The Hockey Night in Canada Theme

I'm not a hockey fan, but I adore the Hockey Night in Canada theme.

The song was written for the CBC in 1968 by Dolores Claman. A classically trained composer, Claman had written a number of successful jingles (including the music for A Place to Stand, the Academy-award winning short film shown at the Ontario Pavilion at Expo 67.)

Having never actually seen a hockey game in person, Claman said that she wrote the tune imagining "Roman gladiators wearing skates".

"It just arrived in my head," she recalled years later.

Since the song was originally classified as an advertising jingle, Claman only received a one-time creative fee of $800. A recent messy court case saw the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation lose the rights to what many consider "Canada's second national anthem".

CTV, Canada's largest privately owned network, has acquired the broadcast rights to the song in perpetuity. A new, classic rendition has recently been unveiled, recorded by 54 members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Brassy yet loungy, the fab new recording pays hommage to the original 1968 version... Needless to say, I love it!

images: (top) cbc.ca

(bottom) hockeyforum.com

The CBC Gem Logo

The "C" stands for Canada, while the radiating parts symbolize broadcasting.

Of all the CBC logos throughout the years, my favorite is the Gem logo.

Designed for the CBC by legendary graphic artist Burton Kramer in 1974, the iconic Gem is the most widely recognized logo of the corporation, and arguably the most recognized symbol in Canada...

It instantly brings me back to childhood mornings watching Mr. Dressup...

I want a car like this! CBC identity vehicle fleet, 1975.

A gorgeous billboard from the CBC visual identity program, 1975.

A storyboard for the animated station identification.

Proof of the Gem's lasting appeal: current merchandise from cbcshop.ca.



images: (1) author's own
(2-3-4) ccca.ca
(5) cbcshop.ca

Radio-Canada Commemorates Expo 67

Radio-Canada, the french version of the CBC, have just released this magnificent 4-disc DVD set to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Expo.

This fab but french only DVD set includes:

Disc 1
• 24 National Pavilions
• 5 Canadian Pavilions
• 11 Theme Pavilions

Disc 2
• La Ronde
• Transportation at Expo 67
• Hostesses, Gastronomy, Fashion, etc.

Disc 3
• Opening Ceremonies
• Closing Ceremonies
• Expo 67's Great Moments
• Prologue, Impressions

Disc 4
• Interviews with Michel Jasmin and Yves Jasmin
• Extras: Dignitairies, Celebrities, Documents, etc.

image: cbcshop.ca

Mr. Dressup

Ernest Arthur Coombs was born in Lewiston, Maine, on November 26, 1927. Initially trained as a commercial artist, Coombs later graduated from the Pittsburgh Miniature Theatre. Among his classmates was Fred Rogers, of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood fame.

In 1963, Ernie Coombs came to Canada to work as a puppeteer on Fred Rogers' children's series Misterogers, broadcast on CBC television. Within 1 year, Rogers returned to the U.S. and Ernie Coombs got his own show. (History tells us that Fred Rogers went on to great success as the host of the beloved PBS children's program Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.)

Ernie Coombs starred in Butternut Square from 1964-1967, and upon it's cancellation, he presented an improved version called Mr. Dressup. On February 13, 1967, Mr. Dressup premiered on CBC and enchanted children with it's magical world of make-believe.

Through Mr. Dressup, Ernie Coombs developed an intimate connection with his audience by talking directly to the camera. Children watching were encouraged to use their imagination as Mr. Dressup pulled colorful costumes from his Tickle Trunk and showed them how to make crafts from ordinary household items. (I remember making stuff inspired by Mr. Dressup.)

Throughout my early childhood, I had a standing 10:30 am appointment with Mr. Dressup and his puppets Casey, Finnegan, Alligator Al, etc. Just the sound of the little piano intro takes me right back...

images: (1) answers.com (2-3) cbc.ca

International Broadcasting Centre

The Canadian Broadcasting Company built a completely functioning broadcasting facility for Expo 67. Located in the Cité du Havre section of Expo, the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) was a rectangular building with Greek-inspired colonnade.

Inaugurated in late 1966, the IBC began operating before Expo 67's opening. It was designed as a permanent structure that would last beyond Expo's 6-month run.

A pedestrian walkway joined the Broadcasting Centre with Place d'Accueil:

The Broadcasting Centre had a vast plaza which featured an exhibit that focussed on radio and it's role in everyday life.

Inside, visitors could wander along an elevated passageway that let them observe actors, technicians and producers at work in the TV studios and controls booths.

As well as servicing the CBC, the International Broadcasting Centre provided all participating nations every televisual and radio service they needed, free of charge. These facilities included 6 radio studios, a tape-recording centre, makeup and dressing rooms, a workroom for sets, and any other amenity needed for radio and television production.

The CBC also operated 5 mobile units for location filming on the Expo site:

Click here to see a photo of the IBC as it appeared in 1997.

images: (1-2-4-5) personal collection
(3) expo67.ncf.ca (6) oldradio.com

CBC Vintage Media

The Canadian Broadcasting Company was founded over 70 years ago, on Novemeber 2, 1936. Originally radio-only, the CBC began television broadcasts in 1952, with the opening of their first TV station, in Montreal.

I grew up watching the CBC, and I've always loved vintage CBC media. The logos that were used from the 1950's to the 1970's were totally cool.

The CBC used this logo at the end of TV programs from 1958 to 1974:

This alternate logo was used from the 1960's through to 1974:

The Butterfly logo (below) was introduced in 1966. Designed for CBC by Hubert Tisson, it marked the CBC's transition from black and white to color broadcasting. It was retired once the transition was complete, in 1974.

The logo below (my favorite) was designed by graphic artist Burton Kramer in 1974. It was the most widely recognizable logo of the CBC. It marked the CBC's full transition to color television broadcasting.

The groovy CBC butterfly in action:



This instantly brings me back to my early-childhood days, in the late 70's:



Vintage opening credits from The National, circa 1978:



images: wikipedia.org