大象传媒

In this three-part series, Barry Humphries celebrates 100 years of the 大象传媒 with a witty and thought-provoking playlist of songs by artists, who made their name during the earliest days of radio. Music Highlights in this show include: 'Twiddling with the Knobs on the Radio' by Dorrie Dene, 'Are You Having Any Fun?' by Dick Bentley and 'No One to Read Out the News: A 大象传媒 Tragedy' by the Western Brothers.

Barry also reveals how the origins of British broadcasting lie in Essex and that the Australian Soprano Dame Nellie Melba took part in a ground-breaking broadcast in Britain on 15th June 1920, two years before the 大象传媒 was formed.

The 大象传媒 was formed in the autumn of 1922. Back then, that combination of letters meant nothing to most people. Also, until 1927 the 'C' in 'B.B.C.' actually stood for 'company' rather than 'corporation'. Gradually, with its microphones and transmitters, condensers, valves and knobs, the Beeb - as it's now more affectionally known - brought an exciting range of writers, scientists, musicians, politicians and entertainers into people's lives for the very first time. A new method of mass communication had been born. 'Listening in' to the wireless became a social and cultural phenomenon!

One hundred years ago, when the system of broadcasting in Britain was first conceived, it was specifically designed to be very different from the radio chaos that had sprung up on the other side of the Atlantic, after the end of the First World War. In America, anyone could set up a radio station and British Officials quickly decided that the USA's overcrowded airways were not to be repeated here. The 大象传媒 quickly became an International, as well as, a National Treasure. It opened up a world of information, education and entertainment to millions!

Barry Humphries says:

'It鈥檚 great to be back on 大象传媒 Radio 2. Of all the things I do, speaking to others via the 鈥榳izardry of wireless鈥� is my absolute favourite! Listeners to 大象传媒 Radio 2 are in for a treat. I鈥檒l be presenting my personal selection of the most thought-provoking and entertaining songs by artists, who became famous during the earliest days of radio.

'Listening to my parents鈥� radio, when I was a child, was how I first discovered that there was a world of music, laughter and entertainment beyond suburban Melbourne and that some people actually earned a living as entertainers. Radio opened up a world of information, education and entertainment to me and countless others.

'I consider the wireless to be the world鈥檚 greatest invention. My influences would have been so very narrow without it. The sound of my parents鈥� radio is embedded in the background of my earliest memories.鈥�

'Relatively quickly, the 大象传媒 established itself as an International as well as a National Treasure. Broadcasting opened up a world of information, education and entertainment to me and countless others!'

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