Sunnyside Up
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Television |
| Founded | August 30, 1957 |
| Founder | Alf Spargo (producer) |
| Defunct | June 17, 1966 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Key people | Bill Collins (host), Alf Spargo (producer), Jimmy Allan (orchestra conductor) |
| Products | Variety television show |
Sunnyside-Up was a black-and-white weekly variety show produced at Melbourne's HSV-7 from the late 1950s until the mid-1960s. Some surviving kinescope recordings display the title as “Sunny Side Up” or use a three-letter abbreviation.
Synopsis
The program began as a television version of the well-known radio variety series The Happy Gang, which aired on HSV-7's affiliated station 3DB. Its inaugural TV broadcast took place on 30 August 1957, scheduled weekly at 9:30 pm.
On 23 May 1958, producer Alf Spargo rebranded the series as Sunnyside Up, introducing new cast members and replacing original performers such as Dick Cranbourne and John Stuart. The live show was hosted by race-caller and broadcaster Bill Collins and featured comedians including Syd Heylen (known as Sydney from Sydney), Honest John Gilbert, Syd Hollister, Maurie Fields, and Val Jellay. Vocalists on the program comprised Shirlene Clancy, Ron Lees, Val Ruff, Tony Jenkins, and Neil Williams. Musical ensembles regularly appearing were The Chordaires and later The Thin Men (1960–1965), who eventually transitioned to Sydney television.
Musically, the show presented an eclectic selection ranging from contemporary pop tunes and international show songs to operetta and ballet numbers, all accompanied by a sizeable studio orchestra conducted by Jimmy Allan.
The series concluded with its final episode broadcast on HSV-7 on 17 June 1966.
A reunion planned for 1973 during HSV-7's Moomba Festival coverage was ultimately canceled when production responsibilities transferred to Crawford Productions.
Notable Guests
Prior to their global success, performers such as Helen Reddy and Olivia Newton-John appeared on the program.
Logie Awards
Host Bill Collins received a Logie Award in 1959 for Outstanding Performance. Additionally, the show—produced and scripted by Spargo—secured the 1962 state accolade for Most Popular Program in Victoria.
Theme
The opening and closing theme was "(Keep Your) Sunny Side Up," composed by DeSylva, Brown, and Henderson for the 1929 musical film Sunny Side Up.
This program followed Club Seven in the schedule and was succeeded by The Penthouse Club.
Similar program in Adelaide
A comparable variety show aired on ADS-7 Adelaide titled On The Sunnyside, hosted by Blair Schwartz alongside Mary MacGregor, Mary McMahon, Lynn Seward, Mike Neil, Rick Paterson, Angela Stacey, Ian Boyce, and featuring the ADS7 Ballet. The comedy segment "Over The Fence" starred Peter Celier and Max Lawler. In 1962, the show was renamed The Sunnyside Show.
External links
Photographs held at the State Library of Victoria:
- Patti Brittain in costume
- Syd Heylen & Bill Collins
- Syd Heylen in costume
- Honest John Gilbert
- Jacki Clancy
- Club 7 predecessor program