'Ol' Moonface, as he was affectionately named, ruled the radio waves of Melbourne in the 1950s before making the transition to our TV screens. Alongside Graham Kennedy and then Don Lane, Bert was the pre-eminent entertainer. Australians loved him, and when he married Patti McGrath, the police had to be called to hold the crowds back.
'Over the years, he quipped along with the best: Olivia Newton-John, Muhammad Ali, John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr. and Robin Williams, to name a few. But behind his most public of faces is the story of a boy whose father died early and a young man whose compulsion to work led him to push himself to collapse. But, for Bert, the show always went on. Riding the highs and lows of the fickle television industry, he reinvigorated his career over and over as the world around him changed - from black-and-white to colour and beyond - to become one of our most enduring stars. Bert held the respect and admiration of his peers and fans alike. That respect and admiration lasted until the day he died, with his beloved Patti still by his side.
'In this insightful retelling of Bert Newton's life on and off the screen, Graeme Blundell captures the heart and soul of the Bert we all loved.' (Publication summary)
Bert : The Story of Australia’s Favourite TV Star
Sydney
:
Hachette Australia
,
2014
8019328
2014
single work
biography
''Personally, he is a fine man. Professionally, he is one of the best television performers I've ever seen.' Bob Hope on Bert Newton. The millions of Australians who have watched Bert over the years would whole-heartedly agree. TV and radio host, compere, interviewer, all round media personality, Bert Newton is one of Australia's favourite performers. But who is this moon-faced man we've loved to watch for decades? Whose jokes we have laughed at while he compered the Logies once again? Who we've delighted in seeing on stage in productions ranging from THE WIZARD OF OZ to WICKED and GREASE? We know he's married to the wonderful Pattie - theirs was the first wedding to be broadcast on TV here, and programs such as IN MELBOURNE TONIGHT, THE DON LANE SHOW and GOOD MORNING AUSTRALIA, have all showcased Bert's signature style. They've shown his witty eloquence and, at times, acerbic interview techniques, and, like television itself, his ability to offer something new to each generation of viewers. But what about his life behind the camera? In the hands of Graeme Blundell, journalist and bestselling author of KING: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRAHAM KENNEDY, this is a meticulously researched and compelling account of Bert Newton's off and on screen world. It's also the fascinating story of Australian television itself as it moved into our homes and our lives.' (Publication summary)
