[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mr_dressup_6336.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200:Ernie Coombs as Mr. Dressup, along with Casey and Finnegan.]]

Ernie Coombs was the host of this simple show (1967–96) as Mr. Dressup on the Creator/{{CBC}} television network. With his puppet friends, originally Casey and his dog Finnegan, he taught pre-school subjects with games, music and simple activities. To add to the fun, Mr. Dressup would always open up his tickle trunk, which contained any costume for any role he wanted.

Although it was a show for children, Coombs never had children on the show, only puppets and occasionally teenagers. In show business, young children have a long history of [[NeverWorkWithChildrenOrAnimals doing unpredictable things]].

''Mr. Dressup'' is a Canadian icon as much as ''Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood'' is in the US, which is logical enough considering Coombs was Creator/FredRogers' understudy when the former worked on the CBC. Seriously, show some aspect of the program to any Canadian who grew up with a television set in the time period of its airing, and you'll get a boatload of heartfelt memories of watching it.

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!!This show provides examples of:

* AmbiguousGender: Casey. When Ernie Coombs was asked about Casey's gender, he would ask the questioner their guess, and when the questioner responded with their guess, he'd say "You're right!"
* ChristmasSpecial: One year after the show ended, CBC aired ''Mr. Dressup's Holiday Special'', a ''two & a half hours long'' (and commercial free) Christmas morning special where Mr. Dressup, Chester, and Truffles went to the [=SickKids=] hospital in Toronto to entertain the kids and bring Christmas cheer, while showing them Christmas specials and short cartoons (largely Canadian ones), with cameos from other then-CBC Kids personalities.
* TheDreaded: The Terrible Tootle Troll strikes fear into everyone's hearts... but it's just Mr. Dressup.
* InfiniteSupplies: The tickle trunk never ran out of costumes and props even if they were never put back in.
* LongRunners: Nearly 30 years!
* OnceAnEpisode: Mr. Dressup would put a costume to match with the theme of the day's episode, and the puppet characters would pretend to be fooled.
* PinkMeansFeminine: The girliest puppet, Truffles, is bright pink all over, resembling cotton candy.
* TheOwlKnowingOne: The picture of an owl on Mr. Dressup's wall had a mind of its own. The Wise Old Owl provided wisdom and advice.
* TheVoiceless: Finnegan, yet he had a moving mouth. Ironically, Casey (who talked regularly) did not!
* TransAtlanticEquivalent: Or "South of the Border Equivalent". ''Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood''. Justified as Coombs worked with Creator/FredRogers at CBC in an early precursor to both shows.
* TheTrickster: Chester the Crow is often cooking up some sort of prank.
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