|
Happy Hotpoint - The three-inch tall dancing pixie who
advertised Hotpoint appliances during commercial segments on the ABC sitcom THE
ADVENTURES OF OZZIE & HARRIET beginning in 1955.
Wearing a heavy corset, makeup and costumed in a
head-to-toe gray leotard, a very young Mary Tyler Moore (just out of high
school) made her acting debut as Happy Hotpoint, a tiny pixie with a blonde curl
at the forehead.
Happy Hotpoint was superimposed skating on an ice-cube tray or leaping out
of an oven piping such phrases as "Hi! Harriet, Aren't you glad you bought a
Hotpoint?" and "Everyday's a holiday with Hotpoint."
Mary Tyler Moore earned about $6,000
for filming 39 Happy Hotpoint TV spots (in five days) but later was unable to
continue in the role of the slender little sprite when she became pregnant.
Moore recalled in her biography After All (Dell Publishing, 1995
p.81-82):
"Fitting into Happy's elf costume for the next block of commercials
proved to be a challenge. I was now three months pregnant and my breasts
reflected that fact. I remember the pain of that neutering bra to this day (a
bandeau, a sort of bra without cups). I looked a bit egg shaped, but we got away
with Happy's little secret for that group of ads. The elf bit the dust
afterwards, though. The sponsor couldn't stop showing the character for the
duration of my pregnancy and then bring her "it" – back again. So off she –
"it" – went. TV history."
Happy Hotpoint Hand Puppet
External Links
|
