[6] By the Post-war era, 3DB's hours had been extended to: In the 1930s, the Postmaster-General's Department issued 24-hour licences to one station in each capital city market except Melbourne.
When 3DB eventually made its on-air debut on 27 February 1927, the first program was the children's session conducted by Winnie Wattle, at 6.30 pm.
The official opening was at 8:00 pm when announcer Frank Pearson introduced Edward Haynes, Managing Director of Druleigh and 3DB, who said: "This is Melbourne's new 'B' class station, which is the first in Australia to carry out the American idea of making revenue from advertisements".
He was responsible for introducing many big budget programs which, inter alia, made 3DB the top station in all Melbourne radio surveys for many decades.
[8] David Worrall was married to Kathleen Zoe, née Norris, who broadcast on 3DB from the 1930s until 1952; firstly under her own name, and then as Martha Gardener.
For some decades a short session, Smileaway Club Notes, was broadcast each weekday at 8.40 am, and again as a lead-in to the top rating, major news bulletin at 7.00 pm.
[18] These sessions featured live music and invitations to events such as theatre parties, bay trips, dances, visits to the zoo, hikes, fancy dress balls.
A Junior Smileway Club conducted children's parties on Saturday mornings in the 3DB auditorium, featuring community singing, games and quizzes.
Only a handful of people would have had equipment capable of picking up these transmissions, which were mainly designed for those directly involved in these trials into nascent television broadcasts.
[24][8] The variety was provided in front of a live audience by 3DB staff members led by Charlie Vaude[25] and Renn Millar,[26] and accompanied by guest artists.
Personalities associated with the C & G's Minstrel Show include Cecil Atkinson, Mervyn Bray, Carl Briglia, Agnes Brown, Reg Brown, Herbert Browne, Walter Burleigh, Maurice Callard, Fred Collier, Colin Crane, Dick Cranbourne, Joe Delany, Alice Dolphin, Fred Ford, Paul Gaving, John Hartley, Cyril Hambley, Don Humphries, Ernest Kopke, Geoff McComas, Jock McLachan, Hec McLennan, Renn Millar, Bert Miller, Bert Munyard, Keith Neilson, Mabel Nelson, Sir Eric Pearce, Bill Rhodesbury, Frank Rich, Stan Shields, Charles Skase, William Smith, Guy Stavordale, Peter Surrey, Mark Sutherland, Lou Toppano, Charlie Vaude, George Ventura, Frank Walsh, Monty Walters, and Ernest Wilson.
[8] Whilst it is conceded that The Minstrel Show was popular during the 1930s, 40s, 50s & 60s, in the 2000s many people would consider it to be politically incorrect, particularly the fact that Anglo-Caucasian actors tried to imitate African Americans.
The performance of Leah Kleschna was suddenly interrupted by the voice of the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies announcing that Australia was now at war with Germany.
Inter alia, he declared that every Australian radio station would only broadcast three news bulletins per day and that these would be simultaneous at 7:45 am, midday and 7:00 pm.
In 1940, 3DB manager David Worrall employed Dyer to star in a series of 26 shows called The Last of the Hillbillies, broadcast on Saturday nights at 7.15.
There have been some very minor, aberrant dips in the amounts raised and, ironically, one of these small decreases occurred in 1957, the year that Channel 7, then also owned by HWT, joined the appeal.
Before moving to television, Ron Casey was to broadcast a wide variety of sports including: football, boxing, wrestling, ice hockey, athletics (especially the Stawell Gift), golf and a number of Olympic Games.
Amongst the many soap operas produced by Dorothy Crawford, and also broadcast by 3DB, were Sincerely Rita Marsden, A Man Called Sheppard, Here Comes O'Malley, John Turner's Family, Women in Love and Prodigal Father.
Set in the fictional rural town of Snake Gully, it certainly appealed to city-dwellers, many of whom hankered for life in the Australian bush; a lifestyle that may or may not ever have existed.
The following programs renowned for their live music content have already been mentioned (above): The Test Cricket from England, The Minstrel Show, The Last of the Hillbillies and other Bob Dyer features.
These sessions were conducted in front of live audiences who joined in the singing of popular songs, often with the words displayed on large cards or on screens.
[5][76] These concerts were presented a number of times during each summer season on Sunday afternoons, firstly in the Fitzroy Gardens and from 1959 in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
[8][29] Until the inevitable lure of TV cut into The Happy Gang's audience, it was one of Australia's most popular programs, being relayed across the country on the Major Broadcasting Network.
Other examples included: school children and grandfathers; barbers and butchers; violinists; Antarctic explorers; bathroom baritones and shower sopranos; those with monkeys, or Alsatians; "the biggest aspidistra in the world" – the list goes on.
In the late 1950s, Dick Cranbourne, assisted by 3DB's official piano accompanist Mabel Nelson, presented a children's session sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottlers (Melbourne) Pty.
In Melbourne, three radio stations signed contracts with producers of vertical discs that gave them exclusive rights to play their recordings, and these were usually broadcast in specially devoted programs.
He went on to say that the station would have: "an exciting new sound with a blend of Top 40, flashbacks, and popular album tracks ... we aim to please the 18 to 39 age group.
The jingle was also used (with localised variations) by radio stations throughout Australia that had a similar Top 40 format at the time, including 2UE in Sydney, 6PM in Perth, and 5AD in Adelaide.
[103][104] In mid-1986, Bert Newton was appointed general manager of 3DB, which he relaunched as a talkback station, while retaining its horse racing coverage (see above).
Many high-profile personalities had regular programs, including Bert Newton himself who was the breakfast session host during this era, also Shane & The King, Arthur Higgins, Mickie De Stoop, Bill Tuckey, and Hal Todd.