Children's programme from 1970s

[Francis Asis]

Does anyone remember a programme from the 1970s. I think it was called "Mr Benn". It's not the mr benn who used to dress up and go on adventures. It was an old bloke who sat by a window and he had a sack and he would pull something out of the sack and tell a story about it. No one else remembers it - not even my brother who used to watch it with me. This was in the UK around 1970 -75.

[littleoldme]

Are you sure it was called Mr Benn? The only Mr Benn I know is the one who, as you say, dressed up and went on adventures. You're not thinking of Mr Trimble, are you?

[Francis Asis]

Who's Mr Trimble?

[littleoldme]

Well, it was a kids' show from the early-mid 70s that I can barely remember, but it did feature some old bloke (or someone made up to look like an old bloke) called Mr Trimble, who I think used to tell stories. Sorry to be so vague, but it's a bu99er to find any info about it on the web.

[mrbubbles]

Yeah I used to love Mr Benn - he would be dressed in a suit with a bowler hat and go into a fancy dress shop (or something like that) and change into an outfit - he would then have an adventure and go back to the shop to get changed again inot his normal clothes - they only ever made a few of them but it was definatley called Mr Ben - go to this website and you will see a piccie of his face - that will jog your memory

http://www.jediman.free-online.co.uk/childrenstv/children(backup).htm

[mrbubbles]

oops sorry - just realised I was talking about the wrong Mr Ben

[Francis Asis]

Thanks for the help - I'm researching Mr Trimble. It might be the one.

[adebritteon]

Mr Trimble was a TV show from the 70's I used to watch it when I went home for lunch from school I've never met anyone else who remembers it though. Its great to discover that other people remember it otherwise you wonder if maybe you just dreamed it Does anyone remember Hickory House with Dusty Mop and Humphrey Cushion? and another one: Animal Quackers or Crackers Ihave a vague memory that they were a rock band kind of like the Banana Splits These may also have been lunchtime programmes which means lots of kids would not have seen it due to school dinners these are the earliest memories I have of TV

[littleoldme]

Yes, I (just about) remember Hickory House - right on the periphery of my memory, that one! I have a slightly better recall of Animal Krackers (Kwackers? Quackers?), except for the title of course :O)

 

It was indeed a kind of UK Banana Splits rip-off, only less 'wacky' and 'zany'. The character that springs most readily to mind is a large blue lion called Rory (lion...roary, you see. Ho ho.) who I believe was the leader of the group. He'd be the storyteller each week, after the rest of the group had sung:

 

Rory Rory, tell us a story

Rory Rory, tell it like it is.

 

Oh God, it's all coming back now!!

[Nostalgic]

Like littleoldme, I have been trying to track down Mr Trimble for about 5 years...no luck yet! I have very vivid memories of Hickory House, Animal Crackers, Banana Splits...Kloppa(?) Castle anyone? Also, does anyone remember an obscue lunchtime cartoon called "Simon over the Wall"

[adebritteon]

Thanks littleoldme, you sparked another memory Rory WAS a blue lion, in the cpening titles I can remember the title song culminating in the words "Bungo, Rory, Twang and....Blank! I can't remember the last one. I do remember having a double sided poster with the animal crackers on one side and Oscar the Grouch on the other. Kloppa Castle I also remember watching but don't really remember the characters apart from the court jester. Simon over the wall. Hmm I remember again some opening credits singing 'now I know My name is Simon, and I like to chalk on walls'. maybe he'd draw something on a wall and then become part of that adventure. Going back to Mr Trimble, did he have a puppet sidekick? and could he have been played by Clive Dunn?

[gilly_willy]

animal crackers!!!!! bongo, rory, twang and boots lol

[drewg]

i certainlyly remember mr trimble but also find no-one else who does.i remember a man in a shop wearing a leather apron,he had a white mastache,white hair and round glasses.what happened to him and why not many people remember it is a mystery.i too cant get info on the web.a pic would be nice.as for animal krackers,i remember going to see the stage version(people dressed up in big foam suits)as a 5 or 6 yr old at woodville halls gravesend kent.not many people have done that i bet!!!!!any info on mr trimble would be gratefully welcomed........good luck