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Bill Rawle interviewed by Bill Stephens [sound recording]
Bib ID 903780
Format AudioAudio
Author
Rawle, Bill, 1922-
 
Access Conditions Access open for research, personal copies and public use. 
Description 2001. 
4 digital audio tapes (250 min.) 
Summary

Rawle speaks of his early family life in Adamstown, how his father inspired him with the skills of an entrepreneur, visits to the Tivoli in 1933 which gave him an interest in entertainment and music, training to be an engineer, how he got started in the business by presenting jazz concerts in Newcastle and Maitland, what lead him to compere his first radio show on Station 2KO in Newcastle, his first jazz concert in Albert Hall, Canberra, presenting Hillbilly (Country & Western) shows and touring Victoria with "Hillbilly Roundup" in which he first appeared on stage as an entertainer, his stage name "Saltbush Bill", his ambition to tour around Australia with "Sir William Rawle's Hillbilly Roundup", developing the "Act of Death" and the secret of his memory act, meeting hypnotist Martin St. James then aged 15, meeting with Lang Hancock, maintaining itinerary schedules during his long national tour, helping others with hypnotherapy, reaction of outback Aboriginals to his show.

Rawle speaks about developing his mind-reading and hypnotist shows with himself as Merlin, challenged to hypnotise the local football team in Coffs Harbour, moving to Wagga to lease two dance halls and establish basketball teams eventually presenting the Harlem Globe Trotters, produced concerts featuring Johnny O'Keefe in Wagga and Albury, moving to the Gold Coast in 1961 and established the entertainment venue the Hideaway and the entertainment he put on, how he established the career of Frank Ifield, presenting Cliff Richards at the Hideaway, his appearance in a movie "Spring Ball", what lead him to set up "Gold Coast By Night" tours, how he came to be granted custody of his two boys by the Family Law Court at the age of 65 and his decision to return to Wagga, how he maintains good health, achievements which have given the most satisfaction, what he would have done differently, the success of the Ned Kelly Today Show.

Biography/History

Bill Rawle was the first and to date the only showman to circle Australia with a variety show. Starting in Camooweal on the Queensland/Northern Territory border and travelling around Australia including Tasmania with his show. The show was presented in 312 different towns, over 14 months, finishing back in Camooweal.

Notes

Recorded on April 11, 2001 in Kooringal, N.S.W.

Index/Finding Aid Note Timed summary available (14 p.) 
Subjects Rawle, Bill, - 1922- - Interviews.  |  Entertainers - Australia - Interviews.  |  Businesspeople - Australia - Interviews.
Other authors/contributors Stephens, Bill, 1936-

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    Details Collect From
    ORAL TRC 4735
    Copy: Recording
    Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)
    ORAL TRC 4735 (summary)
    Copy: Summary
    Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)

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    Members of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori communities are advised that this catalogue contains names and images of deceased people. All users of the catalogue should also be aware that certain words, terms or descriptions may be culturally sensitive and may be considered inappropriate today, but may have reflected the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written.