Global TV Hammy Hamster's Adventures on the Riverbank (with original commercials, 1982)

Here it is - a bonafide Holy Grail, very kindly donated to Retrontario by Mark Ehmcke. From an off-air, early morning 1982 Global TV broadcast, original commercials present and correct. This was shot in 1972, but ran on an endless loop in the early 80s. That theme!

[@someothertime5616]

OMG, I finally found the version I watched as a child. All the other ones are the rebooted version from the 90s. I love it, this makes me so happy. I would buy all the episodes if I could find them! Thank you for posting!

[@KevinSmith-qn8fn]

Im 51 years old and i grew up with this show I loved it when i was a little kid

[@franknberry333]

Me too!

[@needachin6133]

This was a staple of my childhood in the late 70s, the theme and music throughout brings tears to my eyes, its such a joy to find this! Memories so thick and vivid. Thank you Mark Ehmcke and Retrontario for this!!!

[@thomasfisher8793]

Ah yes I remember this show when my family lived in the worse housing project in Toronto in 81 before we moved to the country. Good times guys in the building with machine guns mafioso ah yes a simpler Age.

[@j.8519]

This was my uncle’s show. Paul Sutherland. ❤

[@nicolmackay3753]

AHH, the good old days. on the Riverbank also Mary, Mungo and Midge. I watch paw patrol and other modern kids TV, however I still think the simplicity of animation from those days are absolutely the best.

[@newellgirl]

This is easily the BEST version of Hammy Hamster love the motorboat sounds GP as a WC Fields type A hamster, rat and guinea pig in a hot-air balloon..a hamster using a hammer and saw ??!! Talk about suspension of belief! Guess thats what childhood is all about! loved Hammy & his mates

[@irwinkebbe8241]

It's so simple and quiet. TV sure has changed.

[@AnnaLVajda]

Yeah well why should childrens shows not be nice like that? So violent now it's not appropriate. I think this show made me ask my Mom for a hamster but she said no because their cages smell I was allowed a fish and bird in my room and a rabbit in the chicken coop and my Dad gave me a lamb pet for Easter and there was usually a dog or cat or both but no hamsters allowed.

[@abeston8025]

oh I loved this show back in the day... I remember the vehicles like the jeep and the dive bell too!

[@TheJillianRussell]

OH. MY. GOD! I LOVED this show as a 5 year old! I always wondered back then how they got the hamsters to drive the little boats haha.

[@cadavher]

I was lucky enough to have a tv in my room when I was a young kid. I woke up every morning and watched hammy hampster before heading to the corner to patrol. So much fondness❤

[@risingphoenix7633]

OMG what a smile this puts on my face! I miss being a child and believing everything I saw!

[@the-review-channel]

I watched this when I was little I like GP driving the jeep

[@elite_facts_10140]

Man I wish I was an 80s kid so I could watch this.

[@ferox965]

I was a kid in the early 80s. I watched this show in the morning. It was a great time to grow up.

[@wyldebill4178]

That’s some gold there! Especially the commercials!

[@JasonLee-mg9yy]

"It's a lucky thing, GP, that you nailed your candles to the table..." classic!

[@hankmurphy3882]

8:03 the theme of my childhood. It literally brings tears to my eyes. I've been looking for "my" Hammy Hamster since I first discovered KZbin. Thankyou. Thankyou very much.

[@whippet0]

Exactly! I distinctly remember that folk music when I was a kid. I wish I knew who sang it!

[@needachin6133]

Hank you have taken my exact thoughts!!! Here I am 3 years after you with absolute amazement finding this. You said it all so well, truly the theme of my childhood too!! I'm almost overwhelmed.. lol.

[@woodey028]

The sound of Matty's motor boat was the best.

[@morninggloom8391]

I know, it’s all either the British voiceover or the version where they replaced Mathew mouse with Martha mouse!

[@stevenkratchman1007]

I showed this to my daughter’s hamster Chobani and she loved it! I put my iPhone by a see through part of the cage and my hamster took some food and started to eat in front of my iPhone it was adorable💕♥️❤️

[@sensibleb]

I must've watched this exact episode a hundred times when I was a kid. And I'd completely forgotten about it until now. The dialogue, the music... it's all rushing back.

[@matt3phi]

Sensi Bleb I know eh? What a trip! The river bank was my happy place... Still is...

[@LoveLife-yh7ke]

This originally aired in 1972 and I used to watch it every morning as it little 10-year-old kid. What sweet memories. Then when global TV begin airing it in 1982 I relived it all over again, now here in 2016 I'm reliving it all over again. Thank you for the fantastic post and if you have more Episodes like this please please post them. The 1995 remake, once upon a hamster was great, but this is the original stuff. Thank you :-)

[@morninggloom8391]

I didn’t even grow up watching this, but it’s just such a good show! It’s take me ages to find the Canadian version too. I wish more kids shows today were like this!

[@Bigglesworth78]

Loved this show as a young one in Ontario in the early 80s... so amazing to see those old commercials - I had a Monchichi, loved Strawberry Shortcake...I'm overcome with nostalgia ! Excited to let my little guy watch this when he's old enough...

[@mikebasil4832]

Thank you for posting one of my favorite childhood memories. It's so good to see Hammy, GP and Matty again. 💓

[@karensurland4954]

I used to watch your show every weekday morning at 6 a.m. with my daughter who was 5 and now she's 24 ! Good memories . !

[@dorelle]

Man. When I was 10 I subjected my poor, first pet- Ringo the gerbil to this show. He was so good he'd sit in my hands n humour me lol

[@oldsteamguy]

wonderful! I watched this show as a kid. now I can show my son

[@rayvensmoon]

Oh what a wonderful treat!!! This show was my absolute favourite as a young girl in the late 70's, and sparked my lifelong love of animals. I even named my guinea pig GP! I have so many warm fuzzies right now it's not even funny. Thank you so much for posting!

[@rachelerenaud6139]

OMG. THIS is the version I remember from when I was a kid!! Thank you for posting XO

[@xeric1953]

I’m glad I caught this as a kid in the 90s before it went off the air

[@marcom8658]

Showed this version and the newer version to my daughter. She liked this one more. It was calmer and sweeter to her. As for why we can't get a version. In my scouring of the internet I once found a page that outlined the issue. Going from memory, someone didn't like what the previous rights owners did and they now own the rights and wants to do something with it but haven't seen anything about it since and the details disappeared from the web. I think I grabbed a Screenshot somewhere of the details. I also found reference to a video copy of the diving bell episode in a university library online catalogue. Wisconsin or something like that. If anyone is in the area, please rent, record and post a copy. :) Yes, like others I really hope we can see another piece of our childhood like those in the UK have who get to have the whole series.

[@jetuber]

If you ever find that screenshot again, which would identify the current owners, we could collectively express to them our sincere interest in paying for a DVD set of the series. It might help them realize that there is an actual market for this series, were it to be issued. Please look for it, if you ever have the time and inclination.

[@fishaxe23]

I'm also really interested in finding this series again, i have scoured the whole internet looking for this version, the 1972 canadian version but to no avail, if anyone finds anything please let me know!

[@Eric-steele]

dude you are a legend for uploading this i use to watch it in the afternoon every school holiday thanks so much

[@MandySparks]

Omg THIS was Hammy Hamster I used to watch! I didn't realize there was also a US version.

[@suziecreamcheese211]

This started in the 60’s when I was little and I never forgot it. I can’t find the early 60’s ones however, they may be gone, they were in black and white back then.

[@CelesteKTheNewWaveRevue]

I so remember this. Thanks so much for uploading this. :)

[@infowarriorone]

Wonderful! I grew up watching Hammy Hamster.

[@sailcat662]

This was a great time to be a kid.

[@PrankZabba]

Even at the age of 44. I still love this show!

[@colmlambe4068]

I remember watching this show when I was a kid in the 90's on YTV

[@ferox965]

I remember I used to watch this every morning...Then some years later I saw it again, but the voices were all wrong and the names different...Thanks for posting this!!!

[@robwhite4774]

Wow, this is a show I grew up on. I loved this show, it is beautiful.

[@jetuber]

I've been looking for this series on DVD for years, YEARS, and have come up short. They've released the more modern version of this show, as well as (ironically) the older series which, I think, was made in the UK. But THIS version is the one I grew up with. I wish someone would release a complete set. I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[@jamesfrost126]

jetuber The original was made in Canada. A raccoon is shown in the first episode and they are not native to Britain. The British edited out the original narrator and replaced him with a British actor.

[@andrielisilien]

SAME 😭

[@joeerdei7042]

Wow I’m 6 years old again , thank you .

[@scottbrandon6244]

I used to watch this show as a kid in the early 70s.

[@sewgeekdesigns9113]

I watched this in the 90s so this series had been around before then? Cool ❤

[@kellychaggares823]

wonderful, thanks so much for posting this. Made my day :)

[@MrLoobu]

This was a staple at grandma's house as a kid in the late 90s.

[@adriannedavis9517]

I had NO clue this show was so old! I'm a 90s kid but remember vividly watching this somewhere, maybe animal planet?

[@rhinomaggit3393]

Yes! I remember it coming on at like 3am or something like that

[@VaporChase]

Aw, yeah! When I was a kid in the early 80s, I used to sit through The Great Space Coaster on WUTV Buffalo 29 (on snowy UHF with rabbit ears) just because this came on right after on Global -- at 8:30 weekday mornings, so I was always late for school because I couldn't miss Hammy Hamster (as I called it). Hammy, Matthew Mouse, and GP the Guinea pig. Good times.

[@mmnementh]

I loved this show when I was growing up :) Great memories, Thank you.

[@BlueJWay999]

One of my favorite shows as a kid

[@carlandre8610]

How did they do this? So good cgi not needed thanks

[@skeezixcodejedi]

I remember this like it was yesterday :)

[@spongemanicecone9843]

This is the best show I have seen. I love it.

[@laurameunier5290]

Networks should air all of these old shows nowadays. Littlest Hobo, Bugs Bunny and of course Hammy ❤️ too many to mention but it would benefit the kids more than iPads and tablets. They’d love the shows as much as we did too ❤️

[@SirScavenger]

13:21 I remember those Monchichi dolls, nice to see the 80s commercial again.

[@andreamurray2878]

All these years and I just realized Hammy is a girl. Loved the show.

[@agirlhasnoname6637]

Could you imagine 😳 lol

[@lisaadrienne9852]

I remember watching reruns between 81-84?? Toronto.. 😊

[@RandomPersonOnTheInternet_O.o]

My parents recommend this to me!!!

[@virago2]

This isn't just any episode!!! This is the first episode!!! (of this series that is) I believe there was also an earlier B&W series as well as a later 90's series. All produced and narrated by the same guy

[@jetuber]

Yes, that's right. This is the "middle" series, second of three series that were made featuring Hammy Hamster. It's easy to get the first and third series on DVD, but THIS one is the best one, and it's never been released anywhere, as far as I know. I wish it would be.

[@alanstrong3295]

Tales of The Riverbank was a good show for kids.

[@eriklacroix2684]

I love this. It's terrific!

[@evab100official]

I never knew there was a retro edition, I only knew the 2000’s edition

[@fusionlight5060]

Thank you so much ! Please post more if possible. I'd love to see the whole series - this original 1972 Canadian Series. The writing and storytelling was amazing, it really captured the imagination. It may be the only TV show that makes one happy, peaceful, and relaxed simultaneously . I'm thinking because of its exposure to nature - the peaceful riverbank and animals etc. The characters had a lot of personality ! A good clean TV show for children and adults alike. Is there anyway that folks like us can get access to this series (Canadian recording / 1972 edition) ?

[@hmmmnmnmnm]

Ah man... I'm 9 years old again.

[@gigisfantasticchannel6873]

Aww so cute my hamsters name is hammy to !

[@nanchesca3950]

The old commercials, too funny!

[@JDemen82]

I feel so old.

[@dthoneybear]

Love this kids series thanks love Hammy Hamster, Martha Mouse and GP Guinea Pig. Cute

[@jetuber]

Matthew Mouse was always my favourite. (Apparently, in the other series, he has different names -- but for me, his true name and identity is Matthew.) Also, I think that one of the reasons why Bag End, in the LOTR/Hobbit movies, always seemed to resonate so well with many viewers is because it reminded them of the hole-in-the-ground domiciles in which Matthew (and, originally, Hammy himself) lived.

[@haileyshannon7548]

He was called Martha in the US version!

[@johnmurnaghan3299]

I never thought of that. I think I subconsciously felt the same!

[@pugman9672]

jetuber I grew up on Martha mouse I had no Idea there was another version

[@shawnmartinuk1891]

Ahhhhhhh childhood memories. Thanks for sharing this on my FB page John :)

[@elite_facts_10140]

The best TV Show ever created.

[@AndrewBoggsOxford]

Thank you so much!

[@Iam6ixRings]

I think this show continued on YTV because I remember a Guinea Pig on it.

[@infowarriorone]

+✌(ʘ‿ʘ)✌ 6iX It's name was G.P.

[@LoveLife-yh7ke]

Yeah it did Air in 1995 on YTV but that was the remake called once upon a hamster. This show we are all watching here is the original from 1972 and what sweet memories it is. Hope the poster Retro Ontario post more of these

[@Jotinko]

MATTHEW MOUSE. That's $4.80, I'm putting that on your bill. Where did they go?. Hahahahahhahh I loved this show when I was a kid & it's aged like fine Wine.

[@cinthia9602]

I remember this:-)

[@jstreutker]

More please!

[@LoveLife-yh7ke]

I second that

[@golsonmoldon9455]

Terrific!

[@dancormack]

So has ANYONE found this series on DVD or any video site? I would absolutely love to get this to watch again. I found the later version of it and it’s not the same. I need these ones. I watched this all the time growing up. I would gladly pay for this series.

[@jetuber]

Someone needs to find out who has the rights.

[@crimsonsigma5531]

Once apon a hamster back in 1995

[@stepha2642]

I seriously am high af and sitting here waiting for something horrible to happen to Hammy.

[@SgtBilby]

Too bad all of it isn't on DVD

[@nunzioc8931]

Must of required so much patience

[@andrielisilien]

So we get KZbin ads and vintage ads?? LOL

[@mgsch8572]

Used to watch this on Global Network Channel 6

[@DJRitty]

I f'n LOVED this show!!! Does ANYONE here remember a show on Global about a travelling caravan of performers who would wear these white masks with expressions on them. They would tell stories with music and these masks... Also anyone ever heard of a tv segment called Pecan Pie? I'm dying to know what that was from... Thanks if ANYONE can help...

[@marcom8658]

Could the show with the caravan be mummenschanz? They were on the muppet show. That's all I can think of at the moment.

[@aaroneckardt5514]

Never seen or heard of this before

[@kevinmorais]

There's Matty :)

[@whippet0]

This brings back alot of good memories. Does anyone know who sings the music that plays at 8:02 in the video? I would love to know! Thanks! :)

[@irwinkebbe8241]

Also... Matthew Mouse is... a rat. I never noticed that before.

[@agirlhasnoname6637]

And hammy is a girl....lol

[@karlament6939]

OH MY OH MY OH ME O MY

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

I think this was 1983, they mention playing He-Man and the Masters of the Universe during the end credits, that would've have debuted before then.

[@ferox965]

It could very well have debuted before then...the person who taped this could have caught the debut episode in a rerun...

[@stepha2642]

Now picture the rat as an old man And the hamster as a little boy And this plays a lot differently.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

It certainly plays like that.

[@BatHunterofDevon]

Umm-are we sure that this is from 1982? At the very end, Global announces that 'He-Man: Masters of the Universe' is about to air later today. Except, He-Man Masters of the Universe did not debut until September 7th 1983. Also, the Pac-Man cereal, according to Google, was also not released until 1983. So this can't be from 1982.

[@cinthia9602]

Who's here only for the theme song?

[@studydoc]

I love this! But based on the closing credit voice over comments this video was probably recorded after the fall of 1983 as He-Man did not air until September of 1983. Regardless, wonderfully nostalgic video especially the commercials!

[@anthealogan777]

Have you tried the English version. No words like spunky😱

[@drwhatson]

Is this an American version of the show? It was originally aired in black & white in the UK in the early 1960s.

[@Retrontario]

Canadian version

[@IamtheRealLizardQueen]

​@@Retrontariocorrection; first Canadian version from the 1970s!

[@fiveways]

I'm pretty sure this is 1983 as Masters of the Universe wasnt on in 1982. It started fall of '83.

[@jetuber]

Still no DVD of this series?

[@mattng7627]

Omg it is so cute

[@holotape]

Matthew Mouse = Best Mouse 🐁

[@danielherbert7477]

hammy the hamster

[@GrumpyOldGit60]

Ummm... I much prefer the original UK audio.