We lost another Canadian comedy pioneer recently in Catherine O'Hara. Going back to the 70s, even before SCTV, she was doing kid shows like "Coming Up Rosie" for the CBC along with other SCTV stars like John Candy and SNL Pioneer Dan Ackroyd. Her big break into the American scene was "Home Alone" in 1990 and more recently the Canadian produced Schitt's Creek that saw amazing success in the US. But it's after Home Alone's success we find this exhibit that is largely off the radar for Catherine O'Hara showing up in....yet...it REALLY sounds like her.
The late Alan Thicke, a well known Canadian in Hollywood as I am sure you know by now, for a variety of things from writing games show music cues, to his own failed syndicated talk show which he sang the theme for, finally hit paydirt with the TV Series "Growing Pains" as the latest version of the all American "have all the answers" TV dad in the 80s. In 1991 his star was still riding high near the end of the series run so it seems the Woolco Department Store chain decided to sponsor a campaign for "Saturday Sales" to air in the latter part of the year. The chain itself would suffer it's demise less then 5 years later being bought out my Walmart as the mega US chain's entry into Canada. Canadians of a certain age still have a fondness for Woolco and it's 1.44 Days they used to have.
Alan is the pitchman for this series of 60 secs spots, but the fun here is that some of the other voice talent is a bit surprising. It seems Catherine O'Hara is here playing "Fran" (maybe as a favor to Alan?) along with character actors Edie Mcclurg playing "Rose" and David Huddleston as "Fred". I confess this is what my ears tell me as I am familiar with the actors voice over years of watching TV and knowing when they pop up in TV series. Edie played Lucille Tarlek in WKRP In Cincinatti one of my favorite TV sitcoms, so I could be wrong as no one is credited other then Alan Thicke. I'll stick with the thought that I am right as they have distinct voices I am familiar with, but who knows for sure.
Regardless, it's a fun campaign from 35 years ago, and hope you enjoy a listen.
Fran-WO-915014R
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Kim and Kathy-WO-915015R
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Matthew-WO-915016R
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Rose-WO-915017R
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Fred-WO-915018R
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The Robinsons-WO-915019R
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Joey-WO-915020R
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