Photograph shows Fred McGuinness in an office writing at a desk. On the wall behind him is a framed frieze reading: Plan to visit the Wheat Province in the year of the Saskatchewan Golden Jubilee.
According to the Canadian Old-time Radio Alliance website, the Happy Gang radio show was established by Bert Pearl for the CBC in 1937. The show remained on the air until 1959. Colgate Palmolive was the radio show's first sponsor. Other sponsors included Carnation Milk, Mills' Flower, and Red Rose.
Custodial History
Photograph sent to Fred McGuinness from Lillie S. Wilkins of Killarney, MB
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group portrait of the "The Happy Gang" family. The promotional photograph was produced for the 143rd anniversary of the Colgate-Palmolive company.
Notes
Members of the Happy Gang are identified on the back of the photograph along with "a message" from Bert Pearl, the M.C. for the Happy Gang. Date of photograph determined from Colgate-Palmolive company history.
Following the Second World War, Canada assisted with the resettlement of Europe's homeless. Orders in Council were passed between July 1947 and October 1948 that permitted the entry of 45,000 "displaced persons," who were referred to as "New Canadians" upon their arrival. (Source: Government of Canada (01 July 2006), "Forging Our Legacy: Canadian Citizenship and Immigration, 1900-1977," accessed on-line at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/legacy/chap-5a.asp)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a young Fred McGuinness holding a microphone in front of a woman. A crowd of people surrounds the pair.
Notes
Writing on back of photograph reads: On duty Calgary Stampede, introducing story of displaced persons being brought to Canada, 1947
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