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"Telethon 1985"

 

***Implement http://www.onmjfootsteps.com/archives/2015/01/29/31424210.html

 

Molly Meldrum, interviewer, autobiography written by Molly Meldrum and Jeff Jenkins, “The Never, Um, Ever Ending Story: Life, Countdown and Everything in Between” (translated Spanish excerpts) (archived)

"I received a strange call from Perth Channel 7, a gentleman told me that the television marathon that year had as a special guest Michael Jackson, could I fly to Perth to take care of Michael? At first I thought it was a joke and I ignored it, but after two more calls, I agreed to go."

In principle, Michael did not want to be in the program, he thought that his appearance on stage the previous day was enough, but the wife of the millionaire Robert Holmes à Court, Janet, had the idea of ​​teaching him some tapes in which Sammy Davis Jr. acted in previous marathons, and that convinced him.

Finally, he appeared very nervous and whispering, “This is very embarrassing", as he squeezed Janet's hand, and sat next to Molly and the presenter, Peter Waltham.

Upon his return to Melbourne, Molly discovered the reason why Michael had attended the telethon: He was part of the deal for the purchase of the ATV Music Publishing catalog from the millionaire Robert Holmes à Court.

 

Helen Francis, little girl of the "Little Telethon Stars", Channel 7 news report (archived)

Both me and Luke looked at the guy… “Who is he?”... The whole world heard me tell Michael Jackson, “His hands were cold…”