Finding my funny bone

The sound of laughter has accompanied Denise Drysdale throughout her life. But with her parents never speaking of their past, where, the star wondered, did that sense of humour come from? She reveals what happened on her quest to find out.

- TIFFANY DUNK

Walk into the Fountain Inn hotel in Port Melbourne on a Saturday night in the late 1950s and chances are you’d have been greeted by one of today’s most beloved entertainers. Denise Drysdale’s family lived in and ran the revered pub. And when her parents, Nancy and Keith, headed out on a Saturday night dinner date, she’d be drafted in to help behind the bar.

“I’d sit with mum’s fur coat on when I was little and do the till,” the now-72-year-old TV veteran laughs. “I’m an only child, and Mum and Dad had the pub from when I was three to the age of 13.”

Lest you think this is the start of a story on terrible parenting, Denise is quick to point out that her parents were far from typical publicans. Not only were they teetotallers, but in order to avoid her witnessing rowdy customers during the dreaded “six o’clock swill”, young Denise was sent to May Downs School of Dance. It was here that she was quickly recognised as a star performer.

Soon teacher May placed the talented youngster up on stage at The Tivoli in town, playing bit parts in the pantomimes and comic sketches. Her mum would accompany her daughter to these Saturday afternoon performances and – once the show was over – invite the comedians and vaudeville performers to carry on the fun back at the pub.

“They’d still be there until Sunday morning,” Denise laughs. “They would have the most amazing parties, always with wonderful people who would tell jokes or sing. Dad didn’t drink at all, he just used to get high on the company.”