Magic Circle Club and Fredd Bear's Breakfast-a-Go-Go

Segment from a 1994 special celebrating 30 years since the opening of Melbourne's ATV-0 (now Channel Ten) in which Mal Walden looks at "The Magic Circle Club". Nancy Cato is interviewed. The segment closes with rare colour footage from "Fredd Bear's Breakfast-a-Go-Go".

Trivia note: The date given on screen (1964) is incorrect. "The Magic Circle Club" did not debut until February 1965.

Walden says following Nancy's on-set accident "her career was all but over". In fact, she fully recovered and went on to host "Adventure Island" on the ABC from its commencement in September 1967 until her sudden departure at the end of 1968.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• adventure
• island
• magic
• circle
• fredd
• bear
• cassius
• cuckoo
• fee
• hubbard
• australia
• sue
• donovan
• humphrey
• wiggles
• children

[sallie6]

this was great to find because my partner remembers watching this all the time - he even quotes the closing lines to me....but he thought it was Miss Marilyn?? maybe he's confused!!

[auspete]

Miss Marilyn (Marilyn Mayo) was one of the hosts of "The Super Flying Fun Show" - a different network and a different show.

[lifesabeeech]

After leaving magic circle because of THAT terrible fall, every kids prayers were answered when nancy returned to host adventure island on the abc. Does anyone know why she didn't act in the adv island storylines (as her successor sue donovan, did), or why nancy left the island after only 1 year??

[auspete]

She left Adventure Island to go to England for work, which was common in those days. Due to a breakdown in communications between her agent and Godfrey Productions, Godfrey Philipp wasn't informed about her departure until she approached him on the last day of taping in 1968. It was a shock to all, but for her an irreversible decision which again saw no farewell for her, no explanation for her disappearance, and a whole new hostess.

[zapkvr]

@auspete Judy Banks was Fred's sidekick and she was gorgeous. I remember Mike McCarthy used to read the news. I think he's dead but I'm not sure. I remember Marilyn too, Rod Hull from Caper Cops was on with her until he packed his bags and flew the first Jumbo out of Australia - that was the story they used -to the old Dart along with his Emu.

[zyawotha]

whatever happened to marilyn mayo?

[colindominy]

Even 30 years later, Nancy Cato, being interviewed here, is some sexy lady, I'll tell you what !! She's all class, elegance, and clearly a cut above, in her character & personality. And still, 30 years onwards, she continues to project a naturally-occurring, alluring, seductive attraction about her. What a  gal !!

[DJaney]

Thanks again another wonderful peace of footage which takes me down memory lane! Funnily it's that big old creaking door at the beginning and end of the show which I'd forgotten about that gave me goosebumps when i heard it again!

The funny things you remember as a child eh?

[auspete]

Mate that's an extraordinary piece of recollection, and you've hit the nail on the head I think! Only a delve through the ABC archives would confirm it for sure... maybe one day eh!

[bradd1]

thats interesting...i think the only time nancy ever sang on adv island was on her last day...she was flying to diddlydumdiddly on a magic carpet with samson the cat, for her final farewell. "something strange"...was the song i think??