Collection
Before The Voice, before The X-Factor, there was... Australia's Amateur Hour!
Australia's Amateur Hour was a radio talent show that Australians took to their hearts. It ran from 1940-1958, and...
Article
In the late 1960s and early 70s, up-and-coming rock bands looked to find fame and win big by competing in the ultimate contest – Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds.
Article
We're celebrating UNESCO's World Radio Day with Australia's Amateur Hour (1940-1958), 'the largest radio show of all'.
Audio
Recording of Joan Sutherland performing ‘Dich teure Halle’ (Dear hall of song) from Act II of Wagner’s 1845 opera, Tannhäuser as the winner of the 1950 Mobil Quest.
Audio
Joan Sutherland performing ‘Devotion (Widmung)', composed in 1840 by Robert Schumann, at the 1950 Mobil Quest singing contest.
Audio
Ian MacRae from radio station 2SM interviews Jim Keays from The Masters Apprentices about his experience competing in the Battle of the Sounds, 1985. Courtesy: 2SM. NFSA title: 551381
Video
This clip is from an early variety/talent show hosted by Bert Newton. In this episode, the contestants perform in a barbecue setting with the other contestants looking on.
The format of these early...
