Looking Back - 1939 to 2011 - the Autobiography of Robert V. J. Padula, OAM

SPECIAL CHAPTER - Oldtime Australian Radio Drama from the 1930s

Home
1941 - Bikes and Cars
1943 - Hiking - Hills and Coasts
1944 - Growing up in the War Years - Part 1
1944 - Growing up in the War Years - Part 2
1944 - Growing up in the War Years - Part 3
1945 - Auburn schooldays - Part One
1945 - Auburn Schooldays - Part Two
1945 - Auburn Schooldays - Part Three
1945 - Upwey and the Puffing Billy
1945 - Gramaphones and Record Players
1946 - Flinders St Station
1946 - Astronomy
1946 - Beach and Swimming Adventures
1946 - Going to the Pictures
1947 - Adventures at the Altona Bungalow
1947 -The Listener-In Magazine
1947 - Balwyn WIldlife Sanctuary
1948 - Fishermen's Bend Aerodrome
1948 - Radio Australia QSL cards
1948 - Excursions
1949 - Australian Rules Football
1949 - Radio Monitoring at Auburn
1950 -Trains and Ships
1950 - Radios for Communications
1950 - Radio Listening Clubs in Australia
1950 - World Radio TV Handbook
1950 - Shortwave Radio Propagation Research
1950 - Medium Wave Radio Propagation Research
1950 - Radio and Hobbies Magazines
1950 - Discovering shortwave radio at Auburn
1951 - Photography
1951 - Competitions on local radio stations
1952 - Camp Buxton - YMCA Shoreham
1952 Tennis and Ten Pin Bowling
1953 - Stamp Collectiong
1953 Camberwell High School
1954 - Royal Visit to Melbourne
1954 - Shortwave Radio reception at Auburn
1956 - Melbourne's Olympic Games
1956 - Trainee Telecommunications' Technician
1957 - Trainee Technician - field work
1957 - National Service Registration
1958 - Laverton Air Show
1958 - MOOMBA Parade
1958 - Trainee Technician - field work
1959 - The move to Mont Albert
1960 - Working at Deepdene Telephone Exchange
1963 - Trade Unions, Staff Associations, Industrial Relations
1964 - Senior Technician work in the Melbourne CBD
1964 - Project support for Radio Australia
1964 - Amateur Radio
1964 - Media Writing
1964 -Travels
1964 - Engineering Support for International Broadcasters
1965 - Professional Employment with PMG/Telstra
1967 - Professional Qualifications - Institution of Engineers Australia
1967 - Australian Radio DX Club Photo Gallery (to 1979)
1972 - Wireless Institute of Australia
1972 - Natural disasters in Melbourne
1980 - Australian Radio DX Club Gallery (to 1995)
1981 - Award of the Medal of the Order of Australia
1995 - Padula Books
EPILOGUE
LINKS TO AUTHOR'S PERSONAL WEBSITES
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEPENDENT BIOGRAPHIES
SPECIAL CHAPTER - Oldtime Australian Radio Drama from the 1930s
SPECIAL CHAPTER - Radio Monitoring Clubs in Australia - 1920 to 1949
SPECIAL CHAPTER - Melbourne Picture Theatres - History - 1906 to 1970

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Blue Hills poster

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1949 - recording Blue Hills (ABC archives)

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Dragnet advert

OLD TIME AUSTRALIAN RADIO SHOWS, SERIALS AND DRAMAS

I grew up in the era of radio serials, dramas, and shows.
 
The period from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s were important in forming a keen awareness of radio broadcasting enterntainment.
 
The ABC's "Blue Hills", by Gwen Meredith, was one of the most popular serials, running from 1949 until 1976,  each episode of 15 minutes. In the year 1949 it was heard on 3AR at 6.15 pm Melbourne time - from 1951 onwards it was broadcast at 1pm, immediately following the Country Hour, and repeated at 6 pm, and the nation stopped! It was on the air on weekdays.

Click the link elsewhere on this page top hear a clip of the final episode!
 
"Dad and Dave" was another popular serial - heard during the evenings at 7,15 pm
 
Yes, those were the days!
 
Many of the radio productions of the era are now available on the Internet as MP3s, others are on CDs or DVDs from music houses.
 
This Chapter is a collection of extracts from some of my favourite shows!

I've also included some of my favourite songs, some of which are heritage!.
 

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Gwen Meredith - passed away 2006, aged 98

Dad and Dave - first episode

Ampol Show

Biggles

Colgate Cavalcade

Fred and Maggie

Blue Hills final episode (1976)

Nightbeat

Vegemite advertisement 1949!

SONGS I LIKE!

Road to Gundagai (Aussie Bush Band)

Man from Snowy River (Movie theme)

Kookaburra Song

Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes

Whole World in His Arms

Teddy Bears Picnic

YMCA (Vllage People)

John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmitdt

Waltzing Matilda

Zip-a-deo-dooh-dah

I Am Australian

I Still Call Australia Home- QANTAS

Waltzing Matilda (alternate)

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport

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YMCA - Village People


Dad and Dave logo

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Man from Snowy River promo

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Biggles promo

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Fred and Maggie promo

Most of the images in this site are thumbnails. Click on any image to see a full size verson in a new window

If you would like to contact me about my Autobiography, you can do this at