Once Upon a Time in Hollywood North

4.7 (19)
TV & FILM
BIWEEKLY SERIES

Discover the captivating stories behind Canada's film and television industry with 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood North,' the must-listen podcast that takes you deep into the making of iconic movies and the stars who shaped the history of Canadian filmmaking. Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/cw/knockaboutmedia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE 1

Gordon Korman | Bestselling Author at 14

What if your middle school English project became a published book? That’s exactly what happened to Gordon Korman. At just 12 years old, he turned a classroom assignment into This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall—the start of a legendary career in children’s literature. Featuring insights from cultural historian Ed Conroy (Retrontario) and Gordon Korman himself, this episode is a nostalgic, funny, and inspiring look at how a kid from Thornhill, Ontario became a household name in children’s literature. For more reading: Snoop by Gordon Korman here. Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/cw/knockaboutmedia ImagiNation: The Golden Age of Toronto Kids' TV by Ed Conroy available here. Follow us on our socials: Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube Written & Hosted by Ryan Barnett Produced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti Recorded by Tyler Rauman Featuring Gordon Korman & Ed Conroy A Knockabout Media Production Additional audio material: Newspapers.com, CBC *This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

32 min
EPISODE 2

The Golden Age of Toronto Kids’ TV with Ed Conroy

In this episode, we explore the 50-year legacy of Toronto’s kids’ programming — from Uncle Chichimus and Canadian Howdy Doody to Razzle Dazzle, Today’s Special, The Kids of Degrassi Street, and the birth of YTV. Ed and Ryan discuss the early days of CBC children’s programming, the influence of Sesame Street, Francophone broadcasting in Ontario, and even the role of Christian programming in shaping the media landscape. If you love production history, nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes stories of classic CanCon, this episode is for you. Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/knockaboutmedia Order Ed’s book, Imagination: The Golden Age of Toronto Kids’ TV, from Dundurn Press or your favourite bookseller. Written & Hosted by Ryan Barnett Produced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti A Knockabout Media Production Archival audio courtesy of Retrontario. *This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1h 18m
EPISODE 3

Inside a Fraggle: John Tartaglia on Legacy, Puppetry, and Joy

John Tartaglia, Creative Supervisor for Fraggle Rock, joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about The First Snow of Fraggle Rock and the enduring legacy of Jim Henson’s Fraggle universe. We talk about John’s extraordinary start as a 16-year-old puppeteer on Sesame Street, the mentors who shaped him, and what it means to inherit a creative tradition built on empathy, humour, and emotional honesty. Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/cw/knockaboutmedia Written & Hosted by Ryan Barnett Produced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti A Knockabout Media Production *This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

36 min
EPISODE 4

Revisiting Tears Are Not Enough with Sean Quinlan

Before we head into a short break, we wanted to leave you with something special: a curious little detour into a very specific piece of Canadiana—“Tears Are Not Enough,” the all-star charity single that brought together some of the country’s biggest musical names in the 1980s. In this episode, Ryan is joined by Sean Quinlan—host of Excursions Radio and the voice of John Candy in our John Candy series—to revisit the song, the moment, the cultural weirdness, and the earnestness of it all. It’s a morsel, not a meal. Consider supporting us here: patreon.com/KnockaboutMedia Cited: Tears Are Not Enough (1985), directed by John Zaritsky 'Tears Are Not Enough,’ performed by Northern Lights, written by David Foster, Jim Vallance, and Bryan Adams, with additional French lyrics by Rachel Paiement, released in 1985. *This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

32 min
BONUS

You Might Also Like: We Regret to Inform You

Rejecting Monty Python: This week, we bring you this episode from our friends at We Regret to Inform You: The Rejection Podcast. Lo! Upon the first breath of Monty Python’s Flying Circus o’er the enchanted waves of BBC One, scribes within the castle walls did trade many a curious whisper and scroll, to wit: “This episode contained two really awful sketches.” “The treatment of the national anthem is not amusing.” “Parts of this…are disgusting.” And, “The death sequence was in appalling taste.” Prithee, join us. Listen to PART II Major sources for this episode include: TV Series: “Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyer’s Cut)” BBC: “Monty Python at 50” The Guardian: “Monty is 30” The Sunday Post: “The Story of Monty Python” BBC: “‘It was a magical chemical balance’: How Monty Python and the Holy Grail became a comedy legend” Smithsonian Magazine: “And Now For Something Completely Different” Screen Online: “The Roots of Monty Python” Vulture: “John Cleese on The Goon Show, His Earliest Comedy Influence” Writer & Host: Sidney Hirst-O’Reilly Executive Producer & Co-Host: Terry O’Reilly Researcher & Series Producer: Allison Pinches Director: Callie O’Reilly Supervising Producer: Debbie O’Reilly Engineer: Geoff Devine Theme music: Casey Pick, Jeremiah Pick & James Atin Tunes: APM Music *This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 min
BONUS

New from Knockabout: Rocket War

In the early hours of August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, setting off a chain of events that would draw Canada into the first Gulf War. In this opening episode of Rocket War, we explore how Canada went from peacekeeping posture to active military engagement in the Persian Gulf. Featuring firsthand accounts from sailors, air force personnel, and military historians, we trace Canada’s early response to the crisis, the political calculations of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and the rapid deployment of Canadian naval and air assets under Operation Friction. From Halifax Harbour to the Strait of Hormuz, listeners hear what it was like to prepare for war, enforce the UN embargo, and confront the reality of a modern conflict unfolding on live television. Thirty-five years later, Rocket War revisits the decisions, risks, and human experiences that defined Canada’s role in the Gulf War—beginning with the moment everything changed. DOWNLOAD OUR DISCUSSION QUESTIONS HERE Written by William Patterson Host/Executive Producer Ryan Barnett This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. Featuring original interviews with Tim Courtney, Harold Davis, David Deere, Chris Linford, Donald MacPherson, Dr. Sean Maloney, Nathasha Mohr, Paul Molnar, Jean Morin, Claude St.Onge, and the Honorable Rebecca Patterson Voice direction by Sonia Gemmiti Series consultant is Jean Morin An original production of Knockabout Media *This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 min
BONUS

The Night's Most Important Man

What does it take to build a cultural empire when the doors are closed to you? This episode comes courtesy of The Black Hum, produced by Knockabout Media and hosted by Cindy Charles. In this special feed drop, we bring you the extraordinary story of Rufus Rockhead, a Jamaican immigrant, First World War veteran, railway porter, bootlegger, and visionary entrepreneur who built Rockhead’s Paradise into the beating heart of Montreal’s jazz scene. If you enjoy this episode, find The Black Hum wherever you get your podcasts and dive into Season 2 for five powerful stories of Canadians who changed the cultural landscape. *Download our Discussion Questions for your class* Host Cindy Charles Writer Nuruddin Qorane Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Associate Producer Cindy Charles Voice Director & Editor Sonia Gemmiti Researcher Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Series Consultants Kathy Grant & Mathias Joost This series features interviews with Lt. Jerome Downey, Robert Downey, Jr., Michael Marville, Stephen Dame, Mathias Joost, Kathy Grant, Constance Backhouse, Dr. Dorothy Williams Additional voices by Keith Francis & Matthew Barnett Featuring "Hello Montreal" performed by Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians A Knockabout Media Production This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. *This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30 min

See All Season 4 (7)

4.7

out of 5

19 Ratings

Heyo

07/01/2022

kevman004

Love the pod! Keep up the good work

Discover the captivating stories behind Canada's film and television industry with 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood North,' the must-listen podcast that takes you deep into the making of iconic movies and the stars who shaped the history of Canadian filmmaking. Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/cw/knockaboutmedia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.