Anita and Televinken

You could watch them on telly and listen to them on the radio. There were also vinyl records on which you could enjoy their kind and playful conversations.

I’m referring to Anita and Televinken. Anita Lindman was a presenter on Swedish Television and Televinken a marionette doll that walked and talked and together with Anita taught children how to navigate traffic.

As a kid I had the Televinken booklet ”Televinken får en idé” with a vinyl record attached to it, inside the dust jacket. In the book Televinken gets to do exiting stuff. He plays with a cow, rides on a swan and also gets to see a doctor.

Televinken came about when school teacher Anita Lindman wanted to help kids navigate traffic.

Anita Lindman was the presenter for a children’s show on Swedish Television and had found a doll that she wanted to add to her routine. She had come across the doll during a visit in London. Anita asked the engineers at work if anyone would hold the doll while on camera. Engineer Ola Lundberg took on the part.

The first doll proved difficult to move about so Ola Lundberg instead built a doll himself. Ola Lundberg’s Televinken doll was originally made out of wood with ears made of nylon stockings. Ola Lundberg’s mother painted the Televinken face. Ola Lundberg not only monitored Televinken but also gave him his voice.

Televinken got his name in a name contest for the young audience, initiated by Anita Lindman.

Anita och Televinken became part of Swedish culture. The Anita and Televinken shows were broadcasted between 1964 and 1995. In collaboration with authorities Anita and Televinken gave children practical advice, among others on road safety.

In 1969 a traffic club for children was created around Televinken and as a member you got a red folder and cut out paper materials that revolved around traffic. Special children’s traffic songs were recorded.

In the town Sundsvall in the north of Sweden a miniature town was built, with paved roads and miniature traffic signs. Children were invited to perfect their street skills.

The young visitors got to practise looking to the left, right and then left again before crossing a street. Many of the instructors on the site were housewives who had been trained especially for the assignment.

Thinking back on Anita and Televinken today, I don’t know if I ever cared that much for the actual doll, although I appreciate the mature, caring and mild tone of the whole Televinken phenomenon.