Spectrum was a long-running weekly radio documentary series which captured the essence of New Zealand from 1972 to 2016. Alwyn Owen and Jack Perkins produced the series for many years, creating a valuable library of New Zealand oral history.
Alwyn Owen introduces this episode which looks at some of the more hilarious mishaps and bloopers that have occurred over the years on New Zealand radio.
[Most of the examples are held elsewhere in the sound archives collections.]
Three examples of past Prime Minister's being caught out on the radio microphone: Sir Walter Nash, interrupted by a dog while opening the Auckland Harbour Bridge; Sir Keith Holyoake interrupted by an earthquake; Sir John Marshall in Australia is asked about a ban by postal worked on handling "French letters".
Announcer Peter Dallas is caught out by a colleague on April Fool's Day, with the morning's bird call recording
An announcer discussing Māori place name pronunciation struggles with the correction rendition of “Paraparaumu”.
Next, a meandering interview question which is believed to the longest in the Radio New Zealand archives.
From the broadcaster with too much to say to the broadcaster with too little; Syd Tonks. A horse racing commentary that falters as commentator Syd loses his voice.
A slip of the tongue in an item reporting American scientists claim that a primitive form life probably exists on Mars, saying "orgasm" instead or "organism."
The most unusual brass band recording played on New Zealand radio comes from the Pitcairn Islands; An out-of-tune "God Defend New Zealand". The band had only received their instruments two days before.
A selection of spoonerisms and assorted gaffes from unnamed announcers are heard.
A horseracing commentary from Reon Murtha at the 1977 Benson & Hedges Inter-dominion pacing grand final won by Stanley Rio from New Zealand." He concludes it on a personal note; "You beauty! I've got the Quinella!"
Jessica Weddell on her time hosting a late night session on National radio in the mid-1950s as "the Lonesome Gal" and the disappointment a male listener showed when he finally met her face-to-face.
The "break-up", or uncontrollable fit of laughter: the case of a a newsreader reporting an archaeological find in "an Irish bog"; that phrase was enough to break him up for the rest of the programme.
An unnamed newsreader unable to get through an item on the Taumaranui Magistrates Court before abandoning it to put on the tune, "Classical Gas".
Hewitt Humphrey reads the news with studio guest Spike Milligan interjecting, "Let me out".
A rugby league game commentary concluding with the sound of the ball shattering the window and landing in the commentary box.
A young woman breaks-up reading a commercial for foundation garments. She recovers herself to announce, "What Hickory can do for your torso is more-so at C. Smith."
An historic occasion in which a commentator threw objectivity to the winds; Jack Lovelock was running in the 1500 metres at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. His friend Harold Abrahams was commentating for the BBC and couldn't contain his excitement: "Come on, Jack! My god, he's done it! ... He's won! Hurray!"
Hilarity about a news item on golf balls.
Back announce: "That was Pardon My Slip ... A Dectrum Spocumentary."