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Shining Time Station

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8.1/10
TV

Country of origin
  
United States

Networks
  
PBS, YTV

8.3/10
IMDb

Theme music composer
  
Joe Raposo

First episode date
  
29 January 1989

Shining Time Station httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen00bShi

Created by
  
Britt AllcroftRick Siggelkow

Directed by
  
Matthew DiamondGregory LehaneStan SwanWayne MossJohn FerraroSteve Wright

Starring
  
Ringo Starr (1989–1990)George Carlin (1991–1995)Didi Conn (1989–1995)Leonard Jackson (1989, 1995)Tom Jackson (1991–1995)Nicole Leach (1989–1991)Jason Woliner (1989–1991)Erica Luttrell (1991–1995)Ari Magder (1991–1995)Danielle Marcot (1991–1995)Brian O'Connor (1989–1995)Jonathan Freeman

Composer(s)
  
Joe RaposoPaul Derrick Mason (season 1)Stacey Hersh (seasons 2–3)

Awards
  
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing In A Children's or Pre-School Children's Series

Cast
  
George Carlin, Ringo Starr, Didi Conn, Erica Luttrell, Nicole Leach

Shining Time Station is an American children's television series jointly created by British television producer Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow. The series was produced by The Britt Allcroft Company (now Gullane Entertainment, a subsidiary of HiT Entertainment) and Quality Family Entertainment in New York City for New York City's PBS station WNET, and was originally taped in New York City and later in Toronto. It incorporated sequences from the British television show Thomas & Friends, which was in turn based on a series of books that had been written by the Reverend "W." (for Wilbert) Awdry. The series aired on PBS from January 29, 1989 to June 11, 1993, and aired re-runs until June 11, 1998. It aired on Fox Family from 1998 to 1999. It also aired on Nick Jr. in 2000 and on Canadian television networks such as APTN and SCN. Elements from the show were incorporated into the Thomas and Friends film Thomas and the Magic Railroad.

Contents

Shining Time Station Shining Time Station

Background

Shining Time Station Shining Time Station Pictures

After the success of Thomas & Friends in the United Kingdom, Britt Allcroft and her production company teamed up with PBS station WNET in New York City to produce and distribute the sitcom-esque Shining Time Station, every episode of which would include a couple of episodes of Thomas & Friends. The series starred Ringo Starr, George Carlin, Didi Conn, Brian O'Connor, and The Flexitoon Puppets. 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 called 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." It was a ratings success as well. In its first season, the show averaged a 0.9 Nielsen rating, translating to about 1.2 million viewers on average. At the peak of its popularity, the show brought in up to 7.5 million viewers per week.

Overview

The Shining Time Station is 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 taken from Thomas & Friends to the kids.

Series regulars (1989–1995)

  • Didi Conn – Stacy Jones
  • Brian O'Connor – Horace Schemer

    • Season 1 regulars (1989)

  • Ringo Starr – Mr. Conductor
  • Leonard Jackson – Henry "Harry" Cupper
  • Jason Woliner – Matthew "Matt" Jones
  • Nicole Leach – Tanya Cupper

    • Christmas Special characters (1990)

  • Ringo Starr – Mr. Conductor
  • Didi Conn – Stacy Jones
  • Brian O'Connor – Horace Schemer
  • Jason Woliner – Matthew "Matt" Jones
  • Nicole Leach – Tanya Cupper
  • Ardon Bess – Cooper (Harry's cousin)
  • Lloyd Bridges – Mr. Nicholas
  • Judy Marshak – Claire
  • Rachel Miner – Vickie

    • Seasons 2–3 regulars (1991–1993)

  • George Carlin – Mr. Conductor
  • Erica Luttrell – Kara Cupper
  • Ari Magder – Daniel "Dan" Jones
  • Danielle Marcot – Becky
  • Tom Jackson – Billy Twofeathers

    • Recurring characters (full series; 1989–1995)

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

    • Recurring characters (Seasons 2–3; 1991–1993)

  • Jason Woliner – Matthew "Matt" Jones (Season 2 only)
  • Nicole Leach – Tanya Cupper (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 Edward 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)
  • Jeannette Charles – The Queen (Queen for a Day only)

    • 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.

    Segments

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

    • Season 1 (1989)

  • Season 1 consists of 20 episodes.

    • Mr. Conductor: Ringo Starr

    Christmas special (1990)

    Mr. Conductor: Ringo Starr

    Season 2 (1991)

  • Season 2 consists of 20 episodes.
  • Jason Woliner and Nicole Leach reprise their Season 1 main roles for two episodes.

    • Mr. Conductor: George Carlin

    Season 3 (1993)

  • Didi Conn has a haircut starting with this season.
  • Starting with this season, Danielle Marcot was added to the opening credits.
  • This season consisted of 25 episodes.

    • Mr. Conductor: George Carlin

    TV Family Specials (1995)

    Mr. Conductor: George Carlin

    Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales (1996)

    Mr. Conductor: George Carlin

    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, titled This Old Band, was written by Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow. It featured the Juke Box Band and was published by Quality Family Entertainment in 1994.

    • References

    Shining Time Station Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA