Tuning in the Wireless
Australian Radio was a Century old on 23 November 2023. The radio was a significant and much-loved community and household feature for the generations of the 30s 40s 50s. As well as its news and entrainment values, radio from these decades give us a Social History of Australia. From Wartime declarations to Nuclear Tests, from Quiz Kids to Quiz Shows, from the long running Soapies to the now iconic programs such as Blue Hills and Dad and Dave from Snake Gully. They were joined by Argonauts and a Muddle-Headed Wombat, Australia’s Amateur Hour and a cavalcade of Radio Dramas.
The value of radio in the context of archiving, curating, preserving and presenting historic radio programs as an adjunct to education and community groups presents a few challenges. One is generational. A community group such as U3A however, have a timeline that often links them immediately to a radio program of the 30s, 40s, and 50s, because their generations have that lived experience.
By Way of ‘Tuning in, I put it to you that historic radio programs are not out of date, nor should they be just relegated to dusty shelves. They continue to be an integral part of Australia’s media and one of the 4 cornerstones of a Heritage collection of Australian media in sound, film, radio and television.
Session to be presented by Marilyn Dooley.
Marilyn’s session review
The U3A radio session was a delight to present, not only because it was an opportunity to play some of the NFSA radio treasures; but also, because there was a responsive and appreciative audience. Comments after the session included smiling recollections such as “I could smell the Sunday roast, and remember the family all sitting around listening to the wireless.” Folks also enjoyed the range of material from Jacko the Broadcasting Kookaburra of 1933, to news items such as Bert Hinkler’s arrival after London to Australia flight in 1928, the Late Queen speaking on her 1954 Royal Visit and a sobering eyewitness report by Frank Shaw, describing a Maralinga Atomic Test blast in 1957.
There were chuckles at the Quiz Kids and Australia’s Amateur Hour and attentive listening to classic episodes of Dad and Dave from Snake Gully, Jack Davey’s Ampol Show; and of course, a ‘soapie’ – episode 3,290 – the final episode of When a Girl Marries.
Because the session was only days away from ANZAC Day, part 1 of episode 7 of White Coolies was a dramatic and moving conclusion.
One of the U3A attendees, Mr John Davenport, brought along a mounted clipping of a favourite radio show of days gone by - Ada and Elsie. This was good documentation about the reach of popular radio broadcasts.