Fables of La Fontaine (TV series) facts for kids

Fables of La Fontaine was a fun Canadian TV show for kids. It aired on CBC Television in 1958. This show was special because it used real animals as actors!

About the Show

This children's series brought famous stories to life. These stories were called fables. They were originally written by a 17th-century French poet named Jean de La Fontaine. His fables often taught a lesson.

Animal Actors and Miniature Sets

The show was unique because it used real animals. These animals acted out the fables on tiny, detailed sets. Imagine a small village or a forest built just for animals! The animals came from Lorna Jackson's farm in Mount Albert, Ontario.

Most of the animals were small and calm. They included parrots, frogs, cats, and pigeons. They were carefully placed on the miniature sets. Their movements helped tell the stories.

Filming Challenges

Filming animals was not always easy! Fritz Spiess was the show's cinematographer. This means he was in charge of the cameras and lighting. He also worked as an animal wrangler. This job meant he helped manage the animals on set.

Fritz Spiess spent many hours with the animals. He learned about their personalities. Sometimes, animals didn't want to cooperate. For example, a mouse once refused to ride in a tiny canoe. A monkey was more interested in studio wires than acting.

One famous moment happened during the "Tortoise and the Hare" story. The rabbit chosen for the role loved sitting in a tiny jeep. It simply refused to get out and race the tortoise! Fritz Spiess had to be very patient to get the animals to "act" for the camera.

Show Details

The show was produced by Marcel Gaudart. Each episode was about 15 minutes long. It was a weekly series.

When it Aired

Fables of La Fontaine was shown on Thursdays. It aired from January 2, 1958, to July 3, 1958. The show was broadcast at 5:15 p.m. Eastern time.