Delo and Daly Show, The – Nostalgia Central

1 9 6 3 – 1 9 6 4 (Australia)
48 x 60 minute episodes

Following the cancellation of his tri-weekly Daly at Night Australian talk show in March 1963, American comedian Jonathan Daly headed back to the US. He returned later that year, with his former comedy partner Ken Delo in tow.

The pair were given their own variety show – The Delo & Daly Show – by HSV-7 in Melbourne.

Beginning on 4 September 1963, Ken and Jonathan were joined each Wednesday night by comedienne Kitty Bluett, comedy singer Joe Hudson (from the Horrie Dargie Quintet), a vocal group called The Take Five, and the Joe Latona Dancers (comprising Steve Buge, Chris George and Julie Dawtrey). Three glamorous ‘Delo and Daly Girls’ introduced the acts, Jackie Gleason Show style.

Guests included Alma Cogan, Nina and Frederik, Dickie Valentine, Maggie Fitzgibbon, Addie Black, Julie McKenna, ballet dancers Robert Pomie and Patricia Cox, soprano June Bronhill, cellist John Kennedy, folk singer Lenore Somerset, Sheila Bradley, opera singer Elizabeth Fretwell, pianist Al Lerner, Beverly St Lawrence, Adelaide acrobatic brothers The Dalrays, Rob E G, Noumean-born singer Jeanine Arnold, Sydney singer Sharon O’Brien, Vicki Benet, Canadian pianist and satirist Don Harvie, Leonard Teale, The Kirby Stone Four, Suzanne Steele, Jon Weaving, American comedian Dave Barry, Terri King, Shirlene Clancy, Arthur Young, Annita Ray, Diane Hall, impressionist Ezio Bedin, Joan Regan, Dick Roman, and Maggie Stuart.

Vikki Hammond joined the show as a regular in November 1963, appearing with the hosts in sketches and helping them run the show. Comedienne Kitty Bluett left the show in February 1964. The show was moved from Wednesdays to Sunday nights in May.

Despite the show’s popularity in its native Melbourne, adverse ratings in Sydney (where it was scheduled against Bobby Limb) made the big-budget production an uneconomic proposition, and the final Delo & Daly Show aired on 26 August 1964.

Ken and Jonathan returned to the US soon after, where Ken became a regular cast member of the long-running Lawrence Welk Show, and Jonathan became a familiar face on TV sitcoms such as Bewitched, Petticoat Junction, and Chico and the Man.

Hosts
Ken Delo
Jonathan Daly
Regulars
Kitty Bluett
Joe Hudson
The Take Five
The Joe Latona Dancers
The Delo and Daly Girls
Vikki Hammond