Jackie Rae
Biography
Born in Winnipeg on 14 May 1922, John Arthur "Jackie" Rae was performing on the stage at the ripe old age of three. He flew Spitfires in the Second World War, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the war, he produced a radio variety show for the CBC, which later moved to television. After moving to the UK in 1958, Rae appeared on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. He also recorded popular songs, and wrote the standard "Happy Heart".
His best-known role was the first host of The Golden Shot. ATV mogul Lew Grade had seen Jackie Rae crack jokes with comedian Charlie Drake, and recruited him on the spot. Grade didn't know that Rae's patter was scripted, and when Bob Monkhouse - who had brought the show over from Germany - was the guest, he upstaged his host and won the show.
Jackie Rae returned to Canada in 1976. He died in Toronto on 5 October 2006.
Trivia
His Canadian television show once attracted controversy when a knife-throwing act was followed by a thud and a scream off-screen. Unflustered, the host said, "The show will be four minutes short, but that's show business." The phone lines were jammed with complaints, though it was all a stunt.
Books / Tapes
To be completed
