Mr. Dressup facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mr. Dressup |
|
|---|---|
Mr. Dressup, Casey, and Finnegan
|
|
| Created by | Ernie Coombs |
| Starring | Ernie Coombs Judith Lawrence |
| Theme music composer | Donald Himes |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 4,000 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Daniel McCarthy |
| Production location(s) | Canadian Broadcasting Centre Toronto, Ontario |
| Running time | 26 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBC |
| Original release | February 13, 1967 – February 14, 1996 |
Mr. Dressup was a popular Canadian TV show for children. It aired on CBC from 1967 to 1996. The show was known for its friendly host, Mr. Dressup, and his puppet friends.
Contents
Adventures with Mr. Dressup
The show starred Ernie Coombs as Mr. Dressup. Every weekday morning, he would lead children on fun adventures. These included singing songs, telling stories, and doing arts and crafts. He also played imagination games.
Mr. Dressup had special puppet friends. These were Casey, a child, and Finnegan, a dog. They lived in a tree house in Mr. Dressup's backyard. Judith Lawrence was the talented person who made and controlled Casey and Finnegan. She also created other puppets like Alligator Al and Aunt Bird.
The Magical Tickle Trunk
A very important part of the show was the Tickle Trunk. This was a special trunk where Mr. Dressup kept many costumes. He would often pull out a costume, like one for an animal or a firefighter. Then he would pretend to be that character.
Sometimes, the Tickle Trunk would not open. When this happened, Mr. Dressup would sing a song and tickle the lock. This is how the trunk got its name! The trunk seemed magical because it always had the perfect costume. The costumes were always the right size and neatly folded.
Crafts and Stories
Mr. Dressup often made accessories for his costumes. This would lead to a fun craft project. He would also draw pictures on his drawing board. These drawings helped him tell stories or play games with his puppet friends. He always encouraged kids to try the crafts at home. He also wanted them to sing along with the songs. Sometimes, Mr. Dressup would read a book. He might also show a short film to the audience. He would narrate these films himself.
New Friends Join the Fun
Later on, Judith Lawrence, the puppeteer for Casey and Finnegan, retired. Instead of finding one new puppeteer, a team of new puppeteers joined the show. They brought in new puppet characters. These included Chester the Crow, Truffles, Granny, Annie, Alex, and Lorenzo the Raccoon.
Casey and Finnegan slowly appeared less often. Eventually, it was announced that they were going to kindergarten. The new characters became the main puppet friends. With these new friends came new sets, like a community center. In the last 10 years of the show, a musician named Mark Kersey joined. He played a character called "Mark the Repairman."
The Show's End
The very last episode of Mr. Dressup was filmed on February 14, 1996. After the show ended, Ernie Coombs toured many college campuses. He gave talks to students who had grown up watching his show. Ernie Coombs passed away on September 18, 2001, in Toronto, Ontario. He was 73 years old.
Lasting Memories and Tributes
Even after the show stopped making new episodes, Mr. Dressup was shown again for ten years. The CBC moved it to Sunday mornings in 2006. The very last repeat aired on September 3, 2006.
In 2017, some episodes of the show were put on encore+. This is a YouTube channel run by the Canada Media Fund and Google Canada. This allowed a new generation to enjoy the show.
Because Mr. Dressup was on TV for so long, many generations of Canadian children grew up watching it. People in parts of the northern United States who could get the CBC signal also watched. Ernie Coombs and his character, Mr. Dressup, became important Canadian symbols. They are a big part of Canadian pop culture.
In 2010, two famous parts of the show were put on display. Casey's tree house is at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Downtown Toronto. The Tickle Trunk, with some props, was also on display there.
On November 26, 2012, Mr. Dressup, Casey, and Finnegan were featured in a Google Doodle. This was a special picture on the Canadian Google website. It was a tribute to Ernie Coombs' 85th birthday.
Music from the Show
- Mr. Dress Up (1970)
- Mr. Dressup: Happy Birthday Alligator Al (1976)
- Mr. Dressup and Friends: For a Song (1979)
- Wake Up Mr. Dressup! (1982)
