Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
CALGARY – It was the last show for longtime children’s TV star Ron (Buck Shot) Barge Friday as hundreds of family, friends and fans attended a public memorial in Calgary.
For 30 years, Buck Shot and his sidekick Benny the Bear entertained Calgarians with songs, puppets, the birthday book and his battered cowboy hat.
Barge died at home last month just 10 days short of his 88th birthday.
The memorial began at noon – the same time that “The Buck Shot Show” would air in southern Alberta.
“I think in our hearts if we didn’t have to do this to him we wouldn’t make it this big, but he was a showman. He was an entertainer,” said his son Ken.
“You want him to have this joy in this last hurricane. It’s been such a revival of who my dad was because it’s been many years since he was Buck Shot.”
“Buck Shot” was one of the longest-running children’s shows in Canada, surpassing “Mr. Dressup,” which ran for 29 years, and “The Friendly Giant,” which aired for 27.
Barge was asked to develop the show when he was a cameraman and floor director with CFCN in Calgary. He had a knack for interviewing children in the audience and eliciting heartfelt responses.
“What you saw on TV was what he was at home. He was not pretentious. He didn’t talk down to people. He spoke and everyone was his friend,” said his son.
One of Barge’s friends, longtime Calgary TV weatherman Jimmy Hughes, said Buck Shot was extremely popular.
“Buck Shot was, and always will be, the most popular and successful television personality in Calgary history,” said Hughes.
“Besides being the best, he had the perfect plan … he started his fans again when they were four and five years old. Why didn’t I think of that?”
The show ran from 1967 to 1997, but Barge continued in his role making special appearances at events.
“We are lucky that everyone is coming today and it is a great way to say goodbye to my father,” said his daughter Brenda Barge.
Benny the Bear, an old Buck Shot guitar and a Calgary Flames shirt with “Buck Shot” written across the back were on stage during the service. His family and most of those in attendance also wore Flames jerseys.
“We put out the request because my dad was a Flames fan from day one. We would only have the ‘C of Red’ for Dad so we asked people.”
A musician most of his life, Barge played in bands from the time he was 16. He played piano and sang with the Stardells for more than 20 years in Calgary.
His family said he loved the show and the character he created. Since the show was made live, it resulted in a number of rehearsals being played by people working on it.
“The birthday book was the main target and the hired hands would put in either a bad joke or a bad picture or something that wasn’t appropriate for children’s television and my dad would have to keep a straight face while he was holding that stupid book,” said Ken Barge.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on September 20, 2024.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://canadanewsmedia.ca/last-hurrah-memorial-service-for-calgary-childrens-entertainer-buck-shot/
