Music in Australia in 1940's

Answer 1

Main stream entertainment in Australia depended pretty well on American and English artists with a smattering of Australian and NZ artists thrown in on the radio and live shows; television also arrived in Australia in 1956.

Most people during the 1950's went to regular Saturday Night dances and to "the pictures"/movies. People also entertained themselves with local card and bridge games, lawn bowls, bingo, croquet, following the races or listening to the football.

'Biggles' was a Favourite regular radio show, as was the school-class comedy, "Yes; what?" 'Billy Bouncer/Uncle Norman' was a favorite, pre-school radio show.

Uncle Norman [Norman Swain] eventually hosted a children's television show. His competitors wee also running kids' shows, such as Happy Hammond and the Tarax [soft drink] Shows also commenced late in the decade.

Soon after television arrived, some favourite regular series were Superman, the Cisco Kid, Roy Rogers, the Disney Mousketeers, etc.

Some churches and youth centres, such as YMCA, also ran programmes and entertainment of various kinds for the public and youth.

When rock'n'roll hit the waves, Johnny O'Keefe from Sydney, quickly made a huge name for himself, with his own unique style, being locally dubbed, "The King" - having television shows and big hit records. To give some idea of the strength of his popularity and influence, it would be fair to say that no one even since his day has been any 'bigger' in the Australian pop scene than was 'JOK', as he was also often called. Frank Ifield was also just coming into his own by the end of the 1950's in the Country Music scene.

However, as in the 1950's, even as now, the Aussies tended to use sport as their main form of entertainment. Horse racing, AFL football, rugby, soccer and Basketball in winter & surfing, cricket, yachting, swimming, tennis, etc. in summer; plenty of picnics in its wide open spaces. Overall, Melbourne is probably the capital of much of this; and they have some excellent comedy clubs.

Answer 2

American music was popular in Australia during the 1940's. Popular songs of the time included "The Woodpecker Song," Sunday, Monday, or Always," "A Lovely Way to Spend An Evening," and "The Anniversary Song."