{{Short description|American radio variety series (1944–1945)}} {{Italics title}} '''''Happy Island''''' is an American radio variety program that starred Ed Wynn and was broadcast on the Blue Network from September 8,1944, to February 26, 1945.<ref name="ota">{{cite book |last1=Dunning |first1=John |title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio |date=May 7, 1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-977078-6 |pages=218-220 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HqhoAgAAQBAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA220&dq=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&pg=PA219#v=onepage&q=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&f=true |access-date=September 19, 2025 |language=en}}</ref> Beginning January 15, 1945, it was renamed '''''Ed Wynn Show,'''''<ref name="js">{{cite news |title='Ed Wynn Show' Changes Format, Time And Day |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-happy-island/181354556/ |access-date=September 19, 2025 |work=The Jackson Sun |date=January 14, 1945 |page=10|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> and the format was changed.
==Background== Wynn's radio career appeared to have been finished in the 1930s with the ending of his program ''The Fire Chief'', followed by three shows that "were marked by brief runs and diminishing ratings".<ref name="ota" /> He dealt with a divorce, business losses, and severe depression. ''Happy Island'' brought him back to radio in 1944.<ref name="ota" />
==Overview== Wynn originated the concept of Happy Island, which was a fantasy place in addition to being the show's name.<ref name="cpd" /> The island combined "the best features of previously imagined never-never lands, such as the Disney creations, the tales of Grimm, Shangri-la, and all the other lands of heart's desire whose names are legion".<ref name="scsj">{{cite news |title=New Ed Wynn Comedy Opens Over KSCJ on Friday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-happy-island/181360409/ |access-date=September 19, 2025 |work=Sioux City Sunday Journal |date=September 3, 1944 |page=20|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> Wynn portrayed King Bubbles, who ruled the island. Not far away lay the Isle of Caster, a dour place ruled by King Nasty, who "hates all that is happiness and sunshine".<ref name="cpd">{{cite news |last1=Stephan |first1=Robert S. |title=-Ed Wynn's New Radio show Will Be Comedy in Fantasy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-happy-island/181358429/ |access-date=September 19, 2025 |work=Cleveland Plain Dealer |date=August 28, 1944 |page=7|via = Newspapers.com}}</ref> The relationship between the two places became complicated after King Nasty's son (Prince Richard<ref name="ota" />) fell in love with King Bubbles's ward,<ref name="cpd" /> Princess Elaine.<ref name="ota" /> Blotto was the king's advisor.<ref name="ota" /> In addition to its human characters, the show featured three bovines: Elsie, Elmer, and their daughter Beulah.<ref name="sns" /> Mark Warnow provided music.<ref name="ota" />
===Change to ''Ed Wynn Show''=== Beginning with the January 15, 1945, episode, the program had a new title accompanied by changes in the format and cast. The island format was dropped, the program was renamed the ''Ed Wynn Show'', and instead of portraying a king, Wynn played "a plain but comical citizen who becomes involved each week in ridiculous situations".<ref name="js" /> In addition to Wynn, Warnow was retained as orchestra leader, and Jerry Wayne continued on the show as singer. Minerva Pious, who had appeared on some episodes of ''Happy Island'', was added to the cast. The actors who portrayed the bovine characters continued in those roles.<ref name="js" />
==Cast== {| class="wikitable" |+ Cast of ''Happy Island'' |- ! Character !! Actor |- | King Bubbles || Ed Wynn<ref name=ota/> |- | King Nasty || Winfield Hoeny<ref name=ota/> |- | Princess Elaine || Evelyn Knight<ref name=ota/> |- | Prince Richard || Jerry Wayne<ref name=ota/> |- | Blotto || Rolfe Sedan<ref name=ota/> |- | Elsie|| Hope Emerson<ref name=ota/> |- | Elmer || Craig McDonnell<ref name=ota/> |- | Beulah || Lorna Lynn<ref name=ota/> |}
==Production== Wynn owned the program and controlled its content.<ref name="sns">{{cite news |title=Ed Wynn Star of Borden's Friday Show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-happy-island/181359128/ |access-date=September 19, 2025 |work=Springfield News-Sun |date=September 17, 1944 |page=5 B|via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> George McGarritt<ref name=bbnewformat>{{cite magazine |date=January 13, 1945 |page=8 |title=It's 'Happy Island' For Wynn No More; One Format a Week |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tREEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA1888&dq=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&pg=PA1888#v=onepage&q=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&f=true |accessdate=September 20, 2025 }}</ref> and Ray Knight were the producers;<ref name="gouldrev" /> Hal Block<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ellett |first1=Ryan |title=Radio Drama and Comedy Writers, 1928-1962 |date=December 15, 2017 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-6593-1 |page=34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SME8DwAAQBAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA34&dq=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&pg=PA34#v=onepage&q=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&f=true |access-date=September 19, 2025 |language=en}}</ref> and Knight were writers.<ref name="ota" /> The show was produced with island-related visual effects of which radio listeners were unaware. Radio historian John Dunning described it as "a fully decorated show, with flashy sets and lighting effects and the entire cast in full dress".<ref name="ota" /> That approach, which differed from most radio programs,<ref>{{cite magazine |date=September 18, 1944 |page=13 |title=Speaking of Pictures ... These Show Ed Wynn's Nonsensical Inventions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA13-IA6&dq=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&pg=PA13-IA6#v=onepage&q=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&f=true |magazine=Life |access-date=September 19, 2025 }}</ref> followed Wynn's precedent on ''The Fire Chief'', where he wore funny outfits. He said that such costumes made him feel funny, and he hoped that feeling would make him sound funny.<ref name="ota" /> Borden's milk sponsored the 30-minute show, which was initially broadcast on Fridays at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.<ref name="ota" /> Effective January 15, 1945, it was moved to Mondays at 9 p.m. E. T.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lohman |first1=Sidney |title=Radio Row: One thing and another |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1944/12/24/archives/radio-row-one-thing-and-another.html |access-date=|work=The New York Times |date=December 24, 1944 |page=35 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
''Happy Island'' debuted with low Hooper ratings and failed to improve. By November 1944, the sizes of both the cast and the writing staff had been reduced. A report in the trade publication ''Billboard'' described "the general strengthening and streamlining" that was being done to the show and reported, "It is said that the sponsor, Borden, once willing to sink any amount of money to build a top airer, is becoming leery of unproductive spending."<ref>{{cite magazine |date=November 11, 1944 |page=10 |title=Unhappy Wynn On Happy Island Show Revamped |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jBoEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PT9&dq=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&pg=PT9#v=onepage&q=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&f=false |accessdate=September 19, 2025 }}</ref>
==Critical response== Jeanne Yount wrote in ''The Oregon Journal'' that ''Happy Island'' "isn't even mildly amusing".<ref name=yountrev>{{cite news |last1=Yount |first1=Jeanne |title=What's on the Air |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregon-daily-journal/181371819/ |access-date=September 19, 2025 |work=Oregon Journal |date=November 3, 1944 |location=Oregon, Portland |page=17 |via = Newspapers.com}}</ref> She contrasted the popularity of ''The Fire Chief'' with the lack of appeal of the current program, noting the latter's "abundance of puns and rehashes of old and feeble jokes".<ref name="yountrev" /> Yount complimented the musical performances of Knight, Wayne, and Warnow but said that the show devoted too much time to the three bovines, so that "The entire show appears to be one continuous commercial."<ref name="yountrev" />
In a review in ''The New York Times'', Jack Gould wrote that Wynn "was in fine fettle" in the premiere episode and noted, "Seven years away from the air, fortunately, have not changed Ed."<ref name=gouldrev>{{cite news |last1=Gould |first1=Jack |title=Perfect Fool: Ed Wynn Comes Back to the Kilocycles as King Bubbles of 'Happy Island' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1944/09/17/archives/perfect-fool-ed-wynn-comes-back-to-the-kilocycles-as-king-bubbles.html |access-date=September 19, 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=September 17, 1944 |page=X 5 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Gould complimented the singing of Knight and Wayne in both solos and duets and described the orchestral accompaniment directed by Warnow as "relaxed and finished".<ref name="gouldrev" />
A review in the trade publication ''Billboard'' said that ''Happy Island'' failed by having humor that was too broad for children and not broad enough for adults. The review said that the show's concept "is best described as an Alice in Wonderland nightmare. There are all the fundamentals of situation comedy without the comedy."<ref name=bbrev>{{cite magazine |last=Frankel |first=Lou |date=October 14, 1944 |page=11 |title=Ed Wynn |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxoEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PT10&dq=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&pg=PT10#v=onepage&q=%22Happy%20Island%22%20Wynn&f=true |accessdate=September 19, 2025 }}</ref> It suggested that the primary purpose of the show's structure seemed to be to showcase the bovines that represented the sponsor, leaving the other performers hampered by the format.<ref name="bbrev" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1944 radio programme debuts Category:1945 radio programme endings Category:1940s American radio programs Category:American variety radio series Category:NBC Blue Network radio programs