As much as I write off anything and everything in terms of Canadian content on television these days I have to consider myself lucky for some of the oddball entertainment that came out of seventies and eighties in the form of childrens shows.

I can remember waking up every Saturday and Sunday morning to The Hilarious House of Frightenstein which included a whole slew of sketches based around a castle filled with goons, monsters, mad scientists, a midget vampire, a stoned guru and a flying hippie with super powers. Canadian comedian Billy Van played almost every character on the show and would spend a few weeks at a time filming an entire season’s worth of footage for each of his characters thus leaving each episode without any kind of continuity or theme. Looking back however, I think this was the real charm of the show. It gave a half assed effort at trying to come across as some kind of alt-Sesame Street but ultimately ended of being a melting pot of weirdo characters, confusing writing and hilariously awkward improv. The Maharishi was always good for some WTF moments:

The show was filmed in Ontario’s own Buffalo, N.Y. aka Hamilton at the local station CHCH 11 and is arguably the only good thing to come out of the city ever since. Some of you South of Canada might remember this show as it was picked up by a few American networks and aired throughout the states and drew attention from all kinds of heads including horror guru Vincent Price who contributed the intro and a number of monologues to each episode.

I have to admit that as I grow older I begin to realize just how incredible this show really was and how much I miss the Wolfman and his fat buddy Igor struggling to dance in front of the Chroma-Key to some golden oldies while swinging bat guitars and plastic baseball bats.

- Dr. No