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introduction of talkies to Australia
The talkies had arrived in Sydney in 1929 and with them had come the movie palaces such as The State Theatre and the Prince Edward Theatre. The talkies were the most popular choice of entertainment. The novelty of talking pictures fascinated the Australian public and the live theatre paid the price.
In 1929 the US-based company Fox International Movietone News produced its first successful Australian newsreel coverage with sound. The reports included an interview with the Prime Minister of Aust -
Australia's first talkie
Shooting commenced in June 1930 on Showgirl’s Luck, the first full-talkie feature made in Australia. Plagued by technical problems, it was not released until November 1931. Prior to the filming of Showgirl’s Luck, two features with sound segments, Fellers (1930) and The Cheaters (1930), were completed. -
ABC radio launched
1932: ABC radio launched
At 8.00 pm on 1 July 1932, Prime Minister Joseph Lyons inaugurated the non-profit, public broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). The first ABC radio brodcasts were carried on the stations 2FC and 2BL in Sydney, 3AR and 3LO in Melbourne, 4QG in Brisbane, 5CL in Adelaide, 6WF in Perth, 7ZL in Hobart and the relay stations 2NC in Newcastle, 2CO at Corowa, 4RK in Rockhampton and 5CK at Crystal Brook. The first programs on air included the Children’s Sessi -
NSW quota inquiry begins
From 2 January to 20 April 1934, the Inquiry into the Film Industry in New South Wales heard submissions calling for a local quota system to protect Australian films from being locked out of the market by foreign-owned distribution and exhibiton companies. Producer Frank Thring was the most vocal proponent of the action, which resulted in the Cinematograph Films (Australian Quota) Bill being passed in the NSW Parliament on 17 September 1935. Within months of the -
Kokoda Front Line!, Australia's first Academy Award Winner
The first screenings are held of Kokoda Front Line!, which won Australia’s first Academy Award for its producer, Cinesound chief Ken G Hall. It also made a national hero of war cinematographer Damien Parer, who photographed and introduced the film. At the Academy Awards ceremony on 4 March 1943, Kokoda Front Line! was awarded 'for its effectiveness in portraying, simply yet forcefully, the scene of war in New Guinea and for its mov -
end of 'talkies' era
Sound newsreels gave the Australian people 'glimpses of world events, local news and a range of human interest stories’ but during this time television had completely overtook 'talkies'.
