Johnny at the Fair

A man, his wife, and their boy are visiting the Canadian National Exhibit. The boy wanders off and runs into a bunch of celebrities including Olson & Johnson and Joe Louis.

It's the sort of short subject that Mystery Science Theater 3000 likes to make fun of, and indeed, it has, with many cynical comments. What modern people don't understand is that those were, for many Americans, more innocent times. People didn't worry about crazy people lurking around, waiting to snatch their children off the street. Now we do, even though the number of incidents hasn't changed much; if your child is kidnapped, chances are it isn't a sex trafficker, but your divorced spouse.

The most interesting aspect of this expectedly dated educational film is the character of "Johnny" himself: he's played by Charles Pachter, who grew up to be a renowned Canadian painter, sculptor, designer and historian/lecturer whose works have garnered him an Order of Canada. His web site is cpachter . com . One of his most famous works is Noblesse Oblige, 1972, which depicts Queen Elizabeth riding a Canadian moose. ;) Pachter recently mentioned his role in this film during an interview on CBC radio, which adds a nice bit of closure after several years of seeing this picture via MST3K. As others have mentioned, the film itself is a rather bland--and thus typically Canadian--walk/run-through of Toronto's famed Canadian National Exhibition, where celebrities of the day proceed to excite and bore little Johnny in equal measure while he's separated from his parents (Pachter's real parents played his on screen parents).

What can I say about a 50's promo-film for the Canadian National Exhibition, besides that it's completely unwatchable hadn't it been for the guys of MST3K who guided me through it. It's so bad, you just have to see it for yourself. Just make sure you don't watch it alone. Johnny's trip through the exhibition is so terrifying, you'll certainly need the comfort of a loved who keeps telling you: "It's just a movie, it's just a movie!"

A great short that teaches us that wandering off from our parents in crowded areas can be a real blast! You get to meet ice skating princesses, watch baseball games, horse races, and meet political leaders! Also, when your parents pick you up from the "Lost Kids" section of the police station, they're not mad, just happy to see you.

So if you're a little kid like Johnny, carpe diem! Ditch your parents as soon as you have the chance, and see how fun it can be to discover this wonderful world on your own! Also, why not accept candy from strangers while you're at it?

Educational little short, really great for kids. (r#17)

Ah, people in 1947 got their kicks in so many different ways than the people of today. This short film is a prime example. It shows a young boy traipsing through the Canadian national exhibit of that year. A cameo by Joe Louis is supposed to be very exciting, but isn't. In the end, you just want the thing to end and don't care what happens to Johnny. Is that really Lorne Greene narrating? It sure doesn't sound like him at all.

Avoid this unless you're watching the MST3K version.