It was fall 1968, I was 5 years old. CTV stations in Canada starting airing reruns that fall and CFTO in Toronto aired it weeknights at 6 PM.
The first episode I ever saw was "Maid to Order". I distinctly remember the scene in the living room where Darrin gets Samantha a glass of milk as being the first I saw of the show. I saw this episode a few times on TVLand but I never thought to write down which one it actually was!
I was hooked and wanted to watch it every night. After a few months, CKCO, the CTV station in Kitchener (which we could receive) started airing it at 6:30 - so I had a full hour of the show every night! That thrilled my parents because I always wanted to watch the show when we were eating supper! CKCO even aired it on Saturday night as well.
One thing I remember about the CTV reruns is that many of the episodes retained the original openings (minus the sponsors). For example, although many season 2 episodes CFTO ran had the altered season 1 music, there were a few that retained the season 2 starting because I remember seeing that variation when I was young. Same with seasons 3 and 4. Almost every season 5 episode had the correct music on those reruns.
I discovered the ABC daytime reruns later on and was surprised that all the episodes started with the season 1 music. Even then I preferred the more upbeat opening music!
CTV stations would drop the show by 1972 and it was syndicated in Canada. CHCH Hamilton (about 40 miles from Toronto) starting airing the show then, right from the black and white episodes. Again, many of the openings were correct.
In 1976 WUTV Buffalo picked it up, and almost every Dick York episode they ran had the season 1 music It was around that time I noticed that many of the openings were being altered.
I don't remember a lot about the primetime run because I was too young to stay up that late! But I remember watching a few episodes here and there, especially when we got into the '70s and I was a bit older.
If only VCRs had existed then!
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