[1][2] He was one of Australia's top comedians; he worked with some of the early greats of Australian comedy, including Roy Rene and George Wallace.
His role in the evolution of Australian comedy was acknowledged in a tribute by Joe Martin when he was honoured as a life member of the "ECHINDAS" by his peers years later.
In 1918, he was formally and legally adopted by the midwife who had delivered him and taken care of him since he was 3 days old, Harriet, and her husband Maurice Scanlon.
He started performing professionally at the age of 9, touring with YAL (Young Australia League), which also produced the talented Colin Croft and the internationally known Rolf Harris.
Comedy, however, was his true forte and on the advice of an act, Ted and Flo James, he was advised to go to the eastern states and get work in the theatres there.
He found work in Melbourne, including Sunday night performances at the Kings, Savoy, Princess and Apollo theatres.
Scanlon had a lifetime contract with the entrepreneur Harry Wren, who booked him into theatres all over Australia, including the Cremorne-Brisbane, Tasmania and New Zealand.
With the impromptu spotlights provided by usherettes and their torches, Terry entertained the audience, telling gags for 1.5 hours non-stop until the power came back on.
He even played the pivotal part of Lord Fancourt Babberley in Charley's Aunt, staged by the Tivoli in Adelaide.
And when in the United States, played and met one of the all-time golf greats, Ben Hogan, on his own course in Fort Worth, Texas.
With the closure of the Tivoli and other live variety theatres due to the advent of television, RSL and other clubs were a source of work in the precarious world of show business.
Scanlon performed alongside artists such as Noël Coward, Dave Brubeck, Johnnie Ray, Mel Tourme, Howard Keel, Chico Marx, Tommy Trinder, Arthur Askie, Billy Daniels.
He was buried at Waverley Cemetery; Geoff Bull led his musicians playing a traditional jazz funeral march.