Signing the Tarax Sponsorship Deal

Shortly after GTV9 began broadcasting in 1957, it launched a daily childrens’ programme originally titled “The Happy Show”, hosted by entertainer Happy Hammond and featuring ventriloquist Ron Blaskett with Gerry Gee. The Happy Show was sponsored by the Tarax soft drink company. Denzil is credited as the creator of the Happy Show, which was later renamed the “Tarax Show” when Happy Hammond moved to rival station HSV7.

In this photo Denzil and Happy Hammond are toasting each other with Tarax bottles. Signing the deal are (left to right): Malcolm Austen, Manager of Tarax, Ken Pethard, Managing Director of Tarax (his father started Tarax in Bendigo) and Robert Hughes, Manager of Hughes Satchwell Advertising Agency.

(See the comments from Nigel Dick for more about the Tarax sponsorship.)