Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1950s Television
    1950s Television 1960s Television Australia & NZ TV Kids TV Shows A 3 Mins Read

    Adventures of Gerry Gee, The

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 5 9 – 1 9 6 2 (Australia)
    5 minute episodes

    The first regular live children’s television show from Channel Nine in Melbourne was originally broadcast as The Happy Show for one hour every weekday afternoon.

    Initially hosted by a character called Happy Hammond, it was re-named The Tarax Show in 1959 when Hammond moved to rival station HSV7.

    Australian ventriloquist Ron Blaskett appeared on the show with his puppet Gerry Gee.

    The popularity of the Gerry Gee character spawned its own self-contained five-minute-long live-action short films called The Adventures of Gerry Gee which aired within the show, with Gerry solving crimes, rescuing maidens in distress and similar tales of “Boys Own” derring-do.

    The segment quickly became a regular and popular feature of The Tarax Show, running for three years with much Gerry Gee merchandise successfully marketed as a result of its popularity.

    All the Gerry Gee episodes were written, directed and produced by Denzil Howson. The series was produced on 16mm film and most episodes were filmed outdoors on location.

    Long shots of Gerry in the series were achieved by using nine-year-old child actor John Field (Denzil Howson’s neighbour at the time) wearing a latex Gerry Gee face mask interspersed with close-ups of the actual puppet for dialogue or reaction shots.

    Storylines included ‘Pimpernel Gee’, in which Gerry played the part of the Scarlet Pimpernel (complete with coiffured wig and velvet frock coat) saving the French aristocrats from the guillotine, ‘Tarzan Gee’ with Gerry as a jungle boy who befriends a wild gorilla, a Robin Hood themed story entitled ‘Gerry Hood’ (with the Melbourne Botanic Gardens standing in for Sherwood Forest), and an Arabian Nights adventure called ‘Ali Gee’ (Iszzit? Booyakasha!).  Each storyline consisted of three or four episodes.

    Gerry eventually gained a girlfriend in the show, played at various times by Elaine McKenna, Susan-Gaye Anderson, Patti McGrath (later to marry Aussie TV legend Bert newton and become Patty Newton) and a 12-year-old Olivia Newton-John!

    You’re tuned right into Channel Nine
    Of course, you know the viewing’s fine
    And now the chap we want to see
    Is that rascal Gerry Gee
    Gerry Gee, Gerry Gee
    Who and what and where is he?
    I’ll tell you so you all will know
    He’s not a jolly Eskimo
    I’m that fellow, yes that’s me
    I’m that rascal Gerry Gee

    A series of short travel films called Around the World With Gerry Gee were also produced, featuring Ron Blaskett and Gerry touring England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, India and Singapore.

    Gerry Gee also featured in a televised pantomime in 1963, titled Marianne. Missing reels of film of The Adventures of Gerry Gee were found in 1991.

    Video

    Related Posts

    • At Seven On 7
      At Seven On 7
      1 9 5 6 - 1 9 5 7 (Australia) 30 minute episodes Radio presenter Howard Craven hosted Australia's first TV…
    • Zingalong
      Zingalong
      1 9 7 0 - 1 9 7 2 (UK) 86 x 15 minute episodes Debuting in January 1970, this…
    • Here's Humphrey
      Here's Humphrey
      1 9 6 5 - 2 0 0 3 (Australia) 2 0 0 7 - 2 0 0 8 (Australia) Originally…
    • Super Flying Fun Show, The
      Super Flying Fun Show, The
      1 9 7 0 - 1 9 7 9 (Australia) A live weekday morning Australian children's programme from TCN 9, The Super Flying Fun Show was…
    • Teetime and Claudia
      Teetime and Claudia
      1 9 8 3 (UK) 10 minute episodes Teetime the dog (voiced by Flaxton Boys star Gerry Cowan) and Claudia the…
    • Happy House
      Happy House
      1 9 7 3 (UK) 52 x 15 minute episodes This short Friday lunchtime show from Thames Television sometimes featured ventriloquist…
    • ARVO/Alexander's Afternoon/The Alexander Bunyip Show/Alexander Bunyip's Billabong
      ARVO/Alexander's Afternoon/The Alexander Bunyip…
      1 9 7 9 - 1 9 8 8 (Australia) Alexander Bunyip first appeared on Australian television in 1979 in…
    • Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahoney Show, The
      Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahoney Show, The
      1 9 5 0 - 1 9 6 1 (USA) Ventriloquist Paul Winchell built his dummy, Jerry Mahoney, when he was…

    Australia
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleHawkins Falls
    Next Article Tarax Show, The

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small. 

    Thank you so much.
    Enjoy your trip in the time machine!

    You may also like

    • Tarax Show, The
      Tarax Show, The
      1 9 5 7 - 1 9 6 9 (Australia) 60/120 minute episodes This early Australian children's TV series from…
    • Matt and Gerry Ltd
      Matt and Gerry Ltd
      1 9 7 5 (UK) 4 x 15 minute episodes Gerry Marsden (formerly of Gerry and The Pacemakers) and Matthew Corbett…
    • Judy Jack Show, The
      Judy Jack Show, The
      1 9 5 6 - 1 9 5 7 (Australia) 30 minute episodes The first children's television programme broadcast in Melbourne…
    • True Blue Show, The
      True Blue Show, The
      1 9 7 3 - 1 9 7 4 (Australia) 1 x 60 minute pilot 14 x 60 minute episodes…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.