Hinterland Who’s Who

As the official Island weblog repository for “memories of the 1970s and 1980s,” I feel an obligation to point out that Hinterland Who’s Who [QuickTime] is back. Music smoothed out; new announcer; same subject matter. Can’t put a good woodchuck down.

Which reminds me, speaking of the 1970s, does anyone else remember Hammy Hampster? This was a live-action animal show that aired, I think, on Global in the early days. Talking hampsters, with houses, boats, cars, etc. It was a magical little world.

Comments

Chris Corrigan's picture
Chris Corrigan on October 21, 2003 - 22:49 Permalink

I remember Hammy…very popular at the time I moved to England in 1978, whereupon I was entranced by the Wombles, little creatures that lived in the bushes on Wimbledon Common.

Seemed like there was a lot of anthropomorphism going on back then. Remember Canada’s version of “Lassie?” That’s right, The Littlest Hobo. The Littlest Hobo was a freakling huge husky that couldn’t act. It spent the whole time looking off camera to its handler for the next mindless task. In some shots you could even see the dog drolling in anticipation of the cookie it was about to get. SCTV, as usual, did the best parody of it.

BTW, the original hinterland who’s who can be seen in all their streaming glory at the Hinterland Who’s Who website.

dave moses's picture
dave moses on October 21, 2003 - 23:03 Permalink

hammy hamster, sharkey shark, and Pearl! Classic canadian television… on par with Storybook Theatre and the Junior Forest Rangers. Oh yeah!

Mandy's picture
Mandy on October 22, 2003 - 15:28 Permalink

That little hamster was great. But he was no Littlest Hobo. Sure, maybe he was not a great actor, but when you’re 6, that show is award winning for you. I lived for that show.

There’s a voice, that keeps on calling me. Down the road is where I’ll always be. Every stop I make, I make a new friend. Can’t stay for long, just turn around and I’m gone again. Maybe tomorrow I’ll want to settle down. Until tomorrow I’ll just keep moving on.”

Speaking of great childhood memories from Canadian television — The National Film Boards Log Drivers Waltz. That was my favourite of all the little films placed on tv from time to time. When I was in kindergarten at the Basilica Kindergarten, which was in the Basilica Rec Center, the teachers would take us upstairs once a month to the film boards archives to see little films. How excited was I when the Log Driver came on. I also liked the one about the Lion and the Mouse.

Alan's picture
Alan on October 22, 2003 - 15:58 Permalink

My Dad used to show national film board movies at his churches on Friday nights as we grew up. “ ‘Ti’ Jean” and “Paddle to the Sea” are burned into my memory.

Chris Corrigan's picture
Chris Corrigan on October 23, 2003 - 21:16 Permalink

Did you ever see that NFB film that was a cartoon zoom in from outer space right down into earth, focussing on the St. Lawerence river, then a guy in a boat with a mosquito on his arm and then right down to the level of blood cels and atoms, before zooming back out again?

That was an important little film for me…gave me perspective well beyond my tender years.

Love your stor of the Hobo, Mandy!

Jamie's picture
Jamie on January 5, 2004 - 01:16 Permalink

Hammy …

Didn’t they go through those creatures by the gross because they expoxied Hammy, GP, et al to those little boats?

How ‘bout the “Forest Rangers”? Precocious little nerds with their own acrage, ham radio licenses and fort to boot.

XNY 556, A for Apple”