John Hamblin: Difference between revisions

'''John Reginald Hamblin'''<ref name="librariesaus"/> (18 March 1935 – 21 September 2022), known affectionately as "'''Funny John'''"<ref name="Woman's Day" /> or "'''Naughty John'''",<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=John Hamblin |url=https://about.abc.net.au/statements/john-hamblin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153624/https://about.abc.net.au/statements/john-hamblin/ |archive-date=22 September 2022 |access-date=21 September 2022 |website=About the ABC |language=en-AU}}</ref> was a British-born Australian children's television presenter and actor of stage and screen who appeared in theatre productions, soap operas and [[Television film|made-for-TV films]].

Hamblin was a presenter on the Australian children's television program ''[[Play School (Australian TV series)|Play School]]'' for 29 years, from 1970 to 1999. He featured in more than 350 episodes and became the second -longest-serving presenter in the program's history, after [[Benita Collings]], with whom he often presented.<ref name="archive" />

Hamblin was born on 18 March 1935<ref name="librariesaus"/><ref name="encyclopedia">{{Cite book |last=Alan Veitch |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Australian Showbiz |date=1984 |publisher=Sunshine Books |isbn=0867770570 |editor-last=Atterton |editor-first=Margot |oclc=16520399}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=September 2022}} in [[Ash, Surrey]], England,<ref name="librariesaus">{{Cite web |title=Hamblin, John, 1935- |url=https://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/search/display?dbid=auth&id=52238972 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153634/https://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/search/display?dbid=auth&id=52238972 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |access-date=22 September 2022 |publisher=Libraries Australia}}</ref> and grew up in [[Suffolk]]. When Hamblin's mother moved in with the local baker, his father moved the rest of the family to Norfolk. He lost contact with his mother at that point.<ref name="Craig2008" /> Hamblin's father had flown with the [[Royal Flying Corps]] during [[World War I]], and Hamblin himself joined the Air Force and did his national service in [[Cyprus]] in the late 1950s before returning to England.<ref name="Craig2008" />

Hamblin initially trained at art school for six months but decided on a career in acting instead, and he studied drama to become an actor.<ref name="Craig2008" />

After emigrating to Australia, Hamblin continued to work in theatre over a 25-year periodyears, from 1970 until 1995, including ''[[Blithe Spirit (play)|Blithe Spirit]]'' and a stage show of ''Play School''.<ref name="AusStage">{{cite web|url=https://AusStage.edu.au/pages/contributor/225538|title=John Hamblin|publisher=[[AusStage]]|access-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607061218/https://ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/225538 |archive-date=7 June 2022}}</ref>

Hamblin also toured in the stage play ''[[Crown Matrimonial (play)|Crown Matrimonial]]'' as [[King Edward VIII]].

Known as being irreverent and inserting double-entendres into skits,<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 July 2016 |title=Play School is 'rife with double entendres' |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/tv-shows/play-school-is-rife-with-double-entendres/news-story/dca9fe3cf4ad6f45a4151727abd67005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211114/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/tv-shows/play-school-is-rife-with-double-entendres/news-story/dca9fe3cf4ad6f45a4151727abd67005 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |access-date=22 June 2021 |website=NewsComAu |language=en}}</ref> Hamblin was the second -most -prolific presenter of ''Play School'', appearing in 357 episodes from 1970 to 1999,<ref name="Craig2008" /> while fellow presenter Benita Collings appeared in 401 episodes.<ref name="archive">{{Cite web |title=Moment in Time – Episode 29 |website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/canwehelp/txt/s2669799.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427144558/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/canwehelp/txt/s2669799.htm |archive-date=27 April 2015 |access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref> On the show, Hamblin would sing, read stories, make crafts, play with the toys and educate children about such things as telling the time and the days of the week.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Play School |url=https://www.abc.net.au/abckids/shows/play-school/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153633/https://www.abc.net.au/abckids/shows/play-school/ |archive-date=22 September 2022 |access-date=22 June 2021 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en}}</ref> Hamblin is especially remembered for his presenting partnership with longtime hosts Benita Collings and [[Noni Hazlehurst]].

Hamblin returned briefly for a special guest appearance in 2016, as part of ''Play School''{{'}}s 50th anniversary special.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Molk |first=Steve |date=21 September 2022 |title=Play School icon JOHN HAMBLIN dies aged 87 |url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2022/09/21/play-school-icon-john-hamblin-dies-aged-87/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922153645/https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2022/09/21/play-school-icon-john-hamblin-dies-aged-87/ |archive-date=22 September 2022 |access-date=21 September 2022 |website=TV Blackbox |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Play School celebrates 50 years {{!}} ABC KIDS | date=10 May 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS3fS2eFZjA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913091252/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS3fS2eFZjA |language=en |access-date=21 September 2022 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

| ''The Timeless YearLand''

===As presenter=Theatre==