Shining Time Station
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Shining Time Station | |
---|---|
![]() The Shining Time Station title screen with UP 844 | |
Created by | Britt Allcroft Rick Siggelkow |
Directed by | Matthew Diamond Gregory Lehane Stan Swan Wayne Moss John Ferraro Steve Wright |
Starring | Ringo Starr (1989-1990) George Carlin (1991-1993) Didi Conn Leonard Jackson (1989) Tom Jackson (1991-1993) Nicole Leach (1989-1991) Jason Woliner (1989-1991) Erica Luttrell (1991-1993) Ari Magder (1991-1993) Danielle Marcot (1991-1993) Brian O'Connor Jonathan Freeman |
Theme music composer | Joe Raposo |
Composers | Joe Raposo Paul Derrick Mason (season 1) Stacey Hersh (seasons 2-3) |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 75 |
Production | |
Running time | 27-28 minutes 60 minutes (1995 specials) |
Original release | |
Network | PBS |
Release | January 29, 1989 June 11, 1993 | –
Related | |
Thomas & Friends Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales Storytime with Thomas |
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 originally taped in New York City and later in Toronto. It incorporated sequences from the British TV show Thomas & Friends. The series aired on PBS from January 1989 to June 1993, but aired re-runs until 1998. It aired on Fox Family from 1998 to 1999. It also aired on Nick Jr. in 2000 and on Canadian TV networks such as APTN and SCN. Elements from the show were incorporated into the Thomas the Tank Engine film Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
Background
After the success of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends in the United Kingdom, Britt 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 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 storyteller 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]
Overview
Shining Time Station was a train station on the Indian Valley Railroad. It is managed by Stacy Jones. Its workshop is run in the first season by Harry Cupper, and thereafter by Billy Twofeathers. A local named Horace Schemer runs the station's arcade and serves as the series's comic relief. The narrative is driven by regular and incidental visitors to the station.
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.
Cast
Series regulars
- Didi Conn - Stacy Jones
- Brian O'Connor - Horace Schemer
Season 1 regulars
- Ringo Starr - Mr. Conductor
- Leonard Jackson - Henry "Harry" Cupper
- Jason Woliner - Matthew "Matt" Jones
- Nicole Leach - Tanya Cupper
Christmas Special characters
- Ardon Bess - Tucker Cooper (Harry's cousin)
- Lloyd Bridges - Mr. Nicholas
- Judy Marshak - Claire
- Rachel Miner - Vickie
Seasons 2-3 regulars
- George Carlin - Mr. Conductor
- Erica Luttrell - Kara Cupper
- Ari Magder - Daniel "Dan" Jones
- Danielle Marcot - Becky
- Tom Jackson - Billy Twofeathers
Recurring characters (full series)
- Jerome Dempsey - Mayor Osgood Bob Flopdinger
- Mart Hulswit - Mr. J.B. King, Esq.
- Bobo Lewis - Midge Smoot
Recurring characters (Seasons 2-3)
- Nicole Leach – Tanya Cupper (Season 2 only)
- Jason Woliner – Matthew "Matt" Jones (Season 2 only)
- Jonathan Shapiro – Schemee
- Gerard Parkes – Barton Winslow
- Barbara Hamilton – Ginny Johnson
- Aurelio Padrón – Felix Perez
- George Carlin – Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin
1995 Family Specials characters
- George Carlin – Mr. Conductor
- Didi Conn – Stacy Jones
- Tom Jackson – Billy Twofeathers
- Erica Luttrell – Kara Cupper
- Danielle Marcot – Becky
- Brian O'Connor – Horace Schemer
- Barbara Hamilton – Ginny Johnson
- Bobo Lewis – Midge Smoot
- Jerome Dempsey – Mayor Osgood Bob Flopdinger
- Mart Hulswit – Mr. J.B. King, Esq.
- Bucky Hill – Kit Twofeathers
- Ari Magder – Daniel "Dan" Jones (Once Upon a Time and Second Chances only)
- Jonathan Shapiro – Schemee (Second Chances and One of the Family only)
- Aurelio Pardón – Felix Perez (Second Chances and Queen for a Day only)
- Leonard Jackson – Henry "Harry" Cupper (One of the Family only)
- Teri Garr – Sister Conductor (One of the Family only)
- Unknown actor - Biff (Queen for a Day)
- Unknown actor - Bull (Queen for a Day)
The Jukebox Band
- Jonathan Freeman - Tito Swing
- Olga Marin - Didi
- Wayne White - Tex (1989)
- Alan Semok - Tex (1990-1995)
- Craig Marin - Rex
- Peter Baird/Alan Semok/Vaneese Thomas - Grace the Bass (1989)
- Peter Baird/Kenny Miele - Grace the Bass (1990-1995)
Their songs were produced by Steve Horelick and arranged by 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
Season 1 (1989)
Conductor: Ringo Starr
No. | Title | Thomas story 1 | Thomas story 2 | Jukebox Band Song | Music Video | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | A Place Unlike Any Other | Thomas Gets Tricked | Edward Helps Out | I've Been Working on the Railroad | Start Where You Are | January 29, 1989 |
2 | Does It Bite? | Come Out, Henry! | Henry To The Rescue | Camptown Races | Don't Be Afraid | February 5, 1989 |
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 | February 12, 1989 |
4 | Pitching In and Helping Out | Thomas Saves The Day | James Learns a Lesson | Railroad Corral | February 19, 1989 | |
5 | Show and Yell | Foolish Freight Cars | A Proud Day For James | Freight Train | Bounce Back | February 26, 1989 |
6 | Faith, Hope and Anxiety | Thomas and the Conductor | Thomas Goes Fishing | Wabash Cannonball | The Kite Song | March 5, 1989 |
7 | Agree to Disagree | Terence The Tractor | Thomas & Bertie's Great Race | Abilene | We Do Things Differently | March 12, 1989 |
8 | Whistle While You Work | Tenders and Turntables | Trouble In The Shed | Pop Goes the Weasel | Let's All Work Together | March 19, 1989 |
9 | Two Old Hands | Percy Runs Away | Thomas Comes To Breakfast | A Railroader's Bride I'll Be | Baking a Cake | March 26, 1989 |
10 | Happy Accidents | Henry's Special Coal | The Flying Kipper | Wreck of the Old '97 | April 2, 1989 | |
11 | Ring in the Old | Toby The Tram Engine | Thomas Breaks The Rules | Train Is A' Comin' | Old But Wise | April 9, 1989 |
12 | Impractical Jokes | A Cow on The Line | Old Iron | Poor Paddy Works on the Railway | April 16, 1989 | |
13 | Finders Keepers | Double Trouble | James In a Mess | The Desperado | April 23, 1989 | |
14 | Just Wild About Harry's Workshop | Duck Takes Charge | Percy Proves a Point | Union Train | What Goes Around Comes Around | April 30, 1989 |
15 | Promises, Promises | Better Late Than Never | Pop Goes The Diesel | Oh! Susanna | May 7, 1989 | |
16 | Words Out | Diesel's Devious Deed | A Close Shave For Duck | Jesse James | Be Good To Yourself | May 14, 1989 |
17 | Too Many Cooks | Gordon Takes a Dip | Down The Mine | The Ballad of Casey Jones | May 21, 1989 | |
18 | Mapping it Out | The Runaway | Percy Takes The Plunge | Red River Valley | Follow Directions | May 28, 1989 |
19 | Things That Go Ga-Hooga in the Night | Percy's Ghostly Trick | Woolly Bear | Oh My Darling, Clementine | June 4, 1989 | |
20 | Is This the End? | Saved From Scrap | A New Friend For Thomas | Little Black Train | June 11, 1989 |
Christmas Special (1990)
Conductor: Ringo Starr
No. | Title | Thomas story 1 | Thomas story 2 | Jukebox Band Songs | Music Video | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21 | 'Tis a Gift | TV: Terence The Tractor VHS: Thomas' Christmas Party | TV: Thomas' Christmas Party VHS: Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree | Over the River and Through the Woods, Jingle Bells, It's Christmas time at the Railway Station, Simple Gifts | The Hobo Song | December 9, 1990 |
Season 2 (1991)
Conductor: George Carlin
No. | Title | Thomas story 1 | Thomas story 2 | Jukebox Band Song | Music Video | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
22 | Scare Dares | Percy's Ghostly Trick | Thomas, Percy and the Dragon | Midnight Special | What Am I Afraid Of? | November 18, 1991 |
23 | Oh, What a Tangled Web | Diesel's Devious Deed | No Joke For James | Mama Don't Allow | November 19, 1991 | |
24 | The Magic is Believing | Old Iron | Edward's Exploit | Nine Hundred Miles | November 20, 1991 | |
25 | Win, Lose or Draw | Double Trouble | Gordon and the Famous Visitor | Arkansas Traveler | November 21, 1991 | |
26 | Sweet and Sour* | Donald and Douglas | The Deputation | Erie Canal | November 22, 1991 | |
27 | Achoo | Trust Thomas | Whistles and Sneezes | Cosher Bailey's Engine | Caring | November 25, 1991 |
28 | A Dog's Life | James In a Mess | The Trouble With Mud | Home on the Range | November 26, 1991 | |
29 | Field Day | Percy Proves a Point | Thomas & Bertie's Great Race | Take Me Out to the Ballgame | Everyone's a Winner | November 27, 1991 |
30 | Wrong Track | Thomas Saves The Day | Down The Mine | Sweet Betsy from Pike | November 28, 1991 | |
31 | Washout | Bertie's Chase | Percy's Promise | Cumberland Gap | November 29, 1991 | |
32 | Crackpot | Woolly Bear | Henry's Forest | John Henry | December 16, 1991 | |
33 | Yabba, Yabba, Yabba | Pop Goes The Diesel | Diesel Does It Again | Old Dan Tucker | December 17, 1991 | |
34 | Nickel in a Pickle | Thomas Comes To Breakfast | Thomas Gets Bumped | My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean | December 18, 1991 | |
35 | Stop the Press | Percy and the Signal | A Big Day For Thomas | Tennessee Central (Number 9) | December 19, 1991 | |
36 | He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not | Thomas, Percy and the Mail Train | Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair | Would He Ever | December 20, 1991 | |
37 | Double Trouble | The Diseasel | Donald's Duck | This Train | December 23, 1991 | |
38 | Is Anybody There? | Thomas Goes Fishing | A Scarf For Percy | Chattanooga Choo Choo | December 24, 1991 | |
39 | Do I Hear | Mavis | Toby's Tightrope | The Riddle Song | Better When He Grows Up | December 25, 1991 |
40 | Jingle, Jingle, Jingle | Time For Trouble | Trouble For Thomas | City of New Orleans | December 26, 1991 | |
41 | All's Fair | Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party | The Railroad Cars Are Coming | Home | December 27, 1991 |
Season 3 (1993)
Conductor: George Carlin
No. | Title | Thomas story 1 | Thomas story 2 | Jukebox Band Song | Music Video | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
42 | Becky Makes a Wish* | All At Sea | Celito Lindo | Help Your Wish Along | March 22, 1993 | |
43 | Schemer's Alone* | Percy, James and the Fruitful Day | Polly Wolly Doodle | I Can Do It | March 23, 1993 | |
44 | Bully for Mr. Conductor* | Bulgy | Jamaican Farewell | Bad Guy | March 24, 1993 | |
45 | Stacy Cleans Up* | James Goes Buzz Buzz | Five Hundred Miles | If Everyone Did a Little | March 25, 1993 | |
46 | Schemer's Robot | Tenders and Turntables | Trouble In The Shed | While Strolling Thru the Park One Day | April 19, 1993 | |
47 | Billy Saves the Day | A New Friend For Thomas | Get On Board, Little Children | April 20, 1993 | ||
48 | Billy's Party* | Thomas & Percy's Mountain Adventure | We Gather Together | Thanksgiving | April 21, 1993 | |
49 | Fortune Teller Schemer | Thomas and the Conductor | A Cow on The Line | Turkey in the Straw | April 22, 1993 | |
50 | Billy's Runaway Train | A Close Shave For Duck | Freight Train Blues | May 3, 1993 | ||
51 | Schemer Goes Camping | Percy Takes The Plunge | Crawdad | Team | May 4, 1993 | |
52 | Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin | Heroes | Danny Boy | May 5, 1993 | ||
53 | Bad Luck Day at Shining Time Station | Gordon Takes a Dip | Engine One-Forty-Three | May 6, 1993 | ||
54 | Mr. Conductor's Fourth of July | Escape | Patriotic Medley | May 17, 1993 | ||
55 | Stacy Forgets Her Name | Thomas Gets Tricked | Lullaby Medley | May 18, 1993 | ||
56 | Schemer's Special Club* | Oliver Owns Up | Old Joe Clark | May 19, 1993 | ||
57 | Mr. Conductor's Movie | Tender Engines | There's No Business like Show Business | May 20, 1993 | ||
58 | The Joke's on Schemer | Wrong Road | This Old Man | Laugh and a Half | May 31, 1993 | |
59 | Dance Crazy | Percy Runs Away | Orange Blossom Special | Dancin' Maitre D' | June 1, 1993 | |
60 | Mysterious Stranger | Come Out, Henry! | Henry To The Rescue | Waltzing Matilda | Everyone's Afraid of Something | June 2, 1993 |
61 | Dan's Big Race | Henry's Special Coal | The Flying Kipper | Michael Row Your Boat Ashore | Start All Over Again | June 3, 1993 |
62 | Mr. Conductor Gets Left Out | One Good Turn | New River Train | June 7, 1993 | ||
63 | Mr. Conductor's Big Sleepwalk | Better Late Than Never | Beautiful Dreamer | Dreamland | June 8, 1993 | |
64 | The Mayor Runs for Re-Election | James Learns a Lesson | Foolish Freight Cars | Hurray for the Railway | June 9, 1993 | |
65 | Stacy Says No | Duck Takes Charge | Cannonball Blues | June 10, 1993 | ||
66 | How the Station Got Its Name | Toby The Tram Engine | Thomas Breaks The Rules | Cowboy Medley | June 11, 1993 |
TV Family Specials (1995)
Conductor: George Carlin
No. | Title | Thomas story 1 | Thomas story 2 | Jukebox Band Songs | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Once Upon a Time | Rusty To The Rescue | Thomas & Stepney | Lonestar Trail Medley, Buffalo Gals Medley, What's New Pussycat? | January 4, 1995 |
2 | Second Chances | Granpuff | Sleeping Beauty | Down in the Valley, Skip to My Lou, Freight Train, Take Me Out to the Ball Game | April 12, 1995 |
3 | One of the Family | Toad Stands By | Thomas and the Special Letter | If My Friends Could See Me Now, Long, Long Ago, This Land is Your Land | September 25, 1995 |
4 | Queen for a Day | Thomas Meets The Queen | Special Attraction | The Lovely Ohio, Scarborough Fair, Mrs. Murphy's Chowder | December 18, 1995 |
Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales (1996)
Conductor: George Carlin
No. | Title | Story 1 | Story 2 | Story 3 | Story 4 | Story 5 | Song | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Missing Whistles | Bulls Eyes | Train Stops Play | Percy's Ghostly Trick | Thomas, Percy and the Dragon | Special Funnel | Really Useful Engine | October 7, 1996 |
2 | Wildlife | Four Little Engines | Trouble For Thomas | Toad Stands By | Thomas Saves The Day | Rusty Helps Peter Sam | Toby | October 14, 1996 |
3 | Wish You Were Here | Thomas, Percy and the Mail Train | Mind That Bike | Home at Last | Rock 'n' Roll | Thomas and the Special Letter | Island Song | October 21, 1996 |
4 | For the Birds | A Bad Day For Sir Handel | Steam Roller | Old Iron | Double Trouble | Bowled Out | Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover | October 28, 1996 |
5 | Splish, Splash, Splosh | Passengers and Polish | Gallant Old Engine | Bertie's Chase | Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady | You Can't Win | Gone Fishing | November 4, 1996 |
6 | Paint the Town Red | Come Out, Henry! | Fish | Whistles and Sneezes | Henry and the Elephant | Bulldog | Let's Have a Race | November 11, 1996 |
Merchandise
VHS
- 'Tis a Gift
- Sweet and Sour
- Stacy Cleans Up
- Schemer Alone
- Bully for Mr. Conductor
- Becky Makes a Wish
- Billy's Party
- Schemer's Special Club
- Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin
- Shining Time Station Singsongs
- Schemer Presents: The World According to Me
- The Jukebox Band: A Day in the Life
- The Jukebox Band: Lullaby
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.
References
- ^ Whitlock, Natalie Walker; Michael Mallory (2006-11-06). l "How Thomas the Tank Engine Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
{{cite web}}
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value (help) - ^ Tucker, Ken (1992-01-10). "Two Tickets to Ride". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
See also
- 1989 American television series debuts
- 1993 American television series endings
- 1980s American television series
- 1990s American television series
- American anthology television series
- American children's television series
- American television series based on British television series
- Television programs based on children's books
- Television programs featuring puppetry
- Television programs featuring anthropomorphic characters
- English-language television programming
- Television series by WNET
- Television series produced in Toronto
- Rail transport in fiction
- PBS network shows
- Thomas & Friends