Jack Davey
Encyclopedia
John Andrew Davey was a New Zealand
-born star of Australian radio in the 1930s, '40s and '50s.
. Davey was the second son of Union Steam Ship Company captain Arthur Henry Davey and his wife Ella May, née Hunter.
After leaving school, Davey worked in the haberdashery department of a large store, but left after a close friend and workmate died after falling down an open lift shaft.
He was also variously a signwriter, used car salesman and assistant stage theatre manager. His father, despairing of his son's future, took him to sea, in an attempt to establish a career for his son. After being given the hardest, most unpleasant jobs aboard ship, Jack decided the life of a sailor was not for him.
in 1931 aboard his father's ship, and decided to stay in Australia.
Peter Luck writes:
Within two hours he had found himself a flat with a harbour view in fashionable McLeay Street, and borrowed £2 from his landlady.
Davey worked as a crooner
on 2BL, but his real career began when he was hired by Sydney radio station 2GB
.
An account by his lifetime friend, aide and biographer, Lew Wright records:
They said: 'Oh, yes, you can sing for us, Mr Davey, at three guineas.' So he said 'OK.' He had to sing three times a week. But even at three guineas, it's an actual factual story, which I have from a person who knew him all his life, that he went into Park Street in the city and he bought three suits, ties, shoes and a motor car, within an hour of getting a job at three guineas. But when the end of the week came, he received a cheque for nine guineas. He said. 'Lew, if they're that careless with their money, they could have had me for three. I knew this is where I belonged.
Abandoning his singing career, he adopted his trademark greeting of "Hi Ho, Everybody" and became Australia's highest paid and most popular radio performer.
He was a notorious gambler, and those close to him say he often spent money more quickly than he could earn it. But Jack was always confident of his ability to earn ever-increasing amounts to maintain his expensive lifestyle.
His first quiz show, "That's What You Think", began on 2GB in 1934, and by 1935 Jack was taken off the breakfast shift, because he was more valuable to the station as a host of its prime-time evening programs. At the same time he became the voice of Fox-Movietone newsreels, a position he held continuously for 25 years.
Despite, or perhaps because of, the success of his programs, Davey decided to leave the production unit, believing he would be able to earn more money elsewhere. He joined the American Red Cross
, as a field entertainer with the rank of Captain, taking shows to troops across Australia and the islands of the Pacific.
station 2UE
in 1946. Jack remained there until his contract expired and then he returned to Macquarie in 1950.
He continued his radio work, producing multiple weekly quiz shows, talent quests and other entertainment programs. On top of that he was also doing his regular Fox-Movietone newsreel, and began diversifying into other businesses ranging from nightclubs to car auctions.
, who was to become Prime Minister of Australia
. A recording of the show survives.
Despite his health problems, Davey increased his radio work and also took part in the second Redex Trial in 1954. However that proved too much for him, and shortly after returning to Sydney he suffered a second collapse, and was admitted to St Luke's Hospital. Doctors told him he had to ease his workload, but even while he was in hospital he continued to write his newspaper column and do radio shows. His doctors succeeded in banning him from the 1955 Redex trial. Though he did take part in the Ampol round-Australia reliability trial in 1956, again driving a Ford Customline, and the 1957 and 1958 Ampol
trials, driving Chryslers.
, Eno
's and Dulux.
Davey's health began to suffer, and once again the Macquarie Network called in the doctors. Their advice was the same as it had always been - a reduced workload and rest, something Jack wasn't about to agree to.
In 1957 he added television to his workload, with three regular programs for Sydney station ATN-7
. Working on his radio programs all week, Jack spent his Saturdays on production of his TV programs. The workload grew even further in 1958, when 2GB reintroduced him to breakfast radio, in an attempt to counter the popularity of television. But for Jack Davey, time was running out.
In mid-1959, X-Rays revealed a small cancer in his right lung, but Jack went on with his work, including a trip to the United States to look at advances in television. Further tests, several weeks later, revealed the cancer had grown, and Davey was moved to hospital.
Davey died at St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst on 14 October 1959, the same day as another larger-than-life Australian character, Errol Flynn
(with whom Davey had claimed to have shared a Vaucluse flat in the early 1930s). Davey's cremation was followed by a service at St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral. A reported crowd of 100-150,000 people attended.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-born star of Australian radio in the 1930s, '40s and '50s.
New Zealand
Jack Davey was born John Andrew Davey on 8 February 1907 and educated at King's College, AucklandKing's College, Auckland
King's College is an independent secondary school in New Zealand. It was originally a boys-only school but now also admits girls in the sixth and seventh forms . The school has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of...
. Davey was the second son of Union Steam Ship Company captain Arthur Henry Davey and his wife Ella May, née Hunter.
After leaving school, Davey worked in the haberdashery department of a large store, but left after a close friend and workmate died after falling down an open lift shaft.
He was also variously a signwriter, used car salesman and assistant stage theatre manager. His father, despairing of his son's future, took him to sea, in an attempt to establish a career for his son. After being given the hardest, most unpleasant jobs aboard ship, Jack decided the life of a sailor was not for him.
Australia
Davey arrived in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1931 aboard his father's ship, and decided to stay in Australia.
Peter Luck writes:
Within two hours he had found himself a flat with a harbour view in fashionable McLeay Street, and borrowed £2 from his landlady.
Davey worked as a crooner
Crooner
Crooner is an American epithet given to male singers of pop standards, mostly from the Great American Songbook, either backed by a full orchestra, a big band or by a piano. Originally it was an ironic term denoting an emphatically sentimental, often emotional singing style made possible by the use...
on 2BL, but his real career began when he was hired by Sydney radio station 2GB
2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
.
An account by his lifetime friend, aide and biographer, Lew Wright records:
They said: 'Oh, yes, you can sing for us, Mr Davey, at three guineas.' So he said 'OK.' He had to sing three times a week. But even at three guineas, it's an actual factual story, which I have from a person who knew him all his life, that he went into Park Street in the city and he bought three suits, ties, shoes and a motor car, within an hour of getting a job at three guineas. But when the end of the week came, he received a cheque for nine guineas. He said. 'Lew, if they're that careless with their money, they could have had me for three. I knew this is where I belonged.
Marriages
Davey married Dulcie May Mary Webb on 17 July 1936 in Sydney, but divorced in 1942. His second marriage was to Dorothy Daisy Lush on 24 May 1947.Radio
Davey soon had his own breakfast show, a daytime quiz, an evening variety programme and voiceover work for Fox Movietone newsreels.Abandoning his singing career, he adopted his trademark greeting of "Hi Ho, Everybody" and became Australia's highest paid and most popular radio performer.
He was a notorious gambler, and those close to him say he often spent money more quickly than he could earn it. But Jack was always confident of his ability to earn ever-increasing amounts to maintain his expensive lifestyle.
His first quiz show, "That's What You Think", began on 2GB in 1934, and by 1935 Jack was taken off the breakfast shift, because he was more valuable to the station as a host of its prime-time evening programs. At the same time he became the voice of Fox-Movietone newsreels, a position he held continuously for 25 years.
World War two
By 1941 Davey was hosting three weekly programs on the Macquarie Network, "The Youth Show", "Star Parade" (later to become "Calling the Stars"), and "Rise and Shine" (an army quiz). Most shows were recorded before live audiences in Sydney, and distributed on disc to network stations. However Davey's popularity was such that listeners in Melbourne demanded to see the programs done "live". The Colgate-Palmolive production unit leased a theatre there, and played on Sunday nights to capacity houses.Despite, or perhaps because of, the success of his programs, Davey decided to leave the production unit, believing he would be able to earn more money elsewhere. He joined the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, as a field entertainer with the rank of Captain, taking shows to troops across Australia and the islands of the Pacific.
Back to radio
As the war ended, Jack Davey moved back to radio, rejoining the Colgate-Palmolive production unit, which moved its programs to rival SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
station 2UE
2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
in 1946. Jack remained there until his contract expired and then he returned to Macquarie in 1950.
He continued his radio work, producing multiple weekly quiz shows, talent quests and other entertainment programs. On top of that he was also doing his regular Fox-Movietone newsreel, and began diversifying into other businesses ranging from nightclubs to car auctions.
John Howard
In 1955 one of Davey's contestants was sixteen-year old John HowardJohn Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, who was to become Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
. A recording of the show survives.
Redex and Ampol trials
Jack had had a love affair with cars for most of his life, and when the first Redex Reliability Trial (a round-Australia rally) was announced, he was one of the first to enter. With co-driver Lou Moss, he took a Ford Customline on the marathon in 1953. But his health was already beginning to deteriorate, and doctors were called after he collapsed with heart problems, at the home of friends later that year.Despite his health problems, Davey increased his radio work and also took part in the second Redex Trial in 1954. However that proved too much for him, and shortly after returning to Sydney he suffered a second collapse, and was admitted to St Luke's Hospital. Doctors told him he had to ease his workload, but even while he was in hospital he continued to write his newspaper column and do radio shows. His doctors succeeded in banning him from the 1955 Redex trial. Though he did take part in the Ampol round-Australia reliability trial in 1956, again driving a Ford Customline, and the 1957 and 1958 Ampol
Ampol
Ampol, the Australian Motorists Petrol Company, was incorporated by Sir William Gaston Walkley in 1936 in New South Wales. This was in response to Australians' concerns about perceived inequitable petrol pricing, and allegations of transfer pricing by foreign oil companies to limit their tax...
trials, driving Chryslers.
The later years
Ignoring his doctors' advice to ease his workload, Jack seemed to throw himself into work with even greater gusto. 1955 saw the introduction of a new show "Go for Greys", sponsored by the makers of Greys cigarettes. At the same time he was working on the "Ampol Show", "Give it a Go", and other programs for BrylcreemBrylcreem
Brylcreem is a brand of hair styling products for men. The first Brylcreem product was a pomade created in 1928 by County Chemicals at the Chemico Works in Bradford Street, Birmingham, England. The pomade is an emulsion of water and mineral oil stabilised with beeswax.Beecham was the longtime...
, Eno
Eno (drug)
Eno is the most global of GSK's gastrointestinal products. The fast-acting effervescent fruit salts, used as an antacid and reliever of bloatedness, was invented in the 1850s by James Crossley Eno...
's and Dulux.
Davey's health began to suffer, and once again the Macquarie Network called in the doctors. Their advice was the same as it had always been - a reduced workload and rest, something Jack wasn't about to agree to.
In 1957 he added television to his workload, with three regular programs for Sydney station ATN-7
ATN-7
ATN is the Sydney flagship television station of the Seven Network in Australia. The licence, issued to a company named Amalgamated Television Services, a subsidiary of Fairfax, was one of the first four licences to be issued for commercial television stations in Australia...
. Working on his radio programs all week, Jack spent his Saturdays on production of his TV programs. The workload grew even further in 1958, when 2GB reintroduced him to breakfast radio, in an attempt to counter the popularity of television. But for Jack Davey, time was running out.
In mid-1959, X-Rays revealed a small cancer in his right lung, but Jack went on with his work, including a trip to the United States to look at advances in television. Further tests, several weeks later, revealed the cancer had grown, and Davey was moved to hospital.
Davey died at St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst on 14 October 1959, the same day as another larger-than-life Australian character, Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
(with whom Davey had claimed to have shared a Vaucluse flat in the early 1930s). Davey's cremation was followed by a service at St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral. A reported crowd of 100-150,000 people attended.
External links
- Australian Dictionary of Biography
- http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/summary/summary.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A587458%20|%20Number%3A587459%20|%20Number%3A352817%20|%20Number%3A355052%20|%20Number%3A352340%20|%20Number%3A215348%20|%20Number%3A671176%20|%20Number%3A676405%20|%20Number%3A183856%20|%20Number%3A183960;querytype=;resCount=10Jack Davey at the National Film and Sound Archive]