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introduced to Canadian children in 1964 on a show called Butternut Square, which incorporated many different characters â€" his being one. But in 1967, CBC cut back on programs to transfer equipment to Montreal to cover Expo ‘67, and Butternut Square was given the heaveâ€"hoe, much to the disappointâ€" ment of children and their parents across the country. ‘‘We‘d become more popular than we‘d really known,‘"‘ Coombs says. "And as soon as word came out (of the show‘s demise) there were all kinds of objections. They (CBC) had to do something, so what they did was make a much smaller, less expensive version of the show.‘‘ > The new show began with only Mr. Dressup‘s house as the set, but as the show‘s budget expanded, so did the show. ‘‘That fail, there were a few changes and a few modifications to the set (like the Mr. Dressup==== comforting voice. “ltiskindof’mww have people come to the their kids who came to the live show when they 450 Westheights Dr., Kitchener 74 1â€"0831 "‘I like to say we‘ve grown up together, Kâ€"W Photo sipEewA sALE/ addition of Mr. Dressup‘s backyard and treehouse), but things have carried on that way every since,"‘ Coombs says. Coombs came to Canada from Pittsâ€" burgh in the early ‘60s as a puppeteer with Fred Rogers (of Mister Rogers fame), who wanted to try out a new format for chilâ€" dren‘s television. y The following year, Mister Rogers reâ€" turned to Pittsburgh, but not without recommending Coombs to CBC for a part in the preâ€"school program which would replace Mister Rogers. "It was the old show biz thing about being in the right place at the right time,"‘ Coombs says. ‘‘Theyâ€"(CBC) called me in to discuss my Mr. Dressup character, and the rest of the story is a couple of decades out of my life." © Coombs, who is originally from Maine, says he had intended to pursue a career as a commercial artist, but drifted into theatre ‘‘through the scenery door‘‘, painting and designing sets. "I started painting scenery and designâ€" ing sets and lighting, wandering about to different theatres on the technical end of things,‘‘ Coombs says. ‘‘But | also started to do a bit of acting as well and eventually drifted from live children‘s theatre to *‘ BEST 50S LOOK This Saturday 3:30 p.m. (Poodle skirts, slickedâ€"back hair â€" you know the look!) BEST MALE LOOK BEST FEMALE LOOK +7 5 in Westmount Dollars _ "‘I think some people just have a personâ€" ality that works on television,"‘ Coombs pened. The interestng thing is, we‘ve gone through a lot of different producers and writers, and all have had slightly different points of view. So we‘ve ended up with a good mix, from entertainment, to interestâ€" ing guests, and educational elements.‘" But what has unquestionably been the show‘s strongest element is Mr. Dressup himself, a lovable, gentle character with an uncanny ability to capture the hearts and imaginations of young people. Maybe it‘s that children can sense sincerity, and Coombs is sincere when it comes to his Mr. Dressup character. After all, the two are alike in many ways. « ‘‘We‘ve never really had a guide or a bible for the show‘s writers to say this is what we‘re going to do and this is what we want to accomplish. It just sort of hapâ€" television. Along the way, I made puppets and did everything | could do to keep myseflnfl\ethentremsiness.mdlt'sal turned out to be this." Coombs says the Mr. Dressup show formula has been a simple one ovér the years, and that‘s probably why it has outlasted so many other children‘s proâ€" WESTMOUNT ROAD NORTH AT ERB, WATERLOO Over 50 stores and services including Eaton‘s and Mr. Grocer Ved., Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thurs., Fri. 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. they belieive me and they like me. | like to think that playing Mr. Dressup has mage Ernie Coombs a better person, because in real life 1 have to life up to him.‘ Mr. Dressup visits Kitchenerâ€"Waterico Saturday for two performances at Centre in the Square. This is a last chance for area audiences to see Casey and Finnegan, who are on their farewell tour. The puppets are.going into retirement, along with their creator Judith Lawrence, who has brought them to life each performance since they were introduced on the Mr. Dressup show more than 20 years ago. Coombs says though Casey and Finneâ€" gan will be sadly missed and fondly says. "‘It‘s not a technique or the result of training â€" the kids just see me on T.V.. remembered, many other new puppet characters are being introduced on the show, which he says will continue for many more years to come. A Mr. Dressup 25th anniversary special, to be aired next year during prime time on CBC, is now in the Mr. Dressup performs at Centre in the Square, Jan. 26 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets are $7.50 and are available at the Centre in the Square box office, 578â€"1570.