Opinion and Answer 23 edition 40: Thomas and Friends's Connection to North America
Hi Folks,
Good Sunday Afternoon everyone, It's time for another edition of Opinion & Answer. In today's edition, I wanted to join in on a special part of Thomas and Friends show that some viewers have shared that enjoy Thomas and Friends. The special part is how the Thomas and Friends show (owned by Mattel) came across the Atlantic Ocean from Great Britain's audiences to North America's audiences through the creation of Shining Time Station. So let's dive into the connection.
Please Note: I'm only covering the Behind the Scenes portion as everyone else covered either all or most of the Shining Time Station program.
-Conductor Wolf
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Like everyone else when they were young, I loved growing up watching Thomas and Friends mostly on DVDs with chances now and then of catching episodes on the Sprout network in the United States. Even while grown up, still a fan of Thomas and friends and a collector of some Thomas and Friends DVDs and a copy of the Railway Series book (Collection book). But anyway, I got to thinking and after doing some research online found my answer on how the Thomas and Friends show came to North America and that was through the creation of a children's television series called Shining Time Station jointly created by British television producer Britt Allcroft and American television producer Rick Siggelkow.
According to research done on Shining Time Station Wikipedia page, "Shinning Time Station" tv show was created after the success of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends over in Great Britain which allowed for Britt Allcroft and her production team to decide on teaming up with PBS station WNET in New York City in 1989 to produce and distribute the sitcome-esque Shining Time Station that took place on Indian Valley Railroad in an unknown part of the United State. During each Shining Time Station episode, it would feature two different episodes of Thomas and Friends segments while having its own main episode along with two musical segments.
According to research done on Shining Time Station Wikipedia page, "Shinning Time Station" tv show was created after the success of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends over in Great Britain which allowed for Britt Allcroft and her production team to decide on teaming up with PBS station WNET in New York City in 1989 to produce and distribute the sitcome-esque Shining Time Station that took place on Indian Valley Railroad in an unknown part of the United State. During each Shining Time Station episode, it would feature two different episodes of Thomas and Friends segments while having its own main episode along with two musical segments.
Upon further research on Shining Time Station, backed by "Shining Time Station page on Thomas the Tank Engine Wikipedia page, it was clear on the fact that in North America, Shining Time Station show was created for North America's audiences to be introduced to the British television show Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends in 1989 as The Railway Series books that were written by Reverend Wilbert Awdry and Christopher Awdry were not published book by book as only the compilation volumes were until the late 1990s.
So folks, in conclusion it was because of the success of Thomas and Friends TV in Great Britain and the fact that the Railway Series books that were published in compilation volumes instead of book by book publication in North America that Britt Allcroft decided to create Shining Time Station show to introduced Thomas and Friends to North America's audiences.
Before you leave, here is a quick fact that I want to leave with you all:
Before you leave, here is a quick fact that I want to leave with you all:
Shining Time Station Episodes Counts of Thomas Stories Segments
- Season 1-(January 29,1989-June 11, 1989)
- 40 Thomas Stories (2 per Shining Time Station episode)
- Season 2-(November 18th, 1991-December 27,1991)
- 38 Thomas Stories (2 per Shining Time Station episode)
- Season 3-(March 22,1993-June 11,1993)
- 31 Thomas Stories (6 episodes had two Thomas story formats while the remaining 19 had 1 Thomas story format per episode)
- Christmas 1990 Special: November 25,1990
- 4 Thomas Stories (2 per TV with 2 per VHS)
- Family Specials (1995): February 28/September 25/October 23/November 20,1995
- 8 Thomas Stories
- Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales (1996): October 7/14/21/28 & November 4 & 11
- 24 Stories (4 stories per Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode)
- 10/7/-Missing Whistles
- 10/14-Wildlife
- 10/21-Wish You Were Here
- 11/4-Splish,Splash,Splosh
- 11/11-Paint the Town Red
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And that folks concludes another edition of Opinion and Answer. We'll be back with another edition next Sunday. Please click on either link for further reading on Shining Time Station. Either link will have further information but do note that neither site belongs to me.
Links to check out
