The last time I met Bert Newton I was doing a hospital bedside interview with another pioneer of Australian TV, Hal Todd. Hal was said to be one of the first people on Australian television and was an old mate of Bert’s. I’d known Hal for some time from 3AW radio where I was a film reviewer and sometime producer. I was, then, also working for The Age Green Guide, the paper’s TV, film and radio supplement. That interview, in Hal’s private hospital room, which went to press, really was, for me, a cheer-up chat with a friend who was quite ill and a bit depressed. Without fanfare, in walked Bert Newton, wearing an impeccable camel trench coat over one of his famed neatly stylish, classic suit and tie outfits. [I never met anyone who could tie a necktie as perfectly as Bert] Together, we did our best to cheer up Hal and in no time with ‘Toddy’; as he was known to his friends and fans alike, strolled down a crowded, funny and sometimes risqué memory lane. [Some so-and-so at The Age PR department, put in a page one box promoting the Green Guide with the slug, ‘Toddy’s Last Interview’] I was apoplectic with rage. The man was ill but nowhere near death’s door which I mentioned in my article. He lived on for quite some time and did give more interviews. I’d also ran into Bert many times as my job required me to ‘work’ the TV and radio stations keeping an eye on what was moving and shaking in Melbourne’s active entertainment world. Many years later, ‘stringing’ overseas for the Herald and various other publications I’d got over being ‘star struck’ when talking to ‘celebrities’, famous actors, directors and such; however, sometimes I met special people who have that indefinable ‘spark’ within them that reaches out and grabs your imagination, comic or otherwise. Audrey Hepburn was, to me, a famous example of that ‘magic’. My tale of meeting her, having her ‘bot’ my cigarettes and later dancing with me at a UNICEF function is one I’m saving for my autobiography. MORE TO COME SEE ABOVE
The fact they had the audience in stitches with the no personal stuff gags flying left right & centre & Kerry Packer laughing as well shows how actually funny they were
Closer to home, Bert Newton, like Graham Kennedy, was one such special person. Bert could knock down his beloved brand of beer like any ordinary Aussie. The next time I saw him he could be hosting a nationally televised ‘gala event’ using only his formidable talent for working with or without a script, and his ever-present charm. Bert hosted so many Logie Award nights I’m sure people thought he was the ‘legislated’ host. Oh, yes, he also walked away with the top award of a Gold Logie four times, that I can recall. Graham Kennedy won so many golden statuettes that he used to tell people they were breeding in his living room. I lost count a long time ago but I think he took home 7 or 8 odd little ‘TV Week figures’. This was, in a way, quite fitting; apart from thoroughly deserving them, it was Graham who came up with the name, Logie, when approached by TV Week, the publication that kicked off the awards, based on votes from their readership. It was, of course, an elaborate publicity campaign for their TV guide, but as we had no acting or creative academy for film or TV people. It was taken up by private enterprise. (John Logie Baird, by the way, was one of the earliest boffins to begin work on this new theory of ‘televised’ sound and vision to be broadcast into people’s homes). Only several years younger than Bert, I, like thousands of Australians of my generation, grew up with the early days of Australian TV, nearly all of which was broadcast live to-air. No show was more memorable than Channel 9's 'In Melbourne Tonight', hosted by a young, former radio sidekick, Graham Kennedy, another outstanding talent who worked hard at making his ‘ad-libs’ seem as spontaneous and natural as a thought that just occurred to him. Much more of Graham Kennedy’s work was structured and deeply rehearsed, far more than anyone, outside his ‘gang’, might have guessed. MORE TO COME SEE ABOVE
G'day Laurie, I’m a new subscriber who can't thank you enough for your channel, particularly your priceless clips of the late, truly great, Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton. I had the great privilege of knowing both of these Australian TV greats. The years I slogged away at becoming a professional film critic/reviewer and author were all worth it when this perfectly average boy from Bell Street Coburg who grew up watching IMT in all its subsequent forms. Around 12 years ago I gave up on live-to-air TV and following entertainment news. So, when I ‘accidentally’ heard of Bert's passing, I was gutted. I wept. I simply had to get something down on paper. I felt I owed Bert and Graham some way of saying thank you, even it is a poor return for all the years of laughter and entertainment, yes, even excitement at watching IMT as a young lad. Laurie, I hope you and your subscribers don't mind if I add what I wrote the other day to this comment. If nothing else take it as much needed grief therapy for me. I hope you enjoy my, way too long, somewhat disjointed tale of my move from nightly TV viewer and fan to a TV journalist who could never believe his luck at meeting so many wonderful people in showbiz. Graham and Bert, of course, were and always will be at the top of that long list. Here goes: MORE TO COME SEE ABOVE
Thank you, Bill. I certainly don't mind and I'm certain my subscribers don't either. I look forward to reading your entire posts. Commercial television today, and for the past decade or so, is in a sad state. I often wonder why the US still has, and loves, its tonight show format, but Australia doesn't. Perhaps, it's because we don't have another organic Graham or Bert. Steve Vizard and Rove McManus tried to carry the mantle. Even Shaun Micallef, but his type of humour was too sophisticated for some. Thanks again for your thoughts and for sharing some of your experiences with our legends of television.
@@LaurieBasile G'day Laurie, Thank you so much for all the red hearts and kind words. Yes, mate, free-to-air TV has been in the doldrums for a long time. If I may, I'd like to draw a parallel between The Goon Show gang, particularly Spike Milligan with Graham Kennedy, and his team of writers and talented producers/directors. Both groups were from other mediums and, essentially, both groups had little to no previous experience in comedy. So, unaware of the 'rules', they forged ahead both having hits and misses; then swiftly more hits than misses. At their core they had switched on, intelligent leaders; Spike and Graham. They were quick witted and able to think on their feet. Both had 'skeletons' in their closets. Spike suffered so badly after his exposure to all out war in North Africa that it was a toss up between a future in an asylum or show business. Spike was also a talented musician. Graham's 'secret' was his sexuality, although not illegal as it still was in the UK, back then, it was deeply frowned upon; even though it was common knowledge that certain creative people had that sexuality in their makeup. It was Spike's almost insane drive to be silly and deliberately not take life seriously (he'd seen enough of that in war) that created a kind of humour that didn't have to be connected to any logical narrative. With the help of other veteran entertainers they developed a new style of comedy that is still as funny now as it was then. In Graham's case, he knew that his sexuality, if it became too public, would ruin his career, but his natural intelligence and 'impish' innuendo told him how to walk that thin, perilous line between acceptance and revulsion. It was often said of Graham that to a whole generation of 'mums' he was someone they wanted to 'mother'. When, on a couple of occasions Graham's sexuality was in danger of crossing that line, either he, or perhaps even one of the Packers, set him up with 'close relationships' with beautiful women. This ruse, of course, didn't last long because of Graham's almost universal popularity among the entire population of Melbourne, often seen, then, as the most staid and conservative city in Australia. My point here is that both men, Spike and Graham were saved by their massive talents and intellect. In the 80s, Spike was on one of his many trips to Australia, for family reasons and for shows. My co-author and friend, John Clifford White and I sent a signed and inscribed copy of our book, 'The Dole Bludger's Handbook', to Spike via his Australian agent. In a few days, I received a phone call from a man who said he was Spike Milligan. I, naturally, thought it was one of my actor mates playing a gag on me. It really was Spike and he almost became angry when I didn't accept that fact. When the penny dropped I must have 'gushed' sufficiently because Spike gave me, over the phone, detailed reasons why he liked our book. He told me there would be tickets left for 4 people at the box office of his Melbourne show. I enjoyed it so much I went back and saw it again, twice, paying, of course. The alert Milligan spotted me in the audience and I was invited backstage to meet him. Swiftly, I saw in him the same 'spark' that I spoke of when talking about Graham and Bert. Spike told me I was not to interview him or publish anything about this meeting. I never have... till now. Finally, everyone who tried to take up where Graham and Bert left off, ultimately failed, although Steve Vizard and his gang came close. They were not 'compulsory' viewing as Graham and Bert had been for decades. Why did they fail? Because they were trying to do what Kennedy did when he knew nothing about the 'rules' of TV, because there were none. Besides, the Vizard show format was a direct lift of the Letterman format which, at the time, before 'big internet', was not seen anywhere in Australia. I had to chuckle when Steve took all the credit for a format that, basically, had been done by Jack Parr, Johnny Carson and then Letterman. Bottom line: the writers for these shows and the people delivering the lines simply were not talented enough to be as spontaneously funny as Graham and Bert. As I said before, their like will never be seen again... and that's sad as well as logical. Once again I've rambled on too long. Cheers, Laurie and all the best. BH
In the mid 60s Graham went on a ‘fact finding’ trip to New York to see the Johnny Carson show being taped night after night. He didn’t copy Carson’s show format. There were no, ‘chat’ or comic guests, Graham and Bert fulfilled those roles. Graham must have seen how highly disciplined and rehearsed the Carson ‘machine’ was and this, I’m sure, proved to Graham that this kind of show could be a hit in Australia. Apart from a brief, early start at the opposition station, Channel 7, Bert Newton soon joined Kennedy, at 9, and instantly displayed his unique, inventive and utterly professional style of comedy as the straight man to Graham. Beginning in minor appearances, Bert's instant popularity with the viewers soon saw him become an inseparable regular with Kennedy; enjoying a spot so close to being a co-host it didn’t matter. Their chemistry, when that red camera light went on, was electric, in a laid back Australian way. Both Kennedy and Newton were expert in 'ad lib' and could be given, say, a 1 minute live commercial text that the duo would generally ignore, taking the sponsors catch phrases and turning them into a brilliantly funny, sometimes, spontaneous, comedy routine that could run into the next scheduled ad break. This would later become known as 'improv', however, when this duo did them it was pure hard work, with rehearsals that brought out periods of comic genius with only the tiniest bits of ‘improv’. To my dying day I’ll never forget the live read ads for Raoul Merton shoes, usually started by Bert and always interfered with by Graham. The sponsor’s slogan was, ‘Of comfort you’re certain, when you wear Raoul Merton.’ Which, one simply magical night of off the cuff (read: rehearsed) inspiration, Graham came up with: ‘If your feet are hurtin’, you’re wearing Raoul Merton.’ Bert does his best shock, shame and anger and really ‘sells’ it; reprimanding Graham; warning they’ll lose the client. On the contrary, the sponsor sold so many shoes as a result of the ribbing, they actively encouraged Graham and Bert to keep the ‘product abuse’ coming. Before long companies were climbing over each other to have their products ‘crucified’. MORE TO COME SEE ABOVE
Sketches, on the other hand, were rehearsed by Kennedy to a point where they just seemed to be spontaneous. Sometimes, Bert, Rosie Sturges, ‘Joffa Boy’, Johnny Ladd or Graham himself would fluff a line. Kennedy, inwardly would be quietly fuming but his comedy instinct, like Bert’s, was so finely tuned and rapid that if the mistake was funnier than the script, he too would follow along; breaking the ‘spell’ and often talking to camera. Despite all their efforts, sometimes they’d be in front of a ‘dead’ audience. Graham was not past letting them know, in a quasi-subtle way. To understand Bert’s and Graham’s huge success you need to know that these two, ostensively ‘ordinary blokes’ both played down their professionalism as much as possible. In the early days the viewers and the audiences were as new to this kind of entertainment as the performers were. But Graham and Bert knew the ‘game’ and the universal maxim that, “Dying is easy; comedy is hard.” It takes a dedication and a driven talent to achieve this ‘gift’. Graham said himself, years later, that when they started in 1957, no one had any clue what they were doing. Nearly everyone on the show had come from radio and what we called, down here, stage ‘Revues’ or night club acts; the closest we had to American vaudeville. After leaving The Age, I was working away from Australia and in the years of my retirement, in Tasmania, I tended to, as I do now, avoid free-to-air TV and showbiz news. Every now and then I’d hear from friends in the business that Bert was ‘killing them’ in some stage show, musical or various other ‘special TV events’. Time passes and after a few of my last mates in the business, like the sad, tragic end of my brilliantly funny mate, Mary Hardy, and the passing of fellow film critic, the talented musical director, composer and genuine gentleman, Ivan Hutchinson, died months before anyone bothered to let me know, I kind of decided that the show business side of my life had come to an end. I satisfied myself with my long-running, occasional radio broadcasts, (always gratis), for the local ABC station or on national programs, usually in the middle of the night while I worked on other projects. In fact, I only discovered the shattering news of Bert’s passing less than 12 hours ago. I’m grieving for him and I’m so sad and sorry for Patty and their extended family. Bert’s death also, suddenly, brought back the real pain of Graham’s passing and how I still, desperately, miss him. MORE TO COME SEE ABOVE
NOTE: This was so long I had to cut it into segments. Sorry but I did it upside down. My story about Bert and Graham begins 5 comments below. When the last variant of IMT, ‘The Graham Kennedy Show’ came to a sudden end, Graham would be sought out by young TV producers with new show concepts for him. He was so jaded by their ignorance of how he worked and his work history that he had a rubber stamp made: ‘NIL INTEREST’ which he would fax back to them. I think some of Graham’s best work was on ‘The Graham Kennedy News Show’ which was a stroke of programming genius, and incredibly funny. The hard news folk protested so a nervous network changed the name to ‘Graham Kennedy’s Coast To Coast’. It too, was, rehearsed, to a point; but by now, Graham didn’t care a jot what he said or what people thought of him. I truly believe that comeback was therapeutic, simply because he knew this was, even after thousands of shows, still having fun, albeit tinged with a tiny hint of ‘payback’ because it was, again, a huge hit with his fans. Graham, like Bert, could be disarmingly kind. When my book on the history of Australian films came out, I received a handwritten letter from Graham thanking me for the kind comments I made about his sorely underrated talent as a serious film actor. Typical Graham, in the same letter, pointed out I’d forgotten to include an entry on his mate, Bruce Beresford. That aside, I treasure his last letter for Graham had a truly generous nature and gave fulsome praise when he thought it was deserved. Graham suddenly became ill and thanks to a couple who were long-term friends, he checked out of his harbourside home and lived with his friends on their farm, till his sad decline and end. On his own merit, Bert Newton was a truly, world-class, outstanding talent; with Kennedy they created live TV magic the likes of which will never be seen again. RIP Bert as you, with Graham again, lay them in the aisles in the Big TV Studio in the Sky! Thanks for everything… BH END
Gee Australian Media has always been so up themselves and during this period, even more so. You could tell by the half arse standing ovation that Gra Gra wasnt liked by his peers for some reason. Logies are so cringey, always have and always have been. It was great watching them bounce of each other like that. Two legends.
Absolutely! You can see Frank Wilson immediately stand up like a well-drilled sargent and applaud. The entire audience should have rose as one and paid respect.
@@LaurieBasile No wonder Kennedy retreated away, I would have done the same having to deal with the Australian TV industry. It was a shame we didnt see him again on TV until the end of the 80s and we only ever saw him for 2 years and that was it. A legend like him should have been offered a LOT MORE. And his acting died in the mid 80s as well. I always thought Graham Kennedy was a brilliant actor but after a few meaty roles that was it.
@@glencoe1266 One big misconception is over Graham's crow call. After this incident, Graham wasn't fired - he quit weeks later! In fact, Sir Frank Packer continued to pay Graham to remain 'unemployed'. I'm currently reading Mike McColl Jones' book, who was there during the Graham, Bert, Don and Steve Vizard eras.
Oh the old storing of celebrities, a Packer hallmark! I learned of this when I read about Greg Evans move to Channel Nine after his successful run with Ten's Perfect Match. They promised him an exciting gig only for himv to be paid handsomely to do nothing and not be able to work for another station -the whole idea all along! He found it miserable.
That was an awesome moment in history. They really did have a special chemistry. Thanks again for sharing these clips 🇦🇺
Graham Kennedy was truly the King of Australian TV.
The last time I met Bert Newton I was doing a hospital bedside interview with another pioneer of Australian TV, Hal Todd. Hal was said to be one of the first people on Australian television and was an old mate of Bert’s. I’d known Hal for some time from 3AW radio where I was a film reviewer and sometime producer. I was, then, also working for The Age Green Guide, the paper’s TV, film and radio supplement.
That interview, in Hal’s private hospital room, which went to press, really was, for me, a cheer-up chat with a friend who was quite ill and a bit depressed. Without fanfare, in walked Bert Newton, wearing an impeccable camel trench coat over one of his famed neatly stylish, classic suit and tie outfits. [I never met anyone who could tie a necktie as perfectly as Bert] Together, we did our best to cheer up Hal and in no time with ‘Toddy’; as he was known to his friends and fans alike, strolled down a crowded, funny and sometimes risqué memory lane.
[Some so-and-so at The Age PR department, put in a page one box promoting the Green Guide with the slug, ‘Toddy’s Last Interview’] I was apoplectic with rage. The man was ill but nowhere near death’s door which I mentioned in my article. He lived on for quite some time and did give more interviews.
I’d also ran into Bert many times as my job required me to ‘work’ the TV and radio stations keeping an eye on what was moving and shaking in Melbourne’s active entertainment world.
Many years later, ‘stringing’ overseas for the Herald and various other publications I’d got over being ‘star struck’ when talking to ‘celebrities’, famous actors, directors and such; however, sometimes I met special people who have that indefinable ‘spark’ within them that reaches out and grabs your imagination, comic or otherwise.
Audrey Hepburn was, to me, a famous example of that ‘magic’. My tale of meeting her, having her ‘bot’ my cigarettes and later dancing with me at a UNICEF function is one I’m saving for my autobiography.
MORE TO COME SEE ABOVE
The fact they had the audience in stitches with the no personal stuff gags flying left right & centre & Kerry Packer laughing as well shows how actually funny they were
Closer to home, Bert Newton, like Graham Kennedy, was one such special person. Bert could knock down his beloved brand of beer like any ordinary Aussie. The next time I saw him he could be hosting a nationally televised ‘gala event’ using only his formidable talent for working with or without a script, and his ever-present charm.
Bert hosted so many Logie Award nights I’m sure people thought he was the ‘legislated’ host.
Oh, yes, he also walked away with the top award of a Gold Logie four times, that I can recall.
Graham Kennedy won so many golden statuettes that he used to tell people they were breeding in his living room. I lost count a long time ago but I think he took home 7 or 8 odd little ‘TV Week figures’.
This was, in a way, quite fitting; apart from thoroughly deserving them, it was Graham who came up with the name, Logie, when approached by TV Week, the publication that kicked off the awards, based on votes from their readership. It was, of course, an elaborate publicity campaign for their TV guide, but as we had no acting or creative academy for film or TV people. It was taken up by private enterprise. (John Logie Baird, by the way, was one of the earliest boffins to begin work on this new theory of ‘televised’ sound and vision to be broadcast into people’s homes).
Only several years younger than Bert, I, like thousands of Australians of my generation, grew up with the early days of Australian TV, nearly all of which was broadcast live to-air. No show was more memorable than Channel 9's 'In Melbourne Tonight', hosted by a young, former radio sidekick, Graham Kennedy, another outstanding talent who worked hard at making his ‘ad-libs’ seem as spontaneous and natural as a thought that just occurred to him. Much more of Graham Kennedy’s work was structured and deeply rehearsed, far more than anyone, outside his ‘gang’, might have guessed.
MORE TO COME SEE ABOVE
Brilliant chemistry, so pure and the greatest wit.
Where’s this today?
G'day Laurie, I’m a new subscriber who can't thank you enough for your channel, particularly your priceless clips of the late, truly great, Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton. I had the great privilege of knowing both of these Australian TV greats. The years I slogged away at becoming a professional film critic/reviewer and author were all worth it when this perfectly average boy from Bell Street Coburg who grew up watching IMT in all its subsequent forms. Around 12 years ago I gave up on live-to-air TV and following entertainment news.
So, when I ‘accidentally’ heard of Bert's passing, I was gutted. I wept. I simply had to get something down on paper. I felt I owed Bert and Graham some way of saying thank you, even it is a poor return for all the years of laughter and entertainment, yes, even excitement at watching IMT as a young lad.
Laurie, I hope you and your subscribers don't mind if I add what I wrote the other day to this comment. If nothing else take it as much needed grief therapy for me. I hope you enjoy my, way too long, somewhat disjointed tale of my move from nightly TV viewer and fan to a TV journalist who could never believe his luck at meeting so many wonderful people in showbiz. Graham and Bert, of course, were and always will be at the top of that long list. Here goes:
MORE TO COME SEE ABOVE
Thank you, Bill. I certainly don't mind and I'm certain my subscribers don't either. I look forward to reading your entire posts. Commercial television today, and for the past decade or so, is in a sad state. I often wonder why the US still has, and loves, its tonight show format, but Australia doesn't. Perhaps, it's because we don't have another organic Graham or Bert. Steve Vizard and Rove McManus tried to carry the mantle. Even Shaun Micallef, but his type of humour was too sophisticated for some.
Thanks again for your thoughts and for sharing some of your experiences with our legends of television.
@@LaurieBasile G'day Laurie, Thank you so much for all the red hearts and kind words. Yes, mate, free-to-air TV has been in the doldrums for a long time.
If I may, I'd like to draw a parallel between The Goon Show gang, particularly Spike Milligan with Graham Kennedy, and his team of writers and talented producers/directors.
Both groups were from other mediums and, essentially, both groups had little to no previous experience in comedy. So, unaware of the 'rules', they forged ahead both having hits and misses; then swiftly more hits than misses.
At their core they had switched on, intelligent leaders; Spike and Graham. They were quick witted and able to think on their feet.
Both had 'skeletons' in their closets. Spike suffered so badly after his exposure to all out war in North Africa that it was a toss up between a future in an asylum or show business. Spike was also a talented musician.
Graham's 'secret' was his sexuality, although not illegal as it still was in the UK, back then, it was deeply frowned upon; even though it was common knowledge that certain creative people had that sexuality in their makeup.
It was Spike's almost insane drive to be silly and deliberately not take life seriously (he'd seen enough of that in war) that created a kind of humour that didn't have to be connected to any logical narrative. With the help of other veteran entertainers they developed a new style of comedy that is still as funny now as it was then.
In Graham's case, he knew that his sexuality, if it became too public, would ruin his career, but his natural intelligence and 'impish' innuendo told him how to walk that thin, perilous line between acceptance and revulsion.
It was often said of Graham that to a whole generation of 'mums' he was someone they wanted to 'mother'.
When, on a couple of occasions Graham's sexuality was in danger of crossing that line, either he, or perhaps even one of the Packers, set him up with 'close relationships' with beautiful women.
This ruse, of course, didn't last long because of Graham's almost universal popularity among the entire population of Melbourne, often seen, then, as the most staid and conservative city in Australia.
My point here is that both men, Spike and Graham were saved by their massive talents and intellect.
In the 80s, Spike was on one of his many trips to Australia, for family reasons and for shows. My co-author and friend, John Clifford White and I sent a signed and inscribed copy of our book, 'The Dole Bludger's Handbook', to Spike via his Australian agent. In a few days, I received a phone call from a man who said he was Spike Milligan. I, naturally, thought it was one of my actor mates playing a gag on me. It really was Spike and he almost became angry when I didn't accept that fact. When the penny dropped I must have 'gushed' sufficiently because Spike gave me, over the phone, detailed reasons why he liked our book. He told me there would be tickets left for 4 people at the box office of his Melbourne show. I enjoyed it so much I went back and saw it again, twice, paying, of course. The alert Milligan spotted me in the audience and I was invited backstage to meet him.
Swiftly, I saw in him the same 'spark' that I spoke of when talking about Graham and Bert. Spike told me I was not to interview him or publish anything about this meeting. I never have... till now.
Finally, everyone who tried to take up where Graham and Bert left off, ultimately failed, although Steve Vizard and his gang came close. They were not 'compulsory' viewing as Graham and Bert had been for decades.
Why did they fail? Because they were trying to do what Kennedy did when he knew nothing about the 'rules' of TV, because there were none. Besides, the Vizard show format was a direct lift of the Letterman format which, at the time, before 'big internet', was not seen anywhere in Australia. I had to chuckle when Steve took all the credit for a format that, basically, had been done by Jack Parr, Johnny Carson and then Letterman.
Bottom line: the writers for these shows and the people delivering the lines simply were not talented enough to be as spontaneously funny as Graham and Bert.
As I said before, their like will never be seen again... and that's sad as well as logical.
Once again I've rambled on too long. Cheers, Laurie and all the best. BH
Being in the U.S., I hadn't realized that Bert Newton just passed away last month. Very sad news indeed.
In the mid 60s Graham went on a ‘fact finding’ trip to New York to see the Johnny Carson show being taped night after night. He didn’t copy Carson’s show format. There were no, ‘chat’ or comic guests, Graham and Bert fulfilled those roles. Graham must have seen how highly disciplined and rehearsed the Carson ‘machine’ was and this, I’m sure, proved to Graham that this kind of show could be a hit in Australia.
Apart from a brief, early start at the opposition station, Channel 7, Bert Newton soon joined Kennedy, at 9, and instantly displayed his unique, inventive and utterly professional style of comedy as the straight man to Graham. Beginning in minor appearances, Bert's instant popularity with the viewers soon saw him become an inseparable regular with Kennedy; enjoying a spot so close to being a co-host it didn’t matter. Their chemistry, when that red camera light went on, was electric, in a laid back Australian way.
Both Kennedy and Newton were expert in 'ad lib' and could be given, say, a 1 minute live commercial text that the duo would generally ignore, taking the sponsors catch phrases and turning them into a brilliantly funny, sometimes, spontaneous, comedy routine that could run into the next scheduled ad break. This would later become known as 'improv', however, when this duo did them it was pure hard work, with rehearsals that brought out periods of comic genius with only the tiniest bits of ‘improv’.
To my dying day I’ll never forget the live read ads for Raoul Merton shoes, usually started by Bert and always interfered with by Graham. The sponsor’s slogan was, ‘Of comfort you’re certain, when you wear Raoul Merton.’ Which, one simply magical night of off the cuff (read: rehearsed) inspiration, Graham came up with: ‘If your feet are hurtin’, you’re wearing Raoul Merton.’
Bert does his best shock, shame and anger and really ‘sells’ it; reprimanding Graham; warning they’ll lose the client.
On the contrary, the sponsor sold so many shoes as a result of the ribbing, they actively encouraged Graham and Bert to keep the ‘product abuse’ coming.
Before long companies were climbing over each other to have their products ‘crucified’.
MORE TO COME SEE ABOVE
Kennedy was an awesome talent
Loved these two will miss them
Sketches, on the other hand, were rehearsed by Kennedy to a point where they just seemed to be spontaneous. Sometimes, Bert, Rosie Sturges, ‘Joffa Boy’, Johnny Ladd or Graham himself would fluff a line. Kennedy, inwardly would be quietly fuming but his comedy instinct, like Bert’s, was so finely tuned and rapid that if the mistake was funnier than the script, he too would follow along; breaking the ‘spell’ and often talking to camera. Despite all their efforts, sometimes they’d be in front of a ‘dead’ audience. Graham was not past letting them know, in a quasi-subtle way.
To understand Bert’s and Graham’s huge success you need to know that these two, ostensively ‘ordinary blokes’ both played down their professionalism as much as possible. In the early days the viewers and the audiences were as new to this kind of entertainment as the performers were. But Graham and Bert knew the ‘game’ and the universal maxim that, “Dying is easy; comedy is hard.” It takes a dedication and a driven talent to achieve this ‘gift’. Graham said himself, years later, that when they started in 1957, no one had any clue what they were doing. Nearly everyone on the show had come from radio and what we called, down here, stage ‘Revues’ or night club acts; the closest we had to American vaudeville.
After leaving The Age, I was working away from Australia and in the years of my retirement, in Tasmania, I tended to, as I do now, avoid free-to-air TV and showbiz news. Every now and then I’d hear from friends in the business that Bert was ‘killing them’ in some stage show, musical or various other ‘special TV events’.
Time passes and after a few of my last mates in the business, like the sad, tragic end of my brilliantly funny mate, Mary Hardy, and the passing of fellow film critic, the talented musical director, composer and genuine gentleman, Ivan Hutchinson, died months before anyone bothered to let me know, I kind of decided that the show business side of my life had come to an end.
I satisfied myself with my long-running, occasional radio broadcasts, (always gratis), for the local ABC station or on national programs, usually in the middle of the night while I worked on other projects. In fact, I only discovered the shattering news of Bert’s passing less than 12 hours ago. I’m grieving for him and I’m so sad and sorry for Patty and their extended family.
Bert’s death also, suddenly, brought back the real pain of Graham’s passing and how I still, desperately, miss him.
MORE TO COME SEE ABOVE
Bert’s surprise reunion with Graham
What will we do without them period!!!!
NOTE: This was so long I had to cut it into segments. Sorry but I did it upside down. My story about Bert and Graham begins 5 comments below.
When the last variant of IMT, ‘The Graham Kennedy Show’ came to a sudden end, Graham would be sought out by young TV producers with new show concepts for him. He was so jaded by their ignorance of how he worked and his work history that he had a rubber stamp made: ‘NIL INTEREST’ which he would fax back to them.
I think some of Graham’s best work was on ‘The Graham Kennedy News Show’ which was a stroke of programming genius, and incredibly funny. The hard news folk protested so a nervous network changed the name to ‘Graham Kennedy’s Coast To Coast’. It too, was, rehearsed, to a point; but by now, Graham didn’t care a jot what he said or what people thought of him. I truly believe that comeback was therapeutic, simply because he knew this was, even after thousands of shows, still having fun, albeit tinged with a tiny hint of ‘payback’ because it was, again, a huge hit with his fans.
Graham, like Bert, could be disarmingly kind. When my book on the history of Australian films came out, I received a handwritten letter from Graham thanking me for the kind comments I made about his sorely underrated talent as a serious film actor. Typical Graham, in the same letter, pointed out I’d forgotten to include an entry on his mate, Bruce Beresford.
That aside, I treasure his last letter for Graham had a truly generous nature and gave fulsome praise when he thought it was deserved. Graham suddenly became ill and thanks to a couple who were long-term friends, he checked out of his harbourside home and lived with his friends on their farm, till his sad decline and end.
On his own merit, Bert Newton was a truly, world-class, outstanding talent; with Kennedy they created live TV magic the likes of which will never be seen again.
RIP Bert as you, with Graham again, lay them in the aisles in the Big TV Studio in the Sky!
Thanks for everything… BH
END
Thank you, Bill. Incredible insight.
Gee Australian Media has always been so up themselves and during this period, even more so. You could tell by the half arse standing ovation that Gra Gra wasnt liked by his peers for some reason. Logies are so cringey, always have and always have been.
It was great watching them bounce of each other like that. Two legends.
Absolutely! You can see Frank Wilson immediately stand up like a well-drilled sargent and applaud. The entire audience should have rose as one and paid respect.
@@LaurieBasile No wonder Kennedy retreated away, I would have done the same having to deal with the Australian TV industry. It was a shame we didnt see him again on TV until the end of the 80s and we only ever saw him for 2 years and that was it. A legend like him should have been offered a LOT MORE. And his acting died in the mid 80s as well. I always thought Graham Kennedy was a brilliant actor but after a few meaty roles that was it.
@@glencoe1266 One big misconception is over Graham's crow call. After this incident, Graham wasn't fired - he quit weeks later! In fact, Sir Frank Packer continued to pay Graham to remain 'unemployed'. I'm currently reading Mike McColl Jones' book, who was there during the Graham, Bert, Don and Steve Vizard eras.
Oh the old storing of celebrities, a Packer hallmark!
I learned of this when I read about Greg Evans move to Channel Nine after his successful run with Ten's Perfect Match. They promised him an exciting gig only for himv to be paid handsomely to do nothing and not be able to work for another station -the whole idea all along!
He found it miserable.
@geoffharvey Can understand Phillip Brady but Hoges? Hoges never mentioned GK in any of his comedy monologues? Or he could have been too pissed lol
Nothing else to watch
I reckon Kennedy's half pissed here.