The Classic TV Archive - Canadian Series
Wojeck (1966/1968)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
(CBC - original Canadian airdates added - BH)
with contributions by:
Rina Fox, Tom Alger, Boyce Hart
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
"Turn Up the Contrast: CBC Television Drama to 1987"
UBC/CBC co-publication, Vancouver : 1987,
book written by
Mary Jane Miller, Professor of Literature (Emerita)
Department of Dramatic Arts, Brock University, Ontario , Canada
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WOJECK
------
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
Executive Producer Ronald Weyman
Associate Poducer David Peddie
Created by Philip Hersch
(inspired by the headlines of Dr. Morton Shulman chief coroner in Toronto)
Director of photography Grahame Woods
Canadian Drama series 1966, 1968 pilot +20 episodes x 60 min
season 1 (black and white)
CBC Tue 9:00-10:00 p.m., 13 Sep-22 Nov 1966 (pilot + 10 episodes)
CBC Tue 9:30-10:30 p.m., 4 Jul-29 Aug 1967 (Re-run)
season 2 (color)
CBC Tue 9:00-10:00 p.m., 2 Jan-12 Mar 1968 (11 episodes)
CBC Tue 9:00-10:00 p.m., 11 Feb-20 Mar 1969 (Re-run)
starring
John Vernon
as Dr. Steve Wojeck
Patricia Collins as Marty Wojeck (his wife)
Ted Follows as Crown Attorney Arnie Bateman
Carl Banas as Detective Sergeant Byron James
Tannis G. Montgomery as Judy Wojeck (daughter)
Jamey Weyman as Stevey Wojeck (son)
Premise:
A Toronto coroner searches for truth and justice with the help of his
friends, while trying to hold his family together.
Short-lived (despite terrific ratings) this TV series had more guts and
nerve than practically any other series anywhere, before or since, and
is still a little daring, even by today's standards, both in what it
said and how -- including use of flashbacks and jumbled narrative
techniques.
Despite tremendous ratings this show was cancelled when Hollywood lured
John Vernon away.
Writers:
Series Creator Philip Hersch wrote the scripts for the ten episodes of
the first season.
Other writers included Lindsay Galloway, Sandy Stern, Len Barnett,
John Gray, Jerry O'Flanagan, Ronald Dunn, and John Simpson.
Directors:
Paul Almond (season 1) ,Rene Bonniere (season 2)
Peter Carter (season 2), Daryl Duke (season 1)
Ron Kelly (season 1) ,George McCowan (seasons 1-2)
John Trent (season 2), Ronald Weyman (season 2)
George Gorman
Exec. Producer Ronald Weyman followed "Wojeck" with the series
"Corwin".
12 episodes were shown in the UK on BBC1 on a Thursday 9.05pm slot
starting 26June 1969 and ending 18Sept 1969. These were possibly selected
episodes from season 1 and 2.
################# Wojeck ####################
################## pilot #####################
##############################################
[--] Wojeck: TELL THEM THE STREETS ARE DANCING (pilot)
09Mar66 NBC - USA
(pilot featured on NBC's "Bob Hope presents Chrysler Theatre")
22Nov66 CBC (re-run at end of season 1)
Produced & directed by Ronald Weyman
Written by Phillip Hersch
director of photography Grahame Woods
guest stars
John Vernon ............ Dr. Steve Wojeck
Patricia Collins ....... Marty Wojeck (wife)
Ted Follows ............ Crown Attorney Arnie Bateman
Carl Banas ............. Detective Sergeant Byron James
Tannis G. Montgomery ... Judy Wojeck (daughter)
Jamey Weyman ........... Stevey Wojeck (son)
Synopsis:
Coroner Dr. Steve Wojeck investigates the death by caisson disease of
an Italian worker, and his inquiry leads him to examine the conditions of
the victim's workplace - a tunnel under construction. [RF]
################# Wojeck ####################
############## season 1 Fall 1966 ############
#################### (bw) ####################
CBC Tuesdays 9:00-10:00 p.m. (13Sep66-22Nov66)
(10 episodes)
Wojeck First Season Opening - Wojeck Closing Credits Season 1
1.01 [--] Wojeck: THE LAST MAN IN THE WORLD (bw)
13Sep66 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH] (CBC Network Rerun 04Jul67)
Written by Phillip Hersch
Directed by Ron Kelly
Guest Star:
John Yesno ......... Joe Smith
Gene Lahache ........ Charlie Keethiuk.
Synopsis:
The first program in the series, and one of the finest,
John Yesno stars as a young native who arrives in Toronto from
Northern Ontario. The complications of his new life in the city--
the racial prejudice he encounters, the hooker he mistakes for a
girlfriend--propel him to commit suicide in a jail cell. Unfolding
in flashback structure, the story is driven by Wojeck's search
for the source of the belt with which Joe hanged himself.
Visually and aurally adventurous, directed by Ron Kelly from
Phillip Hersch's script, the program stretches the conventions
of television drama to gain both immediacy and dramatic, emotional
power. [RF]
*Highly regarded episode about a native Indian's suicide.
(26Jun69 BBC1 UK, Thur 9.25pm)
1.02 [--] Wojeck: LISTEN! AN OLD MAN IS SPEAKING
20Sep66 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH]
About an outspoken old man, shunted aside by society. [RF]
(UK airdate: 17Jul69 BBC1, Thur 9.05pm)
1.03 [--] Wojeck: ALL ABOARD FOR CANDYLAND (bw)
27-Sep-1966 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH]
written by Phillip Hersch
produced & directed by Paul Almond
guest stars
Kate Reid as Rose Hunter
Jackie Burroughs as Heroin Addict
1.04 [--] Wojeck: THE COLD SMILE OF FRIENDS Part 1/2
04Oct66 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH] (CBC re-run 25Jul67)
Script by Phillip Hersch
Guest Cast:
Jennifer Leak ......... Gale Fletcher
Sharon Acker .......... Tony Marlowe
Micki Moore ........... Martha Glennie
Laddie Dennis ......... Mrs. Fletcher
Cecil Montgomery ...... Fletcher
Robert Goodier ........ Bernie Glennie
Ruth Springford ....... Mrs. Law
Dawn Greenhalgh ....... Pam Bateman
Synopsis 1:
Wojeck becomes involved in a case of abortion.
Synopsis 2:
Dr. Wojeck has two problems: Convince the parents of a critically
pregnant
teenager that she will die if she has the baby, and find the person who
operated illegally and caused a patient's death.
(UK airdate: 31Jul69 BBC1 UK, Thur 9.05pm)
1.05 [--] Wojeck: THE COLD SMILE OF FRIENDS Part 2/2
CBC 11Oct66 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH](CBC re-run 1Aug67)
Script by Phillip Hersch
Guest Cast:
Jennifer Leak .......... Gale Fletcher
Sharon Acker ........... Tony Marlowe
Laddie Dennis .......... Mrs. Fletcher
Cecil Montgomery ....... Fletcher
Robert Goodier ......... Bernie Glennie
Synopsis:
Dr. Wojeck continues his fight to save the life of young Gale Fletcher.
(UK airdate: 07Aug69 BBC1, Thur 9.05pm)
1.06 [--] Wojeck: DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE VICTIM'S NAME?
18-Oct-1966 CBC (verified BH)
(UK air date: 3Jul69 BBC1 UK, Thur 9.05pm)
1.07 [--] Wojeck: PICK A TIME, ANY TIME (bw)
25-Oct-1966 CBC (verified BH)
written by Phillip Hersch
produced & directed by Paul Almond
guest cast:
Michael Sarrazin ......... Tony
1.8 [--] Wojeck: THY MOTHER A LADY, LOVELY AND BRIGHT
01-Nov-1966 CBC Tue (verified - BH)
(UK airdate: 10Jul69 BBC1, Thur 9.05pm)
[--] 08-Nov-1966 CBC Tue - no details
1.09 [--] Wojeck: ANOTHER DAWN, ANOTHER SURPRISE, ANOTHER DAY [BH] (bw)
Another Surprise, Another Dawn, Another Day [RF]
15Nov66 CBLT 6 Canadian station - possibly same date as CBC Network
(CBC airdate verified - BH)
Guest Cast:
Hugh Webster .......... Joseph Clara
Moya Fenwick .......... Mary Kimberley
Ron Hartmann .......... George English
Sean Sullivan ......... Detective Quinlan
Paisley Maxwell ....... Jean Clara
James Edmond .......... Funeral Director
Synopsis:
Did Joseph Clara murder his wife? Steve is sure he did, but he has no idea
how it was done. [RF]
(28Aug69 BBC1 UK Thur 9.05pm)
[--] 22-Nov-1966 CBC Tue -
(rerun of the pilot episode "Tell them the Streets are Dancing" - BH)
----------------------------------------------------------
Summer Reruns CBC Tuesdays (04Jul67-29Aug67) (bw episodes)
----------------------------------------------------------
[--] 04Jul67 - rerun of "The Last Man in the World" (first aired 13Sep66)
[--] 11Jul67 - no details
[--] 18Jul67 - no details
[--] 25Jul67 - re-run of "The Cold Smile of Friends" (Pt.1)(first aired 04Oct66)
[--] 01Aug67 - re-run of "The Cold Smile of Friends" (Pt.2)(first aired 11Oct66)
[--] 08Aug67 - no details
[--] 15Aug67 - no details
[--] 22Aug67 - no details
[--] 29Aug67 - no details
################# Wojeck ####################
############# season 2 Early 1968 ############
################# (color) ####################
CBC Tuesdays 9:00-10:00 p.m., (02Jan68-12Mar68)
(10 episodes)
Wojeck Second Season Opening
Wojeck Closing Credits Season 2 (Part 1) - Wojeck Closing Credits Season 2 (Part 2)
2.01 [--] Wojeck: SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT Part 1/2 (color)
02Jan68 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH]
2.02 [--] Wojeck: SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT Part 2/2 (color)
09Jan68 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH]
Written by Phillip Hersch
Guest Stars:
Michael Learned ....... Nina Eden
Peter Donat ........... Bob Eden
Frank Perry ........... Heimbecker
Robert Christie ....... Cummings
Chris Wiggins ......... Gilbert
Synopsis:
This series opens its second season with a drama telecast in two parts. The
subject: Auto Safety.
A fatal auto accident has been blamed on drunken driving, a verdict that
fails to satisfy coroner Steve Wojeck. The auto manufacturer's indifference
to designing safer cars is what's really bothering him, and he plans to make
some waves. Wojeck hits the headlines by demanding that the Prime Minister
open a full-scale investigation of the Auto Industry. [RF]
2.03 [--] Wojeck: AFTER ALL, WHO'S ART MORRISON ANYWAY?
16Jan68 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH]
written by Grahame Woods
(who was also the director of photography for all episodes)
guest star
Margot Kidder
Synopsis:
Cinematographer Grahame Woods's first film script was presented in this
episode, though under a pseudonym while the program was in production.
An intriguing and sympathetic script about a middle-aged homosexual and the
blackmail plot that forces him to disclose his secret. [RF]
(UK airdate: 4Sept69 BBC1 Thur 9.05pm)
[--] 23Jan68 - no details
2.04 [--] Wojeck: GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS ... AND THEN SOME
30Jan68 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH]
(UK airdate: 14Aug69 BBC1 Thur 9.05pm)
2.05 [--] Wojeck: ANOTHER WONDERFUL DAY
06Feb68 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH]
(UK airdate: 18Sep69 BBC1 Thur 9.05pm -last episode on BBC)
2.06 [--] Wojeck: YOU'VE BEEN VERY KIND
13Feb68 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH]
2.07 [--] Wojeck: FAIR EGYPT (color)
20Feb68 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [RF/BH]
guest cast:
Katherine Blake ..... Mme. Czerensky
Synopsis:
Wojeck is faced with odd jobs, a museum wants him to autopsy an Egyptian
mummy and Mme. Czerensky comes to him with her own strange problems. She's
growing old and she'd rather die, or would she? [RF]
2.08 [--] Wojeck: NAME OF THE GAMES THAT PEOPLE PLAY
27Feb68 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH]
[--] 05Mar68 - no details
2.09 [--] Wojeck: YOU'VE BEEN VERY BUSY
Not listed in Canadian archives
(possibly aired 23Jan68 CBC or 05Mar68 CBC)
(UK airdate: 11Sep69 BBC1 Thur 9.05pm)
2.10 [--] Wojeck: A DIME HARRY DOESN'T NEED (final episode)
12Mar68 CBC Tue - original Canadian airdate [BH]
(UK airdate: 21Aug69 BBC1 UK Thur 9.05pm)
-------------------------------------
Reruns CBC Tuesdays (11Feb69-20Mar69) (color episodes)
-------------------------------------
[--] 11Feb69 rerun
[--] 18Feb69 rerun
[--] 25Feb69 rerun
[--] 04Mar69 rerun
[--] 11Mar69 rerun
[--] 20Mar69 Thursday ?
################### Wojeck ###################
############ 1992 revival tv movie ###########
##############################################
Wojeck: OUT OF THE FIRE (1992)(tv movie)
(running time 89 min)
Teleplay by Malcolm MacRury / Story by Ian Sutherland
Directed by George Bloomfield
Starring:
John Vernon ........... Steve Wojeck
Patricia Collins ...... Marty Wojeck (wife)
Christianne Hirt ...... Dr. Anna Wojeck
Dominic Zamprogna
Ted Follows
Michael Hogan
Alan Jordan ........... Richard Bach
Maurice Dean Wint
Timm Zemanek .......... Cab Driver
Synopsis:
Former crusading coroner Steve Wojeck (Vernon) returns to T.O. after 21
years in Africa and must deal with his doctor daughter and ex-wife
(Hirt and Collins) while trying to help an illegal immigrant family. [RF]
################### Wojeck ###################
################# background #################
##############################################
As "This Hour Has Seven Days" set an agenda for public affairs on CBC
television in the l964 and l965, only a year later Wojeck established a
new standard for drama. Both evolved from the techniques and ethics of
direct cinema documentary, and tested the established television standards
to use the medium as a social tool in vibrant, exciting, and challenging
ways. Wojeck, created by Phillip Hersch, was inspired by the headlines
that Dr. Morton Shulman made as Toronto's chief coroner. Shulman extended
the influence of his office through his inquiries into deaths caused by
institutional and industrial negligence and forced issues of improved
safety standards.
Producer and director Ronald Weyman and director of photography Grahame
Woods, who shot the black-and-white film production on location with a
lightweight camera that he could handhold, sacrificed conventional
production values for a down-and-dirty naturalism. The program, and the
series that ensued, tried to confront contemporary social issues through
Wojeck's inquiries. The program's documentary style and the roots of the
stories in the headlines of the day established standards and format that
has filtered through CBC television drama ever since, in episodic series,
such as "Corwin" or "The Collaborators", and anthologies, in particular
"For The Record".
Wojeck was brought to life by John Vernon. Stalwart, often quiet and
understated, Vernon's Steve Wojeck was frustrated or driven to outrage
by people, officials, and institutions that failed to provide answers or
acknowledge responsibility. He regularly questioned the decisions he had
to make and, though he was in some senses a typical hero and paragon of
virtue, he was invested with a greater vulnerability and depth, and
differed from the standard television hero. Of Polish descent instead of
the typical invisible Anglo-Saxon, he was also Catholic, an element of
his personality that formed a part of his dilemma about abortion in a
two-part episode titled "The Cold Smile Of Friends".
The other regulars on the series were Ted Follows as Crown Attorney
Arnie Bateman, Patricia Collins as Wojeck's wife, Marty, and Carl Banas
as Detective Sergeant Byron James, with occasional appearances by
Jamey Weyman and Tanis Montgomery as Stevey and Judy, the Wojecks' son
and daughter.
The barriers that the series broke down were thematic as much as stylistic
or technical. Under the guidance of executive producer Weyman and associate
producer David Peddie, the writers explored issues that had rarely been
confronted so directly in television drama, and in fact many of the
programs can be categorized by the issue at their centre as much as by
the actual story. There was an episode about abortion, about homosexuality,
about construction safety, about drug addiction, about auto safety, about
food inspection standards and methods, about negligence of the elderly--
each of which precipitated a death that might have been avoided.
Wojeck gained both critical and commercial success. "The Last Man In
The World" won the Wilderness Award as the CBC's best film production
of the year, and an award at the Monte Carlo Film Festival. The series
was sold to foreign markets in the U.K., Sweden, Holland, Belgium,
Ireland, Finland, and Yugoslavia.
################# Wojeck ####################
################# the end ##################
##############################################
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