New Angle On Slap-Stick Comedy

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 82, 16 August 1948, Page 5

New Angle On Slap-Stick Comedy

RADIO QUIZ SHOW j GOOD CLEAN FUN

Athol Coats, billed as radio’s “King of Quiz”, introduced a new angle on comedy with his “Riddles, Risks and Rewards” show at the Grand on Thursday night. Slap-stick comedy has always been a ready laugh-getter, hut this show exploits the novel scheme of selecting the victims , from the audience and putting them through the hoops of humorous discomfiture.

Naturally, it appeals. We’re all a bit sadistic at heart. We like to see the other fellow making an ass of himself.' Particularly if we know him.

One thing about this show, though -no-one was asked to be an impromptu clown for nothing. The rewards were worth it, and the fun was wholesome and harmless. The crowd, which packed the theatre to the doors and overflowed to the Regent across the road, just loved it. A refrigerator and a vacuum cleaner were top prizes that .went begging, but the man who won a carpet sweeper had to work for it. His penalty was to pick up his prize and wheel it down the Strand from end to end, barefooted with his trouser legs rolled up, through the midday crowd on Friday. Despite the sensation he caused, he stuck to it gamely. To yvatch Mrs I. Bartlett and Syd Petersen, blind-folded, feeding, each other ice cream was side-splitting entertainment. Mrs Petersen enjoyed it thoroughly. . But Syd -got his turn. She had to do a Mae West act, climaxed by a screen star embrace with a man selected by Mr Coats. The blush was charming. Miss Shirley Winters got nearest to the refrigerator, but fell at the final hurdle, a question that left her floundering. Revealing a pair of voluminous and multi-coloured unmentionables, Coats whipped off his pants and blandly handed them to Miss Winters . with orders to iron them. Her “booby prize” was more than adequate reward for the momentary embarrassment. She also walked off with the first prize in the talent quest,” earning prolonged applause with a song put ever with confidence and just that shade of “oomph” that gets the crowd. Kevin Lysaght was a Close second with his piano accordion. Next on the list of the, popular were the Miller' Sisters,' Joyce and Joan, with dancing numbers.'"''’ ’