ABBA performed Mamma Mia, SOS and Fernando and had a short cheesy interview with programme host Bob McAllister in front of a lively audience of little children.

Wonderama was a kids show based in New York City, shown on Metromedia television stations in other huge cities like Boston, Washington, and Cincinnati. It was shown on Sunday mornings and the host kept a whole audience of kids entertained with music, stunts and educational stuff. The theme song was Kids Are People Too.

Bob McAllister died in July 1998.

The programme was repeated a couple of times in 1977.

Bob McAllister: You know, it always thrills me to see the reaction of our guests. And when the youngsters started the cheer, they just lit up the biggest smiles - these (guests) are like kids - and they do. We're always eager to please the children and always eager to please you (viewers) and bring you the best talent that we can find. And our next guests are just that. They've won an international acclaim in the field of rock music and an addition to be an excellent performer, they're truly lovely people. I think you all agree with me. Gives me a great deal of pleasure to present ABBA!

(Mamma Mia is performed)

BM: Oh, that was beautiful. And you lucky people will get to meet these lucky people along with me. And I certainly look forward to it. Because they'll be back on Wonderama with all kinds of great sounds. And that's for sure. Don't you go away. 'Cause ABBA is coming back on Wonderama!

(commercial break)

BM: (holds US pressing of ABBA's Greatest Hits in his hand) We're back with a group of young people. They have one exciting sound, that's for sure. Their songs have been translated into many, many different languages. As a matter of fact, we'll find out how many different languages in just a few moments. And they've sold nearly 30 million singles. So a lot of people are listening to this music. And right now it's time for another of their great hits - SOS. Here they are - ABBA!

(SOS is performed)

BM: (holds US pressing of ABBA's Greatest Hits in his hand) Oh, you are beautiful. Beautiful in many, many ways. What a nice, 30 million hits. Oh, we can't get any successes on Wonderama. So nice to have you, it really is. And we thank you for joining our young people. And this is their new album on Atlantic. And a kind of nice sound.

ABBA: Thank you.

BM: Do you have any favourites? I mean, since you've sold 30 million that you folks like especially. Or is it always your latest hit?

Benny: Walt Disney!

BM: Walt Disney. OK, you're gonna do that to me! Would you introduce everybody? First of all, you are?

Benny: I'm Benny.

BM: This is Benny. And?

Frida: I'm Frida.

BM: Frida. And?

Agnetha: I'm Anna.

BM: Anna.

Björn: And I'm Björn.

BM: And it's nice to have you on Wonderama. And I'm Walt Disney.

Björn: So nice kids you got here.

BM: They are great children. They really are. And you know, they're very good, people don't realize when we tape our show that they're in the studio for many, many hours. But it's people like you that kinda keep them here and keep them up and keep them excited.

Benny: Well, they keep us up also so it's...

BM: That's for sure. They really do. I wonder if you said something to them in Swedish since you come from Sweden, like "Happy Wonderama, youngsters" or "It's nice to be here" or whatever you feel like.

Benny: Oh, det är jättetrevligt att vara här. Det är skojigt att ni är så snällä mot oss.

BM: I was going to say that one myself! I really were. What did you say?

Benny: I said "It's nice to be here and you are a very good audience".

BM: Well, we thank you for that. That's very kind.

BM: Do you find... Audience is very different in different countries, I'm sure. What are the audiences like, maybe I shouldn't ask, in this country compared to European audiences.

Björn: Well, I should imagine they are roughly the same. We haven't experienced that yet. We've just done television, you know.

BM: Just television in this country and you've done Midnight Special, I know. And Douglas and Dinah.

Björn: And Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. We've done almost everything.

BM: Well sensational. But you haven't been on concert in this country.

Björn:: No, not yet.

BM: When do you... Would you like to go on concert in this country?

Björn: Oh yes.

Frida: We would like to do that.

BM: Is there anything lined up in the near future, hopefully, so our young people and teenagers can see you perform?

Björn: Not any specific plans yet but we really hope to come here.

BM: Hey, that's great. That's always good to hear. And when you record... Let me ask you because I know your songs have been translated in many, many languages. Do you sing it in Swedish originally or how do you record originally?

Frida: We always do the songs in English.

BM: Oh, you do? Always in English?

Benny: Yeah.

BM: Is there a special reason for that?

Benny: Well... Nobody understands Swedish, right?

BM: (starts to laugh) Good reason, especially in America.

Benny: Yeah. I mean, that's the reason. For forming ABBA as group.

BM: How did the name ABBA come about?

Benny: It's our initials. It started as our full names because they knew who we were in Sweden. But it was too hard to handle for disc-jockeys. All people in the business, outside Sweden.

BM: So A - B - B - A is kinda easy to do. And it's a great logo too when it's reversed. The letters backwards. I love that. It really is. And you have a new one coming out very, very soon. And it's called what? The new hit? We know it's going to be a hit. What's it called?

Björn: Yeah, well the current one is called Fernando, as you know. And the follow-up to that, which will be out, let's say, beginning of '77, it's Dancing Queen.

BM: Dancing Queen so you folks be sure look out for Dancing Queen. You'll be hearing it very, very soon. What are the plans for the future. Anything that our young people should know about? Other than Dancing Queen coming out?

Björn: Well... We're going on tour in Europe, that of course.

BM: Right. It's a little difficult for these kids to charter a flight right away.

Björn: Yeah.

BM: But they will surely look out for your records. That's for sure. And you've got a current hit that you're gonna do for us right now, I understand. And that is?

Benny: Fernando.

BM: Fernando. All right. Make yourselves comfortable. Youngsters, sit back, relax. Along with your parents. And let's listen to ABBA and Fernando.

(Fernando is performed)

BM: We thank you so very, very much. And please come back on Wonderama anytime you're in this country. It's been a delight. We'll be back with lots more. And it's all on Wonderama!

Lyrics available on the Official ABBA site

Wonderama, 1974;
Wonderama (Mamma Mia, SOS and Fernando), 1976;

Thanks to Philip Muytjens, Jozsef, Jeffrey de Hart, Michael Meggison, Jun Seo, Petr Mlejnek, Yuri, Harold Hanlon, Lendy, Erik Liebstaedter, Petri Kaasalainen & Mayumi Taheri. Extra thanks to Petri Kaasalainen for the transcription. And extra thanks to the late Laura Hitchens c/o ABBAMAIL (no longer online).
YouTube link c/o ABBA. FC