Cucumber (Canadian TV series) explained

Cucumber is a TV show produced by TVOntario in the 1970s, and repeated in the 1980s during TVOntario's daytime kids' programming.^[1]

The show's title was an acronym for Children's Underground Club of United Moose and Beaver for Enthusiastic Reporters.^[2] It featured a human-sized moose (played in costume by Alex Laurier) and beaver (Nikki Tilroe) living in a treehouse, and acting as amateur journalists as they present various educational segments on topics such as science or history.^[2] Segments were keyed to Ontario's elementary school curriculum, so that the show could be used as a teaching tool in schools.^[3]

By sending in a story or some artwork to the show (the mailing address was in Toronto), one could become a member of the Cucumber Club.^[3]

Guest stars

Some notable people appeared on the show:

• John Candy guest starred as a character named Weatherman
• Martin Short guest starred as a character named Smokey the Hare
• An interview featured a nine-year-old Jeff Healey.

Notes and References

1. "TVOntario-24 hits the camping trail packing seven shows for youngsters". Montreal Gazette, April 18, 1987.
2. Fred Rainsberry, A History of Children's Television in English Canada, 1952-1986. Scarecrow Press, 1988. .
3. "Two- way television tunes in the classroom". The Globe and Mail, October 17, 1975.