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{{Italic title|The Happidrome}}
{{Infobox radio show
'''''The Happidrome''''' was a [[BBC radio]] comedy programme produced in Britain between 1941 and 1947.  It was produced by [[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 [[stage manager]], and Robbie Vincent as Enoch, the [[Call boy (theatre)|call boy]].  The show also featured leading performers of the time as guest stars.
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| starring      = [[Harry Korris]]
| announcer    =
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| producer      = [[w:Ernest Longstaffe|Ernest Longstaffe]]
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| first_aired  = {{Start date|1941|02|09}}
| last_aired    = {{End date|1947|12|26}}
| num_series    = 3
| num_episodes  =
| audio_format  = [[w:Monaural|Mono]]
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'''''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 [[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, [[Llandudno]] in [[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 [[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>
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, [[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 [[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>
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 [[music hall]] stars including [[Harry Champion]], [[George Robey]], [[Hetty King]], and [[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 [[Josef Locke]] and [[Suzette Tarri]].<ref name=mhs/>
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 [[Suzette Tarri]].<ref name=mhs/>


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

Latest revision as of 22:40, 2 February 2023

The Happidrome
StarringHarry Korris
Produced byErnest Longstaffe
Original releaseFebruary 9, 1941 (1941-02-09) –
December 26, 1947 (1947-12-26)
No. of series3
Audio formatMono

The Happidrome was a BBC radio comedy programme produced in Britain between 1941 and 1947. It was produced by 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 stage manager, and Robbie Vincent as Enoch, the call boy. The show also featured leading performers of the time as guest stars.

The programme was intended as a showcase for leading variety acts, and, because of the wartime evacuation of the BBC's Variety Department, was broadcast live each week from the Grand Theatre, Llandudno in north Wales, with an audience of war workers and service personnel.[1] Longstaffe had seen Korris, Frederick, and Vincent performing together in a summer show, Arcadian Follies, in Blackpool, and built the show around them.[2]

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 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..".[2][3]

Many of the top British stars of the day appeared on the show, including Sandy Powell, Charles Penrose, Jack Warner, Beryl Reid, and Vic Oliver, together with earlier music hall stars including Harry Champion, George Robey, Hetty King, and G. H. Elliott.[4] The final episode in 1947 featured Josef Locke and Suzette Tarri.[2]

In 1942, the show was presented at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, with Leslie Hutchinson ("Hutch") guesting. There was also a spin-off film, Happidrome, in 1943.[2]

References

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ a b c d Tyler, Max (2011). "Come to the Happidrome". Music Hall Studies (7): 298–301.
  3. ^ Radio Times, Issue 906, National, 9 February 1941 - 15 February 1941
  4. ^ Maurice Powell, "Harry Korris - Manxland’s best-loved comedian", Manxmusic.com, 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2021
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