Smacka Fitzgibbon

Who was Smacka Fitzgibbon?

Graham Francis Fitzgibbon was an Australian entertainer.

He was born at Mordialloc on 12 February 1930, the son of Francis Fitzgibbon, clerk and Minnie née Mitchell and younger brother to actress-singer Maggie Fitzgibbon. Educated at St Bede's College, ‘Smacka’ as he was popularly known began first playing the ukulele at an early age before switching to the banjo; his earliest influences were Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong.

In 1951 he began playing with “Frank Johnson’s Fabulous Dixielanders”, and later with the father of Australian jazz, Graeme Bell, before forming his own band with “The Steamboat Stompers”; his first album was “Frisco Joe’s Good Time Boys” 1953.

In 1967 he opened Melbourne’s first jazz restaurant “La Brochette” and later in May 1971 “Smacka’s Place” which became a Melbourne institution; his recipe for an enjoyable night out was an ample supply of “good food, good liquor, and good entertainment”. Described as “Plump and smiling with a warm and friendly, genial personality ” Smacka was a much loved entertainer, a rare breed who left a smile on everyone’s face was a regular performer on Melbourne television shows, notably “Sunnyside Up”, “In Melbourne Tonight”and “The Penthouse Club”.