Larry Hnetka Goes HMmmm

I confess. I was in love with Michele Finney from the CBC television program Razzle Dazzle.

And yes, that is Alan Hamel, husband to Suzanne Somers, holding the fake turkey. He was the host of the program. Michele was the “kid” but in some ways she was far more mature than Mr. Hamel was.

I think it was about Grade 6 when Julie Janke dropped the big bomb on us all.

She had written to Michele Finney. In Julie’s hand was the undeniable proof. A one-page handwritten letter from Michelle herself!

My head spun. To think one could be brave enough to write to a television star never mind to get a return letter.

Razzle Dazzle became my mission. I waited with great expectation for DazzleFridays which meant the Telequiz, a long distance telephone contest.

Spurred on by Julie’s bravado, I became an official member of the Razzle Dazzle Club. I protected my club button and decoder with great care.

Only club members could decode the secret messages. What those message were, I can’t recall. They may have been groaners; they may have been profound. Whatever they were, they were my secret far away from any prying adult eyes.

I think that may have been the first time I thought I was somewhat different but yet part of a group of familiars.

Howard the turtle irritated me. There, I’ve finally said it out loud.

I never could put my finger on a reason other than Howard just sat there, buddha-like, on a pedestal and talked. Suspending disbelief was not easy for me as a youngster.

When Sesame Street came along, I knew Howard was a mere sham. Miss Piggy was the real thing not a hand stuffed into a sock pretending to be a turtle.

After all these years, I Googled the girl who had captivated me with her intelligence and poise. I didn’t find a plethora of information on Ms. Finney.

After a bit of digging, I found a Voice Talent website. There within the listings was Michele Finney. Her bio lists her career start on Razzle Dazzle.

So this was the real thing. Not only did the site have a recent picture but you can listen to her voice.

I downloaded the voice samples but memory plays those tricks on us. Her voice didn’t resonate with me. No memories flooded back. No secrets were revealed with hearing her talents as a voice actor.

But then again, I think I have memory of the image of the Razzle Dazzle Club button and decoder. But if you asked me to describe the button, I don’t think I could physically describe it. The associated memories are not visual but emotional.

If you asked me to describe Ms. Finney, again it would be the emotional not the physical aspects I recall.

One regret I’ve held all these years is I never had the courage to write to her as Julie Janke did.

Perhaps this post in my weblog is that letter — forty+ years old — but a letter nonetheless to thank her for the feelings of belonging I hold in my memory from all things Razzle Dazzle.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 18th, 2007 at 1:59:08 AM and is filed under JOURNAL. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.