Mr. Squiggle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mr. Squiggle |
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Mr. Squiggle from the 1990s
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| Also known as | Mr. Squiggle and Friends |
| Genre | Children's television, science fiction |
| Created by | Norman Hetherington |
| Starring | Gina Curtis Patricia Lovell Jane Fennell Roxanne Kimmorley Rebecca Hetherington |
| Voices of | Norman Hetherington |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 41 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format | Black & White (1959–1975) Colour (1975–1999) |
| Audio format | Mono (1959–1979) Stereo (1980–1999) |
| Original release | 1 July 1959 – 9 July 1999 |
Mr. Squiggle was a much-loved Australian children's television series. It was also the name of the main character from the ABC show. The program aired in different ways from July 1, 1959, until 1999.
It started as short five-minute segments. Later, it grew into a longer variety show with other performers. Mr. Squiggle was one of the most popular children's shows in Australia. It entertained many generations of kids.
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The Story of Mr. Squiggle
The main character, Mr. Squiggle, was created by Norman Hetherington. He was a talented cartoonist and puppeteer. Mr. Squiggle first appeared on the Children's TV Club on ABC TV.
His own show began on July 1, 1959. Norman Hetherington was the voice and operator for all the puppets. His wife, Margaret Hetherington, wrote the show's scripts.
How Mr. Squiggle Drew Pictures
The show's main idea stayed the same for many years. Children would send in their "squiggles" to the show. A squiggle is just a random drawing or a few lines.
Mr. Squiggle would then turn these squiggles into real pictures. He did this by connecting the lines with his pencil nose. Often, he would draw the picture upside down.
He would then happily shout, "Upside down! Upside down!" His human assistant would then turn the picture the right way up. This would reveal the finished drawing to everyone.
The last episode of Mr. Squiggle aired on July 9, 1999. This was more than 40 years after the first episode. After the show finished, Norman Hetherington owned all the puppets. They have been shown in special exhibitions.
Mr. Squiggle on Australian Coins
To celebrate 60 years of Mr. Squiggle, the Royal Australian Mint made special coins. These coins feature Mr. Squiggle and his friends. You can find Mr. Squiggle, Gus the Snail, Bill the Steam Shovel, and Blackboard.
They appeared on special $2 and $1 coins. There was also a unique 1-cent coin. This coin showed Mr. Squiggle's home, the Moon. These special coins were released on February 13, 2019.
Meet the Characters
Mr. Squiggle is a marionette puppet. He has a pencil for a nose. He lives at 93 Crater Crescent on the Moon.
He flies to Earth in his pet rocket, named Rocket. In each episode, he would draw several pictures. These pictures came from squiggles sent by children. Mr. Squiggle is a cheerful and sometimes a bit forgetful character.
He sometimes goes for "space-walks" during the show. His assistant would help him focus on drawing.
Mr. Squiggle's Human Assistants
Mr. Squiggle always had a human assistant helping him. These assistants included:
- Miss Gina (Gina Curtis)
- Miss Pat (Pat Lovell)
- Miss Jane (Jane Fennell)
- Roxanne (Roxanne Kimmorley)
- Rebecca (Rebecca Hetherington, Norman Hetherington's daughter)
Other Puppet Friends
Other fun puppet characters also appeared on the show:
- Blackboard: This is a grumpy blackboard that Mr. Squiggle uses for drawing. His famous sayings are "Hurry up", "Hmmph", "Double hmmph", and "Booorrriing".
- Gus the Snail: Gus had a TV for a shell. Later, his shell was a flower pot. He often told "Knock, Knock" jokes.
- Bill the Steam Shovel: Bill loved to tell funny, corny jokes. When he laughed, he would belch steam (which was actually talcum powder) from his "nose".
Guest Stars
Some famous comedians appeared on the show. Mikey Robins and Merrick Watts played a character named Reg Linchpin. They were on the show from 1989 to 1990. Other notable guests included actor Paul Chubb and magician Timothy Hyde.
