Happy Hammond
Happy Hammond | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harry Montague Hammond 7 May 1917 Summer Hill, Sydney, Australia |
| Died | 1 April 1998 (aged 80) |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, radio presenter, children's television presenter, television producer |
| Years active | 1940s–1990s |
| Known for | The Happy Show, Tarax Happy Show |
Harry Montague Hammond (7 May 1917 – 1 April 1998), widely recognized by his stage name Happy Hammond, was an Australian entertainer known for his work as a comedian, radio and children's television presenter, as well as a television producer.
Biography and broadcasting career
Hammond was born in Summer Hill, a suburb of Sydney, as the youngest child among three siblings to parents who were both deaf and mute. He gained recognition for his cheerful demeanor and signature attire—a tartan suit paired with a matching hat, which he referred to as his "test pattern" costume. His trademark phrase, "Is everybody happy?", along with the theme tune "Happy Days Are Here Again," became synonymous with his public persona.
The moniker "Happy" was adopted during his service in World War II, where he was part of the Australian Army Entertainment Unit known as the "Boomerangs," performing for soldiers in active combat areas. Following the war, he toured on the Tivoli circuit alongside Keith Glover.
Hammond’s career in broadcasting commenced in Geelong as a breakfast show announcer at radio station 3GL. His television debut occurred in 1948 during an experimental closed-circuit broadcast trial. Subsequently, he worked at Adelaide’s 5KA before moving to Melbourne stations 3AW and 3UZ. At 3UZ, he hosted The Happy Show and teamed up with Graham Kennedy after the passing of Nicky Whitta. When Hammond joined GTV-9, he invited Kennedy to participate in a telethon, which led to Kennedy’s recruitment by the station.
In January 1957, Melbourne’s GTV-9 premiered the Tarax Happy Show (later renamed the Tarax Show), airing exclusively in Victoria and competing against HSV-7's Young Seven. By 1960, Hammond transitioned to HSV-7 where The Happy Show—now without Tarax sponsorship—featured characters such as Princess Panda (portrayed by Panda Lisner) and Funny Face (played by Vic Gordon). The program was also broadcast to Sydney audiences via ATN-7. Notably, during Anne Watt’s honeymoon in early 1965, Olivia Newton-John temporarily became part of the cast.
A passionate fan of the Geelong Football Club, Hammond received the honor of running through the banner alongside players on Grand Final day in 1963 when Geelong secured the Victorian Football League premiership.
Logie Award
In 1959, during the inaugural year of the Logie Award, Hammond’s show earned recognition as Most Popular Children's Show. He was also awarded a Logie in 1962 for Outstanding Contributions to Children's Entertainment.
Following the conclusion of The Happy Show in 1968, Hammond shifted focus toward producing daytime morning programs and children’s afternoon shows. Later in his career, he contributed behind the scenes within HSV-7’s videotape department while maintaining annual appearances on the station’s Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal through the 1990s. He made occasional guest appearances on Shirl's Neighbourhood.
Only limited recordings of Hammond’s performances exist today; among them is a frequently seen clip featuring a musical finger-clicking act. Despite widespread erasure practices common at the time, several kinescope recordings of The Happy Show are preserved by the National Film and Sound Archive.