getting back til the very end of the series.
The two major points I recall was that at the end of every show there was a viewer feedback announcement. So it was basically a pilot series.
Shortly after the end of its run, Read All About it popped up in the fall season with I believe one of the original cast members...it could be David or Lydia...but I could be wrong.
So in short, I was convinced that What If was a pilot of Read All About It. It had the clubhouse, the monitor and the mysterious hidden adult enemy plotting his schemes. Only the target demographics appeared to be lowered to a younger age group...actually mine...LOL!
(FINALLY!!!! Someone else who recalls What If... this is going onto said page - THANK YOU!!!!)
April 14/10 from Chris:
Hi there. My Outlook wouldn't work, I found this email on your Seeing Things page (amazing, by the way). Hey, do you know where I can find/download episodes of Write On? I looked around on all those groups, didn't see much talk of it but it's the one that sticks out in my head the most (apart from Read All About It). So dark! Anyway, thanks for your help, and good site!
April 20/10 from Shelley:
February 5/09 from Cheryl:
I, and a few of my friends, are looking for the title of a kids show back in
the 80s. All I can remember is the robot. It had the traditional dryer
duct for the arms and legs. It was silver. It went on the adventures too. Can
you help?
(Sounds kind of weird, I do not know it)
By the description of the robot, could it be Groundling Marsh?
(I have let the person asking know - I hope so)
May 8/10 from Ian:
I've just been going through the TVO page on your website. There's an TVO program that I remember the theme song to, although I haven't heard it since the 1970s.
It was a TVO produced show called "People and Pets" Have you heard of it? Any idea where the theme song could be obtained? I'd really like to hear it again.
(I recall the show and even remember the logos for the show - but that's it)
May 19/10 from Kurasu:
There are four shows that I am looking for they are :
"Neon: An Electric Memoir," about classic neon signs; "Vita Futurista,"
about the
Italian Futurist movement that was the first art /of/ the Machine Age; "Mies,"
about architect Mies van der Roh, who (among other things)
redefined corporate architecture in Toronto with his TD Bank buildings; and
"Black Leather Jacket," about the cultural history of the article
of
clothing in the title.
(Anyone have these?)
May 30/10 from Rosalyn:
I was trying to find the show that Jan Rubes hosted..."Guess What" and found all of these great little shows i watched as a kid. It brought back memories of having a cold and staying at my grandmas and watching these shows in the morning starting with Polka Dot Door. This is is awesome I wish I could get episodes of all of these programs. BTW I remember a program where the characters were hats...One character's name was Mrs Bagwash what was the name of that program?
(Anyone?)
July 6/10 from Dan:
You wouldnt happen to know where I can get my hand on a copy of The Ugly Little Boy from the 70s would you?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0176261/
I saw it a couple of times on TVO in the 70s before I had a VCR, but not since then.
(Anyone?)
July 7/10 from Denis:
I am looking to find the name of a regular FRENCH TV
show that was on TV Ontario in the late 70's and 80's when I was a kid. What
I remember was the show was about this guy who looked/dressed like a hobo/vagrant.
I believe it was a half hour show but it may have been shorter I was just so
young that I don't remember back then. Sorry I can't think of more details.
(Parlez-Moi)
July 13/10 from Peter:
Would you happen to have an episode of Images and Things? All I'm looking for is the theme song. I remember seeing it in elementary school and never laughed so hard in class.
(I do not know the show - anyone?)
July 16/10 from Dennis:
Thank you for the TVO dedicated site. Having just seen Paul Brown (of Write On) in Harvest at the Lighthoue Festival Theatre in Port Dover, I was keen to find information on the show that I had seen him on so many years earlier.
In one of the photos a guest actor listed is Frank Ruffo. Frank has also been billed as Angelo Ruffo and A. Frank Ruffo. An early role was as the lead dancing Turtle in the "Turtles, Turtles, Ya, Ya, Ya" ads. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0749325/
In your 1970's TVO program list you do not mention Dr. Who. Jim Dator (aka Dr. Jim Dator) introduced and closed the time slot for the show recorded by a telephone box (not at all like the T.A.R.D.I.S.) across thre street from TVO HQ. The earliest Dr. Who episodes on TVO that I remember were from the Jon Pertwee era. TVO had "The Doctor" in its original episodic format long before it showed up on PBS.
(Great to hear Paul is still doing acting)
July 18/10 from Tyson:
Fantastic site....just wonderful! So many memories come back to life!
Anyways, I was reading in your feedback section about
someone looking for a show that featured a robot with duct-tubing for arms.
This is a
show I remember from when I was a really small child as well, to the point where
images from certain sequences of the show have haunted me
for years.
I've been trying desperately to dig up information on
this show, but to little avail. Having found a few other people who've described
a show
that seems very similar to it, I think it maybe have been titled "How do
you do? Learning English". A description of that show I found on another
forum said it featured a woman and a silver robot (which is exactly what I remember).
So on one hand I may have a title for the other user whose message you posted on your feedback section (she was wondering what it was called).
On the other hand, does the name of this show ring a
bell for you? I've contacted TVO to see if it still exists in their archives,
and I'm
contacting you on the off-chance you might have this show somewhere on your
VHS recordings.
It used to air in the afternoons on TVO from around 1990 - 1994ish.
(A little after my time - anyone?)
July 21/10 from Samuel:
Like many others, I absolutely love your site. It brings
back great memories of a great time in my childhood -- in front of the TV
watching TVO and PBS.
I stumbled across your site because my wife and I were
trying to find the intro theme music for a TV show that we both loved when we
were
young, The Fables of the Green Forest. When I found your site, not only did
I find the theme, I was in nostalgia heaven.
The best part is that your site has solved a very long
running mystery for me. For many, many years, I have been trying to remember
a great
TV show from the late 70's / early 80s, but I could never remember enough about
the show to track it down. The only things I could
remember about the show were very vague images in my memories (an educational
cartoon about history) and that the intro featured a
famous but haunting classical music tune (that I couldn't name). For years,
I have been asking my friends to see if they remember anything
based on these clues and there was nothing. I tried the internet and I just
couldn't find the right search terms to ever make it work. Now,
thanks to your site, I know it is "Once upon a Time ... Man".
To be honest, given how we seem to very similar tastes
in 70's children's TV shows, I am surprised that you don't have this show
featured more on your site.
Anyways, I just wanted to say thank you for having such a great site.
(A very popular show I have found out over the years - somehow I missed it)
July 23/10 from Jennifer:
Hello, I am trying to figure out the name of the show that had a grandfather clock and once it got to a certain time ( I think midnight) the kids can go out this back door and into this amazing garden and have some adventures and wake up in their beds. I am racking my brain trying to remember this show. I also loved Read All About It.
(Anyone?)
July 28/10 from Aaron
I'm so happy to come across your site on line today. Although a lot of the discussion I saw happened back in 2004, perhaps you can still help me out. I'm trying to remember if the show 'The music box' is what has been in the back of my head all these years. I saw at one point you had sent somebody some images of the show. Do you still have these images and, if so, can you please sent them my way? Is there anyway to get video on line of this?
(Some Images have been sent)
July 31/10 from Jennifer:
I found out that it was called "Tom's Midnight
Garden". It was a mini series originally from BBC. If I can get a copy
playable on our dvd players that would be cool.
(I vaguely remember this one, I am sure BBC has released it.)
Aug 4/10 from Bryn
May 30/10 from Rosalyn:
I was trying to find the show that Jan Rubes hosted..."Guess What"
and found all of these great little shows i watched as a kid. It brought back
memories of having a cold and staying at my grandmas and watching these shows
in the morning starting with Polka Dot Door. This is is awesome I wish I could
get episodes of all of these programs. BTW I remember a program where the characters
were hats...One character's name was Mrs Bagwash what was the name of that program?
(Anyone?)
Hattytown. A british show that was played on TVO. Loved its simple theme song.
July 23/10 from Jennifer:
Hello, I am trying to figure out the name of the show that had a grandfather
clock and once it got to a certain time ( I think midnight) the kids can go
out this back door and into this amazing garden and have some adventures and
wake up in their beds. I am racking my brain trying to remember this show. I
also loved Read All About It.
(Anyone?)
Also after a brief Google search I came up with this BBC show called Tom's Midnight
Garden. The clock strikes 13 times and the kids go play. Sounds an awful like
what she was talking about...this show was based on a book...but I dont think
it a a running TV series just a short run. The BBC did 3 TV adaptations of them,
one in each decade, the first starting in 1968. TVO never had any shortage of
playing BBC material that's for sure...LOL.
take care and as always your site is a gem to anyone whoever had the honour of growing up with these unique and wonderful shows
(Thanks for the info!)
Aug 9/10 from Michael
The first actor to play Susan was Sharon Holownia - who presently has the screen
name Sharon Alexander.
You can find a podcast at this website that Sharon is presently involved with;
http://www.richardiancox.com/
(Thanks for the info)
Sept 6/10 from Kristy
I just googled my dad and found your site. My dad was
Ray Gladfelter and he produced shows for CTI. You have a page on him here: http://www.rickstv.com/tvo/gladfelter.html
- I just wanted to say that it's really cool that that you put that page together,
thanks!
(You are most welcome!)
Sept 13/10 from Tracey:
Hi Rick! Wow - totally impressed by your collection.
Wondering if trades are the only way to get a copy of some of your titles. I
am working on getting the 4 seasons of Northwood - do you remember this one
from the early 90s? I think my mum went so far as to buy me some of the boos
as well for Christmas one year. I am specifically looking for seasons of Read
All About It, Body Works, The Electric Company, Polka Dot Door, The Letter People,
Calling All Safety Scouts, We Live Next Door, Dear Aunt Agnes, Report Canada,
Parlez-Moi, Math Patrol, and Today's Special. I know it sounds crazy, but I
just can't imagine my kids growing up and not experiencing these shows - TV
is just not the same today. Can't tell you how much I loved scrolling through
your site and channels.
(Thanks for the feedback)
Sept 14/10 from Sarah:
I was wondering if you could help me find out the name
of a show I only remember from promos. It always aired around Christmas and
it revolved around a greedy king who lost all his gold and there was a scene
with him in a bathtub playing with a rubber duck. I think it was live action
mixed with some drawings.
(Hopefully someone will know)
Sept 22/10 from Tim:
I don't suppose you would have any video of the 1970s
TV show "Kidsworld"?
(I do not I am afraid)
Oct 10/10 from David:
I grew up in Sudbury (I'm 48 years old) and remember
and LOVED the show Monkey Bars,
I'd love to know what some of the cast are doing now?
(Good question)
Oct 16/10 from Melissa
My boyfriend has been racking his brain trying to figure
out the name of this show from his childhood. His description sounds like a
stop animation version of mr. men, except there were subtitles so you could
read along and they told different stories. If anyone could help ME help HIM,
it would be appreciated and fantastic.
(Posted here - hopefully someone knows)
October 24/10 from Sharon:
I stumbled on your website because I heard one of the hosts of Polka Dot Door has passed away and got me thinking about all of the other wonderful tvo shows that were on when I was younger...
I found the name of one of the shows I really liked but cannot find the other two. Can I impose on your expertise to see if you know what these shows were? I'm hoping they were not a figment of my imagination.
I don't remember much of it, I think it was a family
who lived or worked is some kind of shop. I'm not sure if it was antiques or
furniture, or whatever. I remember an episode where the son (maybe the family
as well) went back 50 or so (could be more or less) years. The boy made friends
with another boy his age. when they were leaving, the boy gave his friend from
the past, his walkman. When they got back to the present, an old man walks into
the store and gives the boy his walkman back.
(Sounds like an interesting show, I hope someone knows it)
October 25/10 from Tiff
I was reading on your website that you may have some
episodes of Harriets Magic hats. My sister and I grew up on the show. I've searched
the web and your my best lead.. I would be so ever thankful.
(I believe all I have is the show's intro)
Nov 11/10 from Ryan:
Hi i was reading a page on your website for tvo in 2007 and they ask you about a show with two cats one named tango and a dog named charlie it was called kitty cats and also aired on ytv , it had a weasle named willy and a few other characters which i can not rember there names at the moment.
(Thanks for the memories)
Nov 15/10 from Kaisa:
I have to say I love your site and all the memories it has brought me. Now I have the name of the show for the talking boot and shoe - Readalong! Yay, it did exist! I am also excited that I have a name to the drawing shows i remember watching, Readit with John Robbins and Teletale with Paul Lally and Rae Owings.
I am from Alaska and on my PBS station there were so many great educational shows such as All About You, Well Well Well with Slim Goodbody, 3-2-1 Contact, Thinkabout, Read All About It -which I remember from school and scared me. I have some questions about 2 shows I know DO exist. How about some more info on these 2 shows:The Metric System and Guess What?
First off, I can't find a dang thing on The Metric System which makes me think it had another title. All I can remember of this show was the News segment with Howard ?, Centimeter Street - a ripoff of Sesame Street with characters called Barney and Art and BigBug and another segment called Harvey and The Professor. Harvey and The Professor I remember the most because Harvey wore a hat with a propeller on it and the Professor looked like Albert Einstein but with darker skin. Also Metric Man and Inchworm. Now with all of this info, you would think someone could find something on it. Nope, I have been searching all over the place and nothing. I would love to find some pictures or videos of this show.
Now I am not to sure about Guess What because i think I might be confusing it with another show. Does anyone remember the intro to the show. Did it have a question mark that kind of looked like it was moving with some pretty music playing. Do you have the theme music? I would love to hear it again. I have this theme song stuck in my head and I think it belongs to this show but I am not certain.
I hope some of this was of some help. On one final note how about 2 other art shows called The Secret City and The Draw Squad with Mark Kistler. http://www.drawsquad.com/index.html for more info.
I hope that I am not weaving 2 shows together but I will try and describe this to the best of my knowledge.
Ok this show, the set reminded me of the one used on All About You, except it looked more like the inside of a house. The door would have be to the viewers left side of the screen, to the host's right. Behind the host were windows similar to All About You and beneath one of the windows was a bench that was a trunk. Somehow this was important detail to remember?! Anyways, the host was a woman and she had short brown hair. I think she would tell stories, do arts and crafts and had items that were important to her. I think she would mention every once in a while that some of her things would go missing and she wouldn't be able to find them. Like she would leave a book on a table and leave through the door and then this creature which I want to say was a mascot suit of a Panda would come into her house and steal the book/item and leave. I say a panda cause the creature was black and white like a panda. The host would return and would be like "where did my book go" and only us the viewers would know. I don't know why the panda creature was taking her items. I think it was all part of the show though, but for some reason I thought that maybe the host knew that this creature existed but was never able to catch it in the act of taking her items.
Now I know that on Mr.Roger's Neighborhood, there were was the Purple Panda but I am sure it wasn't from that. Maybe it was but I am darn sure it was a different show.
This show I think would have run from the late '70's, early 80's. I remember her wearing polka dotted dress in one episode and jeans and a blue shirt in another. If anyone could help me find this show it would be wonderful.
I'm not even sure if this show aired on CBC but I seem
to think so, it feature a girl and her brother if I recall correctly. They used
to use a closet of some sort and a Key I believe and were taken to another land,
and I seem to think they would end up on some island or a beach, and they had
some companion there like some sort of creature but i can't remember what exactly,
I know that is pretty vague but maybe u have some idea. Thanks
Well, If am correct I think Mike was thinking of a series called "Blizzard Island" in the US it was called "The Argon Quest" It was about a little girl and her brother who inherit a necklace that acts as a key to a place called Blizzard Island. They find out that the island is in trouble and go to help.
Here is a great link to check out: http://www.anguspuppets.com/Blizzardhome.html
Hope this was the show Mike was remembering
(Thank you Kaisa for some terrific emails. I wonder if the one show you speak of was MeasureMetric)
Nov 26/10 from Ken:
My son was in the series "Monkey Bars" on TVO long ago. I'd like to get copies of the shows. Are they available anywhere?
(I am not sure)
Nov 30/11 from Sandra:
I was on your website and was wondering if you had any episodes of the the very first "Just Like Mom" episodes, my boyfriend was on it when he was little with his mother
who passed away years ago, but i have been trying to find the episode he was on with her and haven't been able to. I was thinking of giving it to him as a gift. Anyways, if you have that would
be amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or if you know where i might be able to find it?? The episode is one of the very first with the canadian host who was blonde and their names would be Joe Or Joey ANd Sandra.
Thanks so much hope you help me out !!!
(JLM is a tough one. I know there are about 50 episodes that that Canadian Game Show channel has aired)
Dec 6/10 from Alyssa:
Any idea where I can purchase dvds of the parlez-moi episodes to use in my french class?
(International Telefilm used to at one time)
Dec 9/10 from Donald:
I too remember a kids show that I was shown at the Ashdale Public Library in Toronto. I was only 9 years old. I only saw the show a couple of times there at the library but I remember the theme song so fondly. I am now 48 years old.
Something like:
Monkey Bars Monkey Bars
It's so fun pretending who you are
Monkey Bars Monkey Bars
You could be a couple of big guitars or even a couple of Jaguars
I had a tv crush on the lead girl in the show named Anthea
I don't know why I remember all of this. I'd love to get in touch with the other
two people that remember this show. Thanks for a great website I
would love any info on the theme song or the original producers of the show.
(Seems a few people remember this show!)
Shows on this site: TVOntario TVO TV Ontario PBS AIT All About You Barbapapa The Body Works Bits and Bytes Cucumber Eureka Fables of the Green Forest Guess What? (With Jan Rubes) Harriet's Magic Hats Jeremy Kidsworld Let's All Sing(with Tony Saletan) Mathmakers Math Patrol Parlez-Moi Read All About It Readalong Report (with Heather Conkie) The Adventures of Timothy PilgrimTwo Plus You! Vision On(with Tony Hart) What If...(starring Billy Van)World of B.J. Vibes Write On AIT Programming PBS Programming (In Other Words, Math Wise, It Figures, Thinkabout, Inside/Out, High Feather, Dragons, Wagons & Wax) Edison Twins, Just Like Mom, Camp Cariboo, YTV's Rec Room)