Rather than follow his father into the army, he migrated in 1923 to South Australia as one of the Barwell Boys.

He has been named as one of the 'Five D's of Australian Radio' with Jack Davey, Bob Dyer, Terry Dear and Harry Dearth.

The listener was rewarded with cash and sponsors' products in the event of no 'Quiz Kid' supplying a satisfactory answer.

In all publicity photographs and public appearances he wore an academic gown and mortarboard, as were the panel members, many of whom, such as NSW premier Neville Wran, senior academics John Lambert, Jack Goldring and James Seymour Hagan,[7] were to achieve eminence as adults.

[8][9] Others included Sue Pearson (mother of Christopher Pearson), David Low, Nola Manning, Michael Connors, Leon Smith, Yvonne Cossart, Milton Osborne, Alana Conlan, Tom Kalmar, Annette Cumine.

The first team in 1942 consisted of James Hagan, Bernard Lake, Alan Mitchell, Audrey Baker and Dorothy Revie.

Dease was elected vice-president of Actors Equity but forced to resign in 1948 after being labelled a Communist.