User reviews

Uncle Bobby started out as a short, wiry little man with a hawk-nose and British accent, but ended up being a less mobile, pulpy-nosed, long white-haired old man, less of a British accent and with a huge stomach. I believe the show featured cartoons and kid's features, including a regular visit from a safety cop from the Toronto police corps. Off the program, he did like his "wee drams." I read somewhere that Uncle Bobby and CTV sportscaster Pat Marsden used to close some bars in downtown Toronto back in the late 1960s, early 1970s.

Bimbo the clown and the birthday puppets deserve some mention here, also. What was it about hosts of kids shows in this era and their cardigan sweaters? Is there some symbolism here that is escaping me? One thing I remember that at some point, the show stopped taking itself so seriously and laughed at itself quite regularly, as the rest of us were doing. These cheap little shows were so bad, they were truly great!

The Uncle Bobby Show was an institution here in Canada and more should be made of this talented man who came to entertain us in our living rooms every weekday.

As I was reading through some of the other user comments - it brought back some memories of phrases I hadn't thought about in years.

It seems he was a staple of many Canadian kids on Saturday mornings during the 70's (especially if you didn't have cable!). I do remember Bimbo the clown and those cone puppets, but the thing that always comes to mind when I think of Uncle Bobby is that magician that would come on and perform some trick - Uncle Bobby would help him out, and more often than not the trick would sort of come together and they would both kind of singsong the phrase "iiiit's maaagic"! I thought I was the only one who remembered this show - and the fact that I do believe he would get more and more soused as the show went on! But hey - that was the 70's for ya...

Olivern's comments about this show may be referring to another Uncle Bobby, as the Uncle Bobby I remember from my youth was a small, middle-aged fellow, possibly with a British accent, who wore sweaters.

For years, Uncle Bobby was an institution on Saturday morning TV on CTV here in Canada, and the show was a mixture of games, comedy routines and documentaries. I remember a special episode back when the CN Tower in Toronto was completed.

My favorite segment involved a big, cardboard clown character who would come out of the wall to the tune of Jim Reeve's "Bimbo" -- I think he might have had something to do with birthdays.

Sadly, memories of Uncle Bobby have faded over the years. The show left the national network in the late 1970s and I believe it continued as a local Toronto program for awhile after that. But 25 years ago when I was 7 and 8 years old, Uncle Bobby was as much a part of my regular Saturday morning routine as "Spider-Man" and "Rocket Robin Hood" reruns.

I know that this was before my time but the reruns on CFTO as it was known back in the day were absolutely horrible. :( All I remember of the Uncle Bobby Show was Bimbo jumping out of the closet and I know that's not too much to anybody else that may have been watching at the time but other than that it's okay. I know that the most people wouldn't be scared to see a clown jump out of a closet but ugh!!! :(

"Come on out Bimbo please!!"

What kid in his/her right mind wouldn't be afraid of a six foot clown jumping out of a closet and singing his own intro? I know that I was and it was ever thus that I don't want to put my clothes away for fear that Bimbo might jump out of my closet and sing happy birthday to me. :(

Would love to see them release the show to a DVD set!!!!! I was told I actually had my name pulled from Bimbo's pocket and announced on television. I would love to relive those times when I was young and show my nephews and nieces what we use to watch as children. Plus us older adults would love a good laugh. I think they should release the show to a DVD set, look at all the other shows that are being released. I'm sure other people that had their names pulled from the hat would appreciate the chance to hear/see that happen again. Uncle Bobby was an awesome show and I watched it daily when I was young! I can't get the Bimbo the Birthday Clown song out of my head.

Uncle Bobby, another of the Saturday morning childrens' shows that entertained me as a child. I remember Uncle Bobby for his British accent, the puppet that he used to speak to, and like another person mentioned, the birthday song that had the main puppet kissing the other puppet who was his "girlfriend". She would appear only for the "Birthday Song". Happy Birthday to you, (kiss) Happy Birthday to you (kiss), Happy Birthday to all of you (kiss), Happy Birthday to you (kiss). That was something I haven't seen since 1977, yet still remember it... I once met Uncle Bobby and a country club my family belonged to in Toronto. I was picked as his assistant for his magic show. After the show he gave me some little gifts, and I still remember the inscription, "Love from Uncle Bobby." As a kid, I didn't get it, but as an adult I totally understand. This person did nothing but love children and tried to teach values and cooperation through entertainment. I remember that each show also included a Police Sgt. that would give tips for playing or biking or anything in a safe manner. What I would give to see something like that on today's Saturday morning line-up. It would be the gem in the crown of any responsible network offering childrens' programming. Anyway, Uncle Bobby the man and show will always remain dear to me, as I am sure it would to anyone who watched it.

I was sitting in front of the computer and a thought of my childhood came to my mind and that show followed. I did not realize that he worked as a school bus driver in order to support himself , part time. I have fond memories of coming home from school for lunch break and seeing him and his cast. The show is part of my childhood memories.

I remember the Uncle Bobby show from when I was a child in the late 60's or so, along with Chez Helene. I also remember that, toward the end, his nose seemed to become more red, and his manner on television more erratic. I wonder if anyone else remembers this particular show: He had a woman playing the guitar and singing. In the background somewhere, he was singing along off-key. I remember her saying through gritted teeth, "Uncle Bobby is trying to help ... but he isn't doing a very good job." I vaguely remember the safety officer, and I definitely remember Bimbo the Birthday Clown. I forget the words, but I still remember the tune. One of the comments reminded me of the kissing puppets.

I was very sad to hear about "Uncle Bobby's" passing. When I lived in Toronto during the mid-seventies, I used to watch his show quite regularly.

On one occasion, I got to meet him when my class went to visit the "Uncle Bobby Show" set. He seemed to be a rather decent fellow. The fact that my father was also originally from Britain probably struck an additional chord with me.

It was also a thrill to see Bimbo the Clown up close. To this very day, every time I listen to Jim Reeve's "Bimbo" song, it reminds me of him singing the Birthday song.

I met Uncle Bobby at some show when I was a kid and my Brother (he was abut 4 or 5 and a big Uncle Bobby fan) saw Uncle Bobby and ran up to him yelling "Uncle Bobby" and he turned around and told my brother to "F--- off kid" needless to say he never watched the show again and hates Uncle Bobby to this day. So I wish I could say I had fond memories of Uncle Bobby and I'm happy for those of you that do but my Brother and I can only remember him as a nasty drunk that hated kids which is sad because the show was great and I still like the show. and thanks to my wife asking me to look up Uncle Bobby I now have the Bimbo song stuck in my head. at least she is getting a laugh out of it.

On a lighter note My wife and I met Mr. Story Teller from the Hammy Hamster Show now he was a great guy to talk to.

I loved the Uncle Bobby show ,I was on the show when I was 4 years old giving away puppies. I would love to see this episode ,my mother died when I was 5 ,I would love to see her again,this would be such an awesome memory to see , my father never spoke of my mother or show me pictures of her my whole life , very sad ,so if anyone knows how to get a hold of this episode

It was Toronto in the '70s - free sex, drugs, broken homes and messed-up parents but Uncle Bobby provided some innocent fun amidst all the coke and leisure suits.

I remember Big John the Cop and that kooky birthday song: Bimbo, Bimbo on the Uncle Bobby Show, Bimbo, Bimbo, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Bimbo, Bimbo, I would like to say....Have yourself a very happy birthday.

And those creepy little puppets that came out of those cones. Weird.

I saw him live at the CNE, once. I remember he had a fake guillotine that he had some kid come up and try out.

In retrospect, the guy seemed kind of strange.