CBC Museum
Encyclopedia
The CBC Museum is dedicated to the preserving the physical heritage and archival materials relating to the history of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
. It is located in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre
at 250 Front Street
West, Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. The museum was founded in 1994.
The museum features a number of interactive exhibits where people can call up excerpts from famous CBC television shows, including children's series, news and sport events.
Two major exhibits are currently on display at the museum: Growing Up with CBC and CBC Radio Sound Effects. The former features various props, puppets, photos, and video clips from two CBC children's shows: Mr. Dressup
and Sesame Park
, although the Neighborhood Trolley from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
is also on display. The latter displays many of the objects and equipment used by the sound effects department at the CBC for many years.
In addition, the museum has an interactive video area where clips from various documentary and news programs over the years can be viewed, as well as exhibits of vintage recording equipment, cameras and microphones.
The exhibits actually extend beyond the somewhat-modest size of the museum, with Casey and Finnegan's treehouse from Dr. Dressup located across from the entrance, and additional exhibits of memorabilia and photographs in display cases around the CBC lobby.
had been on display, but were removed at the request of the family of Bob Homme
after the CBC allowed the props to be used in a skit at the 2007 Gemini Awards
without the family's permission. The castle wall and window that Friendly would lean over to talk to Jerome and Rusty, however, is still in the museum.
Theatre, a small 40-seat venue projects video onto a screen made to look like a giant version of a 1950's era wooden television set. It displays a loop of selected classic CBC television shows. Shows rotate on a monthly basis. Past selections have included episodes from such series as Peppiatt & Aylesworth, The Tommy Hunter
Show, The Frantics, 4 on the Floor, and The Kids in the Hall
.
, CHIN
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
. It is located in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre
Canadian Broadcasting Centre
The Canadian Broadcasting Centre, located in Toronto, Ontario, is the broadcast headquarters and master control point for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's English-language television and radio services...
at 250 Front Street
Front Street (Toronto)
Front Street is an east-west road in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The street marks the rough outline of the shoreline of Lake Ontario as it existed during the original English settlement of York, then called Palace Street...
West, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The museum was founded in 1994.
The museum features a number of interactive exhibits where people can call up excerpts from famous CBC television shows, including children's series, news and sport events.
Major exhibits
Mr. Dressup
Mr. Dressup is a Canadian children's television series produced by CBC Television that ran from 1967 to 1996.The series starred Ernie Coombs as Mr. Dressup. The show aired every weekday morning, and each day Mr...
and Sesame Park
Sesame Park
Sesame Park was a Canadian version of Sesame Street. In its first format, it was referred to as Canadian Sesame Street and was a re-edited version of the American series; it adopted a new format and the Sesame Park title in 1996....
, although the Neighborhood Trolley from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, also known as Mister Rogers, is an American children's television series that was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. The series is aimed primarily at preschool ages, 2-5, but has been stated by Public Broadcasting Service as "appropriate for all ages"...
is also on display. The latter displays many of the objects and equipment used by the sound effects department at the CBC for many years.
In addition, the museum has an interactive video area where clips from various documentary and news programs over the years can be viewed, as well as exhibits of vintage recording equipment, cameras and microphones.
The exhibits actually extend beyond the somewhat-modest size of the museum, with Casey and Finnegan's treehouse from Dr. Dressup located across from the entrance, and additional exhibits of memorabilia and photographs in display cases around the CBC lobby.
Loss of Friendly Giant artifacts
Props for The Friendly GiantThe Friendly Giant
The Friendly Giant is a popular Canadian children's television program that aired on CBC Television from September 1958 through to March 1985...
had been on display, but were removed at the request of the family of Bob Homme
Bob Homme
Robert "Bob" Homme, CM was an American-born television actor, best known as the host of The Friendly Giant, a popular Canadian children's television program from the 1950s through the 1980s, which was broadcast on CBC Television.Homme became a citizen of Canada in the early 1990s, holding dual...
after the CBC allowed the props to be used in a skit at the 2007 Gemini Awards
2007 Gemini Awards
The 22nd Gemini Awards were held on October 28, 2007 in Regina, Saskatchewan to honour achievements in Canadian television. The ceremony was broadcast on CBC Television...
without the family's permission. The castle wall and window that Friendly would lean over to talk to Jerome and Rusty, however, is still in the museum.
Adjacent theatre
Adjacent to the Museum is the Graham SpryGraham Spry
- Further reading :*Babe, Robert. "Graham Spry" in Canadian Communications Thought: Ten Foundational Writers. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-7949-0.*McChesney, Robert W. , Canadian Journal of Communication 24....
Theatre, a small 40-seat venue projects video onto a screen made to look like a giant version of a 1950's era wooden television set. It displays a loop of selected classic CBC television shows. Shows rotate on a monthly basis. Past selections have included episodes from such series as Peppiatt & Aylesworth, The Tommy Hunter
Tommy Hunter
Thomas James "Tommy" Hunter, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian country music performer, known as "Canada's Country Gentleman".-Career:...
Show, The Frantics, 4 on the Floor, and The Kids in the Hall
The Kids in the Hall
The Kids in the Hall is a Canadian sketch comedy group formed in 1984, consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson. Their eponymous television show ran from 1988 to 1994 on CBC in Canada, and 1989 to 1995 on CBS and HBO in the United States...
.
Public access
The museum is open weekdays from 9am - 5pm. It is closed statutory holidays. The facility is wheelchair accessible.Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.