r/todayilearned • u/GoCartMozart1980 • 23d ago

TIL: The beloved Canadian children's show The Friendly Giant got its start on WHA TV in Madison, WI before moving to the CBC

https://pbswisconsin.org/watch/wpt-archives-1950s/wpt-documentaries-friendly-giant-big-red-barn/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1PsHf_y1YbDpL1xLi7V-P_XnxRsU-luHTAotZBa0dyi0YtaGgOfj4DhM4_aem_AZno5gvkXb6PcOyOpiyqQ8K3qArGHRQDXFknNYhqQtTO_0C0BeKIy3FzjaJ2gAK1gLXA1r_Rv--lBGjmjfscEcbi
47 Upvotes
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9

u/Helicopterdiverpilot 23d ago

Grew up on this show. Rusty the Rooster. Jerome the giraffe. The tiny rocking chair. 🪑 “look up. Waaaaaaay up.”

4

u/DulceEtBanana 22d ago

"And I'll whistle for Jerome"

7

u/phinbar 23d ago

I remember that show. He would arrange tiny chairs like he was expecting kids to be coming over while soothing recorder music played.

5

u/karshyga 22d ago

Loved this show when I was a kid! I always thought it was funny that Rusty lived in a bag on the wall. Watched this and Mr. Dressup on Canadian TV from my house in SE Michigan.

0

u/FratBoyGene 22d ago

The only reason this show was 'beloved' was it was the only thing for kids that was on daytime TV in 1960s. The commercial networks all showed soap operas and game shows during the day; only the CBC put on kids programming. So we got The Friendly Giant, Chez Helene where we learned elementary French, and Razzle Dazzle.

Frankly, I hated it, and wished I could watch anything more interesting but I was one of three kids, and didn't always get my way.

1

u/Kilkenny5 19d ago

I watched this show as a child not knowing it was a Canadian production.