THE SHOW WITH A HEART

New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 796, 22 October 1954, Page 30

THE SHOW WITH A HEART

By

NORMA

COUPER

HE forerunner of all radio "jackpot" shows was given a revival in London recently, dressed-up for British audiences and introduced as "the programme with a_ heart." Henry Caldwell, an American veteran of commercial radio, explained to the studio audience that Strike It Rich, as the show is called, was the first to go on the air in the United States, offering contestants the opportunity of building up an initial gift of money on successive ques-tions-or taking the chance of losing the lot. For this first new performance, contestants with a collection of widelyvaried’.reasons for wanting to strike it Tich were gtiinea pigs. The show was recorded with the world-famous voice of Bob Danvers-Walker (of Pathé News) giving the commercial and introducing that ubiquitous compere, Eamonn Andrews. It will be broadcast to British listeners from Radio Luxembourg on October 8. First came the London housewife who wanted enough money to give her uncle, a Chelsea pensioner, a holiday trip to Newcastle to visit his sister. There was the young Surrey mother, who worked as an Office cleaner to augment the earnings of he. ‘Civil Service husband. She wanted to buy three bicycles (one each

for herself, husband and five-year-old daughter) so that their journeys from their isolated home to the bus-stop, a mile and a half away, might be less arduous. A severely-injured ex-service-man longed to give his wife a holiday away from home, where she had for twelve years worked unceasingly at nursing him and .caring for their four children. A quiet-voiced. town councillor made his appeal on behalf of the Northern Counties’ Horse Protection Society. This organisation was begun by a group of compassionate citizens who were distressed at the numbers of horses destroyed when their usefulness as workers lessened or came to an end. They had the idea of pensioning them, thus giving them a comfortable, well-fed old age. Their work burst into prominence last year with the story of, Dolly, the blind milk-horse, who was given sight again through an operation arranged by the society. Dolly's affliction was manysided in its appeal to the sensibilities, for the operation made a valuable contribution to medical research, and the need for it brought to light a heartwarming case of equine devotion. For some time before Dolly came under the

care of the society, she shared a patch of ground with another mare, who. although young and frisky, acted as her protector. When _ Dolly strayed to barren ground Florrie would lead her back to the grass; when there was bad weather, would guide her to shelter. The Protection Society has arranged that the two horses might remain together. The object of having one of the members try for the Strike It Rich jackpot was to make a contribution to the high cost of feeding the rescued animals and _ to bring the work of the society before the public. The story of a successful career interrupted in tragic circumstances was told by Eamonn Andrews as one of the contestants walked _haltingly with the aid of two sticks towards the microphone. He was Owen (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) Fellowes, a well-known stage actor for 25 years. Three years ago he was appearing in the West End with Eric Portman in the play His Excellency, and expected that he was headed for a long run. Coming home tired from the theatre one night, he stepped out of an underground railway carriage before it had stopped and slipped on to the live rail. One leg and the foot of the other had to be amputated. Owen Fellowes was trying to strike it sich so that he could send his wife and young son on a holiday. The three years since his accident had been as grim for them as for him, he explained.’ All the money-hunters did well, risking a pound or two of the initial three allowed them and either building up or slipping back as the questions ranged through history, famous people, arithmetic and popular songs. But only one who had the courage to risk his three’ pounds straight out and to keep doubling up made the ultimate of £150. He was the Rev. Vivian Symons, of Biggin Hill. His parish-in that little place made famous through its Air Force fighter station during the Battle of Britain days -is an impoverished one. This clergyman found he had no church, only a hall to use for his services. He had the idea of buying an old disused church in London and moving it, literally, brick by brick, to Biggin Hill. With energy and enthusiasm, the Rev. Symons and members of his congregation sought and soon found a truck and willing helpers for their task. The radio show became the clergyman’s opportunity to raise money for petrol. "How much do you think the petrol for this expedition of moving a church would cost?" asked Eamonn Andrews. "T'd say £150!" promptly answered the reverend contestant-and proceeded to get it.