Comedy clips and short films from 1930 to the present day. A programme which captures not only New Zealand comedic history, but moments of unintentional comedy. Clips include an early sound-on-film test, war time propaganda, cooking recipes, and spoofs from Country Calendar. Short films include, Walk-Short, and Careful With that Axe, Eugene! Ridiculous advertising for petrol, soft drink and toilet cleaner pepper the programme.

Funny Ha Ha, programme details

Welsh Sound System Test, Jack Welsh, 1930
An early sound-on-film experiment by Dunedin inventor, Jack Welsh. Introduced by Eric Platt. Curious children, among them Welsh's daughter, Doreen, come to peer at the camera with her brothers Jack and Bill.

Mechanisation, Government Film Studios, 1940
A propaganda film promoting the use of machinery in farms and factories. “I use a machine to increase my power as a man...”

The Theme Song of the Young New Zealanders Club, 1946-48 2.18
The theme song and “promise” of the Young New Zealanders Club, hosted by Mr Edward Silver, a well known Auckland radio announcer aka Uncle Neddo.

Powdered Sunshine, Robert Steele, 1952 (excerpt)
The ideal 1950s housewife, in her beautiful new kitchen follows Aunt Daisy’s radio recipe on how to make a milky jam pudding. Robert Steele Productions for Anchor Milk Company.

Caltex IC Plus Petrol, Pacific Films, 196-

Hansells Quench Cordial. Happily its Hansells, 196-

The Company That Lost A Miracle, Pacific Films, 1975
Genuine outtakes from Harpic Flushmatic commercials ... “it's just like magic?”

Blerta Revisted, Geoff Murphy, 2001
Excerpts showing the 1970s maverick group Blerta famous for touring the country making music and films getting by on raw talent.

Billy T James Show. Cuz FM. Where There’s a Will, 198-
A collection of fine moments from the TV career of New Zealand's very own comic genius.
Billy T James.

Country Calendar Spoofs Special, TVNZ,  24/12/1999
Leg-pulling programmes made in the 1970s and 80s. This story features Trevor, formerly a foreign exchange dealer who takes up rooftop farming in inner city Wellington.

Walkshort, Bill Toepfer, 1987
A comic narrative by the Front Lawn, which shoots off in new directions as people bump into one another on Karangahape Road in Auckland. The bewildering range of characters are all played by two actors, Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair.

Lemming Aid, Grant Lahood, 1994    `
A wry comedy about Human nature colliding with Mother Nature... Literally!”

Careful With That Axe, Eugene, Jason Stutter, 2008
A short, funny anecdote with some very exciting, bloodcurdling moments. The main character is a young, restless boy and a well-sharpened axe.

Take 3, Roseanne Liang, 2008
Three Asian actresses transcend professional rivalry in one gleeful act of solidarity.

For the past decade the Film Archive has taken films from the collections to small towns and communities around New Zealand. We’re delighted to continue the Traveling Film Show series for 2012 where, for three nights each month, we come 'home' to Wellington with our touring programmes. 

Download the 2012 programme here 

If you’d like further information on how you might be able to organise a screening in your town click here