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CBC Television Network

Cariboo Country

Network: CBC Television Network

Broadcast Run: 1960 to 1967

Broadcast Medium: Television

Debuted July 2, 1960 and aired weekly until September.

The series returned in 1964, airing at various times until 1967.

 Writer Paul St. Pierre described his show as less an actual, geographic location than a condition, a state of mind:” . . [it] may be a curious drama series, since almost all the people are singularly undramatic, given to understatement and to casualness, to indirection and to private humours. Probably the country makes them that way: strong, self-reliant, hospitable, individualistic, unpredictable.”

When Cariboo Country was first produced in 1960, it was literally shot in a garage that was converted into a television studio in Vancouver. Nevertheless, the fictional characters of the town of Namko, British Columbia, were popular with viewers. It was the story of Smith,whose first name was unknown, his wife Norah and their son, Sherwood. The family struggled to operate a small ranch in central British Columbia. Thirteen original episodes were produced in 1960; shown locally in Vancouver and later aired on the CBC network.

In 1964, armed with a larger budget, the CBC produced more episodes and added new characters to the story. One of the most significant additions was Chief Dan George, one of the first native actors on television. George was very successful in many commercial films, including The Outlaw Josey Wales by Clint Eastwood. The Serial ran nine episodes ending May 23, 1966.

Director of Photography, John Seale, Kelly Duncan

Cast:

Smith: David Hughes

Norah: Lillian Carlson

Sherwood: Greg Davies and Alan Cherrier

Ken Larson: Walter [Wally] Marsh

Arch MacGregor: Ted Sidder

Henry James: Lloyd Cartwright

Morton Dillonbeigh: Buck Kindt

Mrs. Dillonbeigh: Rae Brown

Sarah: Jean Sandy

Phyllistine: Nancy Sandy

OL Antoine: Chief Dan George

Frenchie Bernard: Joseph Golland

Johnny: Paul Stanley

Written by John Corcelli – May, 2005