Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Magic Tom

Les,

Here is a photo of Magic Tom wich I posted on the old site. Thomas Rochford Auburn was raised in Verdun and attended St Willibrord school.

Guy

29 comments:

Bill McKiernon said...

I had the pleasure of being on the "Magic Tom" Show twice Once for a Birthday, and the other time was to display a "postcard collection" It was thrilling to see the CFCF studios on both visits. I still don't know how he made that "Magic Candy" in the cylinder. Fond memories for sure

pommy pomolive said...

Magic Tom would come up to Camp Chapleau to do his show and all us kids take part in it some how.I was the camera person once and have the photos to show for it,lol,lol

Guy Billard said...

Pomolive,
What are you waiting for to post your photos, we are anxiously waiting to see them.
Guy

carole roach said...

I loved Magic Tom, remember Johnny JellyBean?

pauline garneau said...

Hi claroleca0Yes Magic Tom,Johnny Jelly Bean, Friendly Giant, Romper Room,Chez Helene, Mr. Dress up,and way back Hoody Doody, Maggie Muggins, There must be more maybe you can remember them. Pauline

Mark Needelman said...

My older brother went to Monklands High School in the mid '60s with his daughter, and Magic Tom, her father,
used to pick her up after school.

carole roach said...

Hi Pauline, I remember most of them, but not Chez Helene, Howdy Doody was a bit before my time too. My brother Pete used to watch it. He fixed up a sqwak box in his bedroom too, like Johnny Jelly Bean. Of course there was good ole Captain Kangaroo.

pauline garneau said...

Hi clarolea0 I looked it up and Chez Helene started in 1959 and ran until 1973 It was a 15 minute daily program on English TV. The characters were Helene, the main character spoke french Louise, was bilingual and a puppet named Suzie who spoke english.Does anything of this help to ring a bell?

Diane Roberts said...

I remember most of these characters except Chez Helene. What about old TV shows, like The Plouffe Family, Wayne & Shuster, Davey Crockett, Bonanza and does anyone remember the name of the Canadian show that was about a fur trader/adventurer...was it Radisson? ...Diane

pauline garneau said...

Poor Chez Helene
I remember The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday night when the song When You Wish Upon A Star would play it was just magical. No matter what kind of story ,it was always good.I never thought that I would be able to visit Disney Land ,it was so far away by car and traveling by plane back then would cost millions.

robert jomphe said...

Funny that you mention Radisson because it as a Verdun connection the actor who played Radisson was Jacques Godin I was in fifth grade with is brother, I believed that is family at that time lived on fifth avenue you know how Verduners move around without leaving. He used to bring signed pictures of his brother who was very popular at the time. I tried to copy the picture from this site but failed http://www.fse.uqam.ca/milieuxdefavorises/serie_C/23.html

Bill McKiernon said...

Not too many people remember Maggie Muggins (My sister's nickname too,) Chey Helene was a good show too. Remember petite souris and her squeaky voice. IT was the idea that started the Muppets I think. Johnny Jellybean's "Cliff-hanger theatre" was the reason that I RAN home from school for lunch, and "just made it" back in time for the afternoon classes

carole roach said...

Hi Pony, I think I do recall the puppet named Suzie, but not sure. I wonder if there's of picture of Chez Helene somewhere? It might help if I saw it.

pauline garneau said...

http://www.tvarchive.ca/database/16574/chez_h%E9l%E8ne/details/ Hi claroleca0 If you copy and paste this site you will see a small picture but enough to refresh your memory.It was highly rated for years but I guess it did it's time.If it doesn't work I just googled chez helene.Pauline
You can just click on the site it works I just tried it.

Diane Roberts said...

Hey Robert, thanks for the site with the photo of "Radisson". Must admit I don't recognise him in that uniform, but I was surprised at how much I could read in French! I never spoke French, even after private lessons in Montreal and Australia! Guess I don't have an ear for languages and when we've visited Quebec or France over the years, I rely on my bilingual husband Richard too much!
I love the language, but it doesn't love me back!...Diane

robert jomphe said...

I would think French easier than Australian. Ha ha
When my wife(Donna Gray) came to Magdalen Islands I was afraid she would have trouble with the French due to all the different accents in all twelve villages. She understood everything but could not figure out what the English population from the three English villages was saying. It's sounds like Newfoundland English

Diane Roberts said...

You have a point Robert....when we first moved here 35 years ago, I really had trouble understanding a couple of my neighbours with their strong Aussie accents. I think they must have thought I was a dumb bunny from Canada because I was continually asking them to repeat what they'd said. Still didn't get it half the time!...Diane P.S. Funny thing is my teenage boyfriends were all French and their English all improved!

carole roach said...

Hi pony, yes thanks it did refresh my memory somewhat. I think now, maybe was Chez Helene on just for a short time before Friendly Giant.
It's too bad there was never a taping of Johnny Jelly Bean, (or so I've heard in the past), it brings back memories of my deceased brother since he liked Johnny so much.

pauline garneau said...

Claroleca0 I can relate, its nice when something sparks a pleasant memory of our loved ones who are no longer with us.All those programs from our youth bring back happy memories .We're lucky we had them. Take care Pauline

Sandy Walsh said...

When we first got our tv, there was a crazy thing on called Papineau and Cappucine - puppet kind of people - I used to watch it all the time along with The Famille Plouffe.

pauline garneau said...

Yes Famille Plouffe and Papineau and Cappucine and do you remember the weatherman Percy Saltzman when he would have a big piece of chalk and scribble all over the board and Wednesday night wrestling the little midgets the one with the beaver haircut. The cartoons on Saturday morning that were in black and white , the silent ones and your imagination and your emotions went wild. Remember the cartoons that made you cry. Watching the Eaton’s Santa Clause parade on TV .Going to Eaton's store and having a ride on the train and getting a pumpkin head book. By today’s standards TV was so low tech but for us it was so good . Who can remember being able to laugh out loud when watching something funny on TV.Those were the good old days.Pauline

Sandy Walsh said...

Did you know that Percy just died only two years ago. Here is an interesting acticle on him

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Saltzman

pauline garneau said...

Thanks for that link, I didn't know anything about him but he was quite a well rounded personality

Gord Carlington said...

Does anyone know what years Magic Tom went to Willibrord ???

Gordo

Madeleine Boissonneault said...

I was on Magic Tom's first Christmas program in 196l....does anyone know how I procure a copy or see the show? Madeleine

Gord Carlington said...

I am still wondering as to what Years Magic Tom attended St Willibrord

Anyone know ?
Gord

pauline garneau said...

http://sammontreal.com/tom.html
Hi Gord - This link doesn't tell you the exact date but he was born in 1917 moved to Verdun at the age of 10 (1927) and moved to NDG 1936 . Hope this helps.......Pauline

Margaret Wardell said...

I lived Magic Tom! He did magic tricks at my birthday parties in the Piazza Tomaso restaurant in Montreal in the late 50’s and early 60’s. My dad was the English personality at CKVL radio in Verdun (Montreal)!

Les_F said...

Thanks for surfing by Margaret, sounds like your birthday parties were a big hit when you were a kid. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers ! Les