View source for The Happidrome (radio)

{{Italictitle}}
{{Infobox radio show
| name          = The Happidrome
| image         = 
| image_size    = 
| alt           = 
| caption       = 
| other_names   = 
| format        = 
| runtime       = 
| start_time    = 
| end_time      = 
| runtime_note  = 
| country       = 
| language      = 
| home_station  = 
| syndicates    = 
| television    = 
| presenter     = 
| starring      = [[Harry Korris]]
| announcer     = 
| creator       = 
| writer        = 
| director      = 
| producer      = [[w:Ernest Longstaffe|Ernest Longstaffe]]
| exec_producer = 
| editor        = 
| senior_editor = 
| narrated      = 
| rec_location  = 
| rem_location  = 
| oth_location  = 
| first_aired   = {{Start date|1941|02|09}}
| last_aired    = {{End date|1947|12|26}}
| num_series    = 3
| num_episodes  = 
| audio_format  = [[w:Monaural|Mono]]
| opentheme     = 
| othertheme    = 
| endtheme      = 
| sponsor       = 
| website       = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| podcast       = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
'''''The Happidrome''''' was a [[w:BBC radio|BBC radio]] comedy programme produced in Britain between 1941 and 1947.  It was produced by [[w:Ernest Longstaffe|Ernest Longstaffe]] and starred [[Harry Korris]] as Mr Lovejoy, the harassed manager of a small provincial theatre.  Other regular cast members were Cecil Frederick as Ramsbottom, the [[w:stage manager|stage manager]], and Robbie Vincent as Enoch, the [[w:Call boy (theatre)|call boy]].   The show also featured leading performers of the time as guest stars.

The programme was intended as a showcase for leading [[w:variety show|variety]] acts, and, because of the wartime evacuation of the BBC's Variety Department, was broadcast live each week from the Grand Theatre, [[w:Llandudno|Llandudno]] in [[w:north Wales|north Wales]], with an audience of war workers and service personnel.<ref name=foster>Andy Foster and Steve Furst, ''Radio Comedy 1938-1968: A Guide to 30 Years of Wonderful Wireless'', Virgin, 1996, {{isbn|0-86369-960-X}}, pp.63-66</ref>   Longstaffe had seen Korris, Frederick, and Vincent performing together in a summer show, ''Arcadian Follies'', in [[w:Blackpool|Blackpool]], and built the show around them.<ref name=mhs>{{cite journal |last1=Tyler |first1=Max |date=2011|title= Come to the Happidrome|url= |journal=Music Hall Studies |volume= |issue=7 |pages=298–301}}</ref>

It was broadcast to troops around the world, and, to the BBC's surprise, the trio themselves became stars.  The show started on 9 February 1941 and was originally scheduled to run for six weeks, but proved popular and ran for three lengthy series (1941–42, 1943–44, and 1946–47), with a final episode on [[w:Boxing Day|Boxing Day]] 1947.  Their catchphrases, such as "Let me tell ''you''..." and "Take him away, Ramsbottom", became popular, as did the closing song, starting: "We three in Happidrome, working for the BBC / Ramsbottom and Enoch and me..".<ref name=mhs/><ref name=rt>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/6626787925554e5899ce137492a35241?page=7  ''Radio Times'', Issue 906, National, 9 February 1941 - 15 February 1941]</ref>

Many of the top British stars of the day appeared on the show, including [[Sandy Powell (comedian)|Sandy Powell]], [[Charles Penrose (entertainer)|Charles Penrose]], [[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]], [[Beryl Reid]], and [[Vic Oliver]], together with earlier [[w:music hall|music hall]] stars including [[w:Harry Champion|Harry Champion]], [[w:George Robey|George Robey]], [[w:Hetty King|Hetty King]], and [[w:G. H. Elliott|G. H. Elliott]].<ref name=manx>[https://www.manxmusic.com/mobile/bio_page_559748.html  Maurice Powell, "Harry Korris - Manxland’s best-loved comedian", ''Manxmusic.com'', 2016].  Retrieved 26 January 2021</ref>  The final episode in 1947 featured [[w:Josef Locke|Josef Locke]] and [[w:Suzette Tarri|Suzette Tarri]].<ref name=mhs/>

In 1942, the show was presented at the [[w:Prince of Wales Theatre|Prince of Wales Theatre]] in London, with [[w:Leslie Hutchinson|Leslie Hutchinson]] ("Hutch") guesting.  There was also a spin-off film, ''[[Happidrome (film)|Happidrome]]'', in 1943.<ref name=mhs/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Happidrome}}
[[Category:BBC Radio comedy programmes]]
[[Category:1941 radio programme debuts]]
[[Category:1947 radio programme endings]]