Polka Dot Door

I loved this show when I was little. It was on Ontario TV, and I think it had a spin-off or two in the '90s. The hosts changed sometimes, but it was really fun to watch, and talked a lot about stories and toytime. The hosts always did a little dance to the tune of "Frere Jacques" that they would sing in both English and French, and there was a big dinosaur thing named Polkaru that one host never got to see! It was a good, quiet, peaceful show for kids.

The show was hosted by two, dreary Ontario civil servants and a series of stuffed animals who neither moved nor spoke -- and yet played the starring roles. Much like the Ontario government.

Polka Dot Door, like other Ontario government shows such as the Math Patrol, Body Works or Sol, had that unmistakably bland 'do-as-we-say, is-good-for-you-no-questions' taint to it. But in a smiling, artless, stir-up-no-trouble-children way. The Canadian way.

The hosts never lasted long in their jobs. This timid little children's show would chew them up at an alarming rate.

Events in each episode were scheduled to the second, like the unionized ministry office TVO is. Our hosts would dutifully read children's stories at an exact time, monitored by a monolithic clock at centre stage. Each day had a different 'theme' and the hosts were forced to march in a small circle, often holding one of the stuffed animals, chanting inspirational songs about the day's theme. Like characters out of a Kafka tale, our civil servants would never leave the pink room or their slavery to the clock and woud babble incoherently about the polka dot door and the world beyond, glimpsed in short filmed sequences where the outside was shown (usually a shoe factory or a farm).

Periodically, everyone would hallucinate an apparition named 'Polkaroo.' Polkaroo would do mischieveous things like flip up Marigold's skirt, take a crap in the bookcase or hide his stash in Dumpty's pants.

Incidentally, I saw Dennis (one of the longer-running hosts) in a production of Godspell playing John the Baptist. He was pretty good.

You call this a show for kids? The Polka Dot Door was one of the worst kids shows ever made. Not to mention it is Canadian. There are no kids on this show what so ever. Just two adult hosts, one male and one female who made complete fools out of themselves. They talk to stuffed animals, like they are supposed to talk back. Only the female host saw the Polkaroo.......hello it is the male host dressed up. Listen carefully to the Polkaroo's voice!!! I caught on at a very young age. Any parents out there whose children talk to their stuffed animals, a word of advice, don't let your kids watch this show!!!! And that that awful song that they would sing called "Imagine". I can still here that song 25 years later in my head. Where are my ear plugs when I need them??!!!!

It appears that "Polka Dot Door" started out fifteen years before I was born, but ran for over twenty years in total. I first saw it at a very early age, and think I saw reruns of it shortly after its demise (even though I may not have liked it as much by then, as I may have been slightly past the age group it was meant for). It may not have been one of my childhood favourites, but I still found it entertaining for a while, enough for me watch many episodes, leaving me with permanent memories.

The show featured two hosts, one male and one female. The hosts of the show would change from time to time. It took place inside a large playhouse, which the hosts would enter through the Polka Dot Door. The two hosts of the episode would provide the young viewers with "songs, stories, and so much more." A group of stuffed toys, Marigold, Humpty, Dumpty, and Bear, lived in this playhouse. After the hosts came in, they would take these stuffed toys out of the box and do various activities with them. Towards the end of the episode, the Polkaroo (a mischievous kangaroo in polka dots who never said anything other than "Polkaroo!") appeared just outside the playhouse.

Some parts of that description may sound a bit silly, but remember, this was a programme for the very young folk, and despite how incredibly simple it was, it pleased many of those in the age group it was meant for in Canada, as well as some in the United States! It could also be educational for them in some ways. Since the show ran for over twenty years, it was obviously very successful, and people from several generations can say they watched it during an early part of their childhood! For all those reasons, "Polka Dot Door" definitely deserves some credit.

This show was great, maybe someone can't appreciate it because they're used to nonstop crap being pummeled at them through their countries shows. I found this site searching for the seasons to buy, for my 3 kids. This show made kids use their minds and imaginations as opposed to most of the cartoon or mind numbing shows that are on now. And it was from Canada - but how can it compare with jewels like KFed and Brit from your great country, I guess. Loved this show when I was a kid, I know lots of other people did too. I wish I could find some toys and memorabilia to buy, all of the shows that were on when I was little were so much better than the majority of stuff now.