
In 1959, Johnny O'Keefe claimed he had 40 suits all worth over 100 pounds each. Tailors known to have made costumes for Johnny include Andy Ellis, Pineapple Joe, Len Taylor, Vince Gerbino and his mother Thelma.
In this radio interview from the 1970's, Johnny explains the inspiration for his flamboyant early costumes and, amid much laughter, why he stopped wearing them.
Notes by Stephen Groenewegen
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.