Romper Room secrets from Miss Helena
Miss Helena shares the naughty secrets of the much-loved kids’ show
It was an educational and fun show with a Magic Mirror and a friendly puppet called Mr Do Bee, that generations of Aussie grew up with.
Yet behind the smiling faces and cheerful songs was a very different world, of romance, cheeky practical jokes, rioting wildlife and even a bomb scare!
“Kids’ TV is never dull,” laughs Miss Helena, who in real life is beloved former weatherman Mike Bailey’s wife, and mum to their four children.
“During Romper Room’s 25-year run there was a bomb scare, wayward kangaroos, snakes on the loose and sneaky
‘Vomiting kids, no retakes… utter chaos was all part of the job!’
stagehands who tried to get the hostesses drunk.
“There were over-excited toddlers who would vomit on you you, while others were so hyped up they couldn’t speak. Utter chaos was all part of the job.”
HORRORS OF LIVE TV
Wayward children and cheeky stagehands wasn’t all the Magic Mirror was hiding! “The show was done as if it were live, so there were no retakes,” she says.
“I once stubbed my toe so badly the nail came off as we galloped around on our pretend horses, singing [ Come With Us And Gallop!].
“Blood went everywhere and the pain was excruciating. But I kept smiling while an assistant crawled under the desk, mopped up the blood and bandaged my toe as I sweetly asked the kids if they would like a glass of milk.”
Miss Patricia, who hosted the show for 16 years before Miss Helena, also had to smile through the pain during another mishap on Romper Room.
“I remember lighting birthday candles and one of my acrylic fingernails caught fire. As there were no retakes, I kept smiling as a crew member quietly put it out,” she laughs.
It’s been 31 years since the show was unceremoniously axed, but for three of its best loved stars, Miss Patricia, Miss Helena and Miss Megan, there are only good memories.
“We get together for occasional catch-ups to reminisce about the fun times and outrageous behind-the-scenes shenanigans. Hosting Romper Room was a privilege. We all had a ball. They were some of the best times of my life,” Helena says.
When the show premiered in 1963, 1963 it was hosted by Susan Talbot, who left after two years to train Romper Room teachers in Europe.
She was replaced by Miss Patricia, or Patricia Godfrey as she was known off-air, who presided over the schoolroom for 16 years before Helena took over from 1978 to 1987.
Patricia giggles as she remembers there was even a “sex scandal” on the iconic children’s show when Miss Judy filled in for her while she was on maternity leave.
SWIMSUIT SCANDAL
“As the story goes, months into Judy’s run she was photographed by a Sunday newspaper in a revealing swimsuit, which sent shockwaves through the
RR hierarchy,” she says.
And all the misses had to survive a naughty hazing ritual where crew members would secretly lace their milk or water with alcohol during their first appearance. Not recommended!
“On my first day, I wound up with Kahlua in my milk. As the cameras rolled, I almost choked but kept smiling sweetly,” Helena laughs.
Patricia and fellow former hostess, Megan Sjoquist, who was Miss Megan for just one year before the show was axed, both remember the crew lacing their water with gin!
And fifinally finally, Megan shares the most shocking secret of all – what really happened to Mr Do Bee, who taught countless kids politeness and manners and manners.
“Unfortunately, he’s been attacked by moths and is in tatters,” she says regretfully.