Cucumber (Canadian TV series)
Cucumber is a TV show produced by TVOntario in the 1970s, and repeated in the 1980s during TVOntario's daytime kids' programming.[1]
The show's title was an acronym for Children's Underground Club of United Moose and Beaver for Enthusiastic Reporters.[2] It featured a human-sized moose (played in costume by Alex Laurier) and beaver (Nikki Tilroe) living in a treehouse, and acting as amateur journalists as they present various educational segments on topics such as science or history.[2] Segments were keyed to Ontario's elementary school curriculum, so that the show could be used as a teaching tool in schools.[3]
By sending in a story or some artwork to the show (the mailing address was in Toronto), one could become a member of the Cucumber Club.[3]
Guest stars
Some notable people appeared on the show:
- John Candy guest starred as a character named Weatherman
- Martin Short guest starred as a character named Smokey the Hare
- An interview featured a nine-year-old Jeff Healey.
References
- "TVOntario-24 hits the camping trail packing seven shows for youngsters". Montreal Gazette, April 18, 1987.
- Fred Rainsberry, A History of Children's Television in English Canada, 1952-1986. Scarecrow Press, 1988. ISBN 9780810820791.
- "Two- way television tunes in the classroom". The Globe and Mail, October 17, 1975.