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Shining Time Station

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Shining Time Station
Shining Time Station title screen
Created byBritt Allcroft
Rick Sigglekow
Directed byMatthew Diamond
Gregory Lehane
Stan Swan
Wayne Moss
John Ferrero
Steve Wright
StarringRingo Starr (1989-1990)
George Carlin (1991-1993)
Didi Conn
Leonard Jackson (1989)
Tom Jackson (1991-1993)
Nicole Leach (1989-1990)
Jason Woliner (1989-1990)
Erica Luttrell (1991-1993)
Ari Magder (1991-1993)
Danielle Marcot (1991-1993)
Brian O'Connor
Theme music composerJoe Raposo
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes76
Production
Running time22-23 minutes
60 minutes (1995 specials)
Original release
NetworkPBS, YTV
ReleaseJanuary 29, 1989 (1989-01-29) –
June 11, 1993 (1993-06-11)
Related
Thomas and Friends

Shining Time Station is an American children's television series co-created by Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow. The series was produced by The Britt Allcroft Company and Quality Family Entertainment in New York for New York City PBS Station WNET, and was filmed first in New York and then in Toronto. The series aired on PBS from January 1989 to June 1993, but aired re-runs until 1997. It aired on Fox Family from 1998 to 1999. It also aired on Nick Jr. and on other Canadian TV networks, such as APTN and SCN.

Background

After the success of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends in the United Kingdom, Allcroft and her production company teamed up with PBS Station WNET in New York to produce and distribute the sitcom-esque Shining Time Station. Every episode of the show would include a couple of episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. The series starred Ringo Starr, George Carlin, Didi Conn, Brian O'Connor, The Flexitoon Puppets, and Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.[1] Ringo Starr, who had already been providing the voice of the story-teller for the British series, agreed to extend the role to include the on-screen character Mr. Conductor in Shining Time Station. He later left the show and was replaced by George Carlin.

Shining Time Station received critical acclaim. In a review for Entertainment Weekly, Ken Tucker states that, compared to the faster paced Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, "Shining Time Station wants to slow things down; it's an old- fashioned show that creates a gentle, lulling atmosphere to convince children that life is fun and that trains are the way to travel."[2]

Awards

  • A Gemini
  • A Parents Choice
  • An Action For Children's Television Award
  • An Angel award
  • Three Emmy nominations

Overview

Shining Time Station is a train station that resides on the Indian Valley Railroad. The station is managed by Stacy Jones, the station master whose grandmother, Gracie Jones (who gave the station its name), ran the station when she was Stacy's age. The station's workshop is run by railroad engineer and mechanic Harry Cupper. In the second season, Harry is transferred to a new station in Fort Farley and is replaced by Billy Twofeathers.

A local named Horace Schemer (simply called Schemer by his friends) runs the station's arcade and is always finding new ways to make more money or to protect his arcade. He serves as the series' comic relief. Schemer thinks that strange goings-on in the station happen because the station is haunted. His catch phrases include "Genius time" (for when he has an idea), "Schemer's system of success" (for when he wants to impress his friends) and "This place is haunted". Starting in the second season, Schemer would sometimes be aided in his schemes by his nephew, Schemee.

Harry's granddaughter, Tanya, and Stacy's nephew, Matt, also visit the station often. In the second season, three new children visit the station: Harry's second granddaughter, Kara; Stacy's second nephew, Dan; and a new girl named Becky.

Other visitors to the station include various townspeople, such as socialite and gossip Midge Smoot, farmer Ginny Johnson, general store proprietor Barton Winslow, bus driver Felix Perez, newspaper reporter Jake Scoop, Mayor Osgood Bob Flopdinger of East Shemp (The town name likely a reference to comedian Shemp Howard), and Mr. J.B. King, Esq., the superintendent of the Indian Valley Railroad. Schemer often calls him "Mr. J.B. King Esq., exauted head".

There is a jukebox inside the arcade that houses a band that perform for the nickels that are dropped inside. The band consists of lead singer/drummer Didi, twin guitarists Tex and Rex (who play one giant guitar together), bassist/vocalist Grace, and pianist Tito; their manager is J.J. Silvers (who was introduced in 1993 VHS tapes but appeared in one of the 1995 specials).

Mr. Conductor is a tiny man who lives in a signal house inside the station's mural and tells the stories of "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" to the kids. He can teleport in a cloud of his magic gold dust. In the second season, it is learned that he went to the North Pole at the end of the Christmas special and his cousin, also named Mr. Conductor (or Mr. C for short), moved into the signal house and took on the role that his cousin played in the first season.

Cast

Series Regulars

Season 1 Regulars

Christmas Special Characters

Seasons 2-3 Regulars

Recurring Characters (Full Series)

  • Jerome Dempsey - Mayor Osgood Bob Flopdinger
  • Mart Hulswit - Mr. J.B. King, Esq.
  • Bobo Lewis - Midge Smoot
  • Albert Schultz - Jake Scoop

Recurring Characters (Season 2-3)

  • Barbara Hamilton - Ginny
  • Jonathan Shapiro - Schemee
  • Gerard Parkes - Barton Winslow
  • Aurelio Padrón - Felix Perez

The Jukebox Band

  • Jonathan Freeman - Tito Swing
  • Olga Marin - Didi
  • Wayne White/Alan Semok/Rory Dodd - Tex
  • Craig Marin - Rex
  • Peter Baird/Vaneese Thomas - Grace the Bass (1989–1990)
  • Beverly Glenn - Grace the Bass (1991–1995)

Their songs were produced by Steve Horelick with arrangements by Steve Horelick and Larry Wolf.

Series' Segments

  • Flexitoons Puppets & Marionettes - The Jukebox Band
  • Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends - Storytellers Ringo Starr & George Carlin
  • A song with a cartoon, a stop motion clip, or a live action clip

Episodes

( * ) indicates episodes that were released commercially on VHS.

Season 1 (1989)

No. Title Thomas story 1 Thomas story 2 Jukebox Band Song Music Video
1 A Place Unlike Any Other Thomas Gets Tricked Edward Helps Out I've Been Working on the Railroad Start Where You Are
2 Does it Bite? Come Out, Henry! Henry to the Rescue Camptown Races Don't Be Afraid
3 And the Band Played Off A Big Day for Thomas Trouble for Thomas She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain Learn from Your Mistakes
4 Pitching In and Helping Out Thomas Saves the Day James Learns a Lesson Railroad Corral  
5 Show and Yell Foolish Freight Cars A Proud Day for James Freight Train Bounce Back
6 Faith, Hope and Anxiety Thomas and the Conductor Thomas Goes Fishing   The Kite Song
7 Agree to Disagree Terence the Tractor Thomas and Bertie's Great Race Abilene We Do Things Differently
8 Whistle While You Work Tenders and Turntables Trouble in the Shed Pop Goes the Weasel Let's All Work Together
9 Two Old Hands Percy Runs Away Thomas Comes to Breakfast A Railroader's Bride I'll Be Baking a Cake
10 Happy Accidents Henry's Special Coal The Flying Kipper The Wreck of Old 97'  
11 Ring in the Old Toby the Tram Engine Thomas Breaks the Rules Train is A' Comin' Old But Wise
12 Impractical Jokes A Cow on the Line Old Iron When Johnny Comes Marching Home  
13 Finders Keepers Double Trouble James in a Mess Desperado  
14 Just Wild About Harry's Workshop Duck Takes Charge Percy Proves a Point Union Train What Goes Around Comes Around
15 Promises, Promises Better Late Than Never Pop Goes the Diesel Oh! Susanna  
16 Words Out Diesel's Devious Deed A Close Shave for Duck Jesse James Be Good To Yourself
17 Too Many Cooks Gordon Takes a Dip Down the Mine Casey Jones  
18 Mapping it Out The Runaway Percy Takes the Plunge Red River Valley Follow Directions
19 Things That Go Gahooga in the Night Percy's Ghostly Trick Woolly Bear Oh My Darling, Clementine  
20 Is This the End? Saved from Scrap A New Friend for Thomas Little Black Train  

Christmas Special (1990)

No. Title Thomas story 1 Thomas story 2 Jukebox Band Songs Music Video
21 'Tis a Gift* TV: Terence the Tractor VHS: Thomas' Christmas Party TV: Thomas' Christmas Party VHS: Thomas & The Missing Christmas Tree Over the River and Through the Woods, Jingle Bells, It's Christmastime at the Railway Station, Simple Gifts The Hobo Song

Season 2 (1991)

No. Title Thomas story 1 Thomas story 2 Jukebox Band Song Music Video
22 Scare Dares Percy's Ghostly Trick Thomas, Percy and the Dragon Midnight Special What Am I Afraid Of?
23 Oh, What a Tangled Web Diesel's Devious Deed No Joke For James Mama Don't Allow  
24 The Magic is Believing Old Iron Edward's Exploit Nine Hundred Miles  
25 Win, Lose or Draw Double Trouble Gordon and the Famous Visitor Arkansas Traveler  
26 Sweet and Sour* Donald and Douglas The Deputation Erie Canal  
27 Achoo! Trust Thomas Whistles and Sneezes Cosher Bailey's Engine Caring
28 A Dog's Life James in a Mess The Trouble with Mud Home on the Range  
29 Field Day Percy Proves a Point Thomas and Bertie's Great Race Take Me Out to the Ballgame Everyone's a Winner
30 Wrong Track Thomas Saves the Day Down the Mine Sweet Betsy from Pike  
31 Washout Bertie's Chase Percy's Promise Cumberland Gap  
32 Crackpot Woolly Bear Henry's Forest John Henry  
33 Yabba, Yabba, Yabba Pop Goes the Diesel Diesel Does It Again Old Dan Tucker  
34 Nickel in a Pickle Thomas Comes to Breakfast Thomas Gets Bumped My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean  
35 Stop the Press Percy and the Signal A Big Day for Thomas Tennessee Central (Number 9)  
36 He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not Thomas, Percy and the Mail Train   Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair Would He Ever
37 Double Trouble The Diseasel Donald's Duck This Train  
38 Is Anybody There? Thomas Goes Fishing A Scarf for Percy Chattanooga Choo Choo  
39 Do I Hear? Mavis Toby's Tightrope The Riddle Song Better When He Grows Up
40 Jingle, Jingle, Jingle Time for Trouble Trouble for Thomas The City of New Orleans  
41 All's Fair Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party   The Railroad Cars are Coming Home

Season 3 (1993)

No. Title Thomas story 1 Thomas story 2 Jukebox Band Song Music Video
42 Becky Makes a Wish* All at Sea   Celito Lindo Help Your Wish Along
43 Schemer Alone* Percy, James and the Fruitful Day   Polly Wolly Doodle I Can Do It
44 Bully for Mr. Conductor* Bulgy   Jamaican Farewell Bad Guy
45 Stacy Cleans Up* James Goes Buzz Buzz   A Hundred Miles If Everyone Did a Little
46 Schemer's Robot Tenders and Turntables Trouble in the Shed Strollin' Through the Park  
47 Billy Saves the Day A New Friend for Thomas   Get on Board  
48 Billy's Party* Thomas and Percy's Mountain Adventure   We Gather Together Thanksgiving
49 Fortune Teller Schemer Thomas and the Conductor A Cow on the Line Turkey in the Straw  
50 Billy's Runaway Train A Close Shave for Duck   Freight Train Blues  
51 Schemer Goes Camping Percy Takes the Plunge   Crawdad Team
52 Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin* Heroes   Danny Boy  
53 Bad Luck Day at Shining Time Station Gordon Takes a Dip      
54 Mr. Conductor's 4th of July Escape   Patriotic Medley  
55 Stacy Forgets Her Name Thomas Gets Tricked   Lullaby Medley  
56 Schemer's Special Club* Oliver Owns Up   Old Joe Clark  
57 Mr. Conductor's Movie Tender Engines   No Business like Show Business  
58 The Joke's on Schemer Wrong Road   This Old Man  
59 Dance Crazy Percy Runs Away      
60 Mysterious Stranger Come Out, Henry! Henry to the Rescue Waltzing Matilda Everyone's Afraid of Something
61 Dan's Big Race Henry's Special Coal The Flying Kipper Michael Row Your Boat Ashore Start All Over Again
62 Mr. Conductor Gets Left Out One Good Turn   New River Train  
63 Mr. Conductor's Big Sleepwalk Better Late Than Never   Beautiful Dreamer Dreamland
64 The Mayor Runs for Re-Election James Learns a Lesson Foolish Freight Cars The Great Pacific Railroad  
65 Stacy Says No! Duck Takes Charge   Cannonball Blues  
66 How the Station Got Its Name Toby the Tram Engine Thomas Breaks the Rules Cowboy Medley  

TV Family Specials (1995)

No. Title Thomas story 1 Thomas story 2 The Jukebox Band Songs
1 Once Upon a Time Rusty to the Rescue Thomas & Stepney Lonestar Trail Medley, Buffalo Gals Medley, What's New Pussycat?
2 Second Chances Granpuff Sleeping Beauty Down in the Valley, Skip to My Lou, Freight Train, Take Me Out to the Ball Game
3 One of the Family Toad Stands By Thomas & the Special Letter If My Friends Could See Me Now, Long, Long Ago, This Land is your Land
4 Queen For a Day Thomas Meets the Queen Special Attraction The Lovely Ohio, Scarborough Fair, Mrs. Murphy's Chowder

Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales

No. Title Story 1 Story 2 Story 3 Story 4 Story 5 Song
1 Paint the Town Red Come Out, Henry! Fish Whistles and Sneezes Henry & the Elephant Bulldog Let's Have a Race
2 Splish, Splash, Splosh Passengers and Polish Gallant Old Engine Bertie's Chase Peter Sam & the Refreshment Lady You Can't Win Gone Fishing
3 Missing Whistles Bulls' Eyes Train Stops Play Percy's Ghostly Trick Thomas, Percy & the Dragon Special Funnel Really Useful Engine
4 Wildlife Four Little Engines Trouble for Thomas Toad Stands By Thomas Saves the Day Rusty Helps Peter Sam Toby
5 For the Birds A Bad Day for Sir Handel Steamroller Old Iron Double Trouble Bowled Out Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover
6 Wish You Were Here Thomas, Percy & The Mail Train Mind That Bike Rock N Roll Home at Last Thomas & The Special Letter Island Song

Other Home Video Releases

  • The World According to Me Schemer
  • The Jukebox Band
  • The Jukebox Band A Day in the Life
  • The Jukebox Band Lullaby
  • 'Tis a Gift
  • Shining Time Station Singsongs

Books

  • A book was written by Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow, featuring the Juke Box Band, entitled, "This Old Band," published by Quality Family Entertainment in 1994.

Funding

Funding for the show was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the financial support of the viewers/stations of PBS.

References

  1. ^ Whitlock, Natalie Walker (2006-11-06). l "How Thomas the Tank Engine Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-25. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Tucker, Ken (1992-01-10). "Two Tickets to Ride". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-06-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Shining Time Station.
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