Sounds Historical for Sunday 30 August 2015

8:07 Today in New Zealand History.

On 30 August 1861 St John Branigan arrives in Dunedin to head the goldfields police.

8:14 Artist: Coral Cummins with Calder Prescott Octet

Song: It Might As Well Be Spring
Composer: Rogers/Hammerstein

8:21 Which Way to Paradise?

A 1970 documentary in which Alwyn Owen visits the Cook Islands. Part Two.

8:37 Gerard Curran introduces reminiscences of the early 4YA radio station (1970s).

Jim McFarlane, manager of WNTV1, recalls the very early years and his association with the original 4YA in Moray Place and then the new studio which was built in 1929 in Stuart Street. Recalls what the three studios were used for. Remembers station managers: John McKenzie (nicknamed "Long John"), John O'Donoghue, Howard Ninnis and broadcasters and announcers: Dudley Wrathall, John Gordon, Jim Hartstonge and Lionel Sceats. Talks about the yearly party that would be put on by the station manager for all the artists who had worked for the station. Geoffrey Newson recalls the 4YA Orchestra and how Gil Dech would personally buy the music for the members. They started having live studio revues which were half hour shows. Memories of Mr. Travelman and Big Brother Bill who ran the children's show. Les Jack, who was possibly Mr. Travelman recalls the show and working with Bill. Walter Sinton, who first broadcast in 1926 recalls some of the early radio personalities and his involvement with the many bands he performed in.

Artist: Dayle Anderson (piano)
Song: The Nikau Waltz
Composer: D W Quill

8:53 War Report 51

Veterans at a re-union in 1960 recall their experiences during the first few months on Gallipoli.

Music:

Artist: John McCormack
Song: There's a Long Long Trail A Winding
Composer: King/Elliott
Album: Oh, It's a Lovely War Vol 2
Label: CD41 486309

Artist: Alfred Lester
Song: Good-Bye-Eee
Composer: Weston Lee
Album: Sounds of World War 1
Label: Goentertainment 557331

9:00 News

9:05 As I Remember

Memories of a film pioneer Stanhope Andrews by David Black of Waiuku.

9:09 Small Businesses in the Provinces Twenty Years Ago.

Nick Rosenberg explores unemployment issues in Timaru in 1992. The city had 11% unemployment and was regarded as a typical small city in times of high unemployment. 14'58"

9:27 Artist: Coral Cummins with Bob Bradford Quintet

Song: Day By Day
Composer: Cahn

9:32 The Wrights Hill Gun Emplacements - a 1996 visit.

Jim Sullivan interviews Bill Currie and Mike Lee about the gun emplacements around Wellington and specifically about the Wrights Hill fortifications. 14 Mar 1996. Bill describes Fort Dorset (where he sought his first placement as an artillery man), Palmer Head, Fort Ballance and Wrights Hill batteries. In the eighteen months he spent at Wrights Hill in 1945-6 work included building a turret, bringing in generators and an hydraulic pump and practising artillery fire. He says he never held the fear of being invaded. Mike explains that after the war the site at Wrights Hill was used for army training purposes until 1958 after which the guns were cut up for scrap and sold to the Japanese. A wooden replica of this gun can now be found in the network of underground concrete tunnels and is part of the restoration of this historic site. Other work includes the restoration of wooden walls and floors, painting and the replacement of electric wires. The Karori Lions originally took on the project which opened The Wrights Hill Fortress to the public on ANZAC day 1989 in conjunction with the opening of the Wrights Hill Reserve. In 1992 Mike explains how his group created a Society and took the reins of restoration from there. He is encouraged by the growing interest from the public of war time artifacts which is shown in the support of their tours. 13'23'

9:46 Artist: Les Andrews

Song: You'll Never Walk Alone
Composer: Rodgers/Hammerstein

9:49 Memories of a Film Projectionist

Doug Harvey talks to Jonathon Denis about his career in the cinema which began in 1939.