Zig and Zag (Australian performers)

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Zig and Zag - in real life Jack Perry and Doug McKenzie - were a clown duo who appeared on Australian television from 1957-1969 in Melbourne, Australia, beginning with Peters Fun Fair, which also featured Roy Lyons as Cousin Roy.

Dressed in costumes advertising Peters Ice Cream ("the health food of a nation"), and with the catchphrase "No trouble", Zig and Zag always included their theme song,You and Me, in their act. Written by Tommy Steele, this song was originally performed by Steele and Jimmy Edwards in the 1957 London pantomime production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella [1]. (See below for lyrics.)

Zig and Zag appeared on the annual HSV-7 Royal Children's Hospital Appeal for more than forty years. In 1999 Zig and Zag were appointed Kings of Moomba, a festival that they had been associated with for many years.

Doug McKenzie (Zag) had been a prisoner of war at Changi in World War II ^[1]. In 2002, McKenzie was the inaugural recipient of Variety's Heart of Show Business Award. Doug Christie, chairman of Variety, the children's charity, said Mr McKenzie was awarded for his long service to Melbourne's entertainment industry and his commitment to children's charity.

[edit] Child Sex Abuse Scandal

Perry and McKenzie stood down from the 1999 Moomba festival after it was disclosed that in 1994 Perry had pleaded guilty at Heidelberg Magistrates' Court to charges of raping his granddaughter after climbing into bed with her. The incident happened 20 years earlier. Since the duo's act was always intended to be aimed at children, it was irreparably ruined.

The two performers claimed that they never became friends and after the scandal, never spoke to each other again^[2] . Doug McKenzie died in August, 2004, aged 87. ^[3]

The fate of Jack Perry is unknown. However, in 2006, furniture marked "Heritage" and "Once belonged to Zig the Clown" was being sold by the Salvation Army's South Melbourne store. At the time, Zig (if still living) would have been aged 89. ^[4]

[edit] Lyrics to "You and Me"

The lyrics to You and Me, adapted by Zig and Zag, with Jack Perry (Zig) on ukulele, were as follows.

Both:-

You and me, can we be partners?

You and me, can we be friends?

We'll be a great association

One that never ends

Pleasin’ you’s the job I’m given

Pleasin’ you makes life worth livin'

When we're wrong, we'll be forgiven

As we go along, together we belong

Zig: You be the ham and I'll be the eggs

Zag: I'll be the coffee and you be the dregs

Zig: You be the arms and I'll be the legs

Both: Of the greatest guy on Earth

Zig: Here we go Zag

Both:-

You and us, can we be buddies?

You and us, can we be friends?

All the kids and mums and daddies

That's where friendship blends

Zig: When you go, be nice and happy

Zag: Love your Mammy and your Pappy

Zig: Be a really cheerful chappy

Zag: Just like me and the King

Both:-

For it's-the-prop-er THING!

Yes it's-the-prop-er THING!!

[edit] References