CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - Canadian  Series
The Forest Rangers (1963-65) - Seaway (1965-66)  - Advs. in Rainbow Country (1970-71)
Airing on Dejaview chs Sat,Sun,1130pm Winter, Spring.2005
Reunion  "The Adventures in Rainbow Country" Reunion (held in Aug. 2006 at Whitefish Falls, ON)
was another success. We had Buckley Petawabano, John Sadowski, Bill Davidson, Harry Makin,
Martin Lager, Wilf Cywink and other cast and crew attend. The organizers Dennis Belton,
Dale Powell, Dan Seguin and Clayton Self were all very proud of the weekend-long event.
Check this site www.angelfire.com/tv2/rainbowcountry for all the photos and details."

Adventures in
Rainbow Country (1970-71)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
"Adventures in Rainbow Country" Fan Site ( Clayton Self)
William Davidson (Creator/Producer) Peter Delamotte
Trevor Douglas <trevoran@terrigal.net.au>
John Sadowski  (stunt pilot/recurring cast member)
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://imdb.com)
-----------------------------
ADVENTURES IN RAINBOW COUNTRY
-----------------------------
Manitou productions Ltd. of Toronto
in association with
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/
ABC Films Ltd. of Britain
Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC)
Filmed around Whitefish Falls, Gore Bay, Webbwood and Espanola.
Ontario, Canada (NOT Sudbury) (NOT North Bay),
"The majority of the filming of actually took place on the
Whitefish River First Nation, located at
Birch Island, Ontario. The log home is still located on
Whitefish River First Nation and is known as Rainbow Lodge."
Chief Franklin Paibomsai,
Whitefish River First Nation <paibomsai@hotmail.com>
Executive Producer  Ralph C. Ellis  
Created & Produced by William Davidson  

Canadian Family Adventure series
All episodes Filmed in 1969 / first aired 1970-71
26 episodes x 30 min color

CBC airdates:
Sun 7:00- 7:30 p.m., 20 Sep70 - 28 Mar 1971 (Original run)
Sun 7:00- 7:30 p.m., 4 Apr- 5 Sep 1971 (Re-run)
Tue 7:30- 8:00 p.m., 8 Apr- 16 Sep 1975
Sat 6:30- 7:00 p.m., 22 May- 26 Jun 1976 (R)
Sat 5:00- 5:30 p.m., 21 Aug- 5 Sep 1976 (R)
Sun 5:00- 5:30 p.m., 5 Apr- 12 Sep 1976 (R)
Mon 5:00- 5:30 p.m., 4 Apr- 11 Jul 1977 (R)
Starring
Lois Maxwell as Nancy Williams
Stephen Cottier as Billy Williams (son)
Susan Conway as Hannah Wiliams (daughter)
Buckley Petawabano as Pete Gawa
Albert Millaire as Roger Lemieux
Wally Koster as Dennis McGubgub (bush pilot)
Alan Mills as Dougall McGregor
Recurring Cast:
John Sadowski as Officer Nixon
(eps. #5,  #10, #11 #12, #15, #23 - possibly more)
Stunts:
John Sadowski  was also stunt double pilot for Wally Koster.

Premise:
The Williams home was tucked away in a cove on beautiful Lake Huron.
Lois Maxwell played "Nancy Williams" the widow & mother of two teenagers
(Billy & Hanna). Previously having played Miss Moneypenny in the
James Bond films.
The drama concentrated on the adventures of the teenager Billy and his
Ojibway friend Pete in the bushland of northern Ontario. The series was
highly publicized, capitalizing partly on the minor celebrity of Lois
Maxwell ("Miss Moneypenny" in the James Bond pictures), and the casting
of Wally Koster, a star of CBC musical variety productions, in a dramatic
role. It was also an international co- production, enlisting Manitou
Productions, the CBC, Television Films, Ltd. of Britain, and the
ABC Films of Britain, Australian Broadcasting Commissioon.

Background:
"Stephen Cottier  was born in 1952 in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and came to Canada in about
1966 with his family. His soft english accent was responsible for much
heavy criticism from CBC and others. They said he may have have been
adopted by Lois, I thought he was fine for the part and went ahead with
him anyway."  - William Davidson (creator/ producer)

"Buckley Petawabano was born in 1950. He just walked into our office one
day and introduced himself. He was Cree and from the Lac St. John region
in Quebec. His marvellous smile and personality made up for a slight
awkwardness in speech, but he was a real human being and a tremendous
asset to the series, both off and on screen. A classy gentleman, about
20 at the time, and a role model for younger native boys in the Manitoulin
district. He was the most loved member of our cast and crew."
- William Davidson (creator/producer)

Other Credits:
Director of Photography, Harry Makin
Director of Photography - 2nd Unit, Miklos Lente
Film Editing by George Appleby, Havelock Gradidge, Vincent Kent  
Sound by: Des Dollery.
Music by: Ron Harrison.
Casting by Joyce Kozy  
Continuity by Joyce Kozy
Script Consultant Martin Lager
Make up Artist: Bill Morgan

###### Adventures in Rainbow Country #########
############### season 1970-71 ###############
##############################################
Currently airing: (Summer 2004)
"DejaView" channels every weekend 3 times a day
Sat, Sun,7:30am 3:30pm 11:30pm
 
[01] Advs. in Rainbow Country: LA CHUTE
1969
Written by Martin Lager & Lindsay Galloway
Directed by George Gorman
Guest Cast:
Gordon Pinsent ..... Priest
John Berger ....... Voyageur
Cec Montgomery ...... Voyageur
Synopsis:
A group of pretend voyageurs relive the route taken by Ettiene Brule
in the old Hudson Bay days.

[02] Advs. in Rainbow Country: THE TOWER
1969 Filmed at Burke's Mountain in the LaCloche Mtns
Written by Martin Lager
Directed by David Main
Guest Cast:
Margot Kidder .... Sportscar driver
Synopsis:
Hannah climbs the old Willisville fire tower and panics when it's
time to come down.
Note:
The crew built a mock-up cupola 12 feet off the ground to film some of the
inside tower scenes. They also climbed up the real 80 foot tower to shoot
some scenes from up high.

[03] Advs. in Rainbow Country: THE FRANK WILLIAMS FILE
1969
Written by William Davidson
Directed by George Gorman
Guest Cast:
Donald Harron .... Imposter
William Osler .... Cabin Owner
Synopsis
A man is obsessed with the story of Billy's father and comes to the
lodge to relive the accounts he has read.

[04] Advs. in Rainbow Country: SKYDIVER
1969
Written by Martin Lager
Directed by Francis Chapman
Guest Cast:
Sean Sullivan .... Skydiver
Tannis Montgomery
John Beltrami
Synopsis:
A champion skydiver loses his nerve & can't jump anymore.

[05] Advs. in Rainbow Country: THE KID FROM SPANISH HARLEM
1969
Written by Ian Ross
Directed by Al Waxman
Guest Cast:
George Sperdakos ......... Troop Leader
Gilbert Geigler .............. the boy
Miles McNamara ........ young fisherman
John Sadowski .......... Officer Nixon (recurring)
Synopsis:
A troubled boy gets into a lot of trouble after he steals a boat and
ends up stuck in a mine shaft.

[06] Advs. in Rainbow Country: PANIC IN THE BUSH
1969
Written by Martin Lager & John Craig
Directed by William Davidson
(Regular Cast Only)
Synopsis:
Billy Williams gets lost in the woods & has to be rescued by his
good friend Pete Gawa.

[07] Advs. in Rainbow Country: LONG, TOUGH RACE
1969
Written by John Craig
Directed by Peter Pearson
Guest Cast:
Margot Kidder .... Dr. Janet Rhoades (young doctor)
Duke Redbird* ....... Runner
Synopsis:
A young doctor tries to help a runner's sister who is dieing.
*Note:
Duke Redbird who plays the runner is the same Duke appearing
now on CityTV and running a native peoples' nightspot in the downtown
theater district near the NFB. He was a painter and a well-respected
poet in the late 1960s."
- William Davidson (Creator/producer)

[08] Advs. in Rainbow Country: THE TOWN THAT DIED
1969
Written by Lindsay Galloway
Directed by Francis Chapman
Guest Cast:
Murry Westgate
James Barron
Eric Clavering .... Innkeeper
Kurt Schiegl
Synopsis:
Roger takes Billy to a lost ghost town where a lot of strange things
happen.

[09] Advs. in Rainbow Country: EYE OF THE NEEDLE
1969
Written by John Craig
Directed by David Main
Guest Cast:
Chris Wiggins .... Fred (Tugboat)
John Berger ....... sailor
Synopsis:
Dougal takes Billy through a rocky narrows in his boat even though
his eyesight is going.

[10] Advs. in Rainbow Country: GIRL ON A TIGHTROPE
1969
Written by Martin Lager
Directed by Richard Gilbert
Guest Cast:
Eric Christmas ......... The Clown
John Sadowski .......... Officer Nixon (recurring)
Synopsis:
On her way to the circus, Hannah disappears. She has been
kidnapped by a man who insist that she is his daughter.
(repeat 15Aug73 Granada TV UK, Wed 10.45am)

[11] Advs. in Rainbow Country: THE RETURN OF ELI ROCQUE
1969
Written by Martin Lager
Directed by Richard Gilbert
Guest Cast:
Jim Barron .... Eli Rocque
Zillah Carter
William De Marois
Michael Zenon .... Truck Driver
John Sadowski .......... Officer Nixon (recurring)
Synopsis:
Billy's dad's old friend who supposedly died back in the bush with
him suddenly turns up alive.

[12] Advs. in Rainbow Country: ROAR OF THE HORNET
1969
Written by William Davidson
Directed by Peter Pearson
Guest Cast:
Marc Strange ....... Mechanic
Ralph Endersby ..... Biker
John Sadowksi ...... Officer Nixon
Synopsis:
A young man eludes the police when he starts working for the local
garage in Whitefish Falls.
Note:
"Ralph Endersby played Vince. He recalls how in one scene Peter Pearson asked him to
slap Billy's face. So he did a practice slap. Peter said it wasn't hard enough.
Ralph then proceeded to slap Peter across the face with more force and asked him
jokingly, "Like that?"
"Ralph also recalls that when he left Whitefish Falls he was flown to the Sudbury
Airport during a big rain storm. This in turn held up his Toronto-bound plane from
Sudbury. The people on board were told the plane was being held back for someone of
importance. They assumed it may have been an important executive from INCO, but
when 19 yr old Ralph hopped on the plane with his shaggy long hair they couldn't
believe there eyes. The good thing is that Ralph made it home just in time for
his big birthday party bash thrown for him by Michael Zenon." [CS]


[13] Advs. in Rainbow Country: LAC DU DIABLE
1969
Written by Martin Lager & John Craig
Directed by George Gorman
Guest Cast:
Bertrand Gagnon ...... Big Joe
Synopsis:
Big Joe, who lives deep in the woods, but is terrified of a lake
that he feels is haunted.

[14] Advs. in Rainbow Country: THE MUSKIES HAVE LOST THEIR TEETH
1969
Written by John Craig
Directed by David Main
Guest Cast:
Austin Willis .... Father
Leslie Barringer .... Swimmer
Synopsis:
A man with an illustrious past in swimming takes his son musky
fishing and learns about fatherhood.

[15] Advs. in Rainbow Country: MILK RUN
1969
Written by John Craig
Directed by William Davidson
Guest Cast:
Don Borisenko ...... the hijacker
Hugh Webster
John Sadowski ..... Officer Nixon (recurring)
J.J. Markle
Synopsis:
A wanted man hijacks Denis' plane with Billy on board to get away
from the authorities.

[16] Advs. in Rainbow Country: WALL OF SILENCE
1969
Written by Martin Lager
Directed by George Gorman
Guest Cast:
David Hemmings .... army officer
Chuck Shamata
Duane Howard
Jean Louis Roux
Synopsis:
The army try to find a lost box, accidentally dropped into a lake.
Billy and Pete find a shroud of secrecy must be maintained
because the box contains valuable information which is vital to the
safety of the free world.

[17] Advs. in Rainbow Country: WHERE THE RICE GROWS WILD
1969
Written by Martin Lager & William Davidson
Directed by William Davidson
Guest Cast:
Bernard La Pierre
Assiniwi
Sonny Bell
Sidney Brown
Synopsis:
A man and his son are travelling to the wild rice fields when they
are poisoned by a bad can of salmon.

[18] Advs. in Rainbow Country: THE BIRDWATCHERS
1969
Written by William Davidson
Directed by Richard Gilbert
Guest Cast:
Rex Hagon .... Bragon (young punk)
Louise Blondin* ...... Sidney
Synopsis:
A pretty young French girl comes to stay with the Williams and some
young punks in town try to pick her up at the local bar where Billy's
band is playing.
* Note:
Louise Blondin appeared in the French-Canadian Classic "Loving and Laughing"
2 yrs later.

[19] Advs. in Rainbow Country: THE BOY WHO LOVED ANIMALS
1969
Written by Ian Ross & Lindsay Galloway
Directed by Richard Gilbert
Guest Cast;
Percy Rodriguez .... Jim Rusk
Rex Sevenoakes
Christopher Pellett ..... deaf mute
Synopsis:
The story of a young deaf mute who loves animals, and is nearly
shot by hunters.

[20] Advs. in Rainbow Country: MYSTERY AT WHALEBACK BAY
1969
Written by Martin Lager
Directed by George Gorman
Guest Cast:
Guest Cast:
Ed McNamara ...... Mr. Lucas (jewel thief)
Ratch Wallace ..... Mr. Braydon
Synopsis:
Two jewel thieves dive for sunken treasure and get caught.

[21] Advs. in Rainbow Country: NIGHT CALLER
1969
Written by Martin Lager
Directed by George Gorman
Guest Cast:
Gerard Parkes .... Father
Henry Ramer .... Ralph Walters
George Allan .... Night Caller
Synopsis:
A man's son damages the Williams' lodge in hopes that they will sell.

[22] Advs. in Rainbow Country: LAKE ON BLUE MOUNTAIN
1969
Written by John Craig
Directed by David Main
Guest Cast:
Bob Warner
Bill Hart
Jack Van Evera .... Fisherman
Tom Harvey .... Truck driver
Synopsis:
Poison is dumped in a lake killing the fish and Billy and Pete learn
why.

[23] Advs. in Rainbow Country: STOLEN TUGBOAT
1969
Written by Martin Lager
Directed by David Main
Guest Cast:
Tony Kramreither .... Russian sailor
John Sadowski ........ Officer Nixon (recurring)
Synopsis:
A Russian sailor defects by stealing a tugboat.

[24] Advs. in Rainbow Country: THE HERMIT
1970
Written by Ian Ross
Directed by George Gorman
Guest Cast:
Eric House .... Hawkins, the hermit
Ken James .... Security Officer
Synopsis:
A company tries to scare off a backwood's hermit so they can occupy
his land.

[25] Advs. in Rainbow Country: PURSUIT ALONG THE AUX SABLES
1969
Written by Ian Ross
Directed by Richard Gilbert
Guest Cast:
Peter Donat
Len Birman .... Kidnapper
Miles McNamara .... Kidnapped Boy
Synopsis:
Billy and Pete follow a trail along the river to find a kidnapped
boy and his captor.

[26] Advs. in Rainbow Country: DREAMER'S ROCK
1969
Written by Martin Lager
Directed by George Gorman
Guest Cast:
Frank Perry .... Mining employee
Wilmer Najiwon* .... The indian chief
*Note:
Wilmer Najiwon was the real chief, of the Cape Croker Reservation
Antony Parr
Synopsis:
A mining company wants the rights to "Dreamer's Rock" but the local
Indian band won't go for it.
Note:
"Dreamer's Rock" was based on a true story and the hill where they filmed
this episode (across from the Williams' Lodge) is still called Dreamer's Rock
and is owned by the native people to this day.

###### Adventures in Rainbow Country #########
############# CBC Press Release ##############
##############################################

From a CBC Television Network press release of May 2, 1969 ....

"The series, to be filmed in English and dubbed in
French, will be PRODUCED by MANITOU PRODUCTIONS LTD.
of Toronto, with the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation, ABC Films Ltd. of Britain and the
Australian Broadcasting Commission as co-partners
financing the project...Ralph C. Ellis is executive producer of the
series. William Davidson developed the concept, and
will be the overall series producer."

"The CBC involvement during production was limited to
one excellent liason person George Desmond, the only
CBC person to spend any time up north, on location,
and a friend of the production. Scripts were
submitted to the CBC in Toronto for comments and
suggestions, at first by an excellent man, Hugh Kemp,
but he was later replaced. In the early weeks, rough
cuts were screened for CBC program directors. Manitou
made the series, not the CBC.

In the few months we were in production, CBC English
Network Television changed Program Directors THREE
times. Bruce Raymond(who bought the series concept),
Doug Nixon and later, Thom Benson. Each had his own
agenda. Nixon, in particular, was a negative
influence.

The comment made that the series met
with critical disappointment. A strange comment,
except for the reaction of a handful of journalists.
When it aired on CBC in Canada, FOUR MILLION PEOPLE
watched it every week, a CBC record at the time. It
was a huge success in Germany, and other markets. And
it played for years on USA cable channels. And all
around the world. And is still playing, almost 36
years later. Some disappointment.

The only reason the series did not continue into a
second season and possibly for many more seasons, is
that the CBC fought Manitou for CONTROL of the series.
And when Manitou would not relinquish control, CBC
pulled out, and because of contractual arrangement
would not let Manitou continue with a new Canadian
network and new partners. It was a stalemate.

Manitou attempted to mount a feature film based on the
series characters called "Return to Rainbow Country".
And later, a proposal was drafted to do an update of
the series, with Billy and Pete in their early 20s.
There were legal complications. Meanwhile, the CBC
rushed into "Beachcombers" which it could CONTROL.

The death of Rainbow Country had nothing whatsoever to
do with any journalistic critical comments. During
production a battle went on behind the scenes. But
the newspapers never got the story right. And today,
no one will talk about the story. "

- from William Davidson (Creator/Producer)

 
####### Adventures in Rainbow Country #########
################# the end ##################
##############################################

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