Remembering “Mr. Dressup”: Stimulating the imagination

Mr. Dressup with Casey and dog Finnegan in "Mr. Dressup", a children's show that aired on CBC.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Dressup

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Can you tell me how to find a trunk that can hold as much stuff as the one Mr. Dressup had? I was always fascinated by how deep that thing must have been, to hold as much stuff as he pulled out of there, day after day and week after week. Just like Oscar the Grouch’s garbage can.

I was thinking about that trunk, and Casey and Finnegan, and of course Mr. Dressup himself the other day. I saw a documentary has been made about Mr. Dressup and debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival.

On the air
To be honest, I don’t have a lot of specific memories of “Mr. Dressup”. I recall the show was on CBC Channel 9 on the peasant vision dial, and was on the weekday morning schedule with “The Friendly Giant” and “Sesame Street”.

I started school when I was five years old, and I don’t have a lot of memories before that. That is usually the time children would watch shows such as “Mr. Dressup”, “The Friendly Giant”, and “Sesame Street”.

The only times I remember watching it were when I was home sick from school, which was rare because I hated missing school, and in the summer time. That was also rare because I was usually outside or elsewhere.

Memories
The memories I do have of Mr. Dressup are kind of scattered.

He was played by Ernie Coombs, which I felt pretty good about learning. It felt like I shared a little secret, just me and him.

His two friends were puppets Casey, a child, and Finnegan, his dog. They often talked in front of Casey and Finnegan’s treehouse too.

The other settings were Mr. Dressup’s living room, kitchen, and a play room. He often read stories, played games, and did crafts.

I remember he drew a lot too, like he was illustrating a point from a story. I also recall really liking that art, and trying to mimic it in my own living room at home.

There was also the Tickle Trunk that housed the costumes Mr. Dressup wore to play make believe. I always wondered how much could be stored in such a seemingly small amount of space.

The years after
“Mr. Dressup” aired from 1967 to 1996.

Sadly, Ernie Coombs died of a stroke in September of 2001.

He was 73 years old.

Parting thoughts
I may not have a lot of pointed memories of “Mr. Dressup” like I do a lot of the TV I watched in the 1980s.

However, as I wrote this something occurred to me.

“Mr. Dressup” stimulated my imagination.

When he drew pictures, I wanted to draw too. When he read stories, I wanted to write my own stories.

Perhaps the effect he had on me was much more subtle, but powerful, than I realize.

I plan on watching the documentary on “Mr. Dressup”, to see how deep that influence was, and what kind of memories it conjures.

In any event, stimulating my imagination is enough.

For that, I am eternally grateful.