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ImagiNation: The Golden Age of Toronto Kids' TV
The incredible true story of how a motley crew of Toronto folk quietly revolutionized the medium of children’s television with minimal budgets and maximum imagination.
Between 1952 and 2000, Toronto experienced a golden age in the production of local children’s television programs.
Starting with the very first broadcast on CBC, a fascinating nexus of media professionals, educators, and children’s entertainers, most with no formal training, came together with the purpose to elevate the medium — at the time the most powerful communications tool in the world &mdash and use it as an educational tool rather than simply a platform to sell product.
This era was truly the Wild West of TV — there was no rule book. Toronto’s diverse population allowed for a unique mix of perspectives and talent to embrace the challenge and run with it.
Sometimes successful, sometimes not, the work created during this era remains etched in the minds of several generations, including programs such as The Friendly Giant, Mr. Dressup, Polka Dot Door, Uncle Bobby, Today’s Special, The Elephant Show and the many Degrassi series.
Between 1952 and 2000, Toronto experienced a golden age in the production of local children’s television programs.
Starting with the very first broadcast on CBC, a fascinating nexus of media professionals, educators, and children’s entertainers, most with no formal training, came together with the purpose to elevate the medium — at the time the most powerful communications tool in the world &mdash and use it as an educational tool rather than simply a platform to sell product.
This era was truly the Wild West of TV — there was no rule book. Toronto’s diverse population allowed for a unique mix of perspectives and talent to embrace the challenge and run with it.
Sometimes successful, sometimes not, the work created during this era remains etched in the minds of several generations, including programs such as The Friendly Giant, Mr. Dressup, Polka Dot Door, Uncle Bobby, Today’s Special, The Elephant Show and the many Degrassi series.
352 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2026
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December 1, 2025
You’ll remember more than you think you will (I repeatedly experienced the magic of unlocked memories I didn’t know I still had). I’d love to see more histories of Canadian children’s television from other regions. Also, Nina Keogh should rightfully be a household name, considering her enormous body of work over the decades.
Displaying 1 of 1 review