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Ron “Buck Shot” Barge shaped the direction of children’s television for three decades, left a lasting impression on generations of Calgarians and became a local icon before his passing this weekend. Buck Shot was 87 years old.

Starting in 1967, the irrepressible and unforgettable Barge was on the television list of almost every child in Calgary for 30 years.

With songs, skits and puppets, including Benny the Bear, Barge brought hilarity to families’ living rooms for three decades before the show was canceled. It was, at the time, the longest-running children’s television show in Canadian history.

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Barge’s impact on the city has been felt in many ways over the years. Photos of Barge are part of the University of Calgary’s digital collection, and Calgarians have done everything from suggesting that a bridge be named after him to petitioning City Hall to erect a statue in his honour.

“This man has been in our living rooms for 30 years and we thought it would be great to honor him,” petition organizer Karen Durrie said in 2015.There are a lot of overwhelmingly warm memories of him out there.”

Barge said at the time that he was flattered and honored by the gesture: “I’m just amazed and honored that something like this would even be suggested.”

Tributes to Barge continued just this year. In May, Barge’s famous cowboy hat (too small, slightly tattered, and with the sides turned up) became part of an exhibit at the new Sam Centre, the Stampede facility that displays its artifacts. The centre isThis includes a wall of famous cowboy hats, including one worn by Barge.

Buck Shot’s guitar was also on display at Studio Bell, where his daughter Cindy Barge wrote the following tribute: “We didn’t realize how much he meant to the kids and even their parents until we got older. To see the kids’ eyes light up when they saw him, and to see adults become kids again when they met him – it was a beautiful sight.”

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“To this day, we still see this reaction in adults and it is more than heartwarming.”

On Saturday evening, Brenda Barge wrote on social media: “It is with great sadness that we have lost our dear father, Ron ‘Buckshot’ Barge, who passed away at home surrounded by his family and laughter. He will be missed.”

As news of Barge’s death spread, his fans took to social media to express their condolences to his loved ones and thank him for years of entertainment.

“I grew up with him and Benny. RIP Buck Shot and thank you,” wrote one fan.

In 2017, Barge celebrated the 50th anniversary of his show’s first broadcast. At that point, the show had been off the air for two decades, but he still had legions of fans.

“It’s really hard to believe,” Barge said of his 30-year career in television. “When we started, we didn’t know if we could make it for a week.”

Barge was a studio manager at local CTV station CFCN when he came up with the idea for a children’s show. There were new rules restricting American programming; the CRTC wanted more Canadian programming. So Barge pitched his idea and got the green light.

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Just 10 days later, Barge took on the role of Buck Shot for the first time on television, along with Jim Lewis, the person behind popular puppets such as Benny and Clyde the Owl. The two entertained children with songs and dialogue in the improvised show until it was canceled in 1997. (Lewis died of cancer in 2023.)

“There was no script or anything for the show,” Barge told Postmedia in 2007. “We basically went in with an idea for a format and improvised. We (he and Lewis) had a good idea of ​​what we were doing. We knew we had to fill the show, and we would play a different song or something like that.”

Local children who performed The Buck Shot Show Among the members was Laureen Harper, wife of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Wrestling star Bret “The Hitman” Hart wrote in a previous column that Buck Shot left a lasting impression on him: “I met Buck Shot many times over the years, especially when I hung out at CFCN as a kid, and he was always as gentle and kind as he was on TV.”

Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi wrote on X (Twitter) that he was never allowed to be on TThe Buck Shot Show when he was a child, “but he was always delighted” when he met him in town as an adult. “We are so grateful for your legacy,” Nenshi wrote.

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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith posted on Facebook: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of a true Alberta legend and beloved children’s entertainer, Ron ‘Buck Shot’ Barge. For decades, Buck Shot and his sidekick Benny the Bear brought joy, laughter and countless memories to generations of children and families across Alberta… Thank you for all the smiles and laughter.”

From 1967 to 1992, the show aired daily at noon, while from 1992 to 1997 it aired on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

“I’m just so happy that it’s done so well for us on the air and people still remember it fondly and want to come by and say hello,” Barge said in 2017.

Further details about Barge’s death are expected this week.

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