Telethon 1981

[Graham Ritchie]

Well here is a blast from our past when people would donate money and there time for a good cause. Folk back then really got into the spirit, how times have changed, these photos are from the Christchurch Town Hall anyway folk in the UK should recognize some well known faces that came out here at the time for support.

Lastly after a full on weekend down at the park running the Westar I will add a wee video from those times, its something I am about to do.

[Lee Mannering]

My Dad was on the first Thames Telethon from London. He was a contestant and won a holiday to Hawaii. My parents so loved that holiday and greatly missed.

[Osi Osgood]

Reminds me of the Charles Bronson feature film, "Telethon", however, it had a different "storyline".

[Graham Sinden]

I see Bob Grant from On The Buses in the top photo.

[Graham Ritchie]

Correct and the person sitting right next to him appeared in one of the most popular Super 8 films sold by Derann...and his name is?

[Brian Fretwell]

Looks like "Professor" Jimmy Edwards to me! Whacko!!!!

[Graham Ritchie]

That's right its Jimmy Edwards and the Super 8 film I was thinking of but never got round to getting it is "The Plank", those Telethon days ran for the full 24 hours on TV, folk would stay up all night to watch it, it really was a big thing back then, all the money raised did go to the cause, not a cent went elsewhere. The 1981 Telethon was for the "International year of Disabled people", cant imagine it running in today's world, hopefully I would be wrong, but I think sadly times have changed and not for the better

[Graham Ritchie]

Jumping forward to 1985 look at this line up of guests who came from our 80s TV world

[Ed Gordon]

... those Telethon days ran for the full 24 hours on TV, folk would stay up all night to watch it, it really was a big thing back then, all the money raised did go to the cause, not a cent went elsewhere. ...

We had the annual Jerry Lewis telethon here in the US. It also ran all day and night.

Frank Sinatra shocks MDA Telethon host Jerry Lewis with a surprise guest - the one and only Dean Martin! Take a look at this classic MDA Telethon moment from 1976.

After taking the world by storm with one of the most beloved comedy acts of all time, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis bitterly ended their partnership 10 years to the day after it began.

The two men, different in almost every way except maybe stubbornness, refused to speak to each other for 20 years, until their mutual friend Frank Sinatra surprised them with a forced and uncomfortable onstage reunion in 1976. It would take another ten years after that before they were able to establish a more lasting reconciliation, which they maintained until Martin's death in 1995.

Here is that moment: