Tommy Hanlon Jr
Encyclopedia
Tommy Hanlon Jr was an American-born Australian media personality, notable for his early television appearances as host of It Could Be You.
Born Tommy Gene Thomason in Parkersburg, West Virginia
in 1923 to vaudeville
performers Homer Emmons Thomason (Tommy Hanlon) and Ruth Dorothy Manning. He appeared in his mother and father's act at age 4. He later took the stage name Tommy Hanlon Jr since his father's stage name was Tommy Hanlon. He first appeared on his own as a magician as a teenager and was an entertainer in show business for the rest of his life. After two years with Orson Welles
' Mercury Theatre
in Los Angeles in the 1940s, and appearing on stage alongside W.C. Fields, he came to Australia in 1959, first as a club act, then appearing on television.
Hanlon became a major TV celebrity in Australia in the early 1960s, especially as host of the popular daytime program It Could Be You on the Nine Network. He won two Logie awards, including the Gold Logie in 1962, becoming one of the highest paid entertainers in Australia. The program was a mixture of game show, human interest and humour. It featured tearful reunions of long separated families or friends. He typically closed each program sitting on a stool with a social commentary presented as a Letter from Mom.
In 1967 he bought into Ashton's Circus. In the 1970s he hosted talent show Pot Of Gold, with resident judge Bernard King
who mocked most entrants mercilessly, to the consternation of the more kind-hearted Hanlon.
Hanlon quit television in 1978 and toured Australia as ringmaster of Silvers Circus
until 2001. He was honoured in an episode of This is Your Life filmed in August 2003.
Hanlon died from a stroke in Melbourne on October 9, 2003. He was predeceased by his wife, Muriel (whom he always called Murphy), and survived by his daughter April Bell from that marriage and her son Jeff Almond. He was also survived by his first wife, Jean Gregory; his son by that marriage, Tommy Hanlon Thomason; three grandchildren by and two great-grandchildren.
Despite his love for Australia, he never relinquished his United States citizenship
.
Born Tommy Gene Thomason in Parkersburg, West Virginia
Parkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
in 1923 to vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performers Homer Emmons Thomason (Tommy Hanlon) and Ruth Dorothy Manning. He appeared in his mother and father's act at age 4. He later took the stage name Tommy Hanlon Jr since his father's stage name was Tommy Hanlon. He first appeared on his own as a magician as a teenager and was an entertainer in show business for the rest of his life. After two years with Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
' Mercury Theatre
Mercury Theatre
The Mercury Theatre was a theatre company founded in New York City in 1937 by Orson Welles and John Houseman. After a string of live theatrical productions, in 1938 the Mercury Theatre progressed into their best-known period as The Mercury Theatre on the Air, a radio series that included one of the...
in Los Angeles in the 1940s, and appearing on stage alongside W.C. Fields, he came to Australia in 1959, first as a club act, then appearing on television.
Hanlon became a major TV celebrity in Australia in the early 1960s, especially as host of the popular daytime program It Could Be You on the Nine Network. He won two Logie awards, including the Gold Logie in 1962, becoming one of the highest paid entertainers in Australia. The program was a mixture of game show, human interest and humour. It featured tearful reunions of long separated families or friends. He typically closed each program sitting on a stool with a social commentary presented as a Letter from Mom.
In 1967 he bought into Ashton's Circus. In the 1970s he hosted talent show Pot Of Gold, with resident judge Bernard King
Bernard King (television)
Bernard King was an Australian stage actor, celebrity chef, and television personality.-Early life:King was born into a farming family in Maleny, Queensland. He attended a Christian Brothers College in Nudgee, Queensland on a scholarship. After graduation he taught school.-Acting career:King...
who mocked most entrants mercilessly, to the consternation of the more kind-hearted Hanlon.
Hanlon quit television in 1978 and toured Australia as ringmaster of Silvers Circus
Silvers Circus
Silver's Circus, the original, was an circus started by Mervyn King along with tentmakers, David Hardie Snr. and his two sons Les and David Jnr. King, an orphan, was given to St. Leons Circus at the age of seven.He spent his entire life performing in the ring and became one of the Australian...
until 2001. He was honoured in an episode of This is Your Life filmed in August 2003.
Hanlon died from a stroke in Melbourne on October 9, 2003. He was predeceased by his wife, Muriel (whom he always called Murphy), and survived by his daughter April Bell from that marriage and her son Jeff Almond. He was also survived by his first wife, Jean Gregory; his son by that marriage, Tommy Hanlon Thomason; three grandchildren by and two great-grandchildren.
Despite his love for Australia, he never relinquished his United States citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
.