Kidstuff (TV series)
{{Short description|Canadian children's television series}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| alt_name =
| caption =
| genre = children's variety
| creator =
| developer =
| writer = Bill Hartley
| director = Larry Kimber
Bill Hartley
| starring = Harry Coates
Cathy Cornell
Suzin Schiff
Doug Springall
Maryann B. Joffe
Wally Martin
Susan Mainzer
Les Nirenberg
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer = Cliff Jones
| country = Canada
| language = English
| channel = CTV
| first_aired = {{Start date|1975|09|27|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1976}}
| num_seasons =
| num_episodes = 26
| list_episodes =
| producer = Bill Hartley
| editor =
| location = Montreal (CFCF Channel 12)
| cinematography =
| camera =
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = CTV
Champlain Productions
| related =
}}{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
Kidstuff is a Canadian children's television series produced by CTV and Champlain Productions, in 1975 and 1976.
Premise
The series provided a combination of entertainment and education for children between eight and 12 years old. It had a cast of 4 children (Harry Coates, Cathy Cornell, Suzin Schiff, and Doug Springall) and 4 adults (Maryann B. Joffe, Wally Martin, Susan Mainzer, and Les Nirenberg) as various goofy characters the kids interacted with. Later the character Mr. Magic was introduced into the show played by real magician Ian Snow Carpenter.
It made extensive use of chromakey technology, to depict the cast as miniaturized on a set consisting of toys, games, and candy. It also used Robotoons, a "live-cartoon" technology, similar to Aniforms, created by the show's set designer, Don Keller. Choreography was by Big Time Productions.{{cite news | title=Kidstuff / Bright addition to CTV roster | newspaper=Ottawa Journal | date=13 September 1975 | first=Clarence | last=Metcalfe | page=TV 3 }}
The show was written by Bill Hartley, with Janis Nostbakken as Educational Advisor.
Cliff Jones and Bill Hartley composed the music for the series. Vocal Direction was by Phil Pitre. A soundtrack album was released by Rising Records (RILP-101).{{cite news | title=Give children records they'll sing and dance to | newspaper=Toronto Star | date=18 December 1976 | page=F5 | first=Sid | last=Adilman }}
Costumes were by Juul Haalmeyer, who would later be best known for costuming The David Steinberg Show, SCTV and CODCO.
Production
Kidstuff was produced in Montreal at CFCF-TV and premiered on CTV for its 1975-76 season. 26 episodes were produced over two seasons and rebroadcast for several more years thereafter. The first season of 17 episodes was produced for approximately $400 000.{{cite web | url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/programming/television/kidstuff | title=Kidstuff | first=Pip | last=Wedge | date=March 2003 | publisher=Canadian Communications Foundation | accessdate=28 December 2014 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.bibliotheque.assnat.qc.ca/DepotNumerique_v2/AffichageFichier.aspx?idf=92345 | title=Journal des Débats | publisher=Government of Quebec | author=Commission permanente des consommateurs, coopératives et institutions financières | language=French | date=23 September 1976 | accessdate=11 November 2014 | format=PDF }}
The series premiered 27 September 1975, in the 10 a.m. Eastern time slot.{{cite news | newspaper=Ottawa Journal | title=TV Journal | date=20–27 September 1975 | page=49 }} The debut episode was recorded on 27 February 1975.{{cite web | url= http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/flashback | title=Flashback | publisher=CFCF | accessdate=11 November 2014 }} The series attracted a national rating of 425 000 viewers.
Awards and recognition
- 1976: New York Festivals - International Film and Television Awards - gold medal
- 1976: ACTRA Award
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0395059}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtGBXsOEBWc KidStuff Closing Credits]
- [http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=484774 Kidstuff pilot episode (Feb. 27, 1975)]
Category:CTV Television Network original programming
Category:1970s Canadian children's television series
Category:1975 Canadian television series debuts
Category:1976 Canadian television series endings