[4] He began his radio career with Melbourne's 3KZ, as compere of a five-hour Saturday night program of dance music,[5] though also claimed by 3AW.
[6] During WWII he served in Lae, New Guinea, as announcer and OC with the rank of lieutenant in the Army radio station.
[8] He was introduced to the Amateur Hour audience by Harry Dearth on 24 August 1950, and took over as producer and compere when 2GB took over as host broadcaster from 2UW,[9] the following week.
[10] Dear rated Angelina Arena as the show's most important "discovery", but other contestants include opera stars Donald Smith and Colin Grant, and performers Rolf Harris, Frank Ifield and Marie Tysoe.
[11] Dear was a well-known figure on Victorian television from its inception in 1957, as compere of the short-lived Amateur Hour and Leave It to the Girls.