The adventures of Judy-Anne Garland and her snake puppets, Fergie, Samantha and Aunt Martha.
Credits
Starring: JUDY-ANNE GARLAND
Director: JOHN NASH
Producer: STAN WEMYSS
Written by JOHN NASH
Editor: CHARLES LADYMAN
Photographed by SAM GRAY
Recorded by ROY SINGLETON
Produced for the NZBC
Some of these songs are on available via Apple Music in some countries
360 Names For TV Kiwi
The kiwi companion to Channel 3 television’s popular puppet snake was named last evening (16 March 1962). In response to the Children’s Corner request to name the frilled, female kiwi, 360 children mailed in suggestions. Carolina, the name proposed by eight-year-old Pamela Reece, of 56 New Brighton road, was chosen for the demure kiwi.
Her brash but mixed-up fellow puppet, Ferguson Fang, animated by Mr John Nash and more or less managed by the children’s announcer, Judy Anne Garland, will now attempt to teach the silent young bird to talk. The characters have proved very popular among adult viewers as well as children. Aware that Ferguson is from the Okefenokee swamp in Georgia. United States, Pamela picked the name of the neighbouring State.
Fergie Fang A Family Favourite
Press, 15 August 1963
Ferguson Fang, his rich Aunt Martha and cousin Samantha are undoubtedly the most popular family on television in Christchurch. Their 15-minute appearance each Friday evening is eagerly awaited by thousands of children—and a great many adults, too!
Fergie, as he is affectionately known, a native of the “Okefenokee” swamp, immigrated to New Zealand several years ago. In Christchurch, he was fortunate enough to meet snake charmer John Nash and the charming Judy-Anne Garland. As John’s “right-hand” man, Fergie made his first appearance on Christchurch television screens towards the end of 1961 and has been a big hit ever since.
Rich Aunt Martha arrived on the scene some time later, as did Samantha, a reptilian version of Brigitte Bardot. Samantha, according to Judy-Anne, is a typical teenage snake —“just crazy about the twist.” The undoubted success of this show is the result of teamwork; John writes the script and provides the voices, Judy-Anne is the producer, and David Pumphrey is director. The programmes are recorded about three weeks ahead: “Just in case we all catch colds,” explained John.
So popular are the Fang Family programmes that 13 have been transmitted over other stations in the country. Writing the scripts takes John about an hour. He tries to please everyone. Once, a small boy wrote in and said he preferred watching westerns. So a few weeks later, Fergie appeared as “Maverick Fang”—the slowest gun in the West. And now, the same small boy is one of the Fang family’s biggest fans.
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