I was watching some episodes of “Moone Boy” this week, and in one of them (Boylé, Boylé, Boylé) Martin Moone is trying to hitchhike back home. In the background, the theme to “The Littlest Hobo” is playing.
Of course, being a Canadian of a certain age I recognized the song instantly. But was that show popular in either the UK or in Ireland, to the extent that people would recognise the theme song?
Maybe tomorrow, I’ll want to settle down, until tomorrow, I’ll just keep moving on…’
Yeah, instantly recognisable to me - it played on children’s tv regularly in the UK. Given that there were only 3 channels in those days, tv shows of that era seem more memorable.
It was definitely popular in New Zealand when I was a kid. And rightly so, too, as it was great.
I didn’t have a TV growing up — parental choice, for which I am grateful — and never once heard of The Littlest Hobo in popular culture or otherwise until I saw Corner Gas.
It was popular enough in the UK. The memorable theme tune would have certain connotations to people of a certain age.
First time I’ve ever heard of it.
People in the UK might also recognize the theme tune from the three TV ads which have used it, all of which - of course - feature dogs.
I knew I’d heard it in an ad myself, but couldn’t remember which one, so did a search which turned up this:
http://www.littlesthobo.com/home/commercial-tracks
Don’t remember the show itself though I must admit.
I was vaguely aware of the show and theme tune but I think I was watching it while too old so if I saw it I soon switched off or switched over. It was certainly not regular viewing for me.
I can confirm watching Champion the Wonder Horse and Casey Jones - both of which had memorable theme tunes. As did Australian show Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.
TCMF-2L
I remember the show. It was a fairly regular after school show on when I was a kid in the early to mid 1980’s (in Canberra so I would think most of NSW would have seen it as well).
It was certainly well known in the UK, to the point that when I was at University I used to hear the song played in nightclubs! A certain kind of nightclub to be sure, but the crowd used to love it!
Growing up in Scotland, the original 1960s show was one of my favouritesl!
Never bothered with the 1970s remake though.
It was a popular show in South Africa, too (Around the same time as Grizzly Adams, IIRC. Although we only had the latter dubbed into Afrikaans).
Oh yes. I watched it a lot as a kid in the eighties in the UK.
I am also a proud owner of this t-shirt:
(Yellow on brown is the killer combo)
I was well past after-school television by the early to mid 1980s.
Oddly enough I was just thinking of that TV show a couple days ago, I remember the tune but had forgotten what the dog looked like.
Northern Ireland here, 80’s kid.
Huh! I just naturally assume that all Canadian TV shows are/were unpopular (compared to U.S. shows, naturally). Live and learn.
I had to really work to unscramble the thread title.
Yep would know it instantly. Degrassi Junior High was also played here.
Was hugely popular here in Ireland when I was a kid in the '80s. The theme tune was used in an ad campaign in recent years too. I sing it to myself all the time.