28 May 2000

The Golden Years: The broad picture 1949 -1970

From the collecton Resounding Radio

Technical and programme innovation along with a broadening cultural role for radio mark the post-war years.

This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

Programme content

0' 05" New Zealand Listener quote in praise of radio coverage of 1950 Commonwealth Games held in Auckland.

0' 15" Games are biggest radio event ever in New Zealand introducing new technology.

0' 50" Actuality: 1950 Commonwealth Games.

1' 50" Actuality: Opening of shortwave service September 1948.

2' 35" Shortwave receivers sent to Pacific Islands to promote new shortwave service. Harold Taylor-Smith

3' 50" Actuality: NZBS Concert Party 1952 at Papakura camp entertaining troops bound for Korean war.

5' 20" Actuality: Announcement of Hillary's conquest of Everest 2nd June 1953. Keith Holyoake

6' 05" Actuality: Eye witness account of Queen Elizabeth progress to Parliament during 1953/54 visit here.

7' 20" Actuality: Tangiwai disaster Christmas Eve 1953 including description of disaster scene at washed-away rail bridge where train went into river. Lionel Sceats

8' 50" Actuality: Take It From Here opening of BBC comedy.

9' 20" Actuality: Radio Roadhouse. Began production in Auckland 1952.

10' 30" Brief history of broadcasts to schools to early 1950s by then Head of Schools' Broadcasts. Jean Combs

12' 00" BBC education series on evolution banned on broadcasts to schools 1947.

12' 40" Song from musical Kiss Me Kate.

13' 10" Careful watch kept on sexual morality content in music on radio. Peter Downes

14' 00" 33 and113rpm and 45rpm replacing 78 speed records in mid 1950s.

14' 10" Song: Rock Around the Clock.

14' 40" Impact of rock 'n' roll on radio programmers. Peter Downes

15' 55" Song: Tutti Frutti.

16' 10" Tutti Frutti banned on radio because of lyrics. Peter Downes

17' 20" Rural broadcasters cover country by region. Fred Barnes

19' 00" Mobil Song Quest launched 1956.

19' 20" Song which helps Kiri te Kanawa into finals of Mobil Song Quest 1965.

20' 00" Commercial Sunday Showcase described. Brian Salkeld

21' 45" Aria from Mozart's II Seraglio specially produced for Sunday Showcase in 1959 featuring National Orchestra and local soloists.

22' 40" Actuality: Saturday Night At Home (SNAH), with compere Gary Chapman, the non-commercial answer to Sunday Showcase.

23' 25" Saturday Night At Home described. Gary Chapman, Peter Downes

25' 15" Actuality: Speech ending NZBS and beginning new Corporation, NZBC, 31 March 1962. Arthur Kinsella

26' 40" New NZBC develops TV using existing funding from radio. Gilbert Stringer

27' 40" Early 1960s are turning point for personality radio. Rocky Duche

28' 25" Development of radio disc jockeys and hit parades; Impact of TV changes radio programming. Neville Chamberlain

32' 40" Clash between radio personalities and administration married to old ways. Neville Chamberlain

33' 30" Transistor technology makes radio more portable and helps fight impact of TV.

34' 10" Qualities and uses of transistor radios summed up. Marama Martin

35' 15" List of overseas artists who visit in 1960s and are broadcast.

35' 45" Innovations: 1963 Broadcasting House in Wellington opens. 1964 National Programme begins. Independent news service from 1962.

36' 00" Development of Current Affairs, mainly 1967 onwards with Checkpoint, for example Aspect. Alwyn Owen

38' 25" Actuality: Open Country by Jim Henderson.

39' 10" Talks Department staffed by vital, stimulating people, ideas melting pot. Beverley Wakem

40' 50" 17 April 1968 Interisland ferry Wahine sinks, radio at its best. Beverley Wakem

41' 10" Actuality: Account of Wahine in trouble. Paddy O'Donnell

42' 20" NZBC Training Centre honed skills in announcing, technical, journalism and programming but did not create clones of the BBC. Haydn Sherley

44' 45" Introduction of 'talkback' radio from America in 1965. First tried out in Masterton with Jessica Weddell. Prudence Gregory

45' 30" Actuality: Person to Person 2ZB Wellington 4 October 1965. First talkback on Person to Person.

46' 15" Development of women's programmes. Inception of National Programme mid-1960s sees Feminine Viewpoint start, then became Viewpoint. Barbara Basham

47' 00" Uphill battle for female employees: examples of prejudice towards women broadcasters.

47' 35" Women getting behind microphone in increasing numbers and doing wide range of work. Marama Martin

48' 50" Actuality: Advertisement introducing decimal currency.

49' 20" 10 November 1966 Hauraki pirates sail from Auckland and begin new era in radio.

49' 50" Actuality: Hauraki on air and motives behind pirates launching Hauraki. Derek Lowe

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