Noteworthy: Bert Pearl and The Happy Gang

Bert Pearl was born Bert Shapira, to parents Boruch and Dina, in Winnipeg, Manitoba on February 2, 1913.  After he attended Aberdeen School and St. John’s High School, he registered in the University of Manitoba’s pre-med program.  He won a scholarship in his first year, but needed to find work to continue his studies.  He was hired at CKY, Winnipeg’s first radio station, owned by Manitoba Telephone System.  His immediate success as a performer earned him more radio opportunities in Toronto, quickly emerging as the Canadian broadcasting hub. 

Bert Shapira didn’t become a brain surgeon, but Bert Pearl did become a radio star.

Before The Happy Gang, Pearl played in CBC orchestras in Toronto under Jack Arthur, Percy Faith and Geoffrey Waddington.

In the History of Canadian Broadcasting as reported by the Canadian Communications Foundation, CBC’s Regional Program Director George Taggart was tasked in 1937 with developing a half-hour weekday program to fill the 1-1:30pm Eastern Standard Time slot.  “His tight budget permitted only four musicians.  To ‘lead the band’ and as MC, Taggart’s choice was Bert Pearl.  His fellow musicians were trumpeter Robert (Bob) Farnon, violinist Blain Mathe and organist Kathleen (Kay) Stokes.  Herb May, who apprenticed with CBO in Ottawa, became the show’s first regular announcer, with George Temple the producer.  They became ‘The Happy Gang.’”

They recorded around 200 shows per year – nearly 4,900 programs, always live with in-studio audiences.  Tape recording had not been invented.  The show ran on the CBC or private stations in every city the network reached.

Air time was filled with skits, comedy routines and music; violin arrangements of classical and traditional tunes played by Mathe; pieces of music from Kay Stokes’ theatre-organ repertoire. There were ballads and light songs sung by Pearl, and also by accordionist Eddie Allen, known as a romantic singer who joined the Gang in 1938.