Bye-Bye Tickle Trunk: The CBC Airs Final Episode of Mr. Dressup
Published September 03, 2006
When I heard that Ernie Coombs had died, a part of me was happy. He died in the early days of September of 2001, news of his death obscured by the bigger things that happened that autumn. When I heard the news, a few days after he had died, after "everything changed," I remember thinking that I was glad that Mr. Dressup hadn't lived to see that. Ernie Coombs died on September 18, 2001, after a stoke on September 10. Amid my grief, that distant and acute grief of losing an icon of childhood, I felt relief that a man most often described as gentle hadn't had to see what the rest of us had.
Mr. Dressup, both the man and the program, are iconic to those who grew up in Canada during the 29 years the show was produced. The CBC production featured the avuncular Mr. Dressup, deliberately androgynous puppet Casey and his (or her) silent best friend, Finnegan the dog. Mr. Dressup lived alone, but he kept plenty of craft supplies on hand to entertain his guests. In the back was a treehouse where Casey and Finnegan would spend their time, a treehouse that was just the right height for Mr. Dressup to lean on as he chatted to Casey, while glancing back out towards his real audience, on the other side of the glass.
For them, for me, the highlight of the show was the Tickle Trunk. It couldn't have been just me. After Ernie Coombs retired, he pulled his cap and gown from the Tickle Trunk at a Trent University commencement ceremony where he received an honorary degree; the graduates were delighted, tickled with joy, perhaps. This act echoed that time in every show where Mr. Dressup would earn his name. He would open up the brightly coloured, beflowered trunk, pull out a fabulous costume — a magician, a bear, a dragon, a snowman — and he would play, unselfconsciously, at inhabiting those clothes. Sometimes he'd sing. Sometimes he'd dance. Sometimes he would tell corny jokes. His 'let's pretend' games were always goofy, but they were never abashed; Mr. Dressup clearly liked the Tickle Trunk best, too.
- Bye-Bye Tickle Trunk: The CBC Airs Final Episode of Mr. Dressup
- Published: September 03, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: News, Video: Film and TV Business, Video: Family, Video: Classics, Culture: Society, Video: Television
- Writer: Bonnie
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Comments on this articleComments
It is sad to hear that CBC is dropping this show. I'd love to see Mr. Dressup continue in re-runs, offering my child the same opportunities to grow and learn from the show the way I did. Unfortunately that won't happen (and yes, I have heard about the DVD's, but that's not the same... sure - you can get a few DVD's, but once you've seen them 8, 10, 20 or more times, you need some new content).
I'd like to suggest that anyone who would like to continue to see Mr. Dressup re-runs to continue to have a home somewhere to take a moment to contact Treehouse TV and suggest the show be added to their lineup. For anyone who doesn't know, Treehouse is a Canadian Cable TV / Satellite channel which runs programming (all day long) aimed at the 6 and under age. In fact, a lot of the other programming which runs as a part of CBC Kids' lineup also gets shown on Treehouse. In my opinion, it would be offer a good home for the Tickle Trunk. Who knows if they would consider adding the show, but if enough people emailed them, they just might consider it.
YOU WERE HAPPY WHEN HE DIED?
WHATS YOUR PROBLEM!!??!!
I loved Mr. Dressup, and always will. honestly i cant imagine living without ever watching his shows. they were awesome. Mr. Dressup was personally my hero and i am actually doing a research essay on him and came across this site. Mr. Dressup is very intersting to look up on he has alot of history and im sad he went at a early age. Mr. Dressup did alot for the world of Childrens Entertainment and no show in my books can top Mr. Dressup. Ernie Coombs is honestly my hero hehe. me and Carly to say. and i wish he was still here and i wish i could have met him. But things cant change and i have accepted the fact he's gone. I still watch his show his show anytime i see it on and i look forward to it. Mr.Dressup inspired me to draw and now today im a pretty good drawer. Ernie Coombs is my hero.
I actually had the chance to meet Mr. Dressup! A long while ago he did a tour of the provinces and stopped in my hometown, Charlottetown. My mother used to be an usherette at the theatre (confederation center of the arts). I was allowed to go and find my seat before anyone else was allowed in. While I was sitting there all alone waiting for the show to start he came out on the stage to do a sound check. I sat there in absolute awe and couldn't believe that he was right in front of me. I remember talking to him, but I was so little I can't remember what we talked about. Although I do remember that for a good while after that show, meeting him was all I could talk about. He was a very nice man.
I remeber Mr.Dressup so well i remeber when we didn't have stalite TV and i used to wake up early everyday just to watch him while my mom cleaned the house and then i would mess it up with my potatoe stamps and other crafts just as she finished cleaning.even my mom says that he was one of her heros when she was little he really effected people's lifes in a very good way
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I grew up on this show and while I may not watch it on dvd now, it was a big part of my young tv-watching life. It was a terrific show!