Another Article on Dad - A Life On The Air
Radio star: Bill Leathwick says it was a privilege to be part of the golden era of Kiwi broadcasting.
By Paul Charman (pic. courtesy of Eastern Courier)
Today he voices radio commercials and acts as an extra in movies like King Kong - but in his heyday Bill Leathwick,75, was one of New Zealand's top broadcasters.
When the NZBC ruled the airwaves, Mr Leathwick was a household name, till he deliberately scaled back his profile in the 1980s to curb unwanted celebrity status.
The Pakuranga resident recently earned a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to broadcasting, television and the community, which he says has touched him immensely.
Mr Leathwick, who lives with wife Betty at the Pakuranga Retirement Village, says it was a privilege to serve during the golden years of Kiwi broadcasting.
He began his career in 1950, as a cadet in the accounts department of 3ZB, Christchurch.
Soon the cocky young amateur theatre actor was accepted for announcer training, playing 78 records as an announcer, sharing the bill with Aunt Daisy and even acting in radio plays in his spare time.
Mr Leathwick then walked into broadcasting jobs in Sydney and Tasmania before achieving a regular slot as a senior announcer in Wanganui.
Provincial New Zealand radio stations of the 50s and 60s would be almost unrecognisable today, he points out.
Far from the modern networked content now played, the old breed of station recorded and broadcast a huge amount of local content.
For example, Mr Leathwick presented and produced a children's programme in Wanganui, giving a start to several young musicians who made their mark internationally.
With the rapid growth of television in the 1960s, he found himself working in both TV and radio - announcing, reading news and anchoring everything from sports to through to variety shows.
Mr Leathwick says he felt like, "a big fish in a small pond" and asked to spend the last part of his career away from the spotlight, as an announcer on Concert FM. He sustained a passion for the stage throughout his career, both as an actor and director, and other interests included leading tours overseas and making talking books for the blind.
Mr Leathwick says it was an honour to serve with the likes of Merv Smith, Pete Sinclair and Bob Parker.
"I won't say standards were higher then than now.
"Some things were better, with much more rigorous training and a far wider skills set expected of broadcasters.
"But content was pretty unsophisticated compared to today and we lacked the technical innovation which computers bring.
"Let's just say what we did was right for the times."
By Paul Charman (pic. courtesy of Eastern Courier)
Today he voices radio commercials and acts as an extra in movies like King Kong - but in his heyday Bill Leathwick,75, was one of New Zealand's top broadcasters.
When the NZBC ruled the airwaves, Mr Leathwick was a household name, till he deliberately scaled back his profile in the 1980s to curb unwanted celebrity status.
The Pakuranga resident recently earned a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to broadcasting, television and the community, which he says has touched him immensely.
Mr Leathwick, who lives with wife Betty at the Pakuranga Retirement Village, says it was a privilege to serve during the golden years of Kiwi broadcasting.
He began his career in 1950, as a cadet in the accounts department of 3ZB, Christchurch.
Soon the cocky young amateur theatre actor was accepted for announcer training, playing 78 records as an announcer, sharing the bill with Aunt Daisy and even acting in radio plays in his spare time.
Mr Leathwick then walked into broadcasting jobs in Sydney and Tasmania before achieving a regular slot as a senior announcer in Wanganui.
Provincial New Zealand radio stations of the 50s and 60s would be almost unrecognisable today, he points out.
Far from the modern networked content now played, the old breed of station recorded and broadcast a huge amount of local content.
For example, Mr Leathwick presented and produced a children's programme in Wanganui, giving a start to several young musicians who made their mark internationally.
With the rapid growth of television in the 1960s, he found himself working in both TV and radio - announcing, reading news and anchoring everything from sports to through to variety shows.
Mr Leathwick says he felt like, "a big fish in a small pond" and asked to spend the last part of his career away from the spotlight, as an announcer on Concert FM. He sustained a passion for the stage throughout his career, both as an actor and director, and other interests included leading tours overseas and making talking books for the blind.
Mr Leathwick says it was an honour to serve with the likes of Merv Smith, Pete Sinclair and Bob Parker.
"I won't say standards were higher then than now.
"Some things were better, with much more rigorous training and a far wider skills set expected of broadcasters.
"But content was pretty unsophisticated compared to today and we lacked the technical innovation which computers bring.
"Let's just say what we did was right for the times."
