Network: Société Radio-Canada (SRC) TV Network
Broadcast Run: 1957 to 1985
Broadcast Medium: Television
The world of Bobino and Bobinette mesmerized several generations of young people between 1957 and 1985 at Radio-Canada. Initially, during the summer of 1957, Bobino was a one-hour long program, airing on Sundays at 18:00, which featured cartoons coming from Canada and abroad. Then, during the 1958 season, Bobino took up residence in the time slot that the show would never abandon, Monday to Friday, from 16:00 to 16:30. Thus began an odyssey that became one of Radio-Canada’s legendary classics.
Bobino was first and foremost a triumph for Guy Sanche, who played the role for over 28 years. He also wrote the script until 1959, when Michel Cailloux took over the task. The latter claimed that he would work at least eight hours on each of the Bobino scripts. Bobinette, the second central character on the program, who was brought on board by Michel Cailloux as of 1959, was a puppet who embodied a mischievous little girl, manipulated and played at first by Paule Bayard who died at a young age in 1973, and then by Christine Lamer.
In 1966, after 1,600 black and white episodes had been aired, Bobino became a colour production. The adventure would last until 1985, totalling some 5,000 episodes in all. Reruns were then broadcast until 1989.
Written by Yvon Chouinard – August, 2008