MovieChat Forums > The Beachcombers (1972) Discussion > Constable John Constable answers questio...

Constable John Constable answers questions

posted 18 years ago by beachcomberstv
31 replies | jump to latest

This sure is fun reading notes from some of our viewers. I had the pleasure of playing Constable John Constable from 1974 to 1990. I was the “best time” of my life.
I also starred and produced The “New” Beachcombers Movies for TV in 2002 and 2004.
We wanted to do a series but CBC wanted Movies. I also have been working on the CBC for 15 years to try to get them to re-run the old series, next year will be Beachcombers 35th anniversary, and the town of Gibson is working with me on planning all kinds of events (more to come) I pitched the CBC on running the “Best Of The Beach” one show from each of the years, 19 Sunday nights at 7pm during the summer of 2007 but the word I got last week from the CBC was and I quote “that the series does not target the demographics we need to attract.”
Well I tried.

Anyway some answers to the questions:

Re: DVD’s and VHS.
I have been working with CBC Marketing (great people) trying to release some DVD’s and I’ll keep you informed on that, I’ll also have some info on www.thebeachcombers.ca.
I was hoping for a “Best of the Beach” DVD that we would release right after the CBC airing but that’s gone unless I can change CBC’s mind.
Maybe I can get a “sponsor” like A&W or Boston Pizza whose “demographics” are the same as the series, to sponsor the DVD's. We did 375 episodes so we have a lot of product and other then those 85 shows that have played Showcase, TV Land and a few other channels, the rest haven’t been seen since 1985.

Gordon Pinsent
Gordon, a great actor, played the “wizard” in The Hexman aired 16 Nov 1975
and again in Return of the Hexman aired. 17 Sep 1978

Jesses Son
Was played by Cory Douglas

The show about the bird was called the Raven, March 1985, yeah it was a little hard to follow and I had the script.

The Christmas show with Relic, was Here Comes Santa Claus
It aired 22 Dec 1974
We did a “New” Beachcombers Christmas show in 2004 and I may try to release it as a DVD and include one or two of the “Classic Beachcombers” Christmas shows.

I’ll try to keep everyone informed about our next steps.
Thanks
Jackson Davies

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] beachcomberstv 18 years ago

We finished shooting the summer of 1990 the last show aired Dec 12, 1990.
I don't think the CBC even re-ran the series into 1991
We all have our grumpy moments but Robert and Bruno were great to be around, both were class acts…honest.
jd

[–] annatrope 18 years ago

Thank you for the info re Gordon Pinsent...! Now what was the episode where a marooned Sarah (?) was stalked by a cougar?????

PLEASE stay in touch with this board!!!! We thoruoghly enjoyed your contribution to the show....! Perhaps one day there will be a "Beachcombers Companion" Book. as there is a "Twilight Zone/Combat!/Avengers" Companion??

In my opinion this slavish devotion to "demographics" has led to a general coarsening of TV fare --in a "Revived" Beachcombers, Relic would grow and sell pot, Molly would run a house of ill-repute, Jesse would be an Eco-Guerilla, Sarah would have "gender issues" and Nick would routinely trade obscenities with his dead father.... Better to keep the "old" memories alive.....

[–] beachcomberstv 18 years ago

It was called "Where's Suzie" it aired Oct 01, 1978. You've got quite the memory, the last time that was on the air in Canada was in 1982.
And we are working on that "Companion Book"
jd

[–] annatrope 18 years ago

Like the "Deadhead" that once snagged poor Relic, parts of individual episodes float briefly to the top of my mind ...

Maybe you could market the book (in Canada) through Tim Horton's. Reading cast bios while sipping a large "double-double" and muching a maple-glaxed donut...Bliss!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] beachcomberstv 18 years ago

It was called Mountain of Fear, aired first Nov 24 1985.
I didn't work that week, but you may be right, I can't imagine us filming to far from Gibsons. In the script it was called Crown Mountain.
It was written by Robert Hunter, one of the founders of Greenpeace. He just passed away in the last year, he wrote some great episodes.
jd

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] annatrope 18 years ago

...Do you remember the Territorial Limits for "Viking Funerals"....? <VBG>

[–] beachcomberstv 18 years ago

No but we did a episode in Sept of 1977 called The Last Viking that was about a Viking Funeral and the curse of trying to stop it.
I remeber taking some great photo's of Robert "Relic" during that shoot, he had a great face.
jd

[–] annatrope 18 years ago

...I think it was something like "200 miles for fishing, 12 miles for funerals" -- that line just cracked me up! Clothier was a masterful actor -- I believe he once said that the viewers would forgive almost any kind of villany, as long as it didn't involve hurting a child....

I love the specials, but as you can tell I really miss those great Beachcomber "Adventure Dramas". Any plans for one of those?

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] annatrope 18 years ago

..Or to Lynx River, "North of 60!"....<G>

[–] beachcomberstv 18 years ago

That was a pretty good show too, and Corner Gas would be fun.
jd

[–] beachcomberstv 18 years ago

I still get up to the Sunshine Coast on the motorcycle, good roads and great people, and I can still fit into the Red Serge.
They did make me a honourary member of the RCMP, quite an honour. (I think the Canadian spelling is with an “our” right)
jd

[–] gazzo-2 17 years ago

Loved that old show! growing up in Maine we got CBC from Channel 6 in New Brunswick. I always wondered what had happend to some of the cast, can remember few years back being saddend to hear that Nick had passed on in '95. Boys he was good. Relic too. Good nostalgic show, glad to see you on here by the way.

[–] beachcomberstv 18 years ago

We even had Valdy sing on the first Beachcomber "Movie" in 2002, he's a cool guy and Ryan spent a lot of time in Vancouver and still lives in the area.
jd

[–] beachcomberstv 18 years ago

Ya that's a great line and Robert could deliver a line with the best of them.

It seems that the CBC and the other Canadian Networks don't want those kinds of shows, I'm still working on putting out some DVD's, but it would be fun to have the series (old or new) back on the TV
jd

[–] annatrope 18 years ago

Glad to hear the Red Serge still fits: I wonder, can David James Eliot still get into his original "Navy Whites"....?

If "North of Sixty" wasn't et ;east partly inspired by "The Beachcombers", I'll eat my Anorak. And "Corner Gas" is more proof that there IS a market for "Character-driven" comedy-dramas set in isolated Locales. ...Maybe you should pitch the show to the CBC/CTV Networks as "CSI: Gibson's".

Been meaning to ask --which of the episodes you worked on were your favourites?
And did that jet boat have a "stunt" driver?

(I'll swear the houseboat shown on the first couple seasons of "McGyver" had an eerie resemblance to Relic's old "digs"!)

[–] jacksondavies 18 years ago

Either CSI Gibsons or just Son Of A Beach

I liked “Not just a pretty face” but maybe because I co-wrote it, liked Freezer Full of Beach, Anatomy of an Accident and just about any script written by LS and Marc Strange.

Robert did most of the driving but if it was too dangerous John Smith drove the jet boat, he and his dad owned Molly’s Reach, the jet boat and Persephone and John went on to become a producer on Stargate.

A lot of our production people went on to work on MacGyver so maybe there was a resemblance. I acted in 5 of them myself.
jd

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] jacksondavies 18 years ago

Still trying to track down the Jet Boat, but the Persephone is being restored and we’re planning a big weekend in Gibson’s next summer, the 35th anniversary of the series, to unveil it.

[–] rpt319 17 years ago

A few things, how are the work on the DVDs coming? I had forgotten about this show for awhile and for some reason randomly now just started humming the theme song. It took me awhile to figure out what song I was humming lol.

Secondly, I love the little play on words in the Beachcomber hot tub commercials you did.

Lastly, have you ever approached one of the newer series such as Corner Gas or North Of 60 (I think they're planning a new movie) about ever reprising your role as (by now) Commander John Constable?

[–] jacksondavies 17 years ago

Sorry I haven’t been back to this site for a while. I would love to have the Beachcomber theme as my cell phone ring, could be fun.
The owner of Beachcombers Hot Tubs is an old dear friend and makes great hot tubs, and I may lean on him to sponsor some DVD’s of the series down the road.

I hope they do another movie of North Of 60 very important series.

I would love to do a Corner Gas, great show, I have friends in the cast, I may have to remind them I’m around.

I’ve discovered a fun website www.tvarchive.ca and they are doing a petition to try to get CBC to rerun the original series. http://www.tvarchive.ca/petition/links.php
Also check out www.myspace.com/relicsjetboat for a very cool song about Relic and the Jetboat

The town of Gibsons is planning some events over the next few months to celebrate The Beachcombers 35th Anniversary - has it been that long? The Persephone has been restored and it will be placed on a site beside Mollys Reach, which is now an real cafe. We gave the town of Gibsons our set of the interior of Mollys Reach from the movies and it will be set up to tour. There is also a cast, crew and fan reunion planned for September 7, 8, and 9, should be fun.

Check out www.thebeachcombers.ca, www.tvarchive.ca (The Beachcombers) and Friends of The Beachcombers, and The New Beachcombers, on Face Book (requires registration) for news on the 35th and any other news, like DVD’s of the original series.

Thanks again for your kind words and hope to see you in Gibsons

Jackson Davies [email protected]
AKA Constable John

[–] suiycfui 13 years ago

Well it's been four years since your last post here and five or six since word of your working with CBC on getting DVDs out. Any news?

[–] blackrider79 17 years ago

Mr. Davies,

First I have to say that you are one of the most recognizable people on Canadian TV (much like Pinsent). And it is great you still have a passion for a series that so many people love.

My parents watched Beachcombers on the original run but I never watched because I thought that whatever my parents watched was boring adult stuff. It wasn't until years later when I watched the series on Showcase that I realized what a fantastic piece of work the Beachcombers were.

I hope one day CBC reruns the original series or airs a new one.

[–] ik0897 17 years ago

Hello,

I was and still am I huge fan of The Beachcombers. I have so many memories of the show. Sunday night at 7:30 was the best night of the week. Every Canadian kid knew the when the show was on, who the characters were and knew the theme song. Actually, the theme song is on my computer.

Of course, Constable John Constable was one of my favourites. I still remember Nick, Relic, Molly and the rest of the characters. I also remember Huey, Margaret, McCoskey and other older characters. I have TV Land and SunTV but all I ever see are the episodes towards the end of the series. I would love to see the older episodes on DVD. When is the CBC going to try to preserve classic Canadian TV and make this series available to the fans ? I see very obscure series being released on DVD, including the Forest Rangers another classic Canadian TV series. Why not make one of the best loved Canadian TV series in the history of the CBC available to the fans.

Thanks, Brian.

[–] khudson-8 17 years ago

I have to say you're by far my favorite character, Jackson (no offense to anyone else of course). I was only alive for the tail end of the series (born in '85), but I do remember the reruns, and more recently the reruns on TV Land. Who knows, maybe you're the inspiration behind my drive to join the RCMP.

I must say though, those were the good old days of TV...just simple, plain humor that anyone can relate to, along with a frequent heartwarming moment or two. Bring back the good ol' days...get rid of all this reality crap...that WAS reality.

How closely did you work with the RCMP (for continuity/realism, etc)?

[–] kuljit54 17 years ago

Hi, I'm from england and I remember watching the Beachcombers back in the early 70's when I was just a kid. Do you have any episodes from the show on DVD as my friend Andy is interested in watching the early episodes when it first started.
Could you e-mail me back as soon as possible regarding this?

[–] ibl5000 7 years ago

Any updates on potential DVD releases? We want The Beachcombers on DVD!!!!!

PEACE (People Educating And Creating Equality)