3DB (Melbourne)
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3DB was a
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
-based radio station that opened in 1927, changed its name to 3TT in 1988, and now operates on the FM band as
KIIS 101.1 KIIS 1011 (official callsign: 3TTT) is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on a frequency of 101.1 MHz and is the Melbourne affiliate of ARN's KIIS Network. The station was formerly known as 3DB ...
. 3DB was one of Melbourne's most popular radio stations, topping the ratings for many decades.Jones, Colin, ''Something in the Air: A History of Radio in Australia'', Kangaroo Press, 1995.


Broadcast frequency

Upon opening in 1927, 3DB broadcast on the AM band at a
wavelength In physics, the wavelength is the spatial period of a periodic wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. It is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase on the wave, such as two adjacent crests, tro ...
of 254 metres, corresponding to a frequency of 1180
kHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that on ...
. When seven new Australian broadcasting licences were issued in 1935, including 3XY in Melbourne, most Melbourne stations were allocated new broadcast frequencies; 3DB was allocated 1030 kHz. Until 1978 there was a 10 kHz gap between radio stations. However, the
Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975 The Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975 (Aka "The Final Acts of the Regional Administrative LF/MF Broadcasting Conference (Regions 1 and 3) Geneva, 1975" or simply "GE75") is the internationally agreed frequency plan which was drawn up to implement the ...
changed this to a 9 kHz gap, thus allowing more stations on the AM band. Therefore, on 23 November 1978, most Australian stations changed their frequencies and 3DB went to 1026 kHz.


History – pre-War era – 1927–1939

Not only does this section look at 3DB's pre-war history, but it also shows how initiatives that began during this era and were extended into later eras.


On air times

3DB was awarded its broadcast licence in 1925 but did not immediately come on air due to debates in Federal Parliament as to whether or not Australia should proceed with the then-unique system of A Class (later
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
) and B Class (later commercial) stations.Griffen-Foley, Bridget, ''Changing Stations The Story of Australian Commercial Radio'', UNSW Press, 2009, Sydney The station eventually made its on-air debut on 21 February 1927 in a fairly low-key manner. In the 1920s, at most stations including 3DB, it was not unusual for there to be breaks between programs during which the station temporally closed down. Sometimes these breaks were of 30 minutes' duration; sometimes longer. However, within just a few years, such breaks were eliminated and 3DB (and most other Melbourne commercial stations) broadcast for set times during each day. By 1934, 3DB was on air at the following times: * 7:00 am to 11:30 pm Monday-Friday; * 7:00 am Saturday to 1:00 am Sunday; * 10:00 am to 12:30 pm Sunday; * 2:30 pm to 10:00 pm Sunday. Between 12.30 and 2.30 pm on Sundays all mainstream Melbourne commercial stations were required by the
Postmaster-General's Department The Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) was a department of the Australian federal government, established at Federation in 1901, whose responsibilities included the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia. It was ...
to close down.
Amateur radio Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communic ...
stations which normally broadcast on the shortwave band were permitted to use the
medium wave Medium wave (MW) is the part of the medium frequency (MF) radio band used mainly for AM radio broadcasting. The spectrum provides about 120 channels with more limited sound quality than FM stations on the FM broadcast band. During the daytime ...
(AM) band during these hours. 3AK which usually only broadcast after other Melbourne stations had closed down, also broadcast between these two hours. ABC stations 3AR and
3LO ABC Radio Melbourne (official callsign: 3LO) is an ABC Local Radio station in Melbourne, Australia. It began transmission on 13 October 1924, and was Melbourne's second licensed radio station after 3AR. Most Local Radio stations in Victoria s ...
did not take the break between 12.30 and 2.30 on Sunday afternoons. This arrangement appears to have been exclusive to Melbourne. By the
Post-war In Western usage, the phrase post-war era (or postwar era) usually refers to the time since the end of World War II. More broadly, a post-war period (or postwar period) is the interval immediately following the end of a war. A post-war period c ...
era, 3DB's hours had been extended to: * 6:00 am to 11:30 pm Monday-Friday; * 6:00 am Saturday to 1:00 am Sunday; * 8:00 am to 10:30 pm Sunday. In the 1930s, the
Postmaster-General's Department The Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) was a department of the Australian federal government, established at Federation in 1901, whose responsibilities included the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia. It was ...
issued 24-hour licences to one station in each capital city market except Melbourne. In Melbourne, since 1931, 3AK had been broadcasting almost exclusively in the early-morning hours when other stations were off the air. However, on 1 February 1954, 3AK began broadcasting exclusively during hours of daylight, and concurrently 3DB, 3UZ and 3XY were all given 24-hour licences, but both 3DB and 3UZ had ceased all-night broadcasting within six months. 3DB's hours on the air then became: * 5.30 am Monday-Saturday to 1.00 am the following day; * 7.00 am Sunday to 1.00 am Monday. However, 3DB was again broadcasting 24 hours per day by the mid-1960s.


DB = Druleigh Business

The station was originally owned by Druleigh Business and Technical College Pty Ltd, and the original licence was in the name of Edgar Sayer, principal of the college,McLaughlin, Bill, ''From Wireless to Radio: The 3DB Story'', The Herald and Weekly Times Limited Melbourne, 1985 hence the callsign "DB". The original studios were located on the 10th floor of Capitol House, above the Capitol Theatre, Swanston Street, Melbourne. When 3DB eventually made its on-air debut on 27 February 1927, the first program was the children's session conducted by ''Winnie Wattle'', at 6.30 pm. The official opening was at 8:00 pm when announcer Frank Pearson introduced Edward Haynes, Managing Director of Druleigh and 3DB, who said: "This is Melbourne's new 'B' class station, which is the first in Australia to carry out the American idea of making revenue from advertisements". (Even so, the station made a small loss in its first six months.) Despite the claim, in 1927, that 3DB would be the first station to make revenue from advertisements, 2UE had been broadcasting advertisements since 1925. Others appearing on opening night were Will Davey, tenor; Mrs Henry Johnson, contralto; Billy Meeske, speaking on 'Wrestlers I Have Known'; Len Gibson's Neapolitan Sextet; Edna Johnson, reciting from Shakespeare; Elsie Watkins, soprano; and accompanist, Jess Prideaux.


''Herald'' ownership

From 14 June 1929 until late in 1987, 3DB was owned and operated by
The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd The Herald and Weekly Times Pty Ltd (HWT) is a newspaper publishing company based in Melbourne, Australia. It is owned and operated by News Pty Ltd, which as News Ltd, purchased the HWT in 1987. Newspapers The HWT's newspaper interests date b ...
(HWT), owners of '' The Herald'' and ''
The Sun News-Pictorial ''The Sun News-Pictorial'' (known as ''The Sun'') was a morning daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, from 1922 until its merger in 1990 with ''The Herald (Melbourne), The H ...
''. Also in 1929, the studios and offices were moved from Capitol House, and 3DB took sole occupancy of 74 Flinders Street, to the east of the HWT building on the corner of Flinders and Exhibition Streets. One of the studios was an auditorium accommodating live audiences, and this became a popular venue for Melburnians and the focus for the many live variety programs which the station broadcast throughout the 1930s to 1960s. In 1966 the HWT truck dock was expanded, and in the process 74 Flinders Street was pulled down, with the station then moving to 61 Flinders Lane, immediately behind the HWT building. One of the most important people in 3DB's history was
David Thomas Worrall David Thomas Worrall (18 June 1894 – 12 April 1968) was an Australian journalist, radio station manager and soldier. Worrall was born in Castle Hill, New South Wales and died in St Kilda, Victoria. Military service David Worrall enlisted wit ...
, who was appointed manager of the station by the ''Herald and Weekly Times'' Sir
Keith Murdoch Sir Keith Arthur Murdoch (12 August 1885 – 4 October 1952) was an Australian journalist, businessman and the father of Rupert Murdoch, the current Executive chairman for News Corporation and the chairman of Fox Corporation. Early life Murdoc ...
in 1929, and who was to remain as manager until 1958. He was responsible for introducing many big budget programs which, inter alia, made 3DB the top station in all Melbourne radio surveys for many decades. Worrall also formed the
Major Broadcasting Network The Major Broadcasting Network was an important part of the Australian broadcasting scene from 1938 until the 1970s. History and background In 1938 David Worrall, manager of 3DB Melbourne, launched the Major Broadcasting Network which up until i ...
, with associated stations throughout Australia. From its formation in 1938 until its closure in the late 1970s, the Major Network was usually recognised as being second in importance after its rival, the
Macquarie Radio Network Nine Radio (formerly Macquarie Media Limited) is an Australian media company, owned by parent company Nine Entertainment Co. and headquartered in North Sydney, New South Wales, the company operates radio stations nationally in the capital cit ...
. In 1930 Worrall helped to form the Australian Federation of "B" Broadcasting Stations, now
Commercial Radio Australia Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) is the peak body for the commercial radio broadcasting industry in Australia. CRA was formed in 1930 as the Federation of Australian Radio Broadcasters. It provides representation and advocacy on common statuto ...
, and he was its Federal President in 1938. David Worrall was married to Kathleen Zoe, née Norris, who broadcast on 3DB from the 1930s until 1952; firstly under her own name, and then as
Martha Gardener ''Martha Gardener'' is the nom de plume used by Kathleen Zoe Worrall (née Norris), during nearly all of her career of well over 50 years, at Melbourne broadcasting stations 3DB, 3AW, Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio and 3UZ, and nation ...
. Probably the longest-serving 3DB employee was Geoff Palmer who commenced as an announcer in 1929. He was a member of the
Australian Society of Authors The Australian Society of Authors (ASA) was formed in 1963 as the organisation to promote and protect the rights of Australia's authors and illustrators. The Fellowship of Australian Writers played a key role it its establishment. The organisati ...
and his writing ability led to him being promoted to the continuity department. Palmer was the 3DB advertising manager when he retired in 1973. In the late 1920s until the 1950s, 3DB tried to produce programming that would appeal to the whole of the population, at least part of the time. Musically, this ranged from
classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...
through to
pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former describe ...
, including the
hit parade A hit parade is a ranked list of the most popular recordings at a given point in time, usually determined either by sales or airplay. The term originated in the 1930s; ''Billboard'' magazine published its first music hit parade on January 4, 1936 ...
; much of the music being live.
News News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different Media (communication), media: word of mouth, printing, Mail, postal systems, broadcasting, Telecommunications, electronic communication, or through the tes ...
and news commentaries were also important, as were live descriptions of sport. 3DB was a major broadcaster of
radio drama Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine ...
, including
soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
s, much of this being produced by 3DB itself. The station produced and broadcast a wide range
variety show Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical theatre, musical performances, sketch comedy, magic (illusion), magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is ...
s, including quizzes. 3DB (like most other stations) also broadcast a wide variety of women's programs during the day, and children's sessions in the early evening. The broadcasting of this broad range of programming came to an end in the 1960s, mainly due to two factors. The first was the formal introduction of
television in Australia Television in Australia began experimentally as early as 1929 in Melbourne with radio stations 3DB and 3UZ, and 2UE in Sydney, using the ''Radiovision'' system by Gilbert Miles and Donald McDonald, and later from other locations, such as Bris ...
in 1956. The second was the gradual replacement of the radio valve with the
transistor upright=1.4, gate (G), body (B), source (S) and drain (D) terminals. The gate is separated from the body by an insulating layer (pink). A transistor is a semiconductor device used to Electronic amplifier, amplify or electronic switch, switch e ...
.
These These may refer to: *the plural proximal demonstrative in English *These, a variation of the Greek Theseus Theseus (, ; grc-gre, Θησεύς ) was the mythical king and founder-hero of Athens. The myths surrounding Theseus his journeys, e ...
made radios both more portable and much cheaper, meaning that every member of the family was now able to have his/her own radio set, rather than imitating the clichéd image of the whole family sitting around the family's single
radio receiver In radio communications, a radio receiver, also known as a receiver, a wireless, or simply a radio, is an electronic device that receives radio waves and converts the information carried by them to a usable form. It is used with an antenna. Th ...
. The National Film and Sound Archives has issued an on-line list of radio programs from the 1930s to the 1970s, that are in their holdings. This list contains many dozens of 3DB programs.


The Smileaway Club

During the pre-TV era most Australian radio stations instigated some form of radio club partly as a way of keeping listeners tuned to that particular station. 3DB's Smileaway Club was one of Australia's most successful, with more than 50,000 members at its peak. The club started in 1929, when David Worrall was managing the station, but before the studios were moved away from Capitol House. The club lasted until the late 1950s. For some decades a short session, Smileaway Club Notes, was broadcast each weekday at 8.40 am, and again as a lead-in to the top rating, major news bulletin at 7.00 pm. These sessions featured live music and invitations to events such as theatre parties, bay trips, dances, visits to the zoo, hikes, fancy dress balls. Free or cheap passes to theatres, ice skating, etc., were offered to members. Various charities were also supported. The club had its own theme tune, and a commercial recording of the theme was made in the early 1930s featuring high-profile 3DB comedians/announcers, Charlie Vaude and Renn Millar – the informal style is typical of the Smileaway Club. For many years, membership was one shilling (10¢) per annum. The club issued its own badge, which is now quite collectable. Over the years, many 3DB personalities were associated with the club, in particular: Geoff Palmer, Iris Turnbull, Dorothy Silk, Charlie Vaude, Renn Millar, Sir Eric Pearce, Eric Edgley, Clem Dawe, Cedric Zahara, Dick Cranbourne and Peter Surrey. A Junior Smileway Club conducted children's parties on Saturday mornings in the 3DB auditorium, featuring community singing, games and quizzes.


Early experiments in transmitting vision

In 1929, 3DB along with 3UZ, Melbourne, and 2UE Sydney, participated in experimental television broadcasts using the ''Radiovision'' system. 3DB also experimented with the Baird system. These experiments were conducted late at night after the station had ''officially'' closed down. Only a handful of people would have had equipment capable of picking up these transmissions, which were mainly designed for those directly involved in these trials into nascent television broadcasts.


News theme

In the pre-television era, nearly all Australian radio stations had their own distinctive news themes. From the early 1930s until the 1970s 3DB used "
Heart of Oak "Heart of Oak" is the official march of the Royal Navy. It is also the official march of several Commonwealth navies, including the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy. It was also the official march of the Royal Australian Navy ...
" as its news theme. "Heart of Oak" was the official march of the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
, and some other navies. Until recently, it was the
Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...
's official march. By the 1960s 3DB was using a Columbia
recording A record, recording or records may refer to: An item or collection of data Computing * Record (computer science), a data structure ** Record, or row (database), a set of fields in a database related to one entity ** Boot sector or boot record, ...
of the march, played by the Orchestra of the Royal Marines, conducted by Sir Vivian Dunn. The main news bulletins at 7:45 am, 12:30 pm and 7:00 pm used the first minute the theme, whilst other bulletins only used a smaller section. The version used by 3DB can be downloaded.


From "Rickety Kate" to "Rehearsal for TV" – the story of Test Cricket broadcasts

In 1930,
test cricket Test cricket is a form of first-class cricket played at international level between teams representing full member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC). A match consists of four innings (two per team) and is scheduled to last fo ...
er
Don Bradman Sir Donald George Bradman, (27 August 1908 – 25 February 2001), nicknamed "The Don", was an Australian international cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. Bradman's career Test batting average of 99.94 has bee ...
was a household name throughout Australia. There were even people who incorrectly believed that the call-sign 3DB was based on Bradman's initials. Bradman's popularity led to great interest in the
1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will be ...
Ashes series in England, in which he played a major role. In 1930 it was not possible to broadcast descriptions of the games back to Australia. However, 3DB played upon the interest and broadcast cricket updates from England, accompanied by nightly variety programs. The cricket updates were provided by international telegrams or cables, from England to Australia, sent at the daunting rate of six shillings (60¢) per word. In 1930 the male average wage was A£7 ($14), with the female average wage being less than half of that. This meant that a cable of just 20 words cost the equivalent of the male average wage. The variety was provided was provided in front of a live audience by 3DB staff members led by Charlie Vaude and Renn Millar, and accompanied by guest artists. The 1930 broadcast was the first pairing of Vaude and Millar, a pair that was to go onto be one of 3DB's most listened-to comedy pairs. The highlight of the programs was their informality which certainly added to the appeal. 3DB originally planned to stay on air until midnight, but on the first night 3DB manager, David Worrall, asked: "is anyone listening?" The 3DB switchboard was flooded with calls, followed by thousands of letters and 500
telegrams Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages where the sender uses symbolic codes, known to the recipient, rather than a physical exchange of an object bearing the message. Thus flag semaphore is a method of telegraphy, whereas p ...
. After that, the broadcasts continued until stumps, which was usually at about 3:30 am. 3DB continued to provide similar broadcasts for all of the Ashes games played in England in 1930, 1934, 1938, 1948, 1952 and 1956. (There was no test cricket during World War II.) Over the years commentators included Ron Casey,
Lindsay Hassett Arthur Lindsay Hassett (28 August 1913 – 16 June 1993) was an Australian cricketer who played for Victoria and the Australian national team. The diminutive Hassett was an elegant middle-order batsman, described by ''Wisden'' as, "... a mas ...
,
Bill Johnston Bill or Billy Johnston may refer to: * Bill Johnston (cricketer) (1922–2007), Australian cricketer * Bill Johnston (golfer) (1925–2021), American golfer and golf course architect * Bill Johnston (tennis) William Marquitz "Little Bill" John ...
,
Ernie McCormick Ernest Leslie McCormick (16 May 1906 – 28 June 1991) was an Australian cricketer who played in 12 Test matches from 1935 to 1938. McCormick was an instrument-maker and jeweler. After the 1960–61 West Indies tour of Australia, Donald Brad ...
,
Keith Rigg Keith Edward Rigg (21 May 1906 – 28 February 1995) was an Australian cricketer who played in eight Test matches from 1931 to 1937. His cousin, Colin McDonald, also played for Victoria and Australia. He was educated at Wesley College, Melbo ...
, Jack Ryder, Eric Welch and
Bill Woodfull William Maldon Woodfull (22 August 1897 – 11 August 1965) was an Australian cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s. He captained both Victoria and Australia, and was best known for his dignified and moral conduct during the tumultuous bodyline s ...
. In later years, the programs were hosted by versatile 3DB announcers, Dick Cranbourne (who was also a singer), and John Stuart. As well as Australia v England tests, a similar style of programming was also provided for a number of other overseas Test Matches played in the evening/night, Australian time. One example of this were the 1936 South Africa v Australia Tests. Sitting in front of the audience in the 3DB auditorium was a doll known as Ricketty Kate. Whenever an important cable came through from the cricket, the doll's eyes would light up and the audience would break into the chorus of "We won't worry. We don't care. Who's afraid of the big brown bear?" It is rumoured that the name, Ricketty Kate, was based on the name of a well-known Melbourne prostitute of the time. These programs were relayed to a number of interstate stations. The already great interest in cricket was exacerbated by the English tour of Australia in 1932–33 and the subsequent Bodyline scandal. As well as 3DB again providing coverage of the 1934 tour of England, this also resulted in nearly every Australian radio station providing some coverage. Most commercial stations provided a format based on 3DB's successful 1930 coverage, with cricket updates being provided by cable, interspersed with variety programming. Most capital city stations provided their own entertainment, with many of these stations relaying it to country stations.various radio magazines in the collection of Albert Isaacs, Melbourne The
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
, then only two years' old, provided a so-called ''synthetic'' coverage, with announcers in the studio providing a commentary based on cables from England, but to all intents and purposes sounding as if they were actually at the game in England. 3DB's 1952 cricket broadcasts were so popular that the station management looked at ways of making the informal variety section a permanent feature of the station's schedule. This led to the initiation of ''The Happy Gang'', originally subtitled ''Rehearsal for TV''... (See below, under Post-War History.)


''The Minstrel Show''

One of the most popular programs heard on 3DB was ''The Minstrel Show'', which commenced in 1931 and continued into the 1960s. This was an Australian radio version of an American
minstrel show The minstrel show, also called minstrelsy, was an American form of racist theatrical entertainment developed in the early 19th century. Each show consisted of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music performances that depicted people spe ...
. It was broadcast on 3DB every Thursday evening, and was relayed to
Major Broadcasting Network The Major Broadcasting Network was an important part of the Australian broadcasting scene from 1938 until the 1970s. History and background In 1938 David Worrall, manager of 3DB Melbourne, launched the Major Broadcasting Network which up until i ...
affiliates, as well as some independent stations. The program was originally sponsored by the Akron Tyre Company who were also founders of 3AK, but within a short period of time sponsorship was taken over by optometrists Coles and Garrard, whose name was then incorporated into the program's title. When C & G ceased their sponsorship of the program in the 1960s, broadcasts of new programs ceased, but 3DB ended the long-running show by playing a number of transcriptions of programs from the 1930s. Personalities associated with the ''C & G's Minstrel Show'' include Cecil Atkinson, Mervyn Bray, Carl Briglia, Agnes Brown, Reg Brown, Herbert Browne, Walter Burleigh, Maurice Callard, Fred Collier, Colin Crane, Dick Cranbourne, Joe Delany, Alice Dolphin, Fred Ford, Paul Gaving, John Hartley, Cyril Hambley, Don Humphries, Ernest Kopke, Geoff McComas, Jock McLachan, Hec McLennan, Renn Millar, Bert Miller, Bert Munyard, Keith Neilson, Mabel Nelson, Sir Eric Pearce, Bill Rhodesbury, Frank Rich, Stan Shields, Charles Skase, William Smith, Guy Stavordale, Peter Surrey, Mark Sutherland, Lou Toppano, Charlie Vaude, George Ventura, Frank Walsh, Monty Walters, and Ernest Wilson. Whilst it is conceded that the ''C & G's Minstrel Show'' was extremely popular in the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and even into the 1960s, the whole concept of
Anglo-Celtic Australians Anglo-Celtic Australians is an ancestral grouping of Australians whose ancestors originate wholly or partially in the British Isles - predominantly in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. While Anglo-Celtic Australians do not form an officia ...
simulating
African Americans African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, including trying to sound like them, would not be acceptable today.


Horse racing

In 1934, 3DB lured Eric Welch over from the
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
. He provided a number of 3DB programs and was particularly known for his annual coverage of Melbourne's
Anzac Day , image = Dawn service gnangarra 03.jpg , caption = Anzac Day Dawn Service at Kings Park, Western Australia, 25 April 2009, 94th anniversary. , observedby = Australia Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cook Islands New ...
march. He was also a regular panellist on the Australian version of ''
Information Please ''Information Please'' is an American radio quiz show, created by Dan Golenpaul, which aired on NBC from May 17, 1938, to April 22, 1951. The title was the contemporary phrase used to request from telephone operators what was then called "info ...
''. However, probably his most important contribution at 3DB was to instigate the coverage of all Victorian races, as well networking with stations around Australia, so that interstate races were also covered by 3DB. He was 3DB's senior race-caller for 20 years. One of the most important 3DB racecallers was Bill Collins who joined the station in 1953 and followed Eric Welch as 3DB's senior racecaller. At various times other stations vied with 3DB in this field, in particular
3AW 3AW is a talkback radio station based in Melbourne. It broadcasts on 693  kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station. The station is owned and operated by Nine Entertainment Co. Hist ...
, 3XY, 3UZ and the
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
. The last station to share racing coverage with 3DB was 3UZ. However, in 1983, 3UZ revamped its program lineup and cancelled all horse racing coverage, leaving 3DB as the sole outlet for racing on Melbourne radio. 3DB adopted the slogan ''Racing Radio'' and devoted much of its programming to horse racing. In 1987 the Victorian racing industry, through the
Totalisator Agency Board The Totalisator Agency Board, universally shortened to TAB or T.A.B., is the name given to monopoly totalisator organisations in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. They operate betting shops and online betting. They were originally governm ...
(TAB), purchased 3UZ and took over exclusive rights to horse racing coverage from 3DB, effective from February 1988. For many years 3DB used the march, ''Grandstand'', by
Keith Mansfield Keith Mansfield (born 1941 in London, England) is a British composer and arranger known for his creation of prominent television theme tunes, including the '' Grandstand'' theme for the BBC. Career Other works include "The Young Scene" (the ...
as the theme to its racing coverage. The version used by 3DB (at least in the 1960s) was a Chappell
recording A record, recording or records may refer to: An item or collection of data Computing * Record (computer science), a data structure ** Record, or row (database), a set of fields in a database related to one entity ** Boot sector or boot record, ...
featuring the Queens' Hall Light Orchestra conducted by
Robert Farnon Robert Joseph Farnon CM (24 July 191723 April 2005) was a Canadian-born composer, conductor, musical arranger and trumpet player. As well as being a composer of original works (often in the light music genre), he was commissioned by film and ...
.


3DB/3LK

On 16 May 1936, 3DB purchased 3HS
Horsham Horsham is a market town on the upper reaches of the River Arun on the fringe of the Weald in West Sussex, England. The town is south south-west of London, north-west of Brighton and north-east of the county town of Chichester. Nearby to ...
, for and on behalf of the HWT. On 24 December 1936, the call sign was changed to 3LK, when the Horsham studios and transmitter were closed, and the transmitter was relocated to the small village of Lubeck, 30 kilometres to the east.Walker, R.R., ''The Magic Spark: 50 Years of Radio in Australia'', 1973, The Hawthorn Press, Melbourne 3LK did not have a local Wimmera studio, and the vast majority of its programming was relayed from 3DB. There was, however, about one or two hours per day of local programming, which came from the 3LK studio in the 3DB Melbourne building, utilising 3DB announcing staff. 3LK supported numerous local
Wimmera The Wimmera is a region of the Australian state of Victoria. The district is located within parts of the Loddon Mallee and the Grampians regions; and covers the dryland farming area south of the range of Mallee scrub, east of the South Aust ...
/ Mallee events and charities. The slogan used for all 3DB/3LK programming during most of that era was: ''3DB Melbourne, 3LK Central Victoria, the Herald-Sun stations'', but towards the end of the DB/LK partnership, it was modified to the more logical: ''3DB Melbourne, 3LK Wimmera Mallee, the Herald-Sun stations''. The HWT sold 3LK on 1 February 1972Carty, Bruce, ''On the Air: Australian Radio History'', privately published, 2011, Gosford, N.S.W. and its studios and transmitter were returned to Horsham. There was yet another name change in 1977, when 3LK Horsham became
3WM 3WM is a radio station based in Horsham in the Wimmera Mallee region of Victoria, Australia. It broadcasts on the AM band, at a frequency of 1089 kHz, and on the FM band around Ararat at a frequency of 96.1 MHz. The station is part ...
Wimmera The Wimmera is a region of the Australian state of Victoria. The district is located within parts of the Loddon Mallee and the Grampians regions; and covers the dryland farming area south of the range of Mallee scrub, east of the South Aust ...
Mallee, broadcasting from Horsham.


History – World War II era – 1939–1945


The effects of the War on 3DB

It was Sunday evening 3 September 1939 and 3DB was broadcasting a radio drama in the very popular and long-running
Lux Radio Theatre ''Lux Radio Theatre'', sometimes spelled ''Lux Radio Theater'', a classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network (1934–35) (owned by the National Broadcasting Company, later predecessor of American Broadcasting Company ...
series. The performance of
Leah Kleschna ''Leah Kleschna'' is a drama in five acts by C.M.S. McLellan produced for the first time on Broadway by Minnie Maddern Fiske, Harrison Grey Fiske and the Manhattan Company with set design provided by Frank E. Gates and E. A. Morange. The play o ...
was suddenly interrupted by the voice of the Prime Minister,
Robert Menzies The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...
announcing that Australia was now at
war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
with Germany. Censorship was rife during the war, particularly after the U.S. entered the conflict on 7 December 1941. After General
Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was C ...
set up his headquarters in Australia, he wielded enormous power, including on matters of censorship. Inter alia, he declared that every Australian radio station would only broadcast three news bulletins per day and that these would be simultaneous at 7:45 am, midday and 7:00 pm. During this time, the highest rating news in Melbourne was that of 3DB. Weather forecasts were banned because it was felt that this may assist the enemy. Notices were issued banning radio stations from broadcasting some major wartime events, but as the federal government didn't have the same power over the printed press as it did over radio, newspapers usually reported events that radio was not permitted to mention. There was some talk of closing down all commercial radio stations, as the enemy could beam-in on the transmitters and use these as bombing targets. As it transpired, this did not happen. However, some stations (not 3DB) were closed down for 24 hours as ''punishment'' for perceivably ignoring bans on radio reporting particular news items. Nevertheless, 3DB was off the air for an hour or so during an air raid drill during which all DB staff were ushered into a Flinders Lane warehouse that housed piles of mattresses. Despite this, fears were expressed that 3DB may not be really ready should there be a genuine air raid. Many sponsors donated their advertising time to patriotic appeals. 3DB was also badly affected by staff enlisting. 3DB personality Keith Smith became a broadcaster at 9AD
Labuan Labuan (), officially the Federal Territory of Labuan ( ms, Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan), is a Federal Territory of Malaysia. Its territory includes and six smaller islands, off the coast of the state of Sabah in East Malaysia. Labuan's capit ...
,
Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and eas ...
, attaining the rank of
sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...
. Norm Spencer was also at 9AD, joining the staff of 3DB after the war, as a producer. Smith and Spencer were only two of dozens of radio personnel who took up positions at the 20 Australian military radio stations throughout the Pacific. The supply of overseas programs was virtually cut off during the war, particularly from the U.S., meaning that Australian stations and networks had to produce more local programs. This was particularly the case at 3DB and the
Major Broadcasting Network The Major Broadcasting Network was an important part of the Australian broadcasting scene from 1938 until the 1970s. History and background In 1938 David Worrall, manager of 3DB Melbourne, launched the Major Broadcasting Network which up until i ...
. 15 August 1945 was VP ( Victory in the Pacific) Day; a day often described as ''the day the lights went on all over the world''. 3DB listeners heard the joyous news reported by Eric Pearce and Eric Welch.


Bob Dyer at 3DB

Robert Neal Dyer OBE, born Robert Dies in
Hartsville, Tennessee Hartsville is a town in Trousdale County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Trousdale County, with which it shares a consolidated city-county government. The population of Hartsville was 11,615 as of 2020. Hartsville now shares ...
, U.S.A. in 1909, made visits to Australia on a couple of occasions in the late 1930s and 40s as a member of the ''Marcus Show'' which toured the
Tivoli circuit The Tivoli Circuit was a successful and popular Australian vaudeville entertainment circuit featuring revue, opera, ballet, dance, singing, musical comedy, old time black and white minstrel and even Shakespeare which flourished from 1893 to th ...
and the Princess Theatre, with Dyer performing a
hillbilly Hillbilly is a term (often derogatory) for people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas in the United States, primarily in southern Appalachia and the Ozarks. The term was later used to refer to people from other rural and mountainous areas west ...
and
ukelele The ukulele ( ; from haw, ukulele , approximately ), also called Uke, is a member of the lute family of instruments of Portuguese origin and popularized in Hawaii. It generally employs four nylon strings. The tone and volume of the instrume ...
act. In 1940, 3DB manager David Worrall employed Dyer to star in a series of 26 shows called ''The Last of the Hillbillies'', broadcast on Saturday nights at 7.15. His later radio career commenced in 1948. He was then stationed in Sydney and broadcast programs for the
Major Broadcasting Network The Major Broadcasting Network was an important part of the Australian broadcasting scene from 1938 until the 1970s. History and background In 1938 David Worrall, manager of 3DB Melbourne, launched the Major Broadcasting Network which up until i ...
from venues throughout Australia. Programs such as ''
Pick a Box ''Pick a Box'' was an Australian game shows that first aired on radio in 1948 until the early 1960s; subsequently, the concept transferred to TV and was broadcast from 1957 and 1971. The program was hosted by the husband and wife duo Bob and Dol ...
'' from 1948, and '' Winner Take All'' were thus heard on Major's Melbourne outlet, 3DB. In these programs, his co-host was his wife,
Dolly Dyer Thelma Phoebe Mclean MBE (5 June 192125 December 2004), known professionally as Dolly Dyer (formerly Mack) was an Australian Gold Logie winning radio and TV personality, and wife of fellow game-show host and performer Bob Dyer. Early life She w ...
. In 1951, Dyer transferred from the Major Network to the
Macquarie Radio Network Nine Radio (formerly Macquarie Media Limited) is an Australian media company, owned by parent company Nine Entertainment Co. and headquartered in North Sydney, New South Wales, the company operates radio stations nationally in the capital cit ...
where he joined his friend and major rival
Jack Davey John Andrew Davey (8 February 190714 October 1959), known as Jack Davey, was a New Zealand-born singer and pioneering star of Australian radio as a performer, producer, writer and host from the early 1930s into the late 1950s. Later in his caree ...
. The so-called feud between the two friends was mainly contrived for promotional purposes. From 1957, many of his radio programs were simulcast on TV and radio through Sydney station
ATN ATN is the Sydney flagship television station of the Seven Network in Australia. The licence, issued to a company named Amalgamated Television Services, a subsidiary of John Fairfax & Sons, was one of the first four licences (two in Sydney, two ...
and its then-sister station GTV in Melbourne. When Dyer's programs were broadcast on 3DB, they usually topped the ratings, even though they were often purposely transmitted at the same times as the Macquarie Network were broadcasting Jack Davey programs.


Good Friday Appeal

In 1942,
Keith Murdoch Sir Keith Arthur Murdoch (12 August 1885 – 4 October 1952) was an Australian journalist, businessman and the father of Rupert Murdoch, the current Executive chairman for News Corporation and the chairman of Fox Corporation. Early life Murdoc ...
, as managing director of HWT, agreed with the
Royal Children's Hospital The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) is a major children's hospital in Melbourne, Australia. As a major specialist paediatric hospital in Victoria, the Royal Children's Hospital provides a full range of clinical services, tertiary care, as well ...
Good Friday Appeal The Good Friday Appeal is an annual fundraising activity on behalf of the Royal Children's Hospital, in Melbourne, Australia. The event occurs on Good Friday every year. In 2022, the appeal raised over $22 million, setting a new record. More ...
organisation that ''The Herald'' would promote the appeal and that it would be broadcast on radio station 3DB. Things associated with the appeal were virtually the only things broadcast by 3DB on
Good Friday Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday (also Hol ...
, with personalities acknowledging donations on air, interspersed with entertainment and interviews from the hospital. 3DB played a major part in promoting the appeal, with the sums raised annually increasing dramatically from 1942 onwards. Figures published by the
appeal In law, an appeal is the process in which cases are reviewed by a higher authority, where parties request a formal change to an official decision. Appeals function both as a process for error correction as well as a process of clarifying and ...
management (converted to decimal currency) show that during the first 11 years of the appeal, an average of about $2,124 per annum was raised, but when 3DB joined the appeal in 1942 the amount collected during that one year rose to $16,620, an increase of approximately 800 percent. In 1943, the amount donated had already risen to over $25,000 and to over $37,000 in 1944. The amount of monies collected for the hospital has continued to rise steadily to this day. There have been some very minor, aberrant dips in the amounts raised and, ironically, one of these small decreases occurred in 1957, the year that Channel 7, then also owned by HWT, joined the appeal. The amounts raised in 1953 ($263,493) and 1954 ($312,000) were then world record amounts for radiothons. 3TT and 101.1 TT-FM, successors to 3DB, continued to support the appeal for a few years, but the radio voice of the appeal is now
3AW 3AW is a talkback radio station based in Melbourne. It broadcasts on 693  kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station. The station is owned and operated by Nine Entertainment Co. Hist ...
. To put the Good Friday Appeal into context, prior to the television era, all Melbourne commercial radio stations (except 3AK which mainly broadcast during the early hours of the morning) conducted appeals for various charities.
3AW 3AW is a talkback radio station based in Melbourne. It broadcasts on 693  kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station. The station is owned and operated by Nine Entertainment Co. Hist ...
conducted a Mothers' Day Appeal for the
Royal Women's Hospital The Royal Women's Hospital, located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville, is Australia's oldest specialist women's hospital. It offers a full range of services in maternity, gynaecology, neonatal care, women's cancers and women's health. It also ...
; 3KZ's Christmas Day Appeal and its Christmas Eve broadcasts of Carols by Candlelight supported both the
Austin Hospital The Austin Hospital is a public teaching hospital in Melbourne's north-eastern suburb of Heidelberg, and is administered by Austin Health, along with the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre. History The Au ...
and the ''blind babies''; the 3UZ appeal was for the
Red Cross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million Volunteering, volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure re ...
; and 3XY supported the
Brotherhood of St Laurence The Brotherhood of St Laurence is an Australian not-for-profit organisation working toward an Australia free of poverty. The Brotherhood (as it is colloquially known) has its headquarters in Melbourne but provides services and programs across Au ...
.


Stephanie Deste

Stephanie Deste Stephanie Deste (22 January 1901 - 14 April 1996) was an acclaimed Australian actor, dancer, radio personality, and beautician. Deste made important contributions to Australian theatrical culture through her stage and radio work and was an in ...
was an actor, dancer, beautician and radio broadcaster. For many years she was well known as one of Melbourne's eccentrics. Just after arriving in Australia in the late 1920s, Stephanie Deste broadcast Bible stories on the
Australian Broadcasting Company The Australian Broadcasting Company Pty. Ltd. was a company founded in Melbourne in 1924 with a capital of £A 100,000 by a consortium of entertainment interests, notably Farmer & Company, J. C. Williamson Limited and J. & N. Tait to fou ...
, predecessor of the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...
. Her many quirks were particularly highlighted when she recommenced broadcasting, on 3UZ just after World War II, presenting beauty hints and live advertisements for her beauty salons during the morning women's programs. In the late 1940s, Stephanie Deste transferred to 3DB where she continued to broadcast until the early 1960s. As well as regular appearances in the morning programs, from 1954 she presented a half-hour program, ''Sunday Night with Stephanie Deste'' at 10.30 pm on a Sunday night. The program was sponsored by the Stephanie Deste Pty Ltd beauty salons. It is believed that this time-slot was the cheapest offered by 3DB at the time. As discussed above, as from 1 February 1954, 3DB began broadcasting 24 hours per day. Prior to this, the station had closed at 10:30 pm on Sundays. 24-hour broadcasting at 3DB only lasted for a few months, and after this 3DB began closing at 1:00 am every morning. Every evening, a two-hour program called "The Dunlop Hours, Eleven 'til One" was broadcast after 11:00 pm. This meant that as from 1 February 1954, there was a half-hour gap in programming after 10:00 pm on Sundays, which is why Stephanie Deste was able to get this time-slot at very cheap rates. The program mainly consisted of interviews with
show business Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz or showbiz (since 1945), is a vernacular term for all aspects of the entertainment industry.''Oxford English Dictionary'' 2nd Ed. (1989) From the business side (including managers, agents, produc ...
personalities, both locals but, particularly, with artistes visiting from overseas. However, this eccentric program was usually more about Stephanie Deste than about the people she was interviewing. Despite its late time-slot, ''Sunday Night with Stephanie Deste'' was popular with show-biz aficionados.


History – post-War era – 1945–1975


Football

As from 1950, 3DB provided football commentaries on Saturday and holiday afternoons; then the only times that
AFL AFL may refer to: Sports * American Football League (AFL), a name shared by several separate and unrelated professional American football leagues: ** American Football League (1926) (a.k.a. "AFL I"), first rival of the National Football Leagu ...
football was played. These broadcasts continued until 1987 when 3DB, as such, ceased to exist. Nevertheless, the broadcasting of races always took precedence over the football at 3DB. Whenever a race commenced, the station would cross to the racecourse, irrespective of what was happening on the football field. (This was also the case at Melbourne's other two racing stations at that time, i.e. 3AR and 3UZ). The popularity of football in Melbourne is illustrated by the fact that in 1962, the only station not broadcasting the football was 3AR, then the ABC's classical music station. In 1944, a 16-year-old Ron Casey joined 3DB as a turntable operator. He was soon promoted to Eric Welch's sporting department. Before moving to
television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...
, Ron Casey was to broadcast a wide variety of sports including: football, boxing, wrestling, ice hockey, athletics (especially the
Stawell Gift The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short-distance running race. It is the main event in an annual carnival held on Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, St ...
), golf and a number of
Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...
. In 1950 Casey, along with George Andrew were the first to broadcast football over 3DB. Others involved in DB's football coverage over the years included
Sam Loxton Samuel John Everett Loxton (29 March 19213 December 2011) was an Australian cricketer, footballer and politician. Among these three pursuits, his greatest achievements were attained on the cricket field; he played in 12 Tests for Australia ...
,
Dennis Cometti Dennis John Cometti (born 26 March 1949) is an Australian retired sports commentator, player and coach of Australian rules football. In a career spanning 51 years, his smooth voice, dry humour and quick wit became his trademark. Until his reti ...
,
Rex Hunt Rex James Hunt (born 7 March 1949) is an Australian television and radio personality, and a former Australian rules football player. He was also a veteran Australian rules football commentator known for his habit of making up quirky nicknames ...
and, most importantly,
Lou Richards Lewis Thomas Charles "Lou" Richards, (15 March 1923 – 8 May 2017) was an Australian rules footballer who played 250 games for the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1941 and 1955. He captained the team ...
who also broadcast at other times, including the Saturday breakfast session.


Drama


Crawford Productions

Hector Crawford Hector William Crawford CBE AO (14 August 191311 March 1991) was an Australian entrepreneur, conductor and media mogul, best known for his radio and television production firms. He and his sister Dorothy Crawford founded Crawford Productions ...
was the brother of 3DB manager and administrator Curteis Crawford, and also brother to
Dorothy Crawford Dorothy Muriel Turner Crawford (21 March 1911 – 2 September 1988), other names Dorothy Balderson, Dorothy Strong and Dorothy Smith, was an Australian actress and announcer, as well as a producer in radio and television, who, with her brother ...
. He was married to
soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261  Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...
Glenda Raymond. Dorothy Crawford was married to 3DB announcer and producer Roland Strong. Hector Crawford was manager of Broadcast Exchange of Australia (BEA) prior to the mid-1940s when he formed his own production company in which Dorothy Crawford played a prominent role. Prior to the television era most of the Crawford productions were produced for 3DB and relayed to radio stations across Australia. The program ending featuring the voice of Roland Strong: "produced in the studios of Hector Crawford (''pause'') by Dorothy Crawford" was often heard on 3DB, with Strong placing the emphasis on the name of his wife, as heard in the attached episodes of ''D24''. One of its most prestigious programs was ''Melba'', the story of
Dame Nellie Melba Dame Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 186123 February 1931) was an Australian operatic dramatic coloratura soprano (three octaves). She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th centur ...
, with Glenda Raymond singing in the lead role, and
Patricia Kennedy Patricia Helen Kennedy Lawford (May 6, 1924 – September 17, 2006) was an American socialite, and the sixth of nine children of Rose and Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. She was a sister of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator ...
in the speaking role of Melba. The program was first broadcast in 1948, two years before Raymond and Crawford were married. ''Melba'' was followed by two other music-based dramas, ''The Blue Danube'' and ''The Amazing Oscar Hammerstein''. ''
Consider Your Verdict ''Consider Your Verdict'' is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network originally screening from February 1961 through to June 1964. It was based on a radio series with the same name broadcast on 3DB in ...
'' was broadcast on 3DB from 1958 to 1960, and was simulcast over
HSV-7 HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, its first and oldest station. It launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melb ...
. The police drama ''D24'', heard on 3DB, is generally believed to have been the inspiration behind later Crawford TV dramas such as ''
Homicide Homicide occurs when a person kills another person. A homicide requires only a volitional act or omission that causes the death of another, and thus a homicide may result from accidental, reckless, or negligent acts even if there is no inten ...
'', ''
Division 4 ''Division 4'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 301 episodes. Synopsis The series was one of the first dramas to follow up on the enormous success o ...
'', ''
Matlock Police ''Matlock Police'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network (now known as the 10 Network) between 1971 and 1976. The series focused on the police station and crime in the Victorian town o ...
'' and ''
Cop Shop ''Cop Shop'' is a long-running Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that ran for seven seasons between 28 November 1977 and 23 July 1984. It comprised 582 one-hour episodes. The show The show revolved ar ...
''. Amongst the many
soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
s produced by Dorothy Crawford, and also broadcast by 3DB, were ''Sincerely Rita Marsden'', ''A Man Called Sheppard'', ''Here Comes O'Malley'', ''John Turner's Family'', ''Women in Love'' and ''Prodigal Father''.


Other notable radio theatre


= ''Dad and Dave'': a well-loved and well-remembered Australian serial

= One of the most iconic of Australian radio serials was ''Dad and Dave'' (sometimes referred to as ''
Dad and Dave from Snake Gully ''Dad and Dave from Snake Gully'' was an Australian radio drama series based on the On Our Selection stories of Steele Rudd. The series is more often referred to simply as ''Dad and Dave''. The theme tune was " The Road to Gundagai". The standar ...
''). Set in the fictional rural town of Snake Gully, it certainly appealed to city-dwellers, many of whom hankered for life in the Australian bush; a lifestyle that may or may not ever have existed. George Edwards, arguably the most important figure in Australian radio drama, played the lead role of ''Dad''; he was also the producer, and played many of the supporting roles.
John Saul John Saul (born February 25, 1942) is an American author of suspense and horror novels. Most of his books have appeared on the ''New York Times'' Best Seller List. . Biography Born in Pasadena, Saul grew up in Whittier, California, and grad ...
played ''Dave'', with Nell Stirling, George Edwards' third wife, in the role of ''Mabel''. At different stages, Loris Bingham and Hope Suttor took the role of ''Mum''. ''Dad and Dave'' was first heard in Melbourne in 1937 on 3DB but, over the decades, was heard on a number of stations and is still heard from time to time on radio nostalgia programs. The first episode is available on
YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
A collection of 23 episodes are also available through the U.S. nostalgia website ''Old Time Radio''.


= From the U.S. to Australia

= Another popular drama series heard on 3DB (and other
Major Broadcasting Network The Major Broadcasting Network was an important part of the Australian broadcasting scene from 1938 until the 1970s. History and background In 1938 David Worrall, manager of 3DB Melbourne, launched the Major Broadcasting Network which up until i ...
stations) was the Australian version of the one-hour U.S. program
Lux Radio Theatre ''Lux Radio Theatre'', sometimes spelled ''Lux Radio Theater'', a classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network (1934–35) (owned by the National Broadcasting Company, later predecessor of American Broadcasting Company ...
which was broadcast at 8.00 pm every Sunday night in the 1940s & 50s. High-profile actors were used. It toured various halls around Australia, and was performed in front of live audiences. Prior to World War II, 3DB and the
Major Broadcasting Network The Major Broadcasting Network was an important part of the Australian broadcasting scene from 1938 until the 1970s. History and background In 1938 David Worrall, manager of 3DB Melbourne, launched the Major Broadcasting Network which up until i ...
imported a number of programs, on
transcription disc Electrical transcriptions are special phonograph recordings made exclusively for radio broadcasting,Browne, Ray B. and Browne, Pat, Eds. (2001). ''The Guide to United States Popular Culture''. The University of Wisconsin Press. . P. 263. which wer ...
s, particularly from the U.S. After the U.S. entered the War (see above), it became impossible to import such discs. However, in many cases, scripts were imported and Australian versions were made,Richard Lane, ''The Golden Days of Australian Radio Drama. 1923–1960'', 1994, National Film and Sound Archive Canberra often replete with Australian actors with phoney American accents. An Australian version of ''
When a Girl Marries ''When a Girl Marries'' is an American daytime radio drama that was broadcast on three major radio networks from 1939 to 1957. Created by Elaine Sterne Carrington (who also was responsible for ''Pepper Young's Family'' and ''Rosemary''), it was th ...
'' was heard at 7.15 pm on weeknights after the major 7.00 pm news and news commentary, and ran for 19 years commencing from 1946. Although it was based on the U.S. program, some changes were made. Even the U.S. slogan "dedicated to everyone who has ever been in love" was modified to "dedicated to all those who are in love, or can remember". A download of the first Australian episode is available on
YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
. Another U.S. program with an Australian version was
Aunt Jenny Aunt Jenny was an advertising character created for Spry Vegetable Shortening. Primarily portrayed by Edith Spencer, Aunt Jenny was best known as host and narrator of the long-lived radio show, '' Aunt Jenny’s Real Life Stories'' (January 18, 1 ...
. In Australia, ''Aunt Jenny'' was played by Ethel Lang.


= From the U.K. to Australia

= In the 1950s and 60s, 3DB broadcast a number of British dramas. These were mainly the product of the independent British production house, the Towers of London Syndicate, whose programs were produced for world-wide distribution, rather than in Britain. One of the most popular of these series was ''Secrets of Scotland Yard''.


= Other local dramas

= As well as the Australian productions already mentioned, 3DB also broadcast a number of other Australian radio dramas, including a number by that prominent Australian radio drama producer,
Grace Gibson Grace Isabel Gibson AO, (17 June 1905 – 10 July 1989), also known as Grace Atchison and Grace Parr was an American Australian radio entrepreneur, executive and producer. She was best known for her long-running serials Dr. Paul and the local ...
Radio Productions.


= Two important comedy serials

= As well as drama, 3DB presented a number of radio comedies, two of the most notable being ''Fred and Maggie Everybody'' and ''Daddy and Paddy''. ''Fred and Maggie'' starred Edward Howell and Therese Desmond. ''Daddy and Paddy'' featured Pat McLean and 3DB's stalwart broadcaster John Stuart. For many years, Stuart also conducted the breakfast session as ''Daybreak Dan'' and the children's session as ''Bob Breezy''.


BBC comedies

In the early 1960s, amid much publicity, 3DB announced that it had made a deal with the
British Broadcasting Corporation #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
to broadcast a wide range of the popular BBC 30-minute comedy programs. Prior to this deal such programs had only been broadcast in Australia through the
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
or its predecessor companies. As part of the BBC/3DB deal, only programs that had already been heard on the ABC, could be replayed commercially.numerous issues of ''Listener-In'', ''Radioprogram'', ''Radio Times'' (Melbourne); ''ABC Weekly'', in the collection of Albert Isaacs, Melbourne.


Music


Live music


= 3DB staff who were musicians

= There were a number of employees who were renowned for their presentation of live music. Chronologically, the first was
violinist The following lists of violinists are available: * List of classical violinists, notable violinists from the baroque era onwards * List of contemporary classical violinists, notable contemporary classical violinists * List of violinist/composers, ...
Agnes Brown. She joined 3DB in 1937 as Manager of the transcription department and remained on the staff until the 1960s. From the 1940s to the 60s, many 3DB programs were enhanced by 3DB's official
piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...
accompanist Accompaniment is the part (music), musical part which provides the rhythmic and/or harmony (music), harmonic support for the melody or main themes of a song or instrumental piece. There are many different styles and types of accompaniment in ...
Mabel Nelson. Charles Skase (father of Christopher Skase) was a 3DB announcer in the 1950s and 60s. He won the
Melbourne Sun Aria The Herald Sun Aria, formerly known as The Sun Aria (because it was sponsored by ''The Sun News-Pictorial'') is a vocal competition for emerging opera singers held in Victoria, Australia, each year. The competition offers nearly $60,000 in cash ...
in 1947. He sang in many 3DB programs, including (as already noted) ''C&G Minstrels'' and ''The Happy Gang''.


= 3DB Symphony Orchestra

= 3DB's commitment to
classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...
and light classical music was proven in 1949 when the 3DB Symphony Orchestra was formed, under manager Cedric Zahara. Verdon Williams conducted classical programs and William Flynn had the baton during lighter concerts, for which the orchestra used the shortened name, the ''3DB Orchestra''. It is believed that apart from the U.S.'s prestigious and long-standing
NBC Symphony Orchestra The NBC Symphony Orchestra was a radio orchestra conceived by David Sarnoff, the president of the Radio Corporation of America, especially for the conductor Arturo Toscanini. The NBC Symphony performed weekly radio concert broadcasts with Tosca ...
, 3DB and Australia's Colgate-Palmolive Radio Network were the only commercial radio enterprises in the world to form symphony orchestras. Both Australian orchestras had comparatively short lives.


= Feature programs

= The 3DB building at 74 Flinders Street (1929–1966) included an auditorium with a public seating area in the studio complex on the 1st floor. When the station was relocated to 61 Flinders Lane in 1966 (see above) a public auditorium was located off the foyer right near the main entrance to the building. However, because of competition to radio by
television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...
, live feature programs were becoming rarer and the auditorium at 61 Flinders Lane was certainly not used as much as the former one at 74 Flinders Street. The following programs renowned for their live music content have already been mentioned (above): The Test Cricket from England, ''The Minstrel Show'', ''The Last of the Hillbillies'' and other Bob Dyer features. Amongst the many other live music programs featured on the station over the decades, the following are worthy of a special reference ... ... ...


''Community Singing''

Community Singing Sing-along, also called community singing or group singing, is an event of singing together at gatherings or parties, less formally than choir singing. One can use a songbook. Common genres are folk songs, patriotic songs, kids' songs, spiritual ...
was popular on radio from the 1920s to the 1960s, with 3DB conducting many such programs over the years. These sessions were conducted in front of live audiences who joined in the singing of popular songs, often with the words displayed on large cards or on screens. The venues ranged from large Town Halls, including the
Melbourne Town Hall Melbourne Town Hall is the central city town hall of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and is a historic building in the state of Victoria since 1867. Located in the central business district on the northeast corner of the intersection between ...
, and the Tivoli Theatre, to the much smaller 3DB auditorium. Many of the earlier programs were compered by Charlie Vaude and Renn Millar. Later hosts included Dick Cranbourne, John Eden and Geoff McComas, with Mabel Nelson as accompanist. Community singing was normally broadcast at lunch-time on weekdays.


''Music for the People''

As well as his endeavours in the drama field, Hector Crawford was also interested in music and particularly orchestra conducting. In 1938 he produced the first ''Music for the People'' concert. These concerts were presented a number of times during each summer season on Sunday afternoons, firstly in the
Fitzroy Gardens The Fitzroy Gardens are 26 hectares (64 acres) located on the southeastern edge of the Melbourne central business district in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The gardens are bounded by Clarendon Street, Albert Street, Lansdowne Street, and ...
and from 1959 in the
Sidney Myer Music Bowl The Sidney Myer Music Bowl is an outdoor bandshell performance venue in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is located in the lawns and gardens of Kings Domain on Linlithgow Avenue close to the Arts Centre and the Southbank entertainment precinct ...
. 3DB broadcast all ''Music for the People'' concerts from 1940. In latter years, the concerts were televised over
HSV-7 HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, its first and oldest station. It launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melb ...
. The concerts were performed by an orchestra especially formed by Hector Crawford for the purpose, and known as the Australian Symphony Orchestra, and supplemented by a wide range of mainly well-known artistes. Originally, the concerts were composed of light classical music but, over the years, the format became lighter and lighter and even some
pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former describe ...
was later performed. A classic example of the latter occurred on 12 March 1967 when
The Seekers The Seekers were an Australian folk-influenced pop quartet, originally formed in Melbourne in 1962. They were the first Australian pop music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States. They were ...
performed at Music for the People; their performance being simulcast on 3DB and HSV 7. The Seekers concert was performed in front of the largest crowd ever for a concert event in Australia with an estimated 200,000 people attending. The 2007 ''
Guinness Book of World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
'' lists it as the greatest attendance at a concert in the Southern Hemisphere in history. This attendance is also included in The Australian Book of Records.


''Mobil Quest''

Mobil Quest was an important classical music talent quest produced by 3DB in the post-World War II era and relayed to over 50 stations across Australia. It discovered many musicians who went on to have prestigious careers, including the 1949 Mobil Quest winner Ronal Jackson. Dame
Joan Sutherland Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, (7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010) was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano known for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s. She possessed ...
was second-placed in 1949 and was the winner in 1950.


''Australia's Amateur Hour'' and ''National Amateur Hour''

A popular and more populist talent quest was Australia's Amateur Hour which commenced in 1940 and was produced and compered by Sydney people, but toured Australia performing in various large halls. It was originally broadcast nationally over the
Macquarie Radio Network Nine Radio (formerly Macquarie Media Limited) is an Australian media company, owned by parent company Nine Entertainment Co. and headquartered in North Sydney, New South Wales, the company operates radio stations nationally in the capital cit ...
before transferring to the
Major Broadcasting Network The Major Broadcasting Network was an important part of the Australian broadcasting scene from 1938 until the 1970s. History and background In 1938 David Worrall, manager of 3DB Melbourne, launched the Major Broadcasting Network which up until i ...
, of which 3DB was the Melbourne outlet. The first compere was Harry Dearth, who was followed by Dick Fair and then by Terry Dear. In 1956 the program was transferred back to the Macquarie network, (
3AW 3AW is a talkback radio station based in Melbourne. It broadcasts on 693  kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station. The station is owned and operated by Nine Entertainment Co. Hist ...
in Melbourne). The Major network retaliated by broadcasting the ''National Amateur Hour'' at exactly the same time as its Macquarie rival. Dick Fair returned as compere of the National Amateur Hour. Both of these talent quests ceased in 1958, partly because their rivalry split the available audience, and partly because of competition from television.


''The Happy Gang''

''The Happy Gang'' evolved from 3DB's pre-War cricket broadcasts (see above, under Pre-War History). Originally subtitled ''REHEARSAL FOR TV'', the program was broadcast in peak listening time, from 8.30 to 10.00 every Monday evening, from 1953 until 1962. Until the inevitable lure of TV cut into ''The Happy Gang'' audience, it was one of Australia's most popular programs, being relayed across the country on the
Major Broadcasting Network The Major Broadcasting Network was an important part of the Australian broadcasting scene from 1938 until the 1970s. History and background In 1938 David Worrall, manager of 3DB Melbourne, launched the Major Broadcasting Network which up until i ...
. The program was initially produced by Norm Spencer. It was originally hosted by the cricket hosts Dick Cranbourne and John Stuart. Cranbourne was later joined as host by Bill Collins and Jack Perry. Other regulars in the show included Eula and Mary Parker, June Hamilton, Shirlene Clancy, Rod McLennan, Lou Toppanno, Tom Davidson, Charles Skase and Stan Stafford, and special guests including artists of the calibre of
Winifred Atwell Una Winifred Atwell (27 February or 27 April 1910 or 1914There is some uncertainty over her date and year of birth. Many sources suggest 27 February 1914, but there is a strong suggestion that her birthday was 27 April. Most sources give her ye ...
. The show usually began with a series of calls for listeners with a particular talent to come into the studio. Dick Cranbourne would say something like: "Tonight we're calling for the biggest leek – and a plumber". Dozens of people dropped what they were doing and brought in their vegetables, whilst plumbers also arrived replete with spanners and wrenches. Other examples included: school children and grandfathers; barbers and butchers; violinists; Antarctic explorers; bathroom baritones and shower sopranos; those with monkeys, or Alsatians; "the biggest aspidistra in the world" – the list goes on. One night, there was a call for choir boys, which resulted in a 14-year-old
Ernie Sigley Ernest William Sigley (2 September 1938 – 15 August 2021) was an Australian television host, comedian, variety performer, radio presenter and singer. Known as a pioneer of radio and television in Australian, he was often styled as a "little A ...
making his first visit to the station where he was later to work. The original subtitle, "Rehearsal for TV" was in many respects shown to be true after the introduction of TV in Melbourne in 1956. Producer Norm Spencer was to be employed at
GTV-9 GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia, owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. History GTV-9 was amongst the first television stations to begin regular ...
where he made his name as producer of
In Melbourne Tonight ''In Melbourne Tonight'', also known as ''IMT'', was a highly popular nightly Logie award-winning Australian variety television show produced at GTV-9 Melbourne from 6 May 1957 to 1970. Overview Graham Kennedy was the show's main host and sta ...
. Before
Graham Kennedy Graham Cyril Kennedy AO (15 February 1934 – 25 May 2005) was an Australian entertainer, comedian and variety performer, as well as a personality and star of radio, theatre, television and film. He often performed in the style of vaudevilli ...
was employed as compere of I.M.T., Spencer had suggested Dick Cranbourne. Bill Collins became the popular host of HSV-7's variety program
Sunnyside Up ''Sunnyside-Up'' was a black and white weekly variety program produced at HSV-7 Melbourne, during the late 1950s until the mid 1960s. Surviving Kinescope episodes sometimes presented the title in three words as “Sunny Side Up“ and with a ...
. Jack Perry made his name as Zig of Zig and Zag, also on
HSV-7 HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, its first and oldest station. It launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melb ...
. A Happy Gang extract is available on YouTube.


''Swallow's Parade''

'' Swallows Parade'' was an Australian radio and television series. The radio version was broadcast by 3DB in the 1950s and 1960s, and was relayed on the Major Broadcasting Network. It was heard on a Thursday evening, with auditions being held on Tuesdays. It was sometimes presented in front of a live audience, and sometimes with just the compere and artists. It was usually broadcast from various towns and cities with Major Network outlets. Sometimes programmes would be compiled from various recording sessions. All artists were amateurs.


''Swallow's Juniors''

'' Swallow's Juniors'' was broadcast at 6:30 pm on a Saturday evening, from the 1950s and into the early 1960s. It was also telecast from November 1957 to 1970 on
HSV-7 HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, its first and oldest station. It launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melb ...
. There was a period of radio/TV simulcasting before it was exclusively telecast. It was a talent contest featuring young performers, and was initially hosted by 3DB breakfast announcer John Eden. However Brian Naylor soon took over as compere.


''Coca-Cola Bottlers Club''

In the late 1950s, Dick Cranbourne, assisted by 3DB's official piano accompanist Mabel Nelson, presented a children's session sponsored by
Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta ...
Bottlers (Melbourne) Pty. Ltd., and recorded at various suburban halls such as church halls, in front of an audience, mainly made-up of children. A full week's programming (4 sessions) was recorded in one sitting. The program mainly consisted of a junior talent quest, quizzes, etc. As well as the 3DB program, Coca-Cola also broadcast a similar program on
2UW KIIS 1065 (call sign: 2WFM) is a commercial broadcasting, commercial FM radio station in Sydney, Australia, on a frequency of 106.5 MHz. KIIS 1065 is one of the flagship stations on Australian Radio Network, ARN's KIIS Network. The station's ...
Sydney.


''Hillbilly Time''

The last live music program to be heard on 3DB was ''Hillbilly Time'', again hosted by Dick Cranbourne. It ran from the early 1950s to the early 1980s. In its final years, it changed its name to ''Country and Western Hour''. As both names suggest, the program featured live
hillbilly Hillbilly is a term (often derogatory) for people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas in the United States, primarily in southern Appalachia and the Ozarks. The term was later used to refer to people from other rural and mountainous areas west ...
music, also referred to as
country and western music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, old- ...
. It was amongst the last fully live programs on Melbourne commercial radio.


Recorded music


= The 3DB record library

= The
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
record library was the world's largest radio record library, at one stage containing 45,000 discs. Thanks to the work of Program Manager Stan Clark, in 1934 3DB had the world's second largest radio library. It has been estimated that, at that time, 3DB could have stayed on the air from daybreak to dawn for six months without repeating a record.


= Experiments in improved sound

= Until 1948 when standard
long playing The LP (from "long playing" or "long play") is an analog sound storage medium, a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of  rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification; and a ...
discs first became commercially available,Read, Oliver and Welch, Walter L.; ''From Tin Foil to Stereo''; 1959; Howard Sams & Co Inc, Indianapolis, NY, USA most
recordings A record, recording or records may refer to: An item or collection of data Computing * Record (computer science), a data structure ** Record, or row (database), a set of fields in a database related to one entity ** Boot sector or boot record, r ...
broadcast were
78 rpm A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog signal, analog sound Recording medium, storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove ...
monaural Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction (often shortened to mono) is sound intended to be heard as if it were emanating from one position. This contrasts with stereophonic sound or ''stereo'', which uses two separate audio channels to reproduc ...
discs with one horizontal sound wave on the disc. In the 1930s however, there were some experiments with a vertical sound wave cut straight down into the disc. At the time, the main advantage of this was seen as being the improved sound quality, but these experiments eventually led to the invention of
stereophonic sound Stereophonic sound, or more commonly stereo, is a method of sound reproduction that recreates a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective. This is usually achieved by using two independent audio channels through a configuration ...
. In Melbourne, three radio stations signed contracts with producers of vertical discs that gave them exclusive rights to play their recordings, and these were usually broadcast in specially devoted programs. 3DB played Diamondpoint discs especially imported from London, 3KZ played hill and dale records, and
3AW 3AW is a talkback radio station based in Melbourne. It broadcasts on 693  kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station. The station is owned and operated by Nine Entertainment Co. Hist ...
had a contract to use Vitatone recordings.


= Music formats 1950s–1970s

= Most Australian radio stations increased their commitment to the teenage market and to
pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former describe ...
in the 1950s, by introducing
disc jockeys A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile ...
. 3DB's first DJ was Geoff Corke. He was soon followed by
Ernie Sigley Ernest William Sigley (2 September 1938 – 15 August 2021) was an Australian television host, comedian, variety performer, radio presenter and singer. Known as a pioneer of radio and television in Australian, he was often styled as a "little A ...
who actually commenced his career at 3DB in 1953 as a turntable operator (then usually referred to as ''record boys'') – this was actually a few years before he was given an on-air position. Another early 3DB DJ was Rod McLennan.


Television simulcasts

HSV-7 HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, its first and oldest station. It launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melb ...
was originally owned by the HWT, as was 3DB. After HSV opened on 4 November 1956, there were a few programs that were
simulcast Simulcast (a portmanteau of simultaneous broadcast) is the broadcasting of programmes/programs or events across more than one resolution, bitrate or medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at exactly the same time (that is, simultane ...
on HSV and 3DB; these included ''Consider Your Verdict'' (see above – "Crawford Productions"), ''Music for the People'' (see above – "Live Music") and ''Swallows Juniors'' (see above – "Swallows Juniors"). Another important program that was simulcast was
Meet the Press ''Meet the Press'' is a weekly American television news/interview program broadcast on NBC. It is the longest-running program on American television, though the current format bears little resemblance to the debut episode on November 6, 1947. ' ...
which was originally compared by journalist Frederick Howard. At this same time, a number of 3DB quiz and variety programs featuring Bob and Dolly Dyer (see above – Bob Dyer) were, on account of
Major Broadcasting Network The Major Broadcasting Network was an important part of the Australian broadcasting scene from 1938 until the 1970s. History and background In 1938 David Worrall, manager of 3DB Melbourne, launched the Major Broadcasting Network which up until i ...
connections, simulcast on Sydney TV station
ATN-7 ATN is the Sydney Flagship (broadcasting), flagship television station of the Seven Network in Australia. The licence, issued to a company named Amalgamated Television Services, a subsidiary of Fairfax Media, John Fairfax & Sons, was one of the ...
and through its then Melbourne affiliate
GTV-9 GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia, owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands. History GTV-9 was amongst the first television stations to begin regular ...
.


Talkback

3DB was one of the first Melbourne radio stations to initiate
talkback Talkback or talk back may refer to: * ''Talkback'' (album), a 1983 album by the Canadian band the Spoons * ''Talk Back'' (Kembe X album), 2016 *Talkback, an alternate name for Marvel Comics superhero Chase Stein * Talkback (recording), an audio ...
programs on 17 April 1967 with Barry Jones conducting the first such program. Other early talkback hosts included Doug Aiton, Gerald Lyons and
Michael Schildberger Michael Julius Schildberger (4 April 1938 – 2 June 2010) was an Australian journalist, radio and television presenter, and author. He is best known for hosting ''A Current Affair'' in the 1970s. Career Schildberger began his media career in 1 ...
.


History – An era of adjustments at 3DB – 1975–1988


1975, major change of direction

In 1975 Fred Flowers, Director of Broadcasting at 3DB, announced "the most radical changes in our history". He introduced a new slogan DB MUSIC. He went on to say that the station would have: "an exciting new sound with a blend of
Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...
, flashbacks, and popular
album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
tracks ... we aim to please the 18 to 39 age group. In fact, to attract listeners of any age who have a youthful lifestyle". Because of a contract with the
Totalisator Agency Board The Totalisator Agency Board, universally shortened to TAB or T.A.B., is the name given to monopoly totalisator organisations in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. They operate betting shops and online betting. They were originally governm ...
, 3DB continued to broadcast horse races. Doug Aiton's morning talkback program also continued to be heard. In August 1980, the station was yet again rebranded as 100 3DB with a new disco-style jingle, "Rhythm of the City", produced by
TM Studios Jones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such a ...
. The jingle was also used (with localised variations) by radio stations throughout Australia that had a similar Top 40 format at the time, including 2UE in Sydney, 6PM in Perth, and 5AD in Adelaide. An extended length version of "Rhythm of the City" was later released as a single, inclusive of local branding edits depending on release location. The 3DB version of the single reached number 91 on the Australian
Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to January 1999. The chart was re-branded the Australian Music Report (AMR) in July ...
charts in October that year.


''3DB – The New Beginning''

In mid-1986,
Bert Newton Albert Watson Newton (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer and radio, theatre and television personality and presenter. Newt ...
was appointed general manager of 3DB, which he relaunched as a talkback station, while retaining its horse racing coverage (see above). Many high-profile personalities had regular programs, including Bert Newton himself who was the breakfast session host during this era. A new slogan was used by the station – ''3DB – The New Beginning''.


3DB, the new ending

After purchasing the
Geelong Advertiser The ''Geelong Advertiser'' is a daily newspaper circulating in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, the Bellarine Peninsula, and surrounding areas. First published on 21 November 1840, the ''Geelong Advertiser'' is the oldest newspaper title in Victor ...
and its subsidiary 3GL in 1987, the ''Herald and Weekly Times'' owned more than one station in the Melbourne/Geelong region, and thus was required by the
Australian Broadcasting Tribunal The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is an Australian government statutory authority within the Communications portfolio. ACMA was formed on 1 July 2005 with the merger of the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Austr ...
to divest itself of one station. 3DB was sold and actually had four owners for short periods in the 12 months of 1987, including
Kerry Stokes Kerry Matthew Stokes (born John Patrick Alford on 13 September 1940) is an Australian businessman. He holds business interests in a diverse range of industries including electronic and print media, property, mining, and construction equipment. ...
and
Frank Lowy Sir Frank P. Lowy ( ; born 22 October 1930) is an Australian people, Australian-Israeli people, Israeli businessman of Jewish Slovakian-Hungarian origins and the former long-time Chairman of Westfield Corporation, a global shopping centre comp ...
. J Albert and Son, a Sydney-based music company and owners of
2UW KIIS 1065 (call sign: 2WFM) is a commercial broadcasting, commercial FM radio station in Sydney, Australia, on a frequency of 106.5 MHz. KIIS 1065 is one of the flagship stations on Australian Radio Network, ARN's KIIS Network. The station's ...
, purchased 3DB in late 1987 and changed the
call sign In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally assigne ...
to 3TT. The last program to be broadcast under the 3DB call sign, in the very early hours of 2 April 1988, was a repeat of Bert Newton's five-hour documentary on the 60th anniversary of 3DB, first broadcast in February 1987 to coincide with the 60th anniversary. 3TT was launched at 5:00 am on 2 April 1988. The major reason cited for the change of name was the fact that 3DB had recently broadcast under the slogan ''3DB – The New Beginning'' and it was felt that that would have made it difficult to dramatically change the format whilst retaining the 3DB name. However, the new owners had actually considered a few other new call-signs, particularly names which included the same initial being repeated twice, such as 3BB or 3MM. Lawrence Costin who had been on the 3DB announcing staff for over 30 years was the only 3DB on-air personality to be retained by 3TT, as a newsreader and reporter.


Personalities

The following list is based, in the main, on names mentioned in a history of 3DB published in 1985. Some names appear under more than one sub-heading. Other personalities crossed from one field to another: for example, a news reader may do some general announcing; a general announcer may appear in a drama; a variety artist may do some general announcing, etc.


Management and administration

* Agnes Brown, * Stan Clark, * Curteis Crawford, * Rae Dunn, * Edward Haynes, * Fred Flowers, * Geoff McComas, * Flora McTavish (secretary to the manager), *
Bert Newton Albert Watson Newton (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer and radio, theatre and television personality and presenter. Newt ...
, * Geoff Palmer, * Sir Eric Pearce, * Warwick Prime, * Brendan Sheedy, * Charlie Taylor, *
David Worrall David Richard Worrall (born 12 June 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Barrow. A versatile and aggressive player, he is able to play wide right or in central midfield. Worrall began his career at ...
.


Producers, writers, etc.

* Clem Dawe, * Myke Dyer, * Eric Edgley, * Geoff McComas, * Alf Potter, * Leslie Ross, * Norm Spencer, *
Morris West Morris Langlo West (26 April 19169 October 1999) was an Australian novelist and playwright, best known for his novels '' The Devil's Advocate'' (1959), ''The Shoes of the Fisherman'' (1963) and ''The Clowns of God'' (1981). His books were publ ...
, * Les White, * Cedric Zahara.


Technicians

* Clem Allan, * Ewen Cameron, * Andrew Darbyshire AM, * Arnold Holst, * Hector Holst, * Otto Holst, * Val Parker.


General announcers

* Bill Acfield, * John Allan (reputed to be the last duty announcer on 3DB), * John Anderson, * Andrew Bensley, * Monty Blandford, * Maurie Callard, * Frank Cave, * Allan Cooper, * Pat Corby, * Geoff Corke, * Lawrence Costin, * Dick Cranbourne, * Colin Crane, *
John Deeks John "Deeksie" Deeks (born 1 May 1951) is an Australian television, radio presenter and the long-time voice artist on HSV-7 for the Seven Network (known as the 'voice of Channel 7'), where he has been working since 1975 based in Melbourne. Biog ...
, *
Stephanie Deste Stephanie Deste (22 January 1901 - 14 April 1996) was an acclaimed Australian actor, dancer, radio personality, and beautician. Deste made important contributions to Australian theatrical culture through her stage and radio work and was an in ...
* John Devine, * Tony Doherty, * John Eden, * Keith Eden, * Doug Entwistle, * Barry Ferber, *
John-Michael Howson John-Michael Howson (born 8 August 1936) is an Australian writer, reporter, entertainer and Melbourne radio commentator. His involvement in the Australian entertainment scene as a writer, producer and performer spans more than 50 years. Earl ...
, *
Graham Kennedy Graham Cyril Kennedy AO (15 February 1934 – 25 May 2005) was an Australian entertainer, comedian and variety performer, as well as a personality and star of radio, theatre, television and film. He often performed in the style of vaudevilli ...
, * Don Kinsey, * Ken Lyons, * Bob Machliss, * Geoff McComas, * Keith McGowan, * Rod McLennan, *
Garry Meadows Garrett Seaton "Garry" Meadows (15 April 1939 – 22 July 1982) was an Australian television presenter, radio announcer, and actor. Career Stage Meadows began acting in Perth during his youth in the 1950s when he appeared in a number of local ...
, * ''Ric Melbourne'', * Renn Millar, *
Bert Newton Albert Watson Newton (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer and radio, theatre and television personality and presenter. Newt ...
, * John O'Connor, * Geoff Palmer, * Sir Eric Pearce, * Frank Pearson (an original announcer), * Roland Redshaw, *
Stan Rofe Stanley Rofe (30 May 193316 May 2003) was an Australian rock'n'roll disc jockey and music news reporter. Often referred to as Stan the Man, he presented the first rock and roll music on Melbourne radio from 1956, on 3KZ, and was a champion of A ...
, * Dennis Scanlan, * Vernon Sellars, *
Ernie Sigley Ernest William Sigley (2 September 1938 – 15 August 2021) was an Australian television host, comedian, variety performer, radio presenter and singer. Known as a pioneer of radio and television in Australian, he was often styled as a "little A ...
, * Charles Skase, * Keith Smith, * Peter Surrey, * Charlie Vaude, * John Vertigan, * Danny Webb.


Women's program presenters

* Stephanie Bini, * ''Elizabeth'' (Elizabeth Burbury), * ''
Martha Gardener ''Martha Gardener'' is the nom de plume used by Kathleen Zoe Worrall (née Norris), during nearly all of her career of well over 50 years, at Melbourne broadcasting stations 3DB, 3AW, Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio and 3UZ, and nation ...
'' – Kathleen Zoe Worrall (wife of David Worrall) ée Norris * Louise Homfrey, * Bernice ''"Binny"'' Lum, * Dorothy Silk, * Iris Turnbull.


Children's program presenters

* Dick Cranbourne, * Jean Lawson, * ''Sally Anne'' (Milicent Osmond), * Isobel Ann Shead, * John Stuart, * ''Tillie the Telephone Girl'' (Marjorie Troy), * ''Winnie Wattle'' (believed to have been the first person to broadcast over 3DB).


Sports broadcasters – racing

* Brian Blackmore, * Bill Collins, * Dick Cranbourne, * Bert Day, * Keith McGowan, * Brian Martin, * John Vertigan, * Eric Welch.


Sports broadcasters – cricket

* Ron Casey, *
Lindsay Hassett Arthur Lindsay Hassett (28 August 1913 – 16 June 1993) was an Australian cricketer who played for Victoria and the Australian national team. The diminutive Hassett was an elegant middle-order batsman, described by ''Wisden'' as, "... a mas ...
, *
Bill Johnston Bill or Billy Johnston may refer to: * Bill Johnston (cricketer) (1922–2007), Australian cricketer * Bill Johnston (golfer) (1925–2021), American golfer and golf course architect * Bill Johnston (tennis) William Marquitz "Little Bill" John ...
, *
Ernie McCormick Ernest Leslie McCormick (16 May 1906 – 28 June 1991) was an Australian cricketer who played in 12 Test matches from 1935 to 1938. McCormick was an instrument-maker and jeweler. After the 1960–61 West Indies tour of Australia, Donald Brad ...
, *
Keith Rigg Keith Edward Rigg (21 May 1906 – 28 February 1995) was an Australian cricketer who played in eight Test matches from 1931 to 1937. His cousin, Colin McDonald, also played for Victoria and Australia. He was educated at Wesley College, Melbo ...
, * Jack Ryder, * Eric Welch, *
Bill Woodfull William Maldon Woodfull (22 August 1897 – 11 August 1965) was an Australian cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s. He captained both Victoria and Australia, and was best known for his dignified and moral conduct during the tumultuous bodyline s ...
.


Sports broadcasters – VFL/AFL Football

* George Andrew, * Ron Casey, *
Dennis Cometti Dennis John Cometti (born 26 March 1949) is an Australian retired sports commentator, player and coach of Australian rules football. In a career spanning 51 years, his smooth voice, dry humour and quick wit became his trademark. Until his reti ...
, *
Rex Hunt Rex James Hunt (born 7 March 1949) is an Australian television and radio personality, and a former Australian rules football player. He was also a veteran Australian rules football commentator known for his habit of making up quirky nicknames ...
, *
Sam Loxton Samuel John Everett Loxton (29 March 19213 December 2011) was an Australian cricketer, footballer and politician. Among these three pursuits, his greatest achievements were attained on the cricket field; he played in 12 Tests for Australia ...
, *
Lou Richards Lewis Thomas Charles "Lou" Richards, (15 March 1923 – 8 May 2017) was an Australian rules footballer who played 250 games for the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1941 and 1955. He captained the team ...
.


Sports broadcasters – other

* Ron Casey – boxing, wrestling, ice hockey, athletics (especially the
Stawell Gift The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short-distance running race. It is the main event in an annual carnival held on Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, St ...
), golf and a number of
Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...
, *
Rex Hunt Rex James Hunt (born 7 March 1949) is an Australian television and radio personality, and a former Australian rules football player. He was also a veteran Australian rules football commentator known for his habit of making up quirky nicknames ...
– fishing, * Eric Welch – wrestling, * Merv Williams – boxing & wrestling.


News readers and commentators

* John Boland, * Maurie Callard, * Lawrence Costin, *
Keith Dunstan John Keith Dunstan (3 February 1925 – 11 September 2013), known as Keith Dunstan, was an Australian journalist and author. He was a prolific writer and the author of more than 25 books. Early life Dunstan was born in Malvern East, Victoria, ...
, * John Eden, *
David Johnston David Lloyd Johnston (born June 28, 1941) is a Canadian academic, author, and statesman who served from 2010 to 2017 as Governor General of Canada, the 28th since Canadian Confederation. He is the commissioner of the Leaders' Debates Commis ...
* Frederick Howard, * Reg Leonard, * Geoff McComas, * Renn Millar, * Brian Naylor * Sir Eric Pearce, * Geoff Raymond, * Roland Redshaw, *
Mal Walden Mal Walden is a former English-born Australian retired journalist and television news presenter based in Melbourne. On his retirement, he was reported to be the longest continually serving face on Australian television with a media career spann ...
.


Talkback presenters

* Doug Aiton, * John Anderson, * Ron Casey, * Father Gerard Dowling, * Pat Jarrett, * Barry Jones, * Gerald Lyons, *
Michael Schildberger Michael Julius Schildberger (4 April 1938 – 2 June 2010) was an Australian journalist, radio and television presenter, and author. He is best known for hosting ''A Current Affair'' in the 1970s. Career Schildberger began his media career in 1 ...
.


Actors and drama producers

*
Dorothy Crawford Dorothy Muriel Turner Crawford (21 March 1911 – 2 September 1988), other names Dorothy Balderson, Dorothy Strong and Dorothy Smith, was an Australian actress and announcer, as well as a producer in radio and television, who, with her brother ...
, *
Hector Crawford Hector William Crawford CBE AO (14 August 191311 March 1991) was an Australian entrepreneur, conductor and media mogul, best known for his radio and television production firms. He and his sister Dorothy Crawford founded Crawford Productions ...
, * Keith Eden, * George Edwards, * Louise Homphrey, *
Patricia Kennedy Patricia Helen Kennedy Lawford (May 6, 1924 – September 17, 2006) was an American socialite, and the sixth of nine children of Rose and Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. She was a sister of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator ...
, * Ray Russell, * Nell Sterling.


Variety artists and producers

* The 3DB Quartet, * Max Bostok, * Geoff Brooke, * Agnes Brown, * Shirlene Clancy, * Bill Collins, * Dick Cranbourne, * Colin Crane, *
Dorothy Crawford Dorothy Muriel Turner Crawford (21 March 1911 – 2 September 1988), other names Dorothy Balderson, Dorothy Strong and Dorothy Smith, was an Australian actress and announcer, as well as a producer in radio and television, who, with her brother ...
, *
Hector Crawford Hector William Crawford CBE AO (14 August 191311 March 1991) was an Australian entrepreneur, conductor and media mogul, best known for his radio and television production firms. He and his sister Dorothy Crawford founded Crawford Productions ...
, * Tom Davidson, *
Bob Dyer Robert Neal Dyer OBE (May 22, 1909 – January 9, 1984) was a Gold Logie-award-winning American-born vaudeville entertainer and singer, radio and television personality, and radio and television quiz show host who made his name in Australia. Dy ...
, *
Dolly Dyer Thelma Phoebe Mclean MBE (5 June 192125 December 2004), known professionally as Dolly Dyer (formerly Mack) was an Australian Gold Logie winning radio and TV personality, and wife of fellow game-show host and performer Bob Dyer. Early life She w ...
, *
Jim Gerald Jim Gerald (1 January 1891 – 2 March 1971) born James Fitzgerald was an Australian comedian, circus clown, acrobat, writer, director and troupe leader and filmmaker. Theatre Historian Frank Van Straten has described Gerald as "the quintessen ...
, * Les Gordon, * June Hamilton, * Dan Hardy, * Darcy Kelway, * Rod McLennan, * Jock McLachan, * Renn Millar, * Mabel Nelson – official 3DB accompanist, *
Jack O'Hagan John Francis "Jack" O'Hagan OBE (29 November 189815 July 1987) was an Australian singer-songwriter and radio personality. Early life O'Hagan was born as John Francis O'Hagan, in Fitzroy, a suburb of Melbourne. He was the son of Pat O'Hagan ...
, * Eula Parker, * Marie Parker, * Sir Eric Pearce, * Jack Perry, * Glenda Raymond, * Charles Skase, * Stan Stafford, * John Stuart, * Mark Sutherland, * Charles Taylor, * Lou Toppano, * Charlie Vaude, * George Wallace Snr, * Cedric Zahara.


Presenters of speciality programs

*
Stephanie Deste Stephanie Deste (22 January 1901 - 14 April 1996) was an acclaimed Australian actor, dancer, radio personality, and beautician. Deste made important contributions to Australian theatrical culture through her stage and radio work and was an in ...
– theatrical *
Crosbie Morrison Philip Crosbie Morrison (19 December 1900 – 1 March 1958) was an Australian naturalist, educator, journalist, broadcaster and conservationist. Early years Morrison was born in Hawthorn, Victoria. He attended Auburn State School and Univers ...
– wildlife * C. G. Scrimgeour – science


Downloads of 3DB audio (and some video)

* 60th anniversary history of 3DB, 1987, with
Bert Newton Albert Watson Newton (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer and radio, theatre and television personality and presenter. Newt ...
, then Manager of 3DB. * 3DB bits and pieces from the early 1950s * 3DB news theme,
Heart of Oak "Heart of Oak" is the official march of the Royal Navy. It is also the official march of several Commonwealth navies, including the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy. It was also the official march of the Royal Australian Navy ...
, played by the Orchestra of the Royal Marines, conducted by Sir Vivian Dunn. The main news bulletins at 7.45am, 12.30pm and 7.00pm used the first 25 seconds of the theme, whilst other bulletins only used a smaller section. * The ''Smileaway Club'' theme with Charlie Vaude and Renn Millar * Interview with 1930s 3DB personality Ken Lyons; interview from 3AW's ''Nightline'' with Philip Brady and Simon Owens, 2010s. * 1939 declaration of war by the Prime Minister of Australia, The Rt Hon.
Robert Menzies The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...
and broadcast by 3DB. * ''I Lost My Heart on Hayman Island'', Max Blake and the 3DB Orchestra. *''The Melba Story'', links to various episodes of the famous Crawford Production. * ''Dad and Dave'', 1st episode in 1937, plus a collection of 23 episodes * Episode 1 of the Australian version of the U.S.'s ''
When a Girl Marries ''When a Girl Marries'' is an American daytime radio drama that was broadcast on three major radio networks from 1939 to 1957. Created by Elaine Sterne Carrington (who also was responsible for ''Pepper Young's Family'' and ''Rosemary''), it was th ...
''. * ''Lux Radio Theatre'', two episodes. * ''Secrets of Scotland Yard'', 57 episodes. * ''Address Unknown'', 33 episodes. * ''D24'', 15 episodes, * ''Consider Your Verdict'', a link to a number of episodes. * ''Fred and Maggie Everybody''. * ''Daddy and Paddy''. * Max Bostok interview re his radio and TV days, including ''The Happy Gang'' in the 1950s. * ''The Happy Gang''. * Top hits of 1962 with Barry Ferber and
Ernie Sigley Ernest William Sigley (2 September 1938 – 15 August 2021) was an Australian television host, comedian, variety performer, radio presenter and singer. Known as a pioneer of radio and television in Australian, he was often styled as a "little A ...
. * ''Tony Doherty Show'', 1960s. * Dennis Scanlan talkback, three segments. * ''Rhythm of the City'' jingle, from the late 1970s. * Another ''Rhythm of the City'' promotion, preceded by a 1980 advert. for the United Australia Party with Clive Palmer * 1981 television commercial for
Ernie Sigley Ernest William Sigley (2 September 1938 – 15 August 2021) was an Australian television host, comedian, variety performer, radio presenter and singer. Known as a pioneer of radio and television in Australian, he was often styled as a "little A ...
on 3DB. * 1983 racing promotion featuring
Michael Schildberger Michael Julius Schildberger (4 April 1938 – 2 June 2010) was an Australian journalist, radio and television presenter, and author. He is best known for hosting ''A Current Affair'' in the 1970s. Career Schildberger began his media career in 1 ...
. * ''Thanks for the Memory'' hosted by Bob Machliss, 14 December 1986. * Ertha Kitt, interviewed by
Bert Newton Albert Watson Newton (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer and radio, theatre and television personality and presenter. Newt ...
, 1986. * ''3DB Melbourne's Own'' jingle, 1986/87. * Overnight music from 3DB, c1986/87


See also

*
Major Broadcasting Network The Major Broadcasting Network was an important part of the Australian broadcasting scene from 1938 until the 1970s. History and background In 1938 David Worrall, manager of 3DB Melbourne, launched the Major Broadcasting Network which up until i ...
*
KIIS 101.1 KIIS 1011 (official callsign: 3TTT) is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on a frequency of 101.1 MHz and is the Melbourne affiliate of ARN's KIIS Network. The station was formerly known as 3DB ...
*
History of broadcasting in Australia The history of broadcasting in Australia has been shaped for over a century by the problem of communication across long distances, coupled with a strong base in a wealthy society with a deep taste for aural communications in a silent landscape. ...
* ''
Radio Times ''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...
''


References

{{Reflist Radio stations established in 1927 Radio stations in Melbourne Defunct radio stations in Australia Radio stations disestablished in 1988