Read All About It! is a Canadian educational television series that was produced from 1979 to 1980 by TVOntario. It starred David Craig Collard as Chris, Lydia Zajc as Lynne, Stacey Arnold as Samantha, and Sean Hewitt as Duneedon, ruler of the galaxy Trialviron. In the second season Michael Dwyer joined the cast as Alex. The main goal of the show was to educate viewers in reading, writing and history. Each episode ran for approximately 15 minutes. Eric Robertson composed the music for the show being filmed in Brampton, Ontario.
Premise
The show is set in the fictitious town of Herbertville, where 11-year-old Chris Anderson inherits his Uncle Derek's coach house seven years after Derek's mysterious disappearance; Derek is now legally presumed dead. The coach house contains two artificially intelligent robots built by Derek: Otto, a device which communicates by printing its thoughts on paper; and Theta, a talking computer with an integrated monitor. The terms of Derek's will stipulate that Chris can only use the coach house before he's 21 if it's for a worthwhile purpose, so he and his friends Lynne and Samantha start a newspaper called The Herbertville Chronicle.
First season
In episode two, the kids discover the coach house also houses a transporter which allows teleportation to and from the galaxy of Trialviron. After inadvertently triggering the transporter, Lynne and Samantha are trapped within Trialviron by Duneedon, the despotic ruler of the galaxy, but manage to escape. This launches a season-long serial, in which the newspaper is focused on unraveling a conspiracy headed by Herbertville mayor Don Eden (the alter ego of Duneedon) who wants to claim King's Park as his own to get a rare mineral he needs to invade Earth.
The transporter is also able to transport literary characters into the coach house, such as the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Merlin the Magician from King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable, and Captain Hook from Peter Pan. These characters sometimes help, and sometimes hinder, the trio's investigation into the conspiracy.
Seen in this serial are Chris, Samantha and Lynne. Recurring players include Duneedon (a.k.a. Mayor Don Eden); Duncan O'Regan (self-described 'security guard extraordinaire' who also seems to be part of the conspiracy); Dr. Crystal Couplet (a friendly Trialveron resident and poet who speaks in rhyme); Joseph Walker (an 80-year-old Herbertville resident who has valuable memories of the town's past); and Ann Blake (a Herbertville town councilor). Chris' Uncle Derek is also eventually found alive, being held captive by Duneedon, and is seen in several episodes.
Second season
The second season also consists of 20 episodes but is divided into separate smaller arcs.
The War of 1812 (Episodes 1 - 5): Samantha and Chris witness a young boy, who is handling a compass, suddenly vanish. Using the same compass, they are transported back to the War of 1812. There they discover the boy, Alex Tanner, has been falsely accused of being a deserter—and he will be executed unless they can rescue him.
Seen in this serial are Chris, Samantha, Lynne (who stays in touch with the time travelers back at the coach house), and Alex (who is introduced in this serial). Recurring players include a brief appearance by Uncle Derek; also seen are Sir Isaac Brock, Laura Secord, and in one episode, Graham Greene as John Nelson.
The Book Destroyer (Episodes 6 - 9): Lynne and Alex venture into Book World, after discovering that a shadowy figure called The Book Destroyer is systematically erasing beloved characters from literature.
Seen in this serial are Lynne and Alex. Samantha appears only at the very end, setting up the next serial. Chris does not appear; it is mentioned he is recovering from a sprained ankle. Recurring players include The Book Destroyer.
Samantha and Alex Moves Away (Episodes 10 - 13): The gang tries to adjust when a devastated Samantha and Alex announces that their family is moving to Victoria, B.C. This is the only serial to contain no science fiction or fantasy elements (aside from the continuing presence of Otto and Theta).
Seen in this serial are Chris, Samantha, Lynne and Alex. Recurring players include Rita Zakowski, a local author whom Sam befriends.
The Ghost (Episodes 14 - 15): During summer vacation, the ghost of the first principal of the Hubbertville School takes up residence in the coach house.
Seen in this serial are Chris and Lynne. Recurring players include Ernest W. Wetherby, a fussy, strict ghost who insists on neatness and correct grammar.