vanaloguecelebrating the analogue in this digital world
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
1 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from
the left coast
Posted on January 13, 2015
On this 4th and final installment celebrating the 60th anniversary of CBUT, we take a dramatic turn and look at a
few interesting stories in the long and honourable history of television drama on CBUT (CBC Vancouver).
The recent series of CBC cutbacks and layoffs announced by CBC-SRCs dispassionate president, Hubert
Lacroix, were essentially the fatal blow at the end of a long slow death for all original (non-news) programming on
CBC TV. There was a time (long, long ago) however, when the CBC was at the forefront of original programming.
Many Canadians (especially those of a certain age) will be familiar with the history of CBC-TVs documentary and
music programming, however many may be unfamiliar with the history of its dramatic programming.
Production still from the set of Spectrums Some Days You Have To Hit Somebody (1958). Photo:
Alvin Armstrong, CBC Vancouver Still Photo Collection.
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
2 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM
Like much programming on the CBC, drama had its start on CBCs radio service. In its early years, CBC radios
national and regional drama series featured the best of both domestic and international drama. This dramatic
tradition continued on the small screen when CBC started its television service.
CBUT played a very important role in the early history of Canadian TV drama. In his publication for the BC
Provincial Archives, Camera West: British Columbia on Film 1941-1965, media archivist Dennis Duffy notes that
Vancouver had nurtured important elements of the Canadian radio drama tradition, and there was considerable
interest in television drama there.
Mary Jane Miller states in Turn Up the Contrast: CBC Television Drama since 1952, that CBC television drama
in Vancouver has [had] a long and honourable history, starting with good childrens programming like Hidden
Pages. The establishment of CBUTs Film Unit in 1956 allowed CBUT to produce a number of significant
documentaries and dramatic programs alongside the many studio shot productions. By 1957, CBUT was
producing its own drama anthology series like, Spectrum, Pacific 13 and Studio Pacific, as well as contributing to
the CBC network anthology of regional drama, Playbill.
Some readers may be familiar with CBUT produced dramatic series like Cariboo Country and The
Beachcombers, but may not be familiar with (or have long forgotten) some of its earlier one-off dramatic
productions. The story of CBUT television drama is so rich and full that one little blog post could hardly do it
justice, I present instead the stories of four interesting notables:
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
3 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM
Some Days You Have to Hit Somebody, Spectrum, air date: July 17, 1958. Writer Len Peterson. Cast
Mercedes McCambridge, John McDonald, Rosemary Malkin, Ian Thorne, Sally Campbell and Gary
Rogers.
The sensational title already makes this teleplay noteworthy, the addition of Hollywood actress Mercedes
McCambridge is just the icing on the cake.
Writer Len Peterson said in an interview in CBC Times that he liked to explore in dramatic form the relationship
between the people involved. For instance, one of his plays, he said was a study of a man generally considered
unworthy of her, but who yet finds something in him that she needs. The name of that play was Some Days You
Have to Hit Somebody which aired on the CBUT series Spectrum and starred Academy Award winning actress
Mercedes McCambridge. It is the tense story of a former New York newspaperwoman who has set aside her
career for domesticity is married to a man (John McDonald) her visiting friends think is beneath her, both socially
and intellectually. Rather modern themes for 1950s Vancouver television.
Mercedes McCambridge came to star in this CBUT production via her then husband, ex-Vancouver actor/producer
/director Fletcher Markle who starred in the 1958 CBUT Spectrum drama, Joe Faceless.
**********
Mercedes McCambridge and John McDonald in a scene from Some Days You Have To Hit Somebody.
Photo: Alvin Armstrong, CBC Still Photo Collection.
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
4 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM
The Child Wife, Pacific 13, air date: July 31, 1957. Writer Ian Thorne. Cast Glenyss McDiramid,
Patrick Mcnee.
The Child Wife, produced by Andrew Allen and starring local actress Glenyss McDiramid and Patrick Macnee
(most famous for his role on The Avengers), aired on CBUTs Pacific 13, Wednesday July 31, 1957.
According to an anecdote in an article of the July 1957 issue of CBC Times, Vancouver actor and writer Ian
Thorne wrote a dramatic teleplay called The Child Wife, but he wasnt happy with the dialogue so he was
reluctant to show it to CBUT producer, Andrew Allen. He did, however, outline the plot to Allen, who thought it
sounded like a good comedy. So, though originally conceived as a drama, The Child Wife, was later reworked
into a comedy.
The two main actors in The Child Wife are Glenyss McDiramid as the child wife, whose school teacher husband
wont let her grow up and Patrick Mcnee as the famous young writer of lurid covered novels who arrives to live
close by. Unfortunately, that is all we know about the plot, as a copy of the production no longer exists.
Five kinescope (or kine) prints were made on the telecast night to be distributed to the various stations.
Kinescopes were used to distribute copies of TV productions to the regions and affiliates which lay outside of the
extent of the Mt. Seymour transmitter prior to the launch of the Anik satellites. Unfortunately, the distribution card
indicates that at some point the kine negative was destroyed and only one positive print was kept. However, it
also reveals that the final print was out on permanent loan, as authorized by CBUTs then regional director, Len
Lauk.
Permanent Loan is the bane of the CBC Vancouver Archives. As a primarily production based institution, once
the prints were distributed and returned (in the days before satellites), they lost their production value and were
occasionally were given away (on permanent loan) to interested parties. Back in the day when many people had
access to a 16mm projector, this was a gesture, I suppose, of goodwill, as many permanent loans seem to have
gone to participants or subjects of the various productions. My hope is one day these permanent loans will make
their way back, and in some manner become accessible to Canadians again.
***********
Patrick Macnee and Glenyss McDiarmid on the set of The Child Wife. Photo: Alvin Armstrong, CBC
Vancouver Still Photo Collection.
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
5 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM
Moose Fever, Studio Pacific, scheduled air date: March 20, 1967. Writer Paul Wayne. Cast Don
Crawford, Margie [Margot] Kidder.
Moose Fever, a drama written by Montreal playwright Paul Wayne was produced and directed by Len Lauk for
the CBUT drama anthology, Studio Pacific. According to the March 1967 write-up in the CBC Times, Moose
Fever tells the story of Larry Fraser (Don Crawford), a 35-year-old railroad porter who, while resting in his
apartment one afternoon, is startled by a young woman who is attempting to enter his room through the window.
Moose Fever cover of CBC Times featuring Don Crawford and Margot Kidder. Photo: Franz Lindner,
CBC Vancouver Still Photo Collection.
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
6 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM
After helping her in, he learns that her name is Bonnie Merrick (Margie Kidder) and that she and her father occupy
an apartment in the building directly across from Larrys. She also confesses that she has been secretly watching
him for two weeks. At first, Larry is slightly amused by the young womans intrusion, but his amusement later turns
to annoyance and finally terror [!] as she relates events from her past and her actions of the previous day. [Isnt
that plot outline intriguing?]
Moose Fever was Margot Kidders first major role, she was 18 years old. According to a an account from
producer Len Lauk, [Margot] was a natural actress and a truly great theatrical find. While videotaping the play
Lauk found that Margies performance completely captivated everybody on the set a rare thing among
seasoned television crews. Margot also appears in another Studio Pacific production called The Club Man
before it seems she left Vancouver for Los Angeles via Toronto. It is interesting to note that none of her online
biographies ever mention her acting debut in Vancouver on CBC.
Moose Fever was videotaped in the CBUT studios and, as was customary practice at the time, kinescopes of the
production were made at the same time. The original 2 videotape was long since wiped and reused (again, as
was customary practice) and the kinescopes were never found. Since a copy was never found (thought
destroyed), but the production was known, the CBC rumour mill was all a buzz. One such story was that at the
last minute the production was deemed too racy to be shown, due to the age and race differences between the
two leads.
Moose Fever was scheduled to air on CBUT on Monday, March 20 1967. However, despite all the rumours, a
Margie (Margot) Kidder and Don Crawford on the set of the CBUTs Moose Fever, March 1967. Photo:
Alvin Armstrong, CBC Vancouver Still Photo Collection.
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
7 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM
recent serendipitous discovery in binder labelled CBUT Dramas reveals that it did not air due to a dispute with
the writer.
Further research in the CBC Vancouver archives produced a film production card, which indicated that one kine
print and one videotape was made from the studio production which was filmed March 15 (or 16), 1967 (4 days
prior to its scheduled air date). That print (#1) was sent to writer Paul Wayne on (or about) March 15, 1967. It
was returned to Vancouver on March 19 . The print was then sent to Outside Broadcasts in Toronto
(presumably a department at the CBC), it was returned to Vancouver on July 18 , 1967.
A year later, the print was sent back to Toronto on May 23, 1968, to Don Crawford (the lead actor) c/o his
management company, ostensibly for screening and then return. A bold note on the bottom of the film production
card states that the Post Office in Toronto informs them that the management company moved and its present
address unknown. Additionally, the film production card reveals that, print #1 therefore not recovered after
request for return to Don Crawford. It ends with an enigmatic reference to see Sept. telexes.
So what really happened to Moose Fever? Is it still languishing somewhere in the bowels of Canada Post in
Toronto? Did it get lost in transit? No one may ever really know. Like The Child Wife, hopefully it will just appear
one day, until then we can be satisfied with the production stills shot by Alvin Armstrong and Franz Lindner.
************
th
th
Margie Kidder and Don Crawford on the set of Moose Fever, March 1967. Photo: Alvin Armstrong, CBC
Vancouver Still Photo Collection.
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
8 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM
Night Music, Studio Pacific, air date: April 17, 1967. Writer George Robertson. Cast Jackie
Burroughs, Terence Kelly, John Sparks, Rae Brown.
Night Music is a poignant story set in an all-night Laundromat, where a nave waitress (Jackie Burroughs)
discovers a strange young man (Terrence Kelly) sleeping in one of the dryers. He is a callous junior advertising
Terence Kelly and Jackie Burroughs on the set of Night Music (1967). Photo: Franz Lindner, CBC Still
Photo Collection
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
9 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM
executive, spending the night there on a bet. However, his strangeness and flattery captures the heart of the
vulnerable young woman.
Night Music was written by Vancouver writer/producer George Robertson. The play, Robertson said in a 1967
CBC Times article about the production, resulted from a true story about a Toronto actress named Jackie
Burroughs. According to the story, one night she walked into an all-night Laundromat on DuPont Street where
she found a young man asleep in a dryer. She later became his girlfriend. Robertson explains that this bizarre
fact set me to considering the possibilities of the incident for a short TV play and, of course, Jackie Burroughs
should play the part of the girl. That young man was Zalman Yanovsky, of the folk-rock band The Lovin Spoonful.
And the actress? None other than Canadian acting icon, Jackie Burroughs, who stars in this play as the young
waitress. Talk about an extraordinary example of art imitating life!
In Robertsons version of the story, the young man is not a member of a folk-rock band, but is a member of that
faceless generation of bright young men in their twenties on the road to executive success. Robertson explains
that the young man is in the dryer on a prank, an event as unmotivated as the nocturnal entertainments his friends
devise for themselves. The plain and vulnerable waitress who discovers the young man, Robertson reveals,
becomes slowly and surely victimized by the young mans virtuoso display of verbal flattery. Or is it really just
flattery?
There are ambiguities in Night Music because so much of life is ambiguous. When Night Music is
over, it has been just that a tune heard in the sleeping recesses of the heart, the melody difficult
and painful to recall. George Robertson
**********
With up and coming Canadian actors like Margot Kidder, Jackie Burroughs and Terrence Kelly appearing in well
written CBUT dramas along with established international actors like Patrick Mcnee and Mercedes McCambridge,
it appears that the dramas CBUT produced at the time were part of a very significant and exciting scene. Brock
University television studies Professor Emerita, Mary Jane Miller, further explains that television drama from
Vancouver has been a distinctive voice from a distinctive region of the countryR Vancouver has frequently been
ignored and underfunded, yet it has enjoyed the freedom to go its own way.
For a more insightful and in depth investigation into the history of CBC television drama (at least its first 25 years),
I recommend Mary Jane Millers book: Turn Up the Contrast: CBC Television Drama since 1952, UBC Press
(1987). Especially chapter 10 Regional or What Toronto doesnt know!, a regional look at CBC television
drama. Also recommended is Dennis Duffys: Camera West: British Columbia on Film 1941-1965, Provincial
Archives of BC (1986).
Fun Fact: You can see examples of some of CBUTs early dramas at the Cinemathque in a history of film in BC
series curated by Harry Killas of ECUADs film studies department. On Monday, January 26, 2015 two episodes
of Cariboo Country will be screened.
.
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
10 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM
4 THOUGHTS ON 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF CBUT, PART 4 DRAMA FROM THE LEFT COAST
.
.
SHARE THIS:
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged broadcasting history, CBC Television, CBC Vancouver,
CBUT, Drama, history, Margot Kidder, Mercedes McCambridge, television broadcasting history, television
drama, Vancouver by vanalogue. Bookmark the permalink [https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01
/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-part-4-drama-from-the-left-coast/] .
3 bloggers like this.
60th Anniversary of CBUT- Part
3 - CBUT and the 1954 British
Empire & Commonwealth
Games
60th anniversary of CBUT - part
one
60th Anniversary of CBUT -
Part 2 - All That Jazz
Judith Maxie
on January 13, 2015 at 2:33 pm said:
Bravo Vanalogue! R.. on this fascinating, illuminating research and documentation which
continues to prove a pet peeve of mineR..that it is not so much we, as Canadians, dont
know when we have done something wrong, but rather, that we often do not know when
we have done something exactly right! How sad that some of this brilliant, innovative
programming may be lost forever. But thank you for the treasure of these Vanalogue
stories.
60th anniversary of CBUT, Part 4 Drama from the left coast | vanalogue https://vanalogue.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/60th-anniversary-of-cbut-pa...
11 of 12 1/8/2016 10:05 PM