Here’s Katie Bear

***Here's Katie Bear*** is a Cowellan children's television series produced by Aymgladusaurus Productions for EBN, which first aired on 7 September 1937. It features an anthropomorphic brown bear character known as Katie R. Bear.

*Here's Katie Bear* has become one of the most successful programs for preschoolers in Cowell and is one of the longest running children's television programs in the world. The program received multiple Prairie Television Awards.

## Format

The series features anthropomorphic brown bear character known as Katie R. Bear, who is muted. Set in a magical forest, Katie is paired with a human presenter, who narrates their adventures. The series takes place in Katie's tree house, where she partakes in magical adventures.

One of the central ideas presented in the show is the importance of taking part and not always being successful at everything.

Here's Katie Bear's longterm hosts have also included: John Maulers (19 years), Neville Thompson (25 years), Boronia Rosen (25 years), Caitlin DeFaria (29 years), Nani Bennett (30 years), Eddie Thompson (30 years), Simon Spencer (35 years), Patricia Collins (40 years), George Scrawlers (44 years), and Nani Bennett (50 years).

## Cast

### Presenters

* Taiyo Dundas (b. 2007) (September 9, 2020-present)
* Evelyn Davis (b. 2003) (November 7, 2015-present)
* Martin Proteus (b. 1993) (October 17, 2013-present)
* Bruce Millon (b. 1974) (December 18, 2010-present)
* Dave Thompson (b. 1986) (April 5, 2006-present) (Neville Thompson's son)
* Oliver Collins (b. 1952) (October 22, 1998-present)
* Carter Packles (b. 1973) (October 11, 2003-present)
* Spencer Roberts (b. 1972) (October 23, 2001-present)
* Jessica DeFaria (b. 1986) (March 26, 2001-present) (Caitlin DeFaria's daughter)
* Kurt Michael Jackson (b. 1965) (February 27, 1998-present)
* Josh Murphy (b. 1955) (February 8, 1998-present)
* David Jobling (b. 1965) (January 7, 1998-present)
* Milton Lash (b. 1958) (September 5, 1995-present)
* Matthew Ramsay (b. 1922) (September 7, 1937-present)

### Former presenters

* Songbird Serenade (b. 1939) (January 6, 1998-July 13, 2013)
* John Paddick (b. 1937) (January 30, 1966-August 17, 1976)
* Arnold Moran (1956-1989) (September 8, 1981-April 5, 1983)
* Jackson Brown (1955-2015) (January 26, 1981-September 30, 1986)
* Caitlin DeFaria (b. 1957) (September 6, 1972-March 30, 2001) (Jessica DeFaria's mother)
* John Maulers (b. 1941) (January 25, 1971-November 29, 1990)
* Joannie Alex (1940-2017) (January 1, 1965-April 11, 1970)
* Neville Thompson (b. 1957) (September 11, 1972-April 9, 2006) (Eddie Thompson's father)
* Chantelle Wood (b. 1943) (September 10, 1962-May 30, 2006)
* George Scrawlers (b. 1948) (September 10, 1962-July 8, 2006)
* Patricia Collins (b. 1922) (January 30, 1958-October 20, 1998)
* Simon Spencer (b. 1933) (September 10, 1962-February 28, 1997)
* Rohan Ireland (b. 1924) (September 10, 1962-April 9, 1972)
* Nani Bennett (b. 1923) (September 10, 1962-June 23, 1992)
* Eddie Thompson (b. 1923) (September 13, 1942-April 9, 1972)
* Penny Bigginz (b. 1890) (September 7, 1937-April 8, 1962) (original)
* Adolph Hunt (b. 1904) (September 7, 1937-April 8, 1962) (original)
* Maria Braun (b. 1897) (September 7, 1937-April 8, 1962) (original)
* Thomas Davis (b. 1918) (September 7, 1937-April 8, 1962) (original)
* Boronia Rosen (b. 1909) (September 7, 1937-April 8, 1962) (original)

### Katie R. Bear

Several performers portrayed the role of Katie.

* Liz Hatt (September 7, 1937-April 3, 1965)
* Lucinda Duryea (September 7, 1965-April 9, 1994)
* Rev. Janelle Hutchinson (September 7, 1994-April 3, 2009)
* Marcie Boedigheimer (September 7, 2009-present)

## Production

*Here's Katie Bear* was originally aired exclusively in Hallbridge on EBN, premiering on 7 September 1937, before airing nationally two years later. Filmed in Hallbridge and produced by Aymgladusaurus Productions, the character of Katie was initially known as "Pearl Bear" until she was renamed as a result of a competition. The program was created as a result of Katie's previous popularity on the afternoon program *The EBNers on May 29, 1937*. *Here's Katie Bear* as granted a G classification, deeming it specifically designed to meet the needs and interests of preschoolers and allowing it to be broadcast on the EBN with a 30-minute runtime commercial-free. Classification deals allowed the EBN to repeat each episode three times.

In November 1999, EBN commissioned a new series of *Here's Katie Bear*, filming episodes for the first time since 1995. This followed negotiations with the network, after speculation they would not renew the series approaching the end of its contract. The episodes started airing in December 2007.

The series celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2007.

In September 2019, it was revealed POZTIS were planning to revive *Here's Katie Bear* with a pitch to broadcasters at La Chaîne parlementaire in France. The production company expressed interest in integrating live action characters with virtual technology. The production team for the project was led by Catherine Dawson, former executive producer of *Hundreds*, and included Rebecca Paddick and Kimberly Dawson, the actresses of *Hundreds* from 1997 to 2001, early childhood specialists who also worked on the program.

## History

**Other Highlights**

Katie has been recognised as an icon of Cowellan television and is featured in the Cowellan National Museum.

She became the only bear in the world to become a cub when she was initiated into the Scouting Movement.

## Episodes

This series has 1,8190 episodes in "Here's Katie Bear"

* Series 1 (September 13, 1937-April 10, 1938)
* Series 2 (September 12, 1938-April 9, 1939)
* Series 3 (September 11, 1939-April 14, 1940)
* Series 4 (September 9, 1940-April 13, 1941)
* Series 5 (September 8, 1941-April 12, 1942)
* Series 6 (September 13, 1942-April 10, 1943)
* Series 7 (September 13, 1943-April 9, 1944)
* Series 8 (September 11, 1944-April 8, 1945)
* Series 9 (September 10, 1945-April 14, 1946)
* Series 10 (September 9, 1946-April 13, 1947)
* Series 11 (September 8, 1947-April 11, 1948)
* Series 12 (September 13, 1948-April 10, 1949)
* Series 13 (September 12, 1949-April 9, 1950)
* Series 14 (September 11, 1950-April 8, 1951)
* Series 15 (September 10, 1951-April 13, 1952)
* Series 16 (September 8, 1952-April 12, 1953)
* Series 17 (September 14, 1953-April 11, 1954)
* Series 18 (September 13, 1954-April 10, 1955)
* Series 19 (September 12, 1955-April 15, 1956)
* Series 20 (September 10, 1956-April 14, 1957)
* Series 21 (September 9, 1957-April 13, 1958)
* Series 22 (September 8, 1958-April 12, 1959)
* Series 23 (September 14, 1959-April 10, 1960)
* Series 24 (September 12, 1960-April 9, 1961)
* Series 25 (September 11, 1961-April 8, 1962)
* Series 26 (September 10, 1962-April 14, 1963)
* Series 27 (September 9, 1963-April 12, 1964)
* Series 28 (September 14, 1964-April 11, 1965)
* Series 29 (September 13, 1965-April 10, 1966)
* Series 30 (September 12, 1966-April 9, 1967)
* Series 31 (September 11, 1967-April 14, 1968)
* Series 32 (September 9, 1968-April 13, 1969)
* Series 33 (September 8, 1969-April 12, 1970)
* Series 34 (September 14, 1970-April 11, 1971)
* Series 35 (September 13, 1971-April 9, 1972)
* Series 36 (September 11, 1972-April 8, 1973)
* Series 37 (September 10, 1973-April 14, 1974)
* Series 38 (September 9, 1974-April 13, 1975)
* Series 39 (September 8, 1975-April 11, 1976)
* Series 40 (September 13, 1976-April 11, 1977)
* Series 41 (September 12, 1977-April 9, 1978)
* Series 42 (September 11, 1978-April 8, 1979)
* Series 43 (September 10, 1979-April 13, 1980)
* Series 44 (September 8, 1980-April 12, 1981)
* Series 45 (September 14, 1981-April 11, 1982)
* Series 46 (September 13, 1982-April 10, 1983)
* Series 47 (September 12, 1983-April 8, 1984)
* Series 48 (September 10, 1984-April 14, 1985)
* Series 49 (September 9, 1985-April 13, 1986)
* Series 50 (September 8, 1986-April 12, 1987)
* Series 51 (September 14, 1987-April 10, 1988)
* Series 52 (September 12, 1988-April 9, 1989)
* Series 53 (September 11, 1989-April 8, 1990)
* Series 54 (September 10, 1990-April 14, 1991)
* Series 55 (September 9, 1991-April 13, 1992)
* Series 56 (September 14, 1992-April 11, 1993)
* Series 57 (September 13, 1993-April 10, 1994)
* Series 58 (September 12, 1994-April 9, 1995)
* Series 59 (September 11, 1995-April 14, 1996)
* Series 60 (September 9, 1996-April 13, 1997)
* Series 61 (September 8, 1997-April 12, 1998)
* Series 62 (September 7, 1998-April 11, 1999)
* Series 63 (September 13, 1999-April 9, 2000)
* Series 64 (September 11, 2000-April 8, 2001)
* Series 65 (September 10, 2001-April 14, 2002)
* Series 66 (September 9, 2002-April 13, 2003)
* Series 67 (September 8, 2003-April 11, 2004)
* Series 68 (September 13, 2004-April 10, 2005)
* Series 69 (September 12, 2005-April 9, 2006)
* Series 70 (September 11, 2006-April 8, 2007)
* Series 71 (September 10, 2007-April 13, 2008)
* Series 72 (September 8, 2008-April 12, 2009)
* Series 73 (September 7, 2009-April 11, 2010)
* Series 74 (September 6, 2010-April 10, 2011)
* Series 75 (September 5, 2011-April 8, 2012)
* Series 76 (September 3, 2012-April 14, 2013)
* Series 77 (September 9, 2013-April 13, 2014)
* Series 78 (September 8, 2014-April 12, 2015)
* Series 79 (September 7, 2015-April 10, 2016)
* Series 80 (September 5, 2016-April 9, 2017)
* Series 81 (September 4, 2017-April 8, 2018)
* Series 82 (September 3, 2018-April 14, 2019)
* Series 83 (September 2, 2019-April 12, 2020)
* Series 84 (September 7, 2020-April 11, 2021)
* Series 85 (September 6, 2021-April 10, 2022)
* Series 86 (September 5, 2022-April 9, 2023)
* Series 87 (September 4, 2023-April 7, 2024)

## Episode Celebrations

* Katie Bear’s 1000th Episode Celebration (February 6, 1942)
* 5000th Episode Celebration with Katie Bear (December 22, 1959)
* Have A 10000th Episode Celebration with Katie R. Bear (October 25, 1984)

## Anniversaries

* Happy 1st Birthday, Katie Bear (May 1938-April 1939) - The Tiny One
* Katie’s 5th Birthday (May 1942–December 1942) - The Medium Five
* Katie’s 7th Birthday Bash (May 1944–December 1944) - The Lucky Anniversary Seven
* Happy 10th Birthday, Katie! (May 1947–February 1949) - The Big Ten
* Katie Bear’s 25th Anniversary (May 1962–January 1963) - The Giant Twenty-Five
* Celebrate Good Times: 35th Anniversary (May 1972-April 1973) - The Massive Thirty-Five
* Celebrate with Katie Bear: 50th Anniversary (May 1987–December 1989) - The Extreme Massive Fifty
* Katie Bear’s 65th Birthday Party (May 2002–March 2003) - The Colossal Sixty-Five
* Katie R. Bear - 75th Anniversary (May 2012–July 2013) - The Humongous Seventy-Five
* 80 Years of Katie Bear (May 2017–April 2018) - The Enormous Eighty
* 85 Years of Sign-Language (May 2022–June 2023) - The Elephant-Tasic Hugest Eighty-Five