Network: CBC Television Network
Broadcast Run: 1966
Broadcast Medium: Television
Aired Saturday nights, after hockey, from September 17 to December 10, 1966.
This new program filled a difficult time slot. It was held by one of the most popular singers in Canadian television, Juliette. The show featured the duo, Malka & Joso, a unique combination of talent popular on radio and variety shows. They sang songs in different languages, and featured some great folk music singers, but it wasn’t enough to sustain a season. According to Alex Barris, who chronicled this story in a chapter of his memoir, the show tried to soften the format to make the show less ethnic. This move created friction between the cast and the producer resulting in the show’s cancellation. Barris was head writer at the time.
Nevertheless, the show did feature some great guests: Odetta, Yma Sumac, Miriam Makeba, Jan Rubes and Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. From a technical stand-point, the show made the conversion from black and white to colour after a couple of episodes.
Producer: Mark Warren
Musical Director: Rudy Toth
Choreographer: Andy Body
Written by John Corcelli – May, 2005