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Graham Kennedy radio

Graham Kennedy began his career in radio, where he learnt the skills that made him a TV superstar.

In 1949, aged 15, Graham embarked on his radio career as a messenger boy for Radio Australia. In 1951 he got his big break becoming the turntable operator for 3UZ’s star announcer Clifford Nicholls Whitta aka Nicky. They developed their successful on-air partnership over the next five years so that by 1956, 73% of morning radio listeners tuned in to the 'Nicky and Graham' show and the Argus newspaper ran a comic strip based on their personas.

Graham took many aspects of the craft he learnt working with his mentor Nicky across his career in radio and television: the careful preparation of his program, the irreverent take on delivering commercials and the intimate relationship he created with his audience.

During his highly successful television career Kennedy continued to be involved in radio not only as a presenter for stations including 3UZ, 3AK, 3XY, 3DB and 3LO, but also recording commercials, acting in the Graham Kennedy’s RS Playhouse comedy series for the ABC and as a co-owner briefly of 2DAY FM.

Graham Kennedy highlights from the NFSA’s radio collection include examples of his partnership with Nicky and broadcasting from his home studio at Frankston with Bert Newton.

The Mike Walsh Show - Graham Kennedy's 30 years in radio

NFSA-ID:

NFSA ID

1241641

Courtesy:

Mike Walsh AM, OBE and Hayden Productions

Year:

Year

1981

Mike Walsh interviews Graham Kennedy about working in radio in the 1950s.

They discuss changes in studio technology over the last 30 years and Graham tells an anecdote about the behaviour of some of the more colourful announcers of the time.

Graham also refers to having recently become a part owner of the new Sydney commercial radio station, 2Day FM.

The Bert Newton Show - Paying tribute to Nicky

NFSA-ID:

NFSA ID

198612

Courtesy:

RSN - Racing & Sport

Year:

Year

1977

During his morning program on Melbourne radio station 3UZ, Bert Newton talks with Graham Kennedy about his late mentor, the popular radio announcer Nicky (Clifford Nicholls Whitta), who died in 1956.

Graham talks about his first memory of hearing Nicky, starting his own radio career in the 1950s and Nicky's 'soft, close microphone technique' that created an intimacy with his audience.

Nicky and Graham - Sending up ABC children's radio

NFSA-ID:

NFSA ID

471332

Year:

Year

1955

An extract of the morning program Nicky and Graham starring Nicky (Clifford Nicholls Whitta) and Graham Kennedy on Melbourne radio station 3UZ in June 1955.

Graham's Hideout - 'Chatting about nothing'

NFSA-ID:

NFSA ID

1455744

Year:

Year

1961

An extract from 3AK's morning radio program Graham’s Hideout from November 1961.

It’s the day after the 1961 Melbourne Cup and co-presenters Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton compare notes on their winnings.

They bicker in a good-natured fashion and Graham speaks intimately to the listening audience while Bert pops off to the kitchen to make tea.

Graham explains there are no on-air commercials this morning because they forgot to bring them!

Sennitt's Ice Cream: with Graham Kennedy (1956)

NFSA-ID:

NFSA ID

204509

Courtesy:

Roy A Driver for the Herschell Driver Collection

Year:

Year

1956

A cinema advertisement for Sennitt’s Ice Cream with the popular Melbourne radio announcers Nicky (Clifford Nicholls Whitta) and Graham (Kennedy).

Graham's Hideout - 3AK to 3UZ on-air stunt

NFSA-ID:

NFSA ID

1460471

Year:

Year

1962

In this 1962 recording, Graham and Bert perform a classic radio stunt during the 3AK morning radio program Graham's Hideout.

They tune into rival Melbourne station 3UZ and talk to disc jockey Don Lunn as if he can hear them. They call out ‘Ooh Poo Pah Doo’, the title of a popular song at the time, to attract his attention.

When Don is made aware they've been talking to him on air, he has a short conversation with Bert and Graham across the airwaves, station to station.

The Mike Walsh Show - Graham Kennedy Starts 2Day FM

NFSA-ID:

NFSA ID

1473120

Courtesy:

Mike Walsh AM, OBE and Hayden Productions

Year:

Year

1980

Mike Walsh interviews Graham Kennedy about his involvement with new radio station 2Day FM in Sydney.

He also looks back at the start of his radio career in the 1950s, noting the significance of his big break in working with the popular announcer Nicky.

Graham Kennedy on 2Day FM - stereo jokes

NFSA-ID:

NFSA ID

756935

Courtesy:

Southern Cross Austereo

Year:

Year

1981

Graham presents 'stereo jokes' with 'the best straight man in the business', Bert Newton.

Friends for 25 years by this point, Graham and Bert tell jokes with one voice coming out of each speaker.

Graham Kennedy on 3XY - Cup fashion, Catholics and Toorak

NFSA-ID:

NFSA ID

756933

Year:

Year

1970

Graham Kennedy and Timothy Lynch broadcast from Frankston, an outer suburb of Melbourne, for radio station 3XY.

Long extract from the Nicky and Graham show

NFSA-ID:

NFSA ID

201935

Year:

Year

1955

A longer extract of the program Nicky and Graham starring Nicky (Clifford Nicholls Whitta) and Graham Kennedy on Melbourne radio station 3UZ in June 1955.

Graham Kennedy