A nostalgic look back at fifty years of childrenâs television from the beloved â Polka Dot Door, Mr. Dressup, Todayâs Special â to the bizarre â Kiddo the Clown, Coming Up Rosie, Maniac Mansion.âImagiNation took me down memory lane, sharing behind-the-scenes stories about the shows that coloured my world when I was a kid.â â Erica Ehm, former MuchMusic VJFrom the time CBC sputtered onto screens in 1952, childrenâs television has been at the centre of Canadaâs cultural output. The countryâs first television host was an ornery puppet named Chichimus, who set the stage for future Toronto-based puppeteers, producers, directors, and actors to make childrenâs television their own. With the studios of CBC, TVOntario, CFTO, and eventually YTV all located in Toronto, the cityâs televisual output was staggering and fed by the imagination and hard work of the local talent.Featuring over one hundred childrenâs programs broadcast between 1950 and 2000, ImagiNation is a memory-filled trip for anyone who spent their weekdays after school or Saturday mornings staring at the idiot box. The story of each Toronto-produced series is covered â from inception through production to broadcast â along with the tales of local stations and the people who made it all happen.Fans of The Friendly Giant, Degrassi Junior High, Readalong, YTV, Uncle Bobby, Aunt Agnes, and much more will find their favourites â plus shows theyâve forgotten they loved (or loathed). Whether you adored Pearl Van Oyster, Hammy Hamster, the Fraggles, or the Grogs, ImagiNation is a trip you wonât want to miss.
