Happy Hammond
Encyclopedia
Harry "Happy" Hammond was an Australian comedian and children's show host.
Happy was famous for his bright personality and wearing a tartan
suit and hat, sometimes referred to as his "test pattern
" outfit, that clashed awfully in real life but worked well on black and white TV. His catch phrase was :
The nickname Happy came from his time serving in the military during World War II, where he performed in concerts teaming with Keith Glover, who later went on to join the ABC
. After the war, the pair took the act to the Tivoli circuit
.
Happy's broadcasting career began at 3GL in Geelong as breakfast announcer. While at 3GL, Happy made his first TV appearance in 1948, as part of an exhibition using closed-circuit TV equipment for trial purposes.
He then moved to Adelaide's 5KA before returning to Victoria to work first at 3AW
then 3UZ
, both in Melbourne.
At 3UZ he hosted The Happy Show a children's program, as well as partnering Graham Kennedy
after the death of Nicky Whitta in September 1956. Shortly after Happy joined GTV-9
, he invited Graham to appear on a telethon, where the young Kennedy was noticed by Norman Spencer, leading eventually to Graham joining as well.
On TV, the Happy Show started on Melbourne's GTV-9
in January 1957, debuting from the Myer Emporium Lonsdale St store window. (See Tarax Show
.) During Hammond's time at GTV-9, the program was only seen in Victoria, where it competed with Peters Fun Fair on HSV-7
.
Happy switched to HSV-7 in 1960, where The Happy Show featured Princess Panda (Panda Lisner), Lovely Anne (Anne Watt), Parer the Magician (Tommy Parer), Funny Face (Vic Gordon), Big John (John D'Arcy), Robbie Rob (Bob Horsfall), Cousin Roy (Roy Lyons), Sylvester the Talking Sock (Ian Wiliams). The program was also relayed to ATN-7
in Sydney. During Watt's honeymoon absence in early 1965, her place was taken by a young Olivia Newton-John
.
Happy was a keen supporter of the Victorian Football League (subsequently Australian Football League
) Geelong Football Club
. He was accorded the honour of running through the banner with the Geelong players on Grand Final
day 1963. It must have been a good omen - they won.
His program won a Logie Award
in 1959 for Most Popular Children's Show. Hammond, himself won a Logie in 1963 for Outstanding Contributions to Children's Entertainment.
Upon the program's cancellation in 1965, Hammond moved to an off-camera role in HSV-7's videotape department, although he continued to appear regularly for the station's Good Friday Appeal. He was occasionally seen in Shirl's Neighbourhood
.
Limited footage remains from Happy Hammond's career. The most commonly seen clip is a musical finger clicking routine.
Happy was famous for his bright personality and wearing a tartan
Tartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
suit and hat, sometimes referred to as his "test pattern
Test Pattern
Test Pattern may refer to:* Test Pattern , a Canadian game show* Test Pattern , an album by Sonia Dada* Test pattern or test card, a television test signal...
" outfit, that clashed awfully in real life but worked well on black and white TV. His catch phrase was :
" Is everybody happy ? "
The nickname Happy came from his time serving in the military during World War II, where he performed in concerts teaming with Keith Glover, who later went on to join the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
. After the war, the pair took the act to the Tivoli circuit
Tivoli circuit
The Tivoli Circuit was a successful and popular Australian entertainment circuit which flourished from 1893 and the 1950s. The circuit suffered a catastrophic decline in popularity after the introduction of television in Australia in 1956, and the last Tivoli show was staged in 1966.-History:The...
.
Happy's broadcasting career began at 3GL in Geelong as breakfast announcer. While at 3GL, Happy made his first TV appearance in 1948, as part of an exhibition using closed-circuit TV equipment for trial purposes.
He then moved to Adelaide's 5KA before returning to Victoria to work first at 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
then 3UZ
3UZ
3UZ is the official callsign of a medium-wave radio station in Melbourne, Australia which broadcasts under the name Radio Sport National.-History:...
, both in Melbourne.
At 3UZ he hosted The Happy Show a children's program, as well as partnering Graham Kennedy
Graham Kennedy
Graham Cyril Kennedy, AO was an Australian radio, television and film performer, often called Gra Gra and The King of Australian television.-Childhood:...
after the death of Nicky Whitta in September 1956. Shortly after Happy joined GTV-9
GTV-9
GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at a new high-tech, purpose-built studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands.-History:...
, he invited Graham to appear on a telethon, where the young Kennedy was noticed by Norman Spencer, leading eventually to Graham joining as well.
On TV, the Happy Show started on Melbourne's GTV-9
GTV-9
GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at a new high-tech, purpose-built studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands.-History:...
in January 1957, debuting from the Myer Emporium Lonsdale St store window. (See Tarax Show
Tarax Show
The Tarax Show was an early Australian children's TV program on GTV-9 in Melbourne running from 1957 to 1969.Denzil Howson, who was Assistant Programme Manager at GTV9, was asked by Normal Spencer to develop a daily children's programme. A pilot of the show was kinescope recorded onto film...
.) During Hammond's time at GTV-9, the program was only seen in Victoria, where it competed with Peters Fun Fair on HSV-7
HSV-7
HSV is a television station in Melbourne. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, and its first and oldest station, having been launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne....
.
Happy switched to HSV-7 in 1960, where The Happy Show featured Princess Panda (Panda Lisner), Lovely Anne (Anne Watt), Parer the Magician (Tommy Parer), Funny Face (Vic Gordon), Big John (John D'Arcy), Robbie Rob (Bob Horsfall), Cousin Roy (Roy Lyons), Sylvester the Talking Sock (Ian Wiliams). The program was also relayed to ATN-7
ATN-7
ATN is the Sydney flagship television station of the Seven Network in Australia. The licence, issued to a company named Amalgamated Television Services, a subsidiary of Fairfax, was one of the first four licences to be issued for commercial television stations in Australia...
in Sydney. During Watt's honeymoon absence in early 1965, her place was taken by a young Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
.
Happy was a keen supporter of the Victorian Football League (subsequently Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
) Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
. He was accorded the honour of running through the banner with the Geelong players on Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
day 1963. It must have been a good omen - they won.
His program won a Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
in 1959 for Most Popular Children's Show. Hammond, himself won a Logie in 1963 for Outstanding Contributions to Children's Entertainment.
Upon the program's cancellation in 1965, Hammond moved to an off-camera role in HSV-7's videotape department, although he continued to appear regularly for the station's Good Friday Appeal. He was occasionally seen in Shirl's Neighbourhood
Shirl's Neighbourhood
Shirl's Neighbourhood was an Australian afternoon children's television series aired on the Seven Network between 1979 and 1983. The half-hour show featured former Skyhooks frontman Graeme "Shirley" Strachan and co-host Liz Rule alongside a cast of characters including Norm The Kangaroo, Ol'...
.
Limited footage remains from Happy Hammond's career. The most commonly seen clip is a musical finger clicking routine.