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Page 20 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Observer Magazine

■ Ivan Hutchinson described himself as the "definitive, reluctant TV star". Yet he worked in the entertainment industry and was popular as a musician, film critic, journalist, television host and musical director. Ivan Joseph Hutchinson was born in Melbourne in 1928. His father was an ANZAC who had been wounded in World War I and continued in the Army until his retirement in the late 1950s. Ivan Hutchinson began studying piano at an early age. He grew up in Fitzroy and attended St Bridget's Primary School, St. Thomas's and completed his education at Parade College, East Melbourne. Ivan developed an interest in jazz and began playing in bands at the Malvern Town Hall in his teenage years. He married Grace O'Connor in 1953 and they raised four children. In 1960 Ivan began working in television for HSV Channel 7 as a pianist with the station's orchestra in variety shows which included Sunnyside Up, The Bob Crosby Show and The Happy Show. In those days the resident musical director was Jimmy Allen, who was married to ‘Panda’ Lisner. In 1964 Ivan replaced JimmyAllen as Musical Director at Channel 7. He worked on the afternoon variety series Time for Terry. The show was compered by English come-

Whatever Happened To ... Ivan Hutchinson

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

dian Terry O'Neill and regulars included Vi Greenhalf, Joe Hudson, Brian Naylor and Olivia Newton-John. In 1971 Ivan teamed with Jim Murphy from Listener In to present Two on The Aisle. The show came about as a result of discussions between Jim and Ivan and the program director Gordon French giving the ‘green light’ to the idea of two reviewers sitting in theatre seats and chatting about the latest films. Two on the Aisle was only shown in Melbourne, it was popular and ran for three years. Ivan was musical director for many years on various shows including The Penthouse Club. (everything stopped when the harness races began and they crossed to the Showgrounds).

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Ivan worked on albums with many artists but only recorded one album of his own - Honky Tonk Party Favourites in 1973. When colour television began in 1975 he hosted Ivan's Midday Movie. Ivan was able to present some of the old Hollywood films in glorious technicolor to those who were lucky enough to have colour TV sets. I was too poor at the time to buy a colour TV set, so we rented one and enjoyed this new miracle in our lounge room. I can still remember the joy of seeing The Wizard of Oz in colour and it was the first time I had seen the film. Over the years Ivan interviewed many famous Hollywood stars. I used to look forward to watching Ivan's Christmas Guide to the Movies where he talked about the upcoming Christmas films and what would be coming into the cinemas during the new year. Ivan played himself in the 1993 Australian comedy film Hercules Returns. Sadly, Ivan Hutchinson passed away from cancer in 1995 at the age of 67. Jim Murphy described him as "an exceptional human being". - Kevin Trask Kevin can be heard on radio ● Ivan Hutchinson Kevin can be heard on 3AW He also worked on arrangements and played on many successful recordings for Fable The Time Tunnel - on Remember When - Sundays at 9.10pm Records. He is actually one of the vocalists on And on 96.5 FM the ‘VFL football anthems’ recordings perThat's Entertainment formed by the Fable Singers and released in Sundays at 12 Noon 1972.

Reindeers are a favourite with tourists ■ If you’re already shuddering at the prospects of winter just around the corner, spare a thought for the 500 folk who live in the tiny village of Oymyakon in Russian Siberia – in winter up there, the mercury drops to a teeth-chattering minus 50C or colder. So cold that saliva in peoples’ mouths can freeze into needles that prick their lips, where car engines are left running outside owner’s homes all night so they won’t freeze and need to be thawed with a blow-torch to start next morning, and where school is cancelled only when the temperature falls below -55C. And where when somebody dies, a bonfire has to be lit over their potential burial-site to thaw the ground so that the grave-diggers can do their job. Oymyakon is officially the coldest permanently-inhabited place on earth, with its coldest day ever a body-numbing -67C … consider that by compari● Reindeer that were hunted for their meat and fur in son, the inside of your refrigerator averages 4C and your freezer a mere Oymyakon’s early history, are now a favourite with tourists and used in hunting-down good photo opportunities. -20C. Visitors to Oymyakon are re1992 it’s only resident bought what was warded with complimentary “Pole of left – a convenience store and gas staCold” certificates from the town’s oftion, circa-1905 schoolhouse, a 1900’s ficial Guardian of the Cold … and last cabin and later era 3-bedroom home, January a brand new electronic thera parking lot, and a bank of Post Ofmometer installed in a public square fice boxes for “locals” scattered as a tourist attraction, shattered when through the surrounding mountains. the temperature dropped to -62C. Twenty years later in 2012 that The little 500-person village, that’s owner put the whole town to auction 6½-hours flying time from Moscow, again, two Vietnamese businessmen was founded next to a thermal spring this time bidding a successful $900,000 by reindeer herders who watered their against other hopefuls from an amazanimals there in the 1920s and 30s; ing 46 countries who all had one thing today it has a small but growing tourin mind: they wanted to own their own ism industry with attractions includtown. ing reindeer tracking, ice fishing, playThe Vietnamese duo spruced up the ing in the thermal springs … and exgeneral store, started importing Vietperiencing that bizarre winter cold. namese coffee, and not only created a And while winter days get a mere highly successful coffee-stop for Inthree hours of daylight, in summer terstate 80 drivers, but actually rethere’s 21 hours daily and temperanamed the town PhinDeli Town tures can reach a very warm 30C. Buford after their coffee’s brand. with David Ellis For more information drop their Today neither owner lives there, tourist office a line on This seeming conundrum is their one-man trading post being run contact@visityakutia.com Buford that sits 2400m high (8000 on their behalf and selling coffee, feet) in the mountains between snack and convenience items, and Laramie and Cheyenne in Wyoming, fuel to some 1000 motorists a day in and which in the late 1800s and early summer, and a hundred or so a day in ■ It has a population of one, has a 1900s was rail-company-owned with the cooler (read freezing) climes of State-erected sign leading into town a population of over 2000 during build- winter. to prove it, and officially it’s the small- ing of America’s first Transcontinen- ■ For information about wonderfully est town in America – yet it has a gen- tal Railway. picturesque Wyoming and its many eral store that can deal with crowds But when no new rail work was other must-visit attractions: reaching a thousand or more a day. required the town slowly died, and in www.travelwyoming.com

Struth

One man town

OK. With John O’Keefe End of innings for Pete

■ After 47 years of broadcasting, Pete Graham has hung up his microphone following change of format on Macquarie’s Talking Lifestyle to an all sport station. Pete is a living legend in the rock industry, and of recent date compered his six-hour Saturday Night Live, heard on stations coast to coast. His program was a really entertaining show with interviews by newsmakers in the musical industry – his show is too good to be mothballed and hopefully Pete will be added to the on-air personalities of another network .

Philip’s days at the BBC

■ Much has been said about the 60th anniversary of legendary multimedia personality Philip Brady. One fascinating story was his voice - over work for the BBC when holidaying in the UK. Philip had a connection with the BBC through his mother, who wrote quiz questions in Australia, and Philip delivered them to the London media. Never backwards in coming forward and full of youthful bravado Phil made his talents known to the BBC and they engaged him on a casual basis as a booth announcer. The pay helped as pocket money as Phil moved around the scenic highlights of the UK.

Eurogliders back in Melb.

■ Originally from Perth, the Eurogliders went on to become one of Australia’s hottest musical groups around the world. The talents of Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch saw them chart ten Top 10 singles and albums, including entertaining 65 million people worldwide via MTV’s New Years Eve party recorded in NYC. Eurogliders are back in Melbourne on Saturday, July 16 at Memo Music Hall, bookings 9534 3556.

Beatles comeback

■ To coincide with the 50 th anniversary of the first release of the Beatles inspired Yellow Submarine, a remastered cinema version is to make a comeback . Originally released in 1968 there is no date as to when the latest version will debut in Australia.