Chez Hélène (1959–1973) User Reviews

Hélène, Louise and Susie - entres les amis!

[dlhunt · 14 March 2002]

The middle of three weekday morning shows for children in the 1960s and 1970s, Chez Hélène was broadcast between Friendly Giant and Mr. Dressup.

When I "graduated" from pre-school at home to grade one, I truly missed this wonderful show which was the perfect picture of co-operation between three female characters speaking two languages. Hélène spoke French and Louise (Madeline Kronby) and Susie the Mouse (puppeteered by Florence Shreiber) spoke English.

Chatting around the kitchen table about everyday things like waiting anxiously for a letter from a friend or being chased by a neighbour's dog, the 15 minutes was filled with lots of conversation in two languages that made it easy to learn French.

When I was in my teens, I heard the show ended after 14 years. I thought it very sad as children of the younger generation could not enjoy the fun of learning French this way. However, I still have happy memories of weekday mornings with Hélène, Louise and Susie.

Great Intro to a second language

[gfdudoward · 10/10 · 26 February 2023]

MY takeaway from Chez Hèléne was in the title as 'Friend' Hèléne and she would always say "Qu'est-ce que c'est? Or What is this?" Which is essential for preschoolers with French lineage but Noone ever spoke Au François in my home, which was my GrandMother's and Father and Mother. My mother was a Residential School Survivor who still had her traditional language which she never used on her own children. I WOULD be bilingual and likely would have thrived better in school for it. Why she held back toward her own children's development is beyond words but she had her reasons.

So, Merci Chez Hèléne.