Kiddies Corner
Encyclopedia
Kiddies Corner was a hugely popular children's radio programme broadcast
on the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon
. The format was devised in 1963. This was the 'golden era' of the radio station, the oldest in South Asia
. Millions tuned into Radio Ceylon and it was known as the 'King of the Airwaves' in South Asia in the 1950s and 1960s.
. The station co-opted a young American Peace Corps worker, Craig Thompson, to front the programme. The programme built up a huge following on the island and thousands of children tuned in to listen to 'Uncle Craig,' over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon—the programme had a mix of stories, plays, maths tables, children's songs sung by a range of artistes such as Burl Ives
, Danny Kaye
and Max Bygraves
together with children's folk songs in Sinhala and Tamil
. A huge favourite with Ceylonese and indeed children in South Asia was the song Gilly, Gilly, Ossenfeffer, Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea
, sung by Max Bygraves - the song entered the British charts on September 10, 1954 and reached No 7. It was a real hit in the Indian sub-continent as Radio Ceylon played it on their All Asia Service as well as the Commercial Service in the 1950s and the 1960s.
Maåma"...where I would join in and read stories, sing songs like "Gilly, Gilly Ossenfeffer, Katzen-Ellen-Bogen-By-the-Sea" "Tickery, Tickery Leea" and other fun activities. We even spent several weeks putting together a playlet called "The Necklace of Truth" ...and had children participate in the various parts on the program. We recorded my first episode on Thursday, June 6, 1963 and our second episode on Friday, June 14, 1963. On Saturday, September 7, 1963, we began recording the children's program at 12:30 p.m. for a new broadcast time of 4:15 p.m (instead of the usual
3:30). Parents had been writing saying that they would like us to come on the air at a later time so that "the whole family can listen." As 3:30 seemed to be nap time for many children, they wanted us to change the time for everyone to listen.'
Some of the other presenters of 'Kiddies Corner' were Vernon Corea
, Greg Roskowski
and Vijaya Corea
. Kiddies Corner enjoyed enormous popularity for over a decade on Radio Ceylon.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
on the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
. The format was devised in 1963. This was the 'golden era' of the radio station, the oldest in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. Millions tuned into Radio Ceylon and it was known as the 'King of the Airwaves' in South Asia in the 1950s and 1960s.
The format of Kiddies Corner
Masterminding the children's radio programme was the broadcaster Vernon CoreaVernon Corea
Vernon Corea was a pioneer radio broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in Sri Lanka and the UK. He joined Radio Ceylon, South Asia's oldest radio station, in 1956 and later the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation...
. The station co-opted a young American Peace Corps worker, Craig Thompson, to front the programme. The programme built up a huge following on the island and thousands of children tuned in to listen to 'Uncle Craig,' over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon—the programme had a mix of stories, plays, maths tables, children's songs sung by a range of artistes such as Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....
, Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
and Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves OBE is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs...
together with children's folk songs in Sinhala and Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
. A huge favourite with Ceylonese and indeed children in South Asia was the song Gilly, Gilly, Ossenfeffer, Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea
Gilly, Gilly, Ossenfeffer, Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea
"Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea" is a popular song written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and published in 1954.The best-known version in the United States was recorded by The Four Lads with teenage girls Lillian Pasciolla and others on February 27, 1954...
, sung by Max Bygraves - the song entered the British charts on September 10, 1954 and reached No 7. It was a real hit in the Indian sub-continent as Radio Ceylon played it on their All Asia Service as well as the Commercial Service in the 1950s and the 1960s.
Young Ceylonese Talent
The programme was a showcase for young Ceylonese talent and school orchestras were featured on 'Kiddies Corner.' Children were invited into the studio to participate in some of the radio plays on 'Kiddies Corner.'Craig Thompson
Craig Thompson was the first presenter of 'Kiddies Corner'. Recalling the first ever recording of the children's programme Thompson noted: 'On the program, I was known as "Uncle Craig" or "CraigMaåma"...where I would join in and read stories, sing songs like "Gilly, Gilly Ossenfeffer, Katzen-Ellen-Bogen-By-the-Sea" "Tickery, Tickery Leea" and other fun activities. We even spent several weeks putting together a playlet called "The Necklace of Truth" ...and had children participate in the various parts on the program. We recorded my first episode on Thursday, June 6, 1963 and our second episode on Friday, June 14, 1963. On Saturday, September 7, 1963, we began recording the children's program at 12:30 p.m. for a new broadcast time of 4:15 p.m (instead of the usual
3:30). Parents had been writing saying that they would like us to come on the air at a later time so that "the whole family can listen." As 3:30 seemed to be nap time for many children, they wanted us to change the time for everyone to listen.'
Some of the other presenters of 'Kiddies Corner' were Vernon Corea
Vernon Corea
Vernon Corea was a pioneer radio broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in Sri Lanka and the UK. He joined Radio Ceylon, South Asia's oldest radio station, in 1956 and later the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation...
, Greg Roskowski
Greg Roskowski
Greg Roskowski was an announcer of Radio Ceylon during the height of the station's popularity in the 1950s in South Asia. Roskowski, born of a Polish father and a Japanese mother, was the booming voice of Radio Ceylon's morning radio programs....
and Vijaya Corea
Vijaya Corea
Vijaya Corea is a radio and television broadcaster and one of Sri Lanka's most well known media personalities. Corea is a household name in Sri Lanka, synonymous with broadcasting and show business for over four decades, and has often been referred to as Sri Lanka's #1 Compere.-Early life:He grew...
. Kiddies Corner enjoyed enormous popularity for over a decade on Radio Ceylon.
See also
- Radio CeylonRadio CeylonRadio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
- Sri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationThe Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation came into existence on January 5, 1967 when Radio Ceylon became a public corporation. Dudley Senanayake who was the Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1967 ceremonially opened the newly established Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation along with Minister Ranasinghe...
- List of Sri Lankan Broadcasters
- Gilly, Gilly, Ossenfeffer, Katzenellen Bogen by the SeaGilly, Gilly, Ossenfeffer, Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea"Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea" is a popular song written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and published in 1954.The best-known version in the United States was recorded by The Four Lads with teenage girls Lillian Pasciolla and others on February 27, 1954...