McKenzie Brothers

The McKenzie Brothers

Bob and Doug McKenzie are a pair of fictional Canadian brothers who hosted “The Great White North”, a sketch introduced on SCTV during the show’s third season when it moved to CBC Television in 1980. The characters were created by Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis – Bob is played by Rick and Doug is played by Dave. The duo became a pop culture phenomenon in all media in both the United States and Canada appearing in movies, record albums, editorial cartoons, television and radio commercials for over five decades including, SCTV appearances on CBC and NBC Television, Polygram and Anthem Records, television commercials for Pizza Hut, Mr. Lubbe, Miller and Molsons Beer, MGM and Disney Studios, and Global Television.

The McKenzie Brothers Craze in the 1980's

This video chronicles A BRIEF VIDEO HISTORY OF BOB AND DOUG MCKENZIE and includes the HOSER PARADE

In December 1981 Anthem Records in Canada and one month later, Polygram records in the U.S., released Bob and Doug’s first album, “Great White North.” The album entered the RPM Canadian Album Charts at #3 on 12 December 1981 and peaked at #8 on the American Billboard 200 Chart in 1982. The record sold over a million copies, won two Juno Awards, and was nominated for a Grammy Award. To promote the album, Anthem Records invited fans to an album launch at a record store in Scarborough. Fans followed Bob and Doug from Scarborough to A&A Records on Yonge Street in downtown Toronto. As shown in the video above, thousands of fans joined the parade in their cars and trucks and Toronto Police had to close the Don Valley Parkway to ensure the safety of fans in the parade.

For more information on the Great White North Album follow THIS LINK

Bob and Doug Statues at the Rogers Center in Edmonton, Alberta

The color-patina statues are a collaborative effort between accomplished Edmonton sculptor Ritchie Velthuis, the non-profit SCTV Monument Committee, Calgary’s Bronzart Casting and actors Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, who had suggestions during the entire process.

Velthuis, who calls the monument his career highlight, was hired by the committee and began work in earnest in 2017, first carving Styrofoam on a metal armature from smaller models.

After six months of intense work the figures were ready to go to the foundry. “Each figure was around 10 small pieces,” said Veldhuis. “It’s a fairly complex and complicated mould, just because of the seated position, hands in front of hands, that kind of thing.”

Years in the making, Edmonton scuptor, Ritchie Velthuis’ painted bronze life-size statues of SCTV’s Bob and Doug McKenzie arrived without fanfare at Roger Place in Edmonton, Alberts in April 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Still Photos from the MGM's Strange Brew

Media, Merchandise and Licensing

News and Editorial Cartoons

Still Photos from Two Four Anniversary

Stills from Bob and Doug - Animated Show - CanWest Television

Still Images from Molson Commercials

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