(Frank
Graham as he appeared in the live "The Men from the Mnistry" performances)
Highly entertaining and nostalgic journey
down the years of Springbok Radio. (Review by Caroline Smart)
If anyone had a notion that interest in
Springbok Radio was dead, then this would have been blown out of the water by
the capacity audiences Frank Graham is reaching for his highly entertaining and
nostalgic journey as he meanders down the years of this hugely popular radio
station.
In fact, it would seem that if Springbok
Radio were to be revived tomorrow – what a fantastic idea! – there is a
ready-made audience waiting and hungry for the kind of entertainment and
quality broadcasting the station offered.
Springbok Radio started in the 1950’s and
closed in 1985.Over that time, it produced programmes in Afrikaans and English
as well as regular news bulletins and a large variety of drama productions and
quiz shows. Names such as Hospitaltyd,
Call Back the Past, No Place to Hide, Taxi, Surf Show Pick-A-Box, Squad Cars,
Consider Your Verdict and The Epic
Casebook – Inspector Carr Investigates are but a few.
From Durban came a string of comedy shows –
Tom Meehan’s Men from the Ministry,
Father, Dear Father, Friends and Neighbours and The Navy Lark, all performed live before an audience. There was weekly drama in Meehan’s Best Seller slot as well as Henry
Diffenthal’s High Adventure. Delphine
Lethbridge was also a major roleplayer with her daily serial, From Chrystal … With Love.
I have to confess a vested interest here
because, apart from being a long-time friend and colleague of Frank Graham’s, I
worked on Springbok Radio for many years as an actress and scriptwriter. In
fact, it was my adaptations of Barbara Cartland’s works for The Romantic World of Barbara Cartland,
produced by Barry Meehan's Sound Ideas, that kept me financially independent after my first marriage ended in divorce.
Graham, who announces himself as 140kg of
quivering passion - is an excellent raconteur – not to be confused with a
stand-up comic. Through his skilful weaving of the many assets of Springbok
Radio and the use of voice clips, he brings the station back to life for his
audiences. He even has the station’s gong, on loan from Springbok Radio
archivist Kevan Mardon.
I finally caught up with the show at the
Witness Hilton Arts Festival and, while expecting an appreciative crowd, was delighted
at their immediate and energetic response. Answers came quick and fast to his
amiable questions regarding programme names and presenters.
Graham is an extremely versatile voice
artist in terms of having a positive library of accents and different voices at
his disposal. I would like to see him create his own show, demonstrating his
vocal skills through numerous characters.
In the meantime, if There was a Time comes your way and you were a Springbok Radio fan
or are interested in the history of South African radio drama, don’t miss it! –
Caroline Smart
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