Network: CBC Television Network
Broadcast Run: 1974 to 1977
Broadcast Medium: Television
Aired Monday nights from September to November, 1974. Repeated Sunday afternoons during the summer of 1975. Aired Monday nights from September to October, 1975; Aired Sunday afternoons from January to April, 1977.
This half hour program was essentially a series of filmed essays by notable writers. Each program focussed on a particular cultural or societal issue at home and abroad.
For instance, the first program featured Robertson Davies offering his comments on the city where he lived. This show was called, Three-and-half cheers for Toronto. Other shows in the first season included The Politics of Experience with R. D. Laing; The Vasser Girl with Mary McCarthy discussing the recent Watergate story in the United States, and writer Conor Cruise O’Brien discussing the Irish conflict in Enough of a Terrible Beauty.
More Canadians were included in the 1975 season, including Mordecai Richler talking about his life in England and the need to return to Montreal. This episode was titled Coming Home Again. Quebec playwright Michel Tremblay offered his commentary about the acceptance of his work in a chapter called A Celebration. Canadian-born writer Mavis Gallant offered her ideas about living and working in another country, in a show called Perceptions of France.
John McGreevy and Jeannine Locke shared duties as producers for the series.
Written by John Corcelli – September, 2005