Thanks. Can you provide a link?

All true. I actually started to write a history of the Southern Cross Hotel . Interviewed a number of people who were there around the time of the Beatles visit. I only got the first few chapters finished. But I will get back to it. I did upload a piece about Festival Hall when its demolition appeared to be a certainty. I included quite a few links to concert footage at the end of it. Thanks for your memories of that time backinthedayblogspot.blogspot.com/2023/05/festival-hall-exit-stage-right-festival_30.html

Quite possibly they used the same recording in both cities. Both parks were established by the same American owners - the Phillips brothers

@@retrothingz I feel sorry for the ride and the people who lost their lives.

By the ''80s, the "Old" Luna Park was nearing the end of its life. A lot changed around the early '90s. Many of the iconic rides were removed. As you may recall, there was fire which destroyed the Giggle Palace. The River Caves, Whip and Big Dipper were also demolished. Very sad. So much history went to the tip.If you click on the video title/ description you'll find a link to a collection of.photos . All the best

Indeed. The Beatles were a stoic lot. Despite their stardom, they just accepted the vagaries and uncertainties of life with a shrug of the shoulder and a chuckle... most of the time....or, at least, that was the image

@@retrothingz yes they never took themselves to seriously, always sending themselves up and we loved them for if it! It was wonderful to see the Beatles on TV giving interviews of course 3 years of constantly touring, interviews, making films etc took it toll and by 1966 they had enough of it

@@beatlebrian4404 ... a touch of self effacing humour always helps to humanize such near-God like celebs. Elvis was the same. He knew what the image was and he always delighted in self satire.

He was very short sighted as I understand. However he was interviewed, briefly, in Brisbane ? before he left and he, apparently, said that he actually enjoyed the tour....apart from the storm at the airport on arrival. We did have trains here in "Austria" in 1964....but not running around the airports...

Yes, I think so..As I understand, she was on the tour at John's invitation. From all reports, they were very close.

Yes, apparently on arrival she took one look at the madness awaiting them and stayed on the plane until the circus moved on enough for a chance to quietly slip away to visit family in Adelaide

@@npc3po301 Also seem to recall reading that either George or Jimmy had relatives in Beaumaris (Melbourne bayside suburb)

Thanks for that. Didn't realise HDN was as early as '64. Great.movie and songs. It seemed to have a major influence on Australian groups and our popular culture in general. Many young guys started to get around dressed all in black !! Not sure if the Beatles suits were actually black or if they just looked that way in the.movie

Pills.

​@@randymillhouse791And youth

high ambitions

The problem had nothing to do with the projector noise but rather the fact that the reporter wasn't holding the microphone close enough to his mouth nor close enough to the interviewee. Unfortunately, the film to video transfer was also done in a somewhat primitive way....quite a few years ago now (1990s)

Yes.As I understand, the BOAC flight came via Hong Kong? ...possibly stopped in Darwin and then went on to Sydney? Might be wrong with all that. Outsiders tend to think of Australia as being one big endless summer. But the Beatles were here in winter.

The wind and rain were awful too.

​@@randymillhouse791 It was an unfortunate start to an otherwise very successful tour. A book was written about it. I had the pleasure of communicating with Ken Brodziak on several occasions. He was the Melbourne based promoter behind the Beatles visit. He also brought many other acts to Australia including the Monkees. I contacted him back in the '90s when this film came into my possession. He was very helpful providing background info on the whole thing....right down to remembering the name of the cameraman who was onboard the BOAC flight.

Looks like John's aunt? sitting next to him?

​@@retrothingzYes ! It's aunt Mimi

2:39 that’s Jimmy Nichol who stood in for Ringo when he was sick

​​@@justmadeit2 Seems that he never really benefitted from his brief stint with the Beatles...or, perhaps more accurately, never tried to. Apparently an excellent talent who did a lot of work as a drummer around the London theatre scene (?), pop stardom alluded him and his life was.no picnic in later years ...from what I've read. But, the bottom line was that Ringo wasn't just competent...he was a uniquely creative player. His playing was so distinctive and inventive

@@retrothingzMust have been an amazing experience for him for those 12 days or so that he was involved

A few things are still there....the Scenic Railway...Ghost Train...carousel....but that's about it. Much of it has long gone....the River Caves, Giggle Palace, Rotor....Big Dipper . Dodgems and U-Drive...all long gone.

@@retrothingz Dodgems are still there! The Palace is being renovated so they've moved

@@jessschmidt7389Different palace. Where the dodgems were is what’s known as the Luna palace. The giggle palace was burned down years ago.

Thanks Grant .Pleased you enjoyed it Yes Graham and Bert had terrific voices and they were so professional bearing in mind how young they were ...only in their 20s at that time .All the best .Bruce

The first half is from 1963. The second part is a broadcast from '62.Yes, that situation with AK and BS eventually required the Australian broadcasting authority (whatever it was called ?) to intervene. From memory , I was working at AK around 1980 when we decided (or were told !) to change the frequency ? from 1500 to 1503 ? Might have the story slightly wrong ...but it was something like that. But, yes, at nights, the two stations were really getting their signals crossed ! Thanks for your comment and all the best for the new year ....Oh...also...talking about 1963. ..have a listen to my aircheck of Bob Rogers dates from about '63.

@@retrothingz 3AK and 2BS moved from 1500 to 1503 in late 1978, when the 9kHz spacing was introduced. The Australian Broadcasting Authority would have been called the Department of Communications (DOC) back then, as far as I know.

@@RGC198 Check.....aircheck, in fact

All these Luna Park recordings went to air one night on the 3AW program "Remember When". From memory, the year was probably 1992...the 80th birthday of Luna Park, St Kilda. I used to listen to the program every week and they mentioned at the beginning of this particular program that they were going to be playing a few recordings which came from the early days of the park so I ran off a tape (an aircheck). That's what you're hearing .

Well... yeah ...you're right ....fly and Y definitely rhymes. But, as you may recall, if (as I assume) you were listening to AK and XY at the time, AK was fairly popular with the Wrinkly format. It was a close (?) race for a while as they both competed for the rock audience. Although XY eventually won that race AK pretty much took the gold cup from a ratings viewpoint by switching to beautiful music which was hugely successful From memory, they went to number one in the first survey ?) and stayed at or near the top for about ten years. Thanks for your comment

@@retrothingz Here's the weird thing, I know I was pretty well glued to 3XY and I can't recall listening to AK but I'm sure I would have from time to time in an effort to chase down that track that you we're desperately trying to get on that C90 tape. It wasn't long after that I ditched the AM band and listened to 3RMT which later moved to Fitzroy and became 3RRR.

@@EyeTube50 Check. Interesting times when FM arrived.I listened to PBS ....way back.

Hi Geoff. I certainly remember your name. Were you part of the original on air team with Graham Braddy, Richard etc ? In fact, I wrote an obit piece for Rhett Walker that was published on a couple of radio industry websites in the US

@@retrothingz Yes, I was part of the original FOX FM announcing team from day 1 at the Channel 10 Nunawading Studios in August 1980 together with Graham Braddy, Richard Combe, Mike Jeffries, John Aimes, Ralphe Rickman, Peter Acfield, Rod McNeil and a few others. Can you send me the obit you wrote for Rhett W.? He was my boss also at 3KZ before he hired me for FOX FM. A brilliant operator and a good friend. Many thanks in advance.

@@worldtvinternational Sorry Geoff didn't get this message If you google Rhett Walker Bruce Corneil it will come up

@@worldtvinternational Here it is Geoff.....www.google.com.au/search?q=rhett+walker+bruce+corneil&sxsrf=ALiCzsaDUmHaHcvAACCd7grPF1ShkwAncg%3A1657790462078&source=hp&ei=_t_PYounAeCbseMP4v6ygAE&iflsig=AJiK0e8AAAAAYs_uDvdSyzutDLjx4OyOw3z6-VuZEKlt&ved=0ahUKEwiLnufchvj4AhXgTWwGHWK_DBAQ4dUDCAk&uact=5&oq=rhett+walker+bruce+corneil&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBAgjECc6BwgjEOoCECc6DQguEMcBEK8BEOoCECc6BQgAEJECOgUILhCRAjoLCAAQgAQQsQMQgwE6DgguEIAEELEDEMcBENEDOhEILhCABBCxAxCDARDHARDRAzoICAAQgAQQsQM6BQgAEIAEOgsILhCABBCxAxCDAToLCC4QsQMQxwEQrwE6CgguEIAEEIcCEBQ6DggAEIAEELEDEIMBEMkDOgUIABCSAzoNCC4QgAQQhwIQsQMQFDoKCAAQgAQQhwIQFDoFCC4QgAQ6CAguEIAEELEDOggILhDUAhCRAjoICC4QgAQQ1AI6BggAEB4QFlDBBVj9K2C-MGgBcAB4AIABkgKIAcUdkgEGMC4yNS4xmAEAoAEBsAEK&sclient=gws-wiz

Thanks. Pleased you enjoyed it.

so much i do. so much i cant tell you . in a single text message. my grandfather would have loved it too. over the top. then the angels done a song about it .

The Giggle Palace was a lot of fun Julie. Thanks for sharing your memories of Luna Park

Hi Brad, Yes it was a big part of our early years here in Melbourne. Thanks for your comment

No. that was the ghost train at Sydney's Luna Park. This recording is from Luna Park Melbourne

@@retrothingz Poor people (and ride).

Thanks Robert. Pleased you enjoyed it. Worth taking a look at the complete, original film....you'll find a link to it in my video description. All the best.

Hi Paige, What a great place to live... these days. Being haunted (past tense) was the reputation that it had some years ago...but, then, I suppose that's the case with most interesting, old and poorly maintained houses .I can't recall the exact details in regard to what was (allegedly) going on there. However, as I understand, there was something about a light, possibly like an old oil lamp swinging and moving around the upstairs rooms as if it was being carried by someone, long after the place had been abandoned and fallen into disrepair. But any spooky occurrences finally came to an end when it was cleaned out , renovated and converted into apartments about twenty years ago. Most of the photos that I used in the video date from about that time.Prior to that ,it was an even bigger wreck. The balconies were, quite literally, hanging down like ribbons onto the lower verandahs. The "garden" was a jungle.In fact, I think it was condemned by the local council at one point. The Atherton family had owned the house since about the 1920s ? They also built "Ballater" ? ...the '30s ? home that still stands in front of "Thalassa" on Ormond Esplanade. From memory, I seem to recall reading that the latter property was built on the tennis court ? of "Thalassa" There are quite a few news items about both Dr Iredell and the Athertons that you can find online by checking Trove, the website of digitised newspapers that's operated by the National Library in Canberra .All the best.

Hi Peter, Thanks for your comment. From memory, Richard passed away back in the late 1990s....or thereabouts ? Again, as I recall, his health had been declining for some time and he was in hospital on several occasions ? Finally died at his home in Beaumaris ? I attended his funeral in Brighton. Yes, he was at MP, then later at AK, briefly, around the mid '80s. A very witty and talented guy....gone far too soon

@@retrothingz Hi, yes it was the early 90s very sad time for all of us in radio. To answer Peter B's question towards the end, Richard had a very bad problem with alcohol and that eventually killed him. He was a thin person and the hard liquor took a very bad toll. He was found in his house in Beaumaris a few days after his death, it was a very tragic end which shocked many of us, but he had a drinking problem for quite some time before he passed away, which a lot of us tried to help him with. RIP to one of the greatest radio talents on earth.

@@worldtvinternational Hi Geoff, Yes I had cause to drive him home one afternoon to his house in Haldane ? Street. I started life in Beaumaris myself. You're correct, he was down to about 90 pounds near the end. Very sad. We worked together at AK, briefly, around the mid '80s. As you may recall, the station had switched to an easy listening gold format by then under the stewardship of Geoff Charter. In fact, I was programming in the library with Geoff. I have a photo of us. Also remember Rhett Walker being in the library one day looking over the playlist .I assume he was consulting. And, of course , Rhett would have hired Richard at Fox and Geoff was PD at 3MP. Richard and I were also part of the original team which established Southern FM , the community station in bayside Melbourne. Others who came onboard were Ray Lawrence, Neil Thompson ? John D'arcy, Chuck Faulkner....who was living back in Melbourne for a while. But, yes....again....Richard was a wonderful talent with a beautiful voice....probably one of the best impersonators.

My pleasure.

Thanks Robert. Hope these old tapes bring back a few happy memories. All the best.

@@retrothingz I put a link to this on facebook, hope it gets a few more listeners.

Interesting information Albert. Thanks.

Not that I'm aware of. However, it's a fair question. Indeed, I can remember, vividly, as a very young kid, that, when we went into one of the big city cinemas on a Saturday night, they certainly did play GSTQ before the screening and everyone was expected to stand. They even did it at the drive - ins and before some concerts at Festival Hall.

Yes definitely. I remember Australian radio stations signing off with God Save the Queen as late as 1966 and 1967.

@@RGC198 Interesting..I would have thought that most of the metro stations were broadcasting 24/7 by then ? But, no, hang on a minute.....I seem to recall hearing an aircheck of 3AK from the early '70s and, during an interview, the announcer said " please excuse the noise in the background....they're building our new studio for 24 hour broadcasting". Not sure why they would have needed a new studio simply to extend their broadcasting hours....

@@retrothingz Apparently, 3AK would close down early at night to avoid interference with 2BS Bathurst. I think when 3AK found out they were going to be able to extend their broadcasting hours, they may have decided to also get a new studio at the same time.

Hi Jesse. I don't know much about these recordings. They went to air on 3AW's Sunday night nostalgia program "Remember When" way back in 1992 when Luna Park celebrated its 80th birthday. I taped them, as they were being broadcast, on the radio cassette recorder that I owned at the time. From memory,, they were 78 rpm records which had been loaned to the station. Obviously, it's a long time ago now. Not sure if the aforementioned program is still on air. If so, might be best to contact the producer. Unfortunately, I have deleted the video files that I had to make in order to transfer these Luna Park items on to You Tube. I don't have any audio for Old King Cole - the king at the Giggle Palace. Good luck with your project.

That's great info thanks for that - Do you think there might be a possibility of us being able to hook up some audio equipment and tape your tapes directly in high quality? We're based just out of Melbourne and would be happy to work around your schedule if possible? Email me on icing@cake.net.au if you'd be interested..

I've gone back and listened to these old tapes in more detail. Bruce and Phil , the presenters of the program on which the Luna Park records were broadcast, mentioned that they belonged to Andrew McLaren. Andrew is another Melbourne radio personality who has been associated with 3AW ,on and off, for many years. In fact, a quick search of You Tube indicates that he was still at the station as recently as six months ago (type in Andrew McLaren 3AW) and he was a guest on the evening program at that time which is still being hosted by Phiip Brady. As I understand, Simon Owens is the producer and co - host. So, as we've now established who owns these recordings and where you contact him, I think that's what you need to do. Call the station during office hours , have a chat to Simon (or send him an email) and see if he can put you in touch with Andrew. As you can appreciate, I can't give you permission to use them for any sort of special / public project - particularly if it's a commercial activity. All I have done here on my channel is to upload part of a 3AW broadcast that went to air many years ago. From your viewpoint, I don't think it would be a good idea to just go ahead and use them without first making some effort to contact Andrew. I'll have to leave it there for the time being as I need to take a break from You Tube in order to move on to other things. Once again, good luck with your project.