Jacek i Agatka (Jacek and Agatka) is a Polish television program created by writer Wanda Chotomska for Telewizja Polska's children's television block Dobranocka. It was the first Polish television show intended for bedtime. Featuring finger puppetry, the show centers on the young siblings Jacek and Agatka who explore children's topics and curiously crafted ideas.[1] The program aired at 19:20 CET three times a week between 2 October 1962 and 1973[2] and was merchandised with bathing products and toys.[3][4][5]
| Jacek i Agatka | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Children's television, finger puppetry |
| Written by | Wanda Chotomska |
| Voices of | Zofia Raciborska |
| Country of origin | Poland |
| Original language | Polish |
| Original release | |
| Network | Telewizja Polska |
| Release | 2 October 1962 – 1973 |
The puppet characters were designed by Adam Kilian and voiced by Zofia Raciborska. Jacek was performed by Teresa Olenderczyk and Agatka was performed by Barbara Skokowska.[6] Each character is made out of a painted wood ball of approximately 8 cm (3.1 in) diameter as a head on top of each performer's index finger on a black gloved hand. The heads have been mistaken by audiences to derive from ping-pong balls.[7] Raciborska also plays Lady Zosia, a neighbouring woman who listens and responds to the siblings' subjects.
One episode has Jacek and Agatka introducing a competition for viewers to design the appearance of the new Order of the Smile award. The award was established by Kurier Polski and Chotomska after the publication interviewed her on the show's fifth anniversary. According to the award's website, she was told from a boy in a Konstancin-based hospital about his dream to award Jacek a medal.[8] Another account of the Konstancin visit according to the Muzeum Dobranocek website has a boy desiring an award given on behalf of children.[6]
Legacy
editThe name "Jacek i Agatka" has been used for the names of many kindergartens (przedszkole) of Poland.[6][9][10] Both characters appear on cultural commemorative ducat coins featuring Rzeszów and the Muzeum Dobranocek issued in the Spring of 2011.[11] The museum also possesses several objects related to the show including screenplays.
References
edit- ^ "Jacek i Agatka - Bajkopedia" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ^ Alicja Szałagan (1994). Współcześni polscy pisarze i badacze literatury: słownik biobibliograficzny. Wydawnictwa Szkolne i Pedagogiczne. pp. 31–32. ISBN 978-83-02-05444-0.
- ^ Staszczyszyn, Bartosz (2013-09-09). "Time-Honoured Polish Bedtime Cartoons". Culture.pl. Adam Mickiewicz Institute. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ^ "Jacek i Agatka". nostalgia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ^ Lidia Becela (1984). Kto jest kim w Polsce 1984: informator biograficzny. Wydawn. Interpress. p. 123. ISBN 978-83-223-2073-0.
- ^ a b c "Jacek i Agatka on Muzeum Dobranocek" muzeumdobranocek.com.pl Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ^ Śmigiel, Sylvia (15 May 2007). "Miś Uszatek zamieszka w Rynku". nowiny24. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ "Historia". Order Uśmiechu (in Polish). Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ Bartek Koziczyński (2007). 333 popkulturowe rzeczy--: PRL. Vesper. p. 141. ISBN 978-83-60159-64-4.
- ^ ""Jacek i Agatka" kończą 50 lat!". Polskie Radio (in Polish). 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
- ^ Sander, Beata (2011-03-28). "Juz kupisz dukata z Jackiem i Agatka!". Super Nowosci (in Polish). Retrieved 2014-06-30.