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A lot of people are noting the passing of Tony Hart and rightly so. There are few true kids icons these days and most of those that remain are retired and remembered with fond nostalgia.
Being a few years older than most of those on my friends' page, I tend to remember Tony Hart from his days as resident artist on Vision On with Pat Kaysell. Vision On predated Take Hart and ran from 1964 to 1977. It was broadcast for the deaf and all communication was visual.
Vision On Logo
I have to say that most of the programme didn't appeal to me, being rather slow (deliberately so, so that deaf kids could follow the subtitles and hand gestures), but Tony Hart and the Gallery - which he retained in Take Hart were highlights. Tony Hart was also the man who introduced the nation to Morph, the mischievous and accident prone plasticine character created by the embryonic Aardman Animations.
On 28 December 2006, it was announced during It Started with Swap Shop that he was in poor health, though this was not elaborated upon until an interview with The Times published on 30 September 2008, revealing that two strokes had robbed him of the use of his hands and left him unable to draw. He described this as "the greatest cross I have to bear."
Rest in peace, Tony Hart.
BBC Obituary
Being a few years older than most of those on my friends' page, I tend to remember Tony Hart from his days as resident artist on Vision On with Pat Kaysell. Vision On predated Take Hart and ran from 1964 to 1977. It was broadcast for the deaf and all communication was visual.
Vision On Logo
I have to say that most of the programme didn't appeal to me, being rather slow (deliberately so, so that deaf kids could follow the subtitles and hand gestures), but Tony Hart and the Gallery - which he retained in Take Hart were highlights. Tony Hart was also the man who introduced the nation to Morph, the mischievous and accident prone plasticine character created by the embryonic Aardman Animations.
On 28 December 2006, it was announced during It Started with Swap Shop that he was in poor health, though this was not elaborated upon until an interview with The Times published on 30 September 2008, revealing that two strokes had robbed him of the use of his hands and left him unable to draw. He described this as "the greatest cross I have to bear."
Rest in peace, Tony Hart.
BBC Obituary