Don Messer's Jubilee was a televison musical variety show produced at station CBHT in Halifax, Nova Scotia and broadcast by the CBC network nationwide from 1958 until 1969.
The program featured the "down-east" fiddling of host Don Messer (1910-1973) and his band plus the show's lead singers Marg Osburne and Charlie Chamberlain . Outside of Hockey Night In Canada, in the mid-1960s Don Messer's Jubilee was the #1 show in the country, earning higher ratings than even the imported CBS variety show, The Ed Sullivan Show.
The cancellation of the show by the government-funded network in 1969 caused a public uproar.
Recently the greatest honor in Canadian folk music was bestowed upon Frank Leahy as he was chosen to receive Don Messer's Violin from the Messer Family. Along with the precious violin.
Mr. Leahy holds the exclusive rights to the Don Messer name and image.
Last updated: 05-13-2005 09:16:55