Bobby Limb
Encyclopedia
Bobby Limb AO OBE (10 November 192411 September 1999) was an Australian pioneering radio and television entertainer of the 1960s and 1970s.
He appeared in the satirical radio program The Idiot Weekly
in 1958 and 1959, alongside such players as Spike Milligan
, Ray Barrett
and John Bluthal
, but was better known for his own radio, and later TV shows.
His most successful television shows were The Mobil Limb Show, Australia's first national television show, and Bobby Limb's The Sound of Music, which ran for nine years 1963–1972, being the country's top-rated show for most of that time. Limb switched with his program from TCN Channel 9 to TEN10 in exactly the same timeslot on Friday nights. Channel 9 then picked up the younger Barry Crocker
from TEN10 where he'd been hosting a similar program called "Say it with Music", and placed this into almost exactly the same timeslot with the same "Sound of Music" name on Friday nights. Crocker's initial success waned, but both versions were axed within a few years as the format had had its run.
He married fellow entertainer Dawn Lake
in 1953, and often appeared with her. As a couple, they became iconic within the Australian entertainment industry.
He promoted and supported young musicians, such as the group Human Nature
.
He supported Diabetes Australia
, and founded the Bobby Limb Foundation to help sufferers of diabetes.
On 11 September 1999, Bobby Limb died of cancer, a condition he had previously suffered and apparently beaten. At Limb's funeral, the former Whitlam
government minister Doug McClelland said that Bobby Limb was to the Australian entertainment industry what Sir Donald Bradman
was to cricket, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith
was to aviation, Dame Joan Sutherland
was to opera, and Dr Victor Chang
was to surgery.
, but Limb's star began to fade in the 1970s when the TV audience shifted its tastes away from family 'variety' shows towards wall-to-wall pop-music, home-grown soap-opera like 'A Country Practice' and harder-edged, satirical comedy like 'The Aunty Jack Show
'.
Bobby Limb remained a hit with Australia's 'pensioner set', but his later appearances were almost entirely off-screen, held at various live venues around the nation, often in connection with charity fund-raising.
In 1983, following many professional and personal problems, Bobby Limb became a born-again Christian.
, awarded to the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.
He won a Mr Show Business award in the USA.
In 1983, he won the Australian Father of the Year award
.
In 1967 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) for his efforts in entertaining Australian troops in the Vietnam War
. In 2000, nine months after his death, he was awarded the honour of Officer of the Order of Australia
(AO) "For service to the Australian entertainment industry, to tourism, and to the community, particularly through support for charitable organisations". Although announced posthumously, the award was made with effect from 2 September 1999.
Career
Bobby Limb's show business career began in 1941, at the age of 17, when he became a saxophone player with various dance bands around Adelaide. His bright personality soon made him a bandleader and comedian. By 1952, Bobby was already one of Australia's leading entertainers, with a fan-club on radio station 2UW which boasted 35,000 teenage members.He appeared in the satirical radio program The Idiot Weekly
The Idiot Weekly
The Idiot Weekly was a radio programme made by the Australian Broadcasting Commission.-Background:Transcriptions of the Goon Show were broadcast on Australian radio from late 1955. When Spike Milligan visited his parents in Woy Woy in 1958, the Australian Broadcasting Commission signed him for a...
in 1958 and 1959, alongside such players as Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
, Ray Barrett
Ray Barrett
Raymond Charles "Ray" Barrett was an Australian actor. He was one of the more popular leading men on British television in the 1960s, where he was best known for his appearances in The Troubleshooters . Back in Australia he was a leading man in many TV series over the years.-Biography:Barrett was...
and John Bluthal
John Bluthal
John Bluthal is a Polish-born British film and television actor, mostly in comedy. He is best known for his work with Spike Milligan and for his roles in the television series Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width and The Vicar of Dibley.-Early life:Bluthal was born in Galicia, Poland, of Jewish...
, but was better known for his own radio, and later TV shows.
His most successful television shows were The Mobil Limb Show, Australia's first national television show, and Bobby Limb's The Sound of Music, which ran for nine years 1963–1972, being the country's top-rated show for most of that time. Limb switched with his program from TCN Channel 9 to TEN10 in exactly the same timeslot on Friday nights. Channel 9 then picked up the younger Barry Crocker
Barry Crocker
Barry Hugh Crocker OAM is a popular Australian singer, with a crooning vocal style.-Biography:...
from TEN10 where he'd been hosting a similar program called "Say it with Music", and placed this into almost exactly the same timeslot with the same "Sound of Music" name on Friday nights. Crocker's initial success waned, but both versions were axed within a few years as the format had had its run.
He married fellow entertainer Dawn Lake
Dawn Lake
Dawn Lake was an Australian television comedian, singer, entertainer and actor, whose career spanned more than four decades. Bert Newton described her as "our greatest comedienne - Australia's Lucille Ball"...
in 1953, and often appeared with her. As a couple, they became iconic within the Australian entertainment industry.
He promoted and supported young musicians, such as the group Human Nature
Human Nature (band)
Human Nature are an Australian pop vocal group. The group was originally formed as a doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together in Sydney. So far, the band has had 17 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits in Australia since 1996 when their first album Telling Everybody was...
.
He supported Diabetes Australia
Diabetes Australia
Diabetes Australia is the third oldest diabetes association in the world, after the United Kingdom and Portugal. Originally established in the state of New South Wales in 1937, the organisation's head office is now in the nation's capital, Canberra...
, and founded the Bobby Limb Foundation to help sufferers of diabetes.
On 11 September 1999, Bobby Limb died of cancer, a condition he had previously suffered and apparently beaten. At Limb's funeral, the former Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
government minister Doug McClelland said that Bobby Limb was to the Australian entertainment industry what Sir Donald Bradman
Donald Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman, AC , often referred to as "The Don", was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time...
was to cricket, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith
Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith MC, AFC , often called by his nickname Smithy, was an early Australian aviator. In 1928, he earned global fame when he made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia...
was to aviation, Dame Joan Sutherland
Joan Sutherland
Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s....
was to opera, and Dr Victor Chang
Victor Chang
Victor Peter Chang, AC , was a Chinese Australian cardiac surgeon and a pioneer of modern heart transplantation. Born in Shanghai to Australian-born Chinese parents, he grew up in Hong Kong before moving to Australia...
was to surgery.
Popular appeal
Bobby Limb's popularity was based on a solid 'middle-of-the-road' musical format, knock-about (never 'way-out') comedy, and a 'something for the whole family' wholesomeness. In the late 1950s, Limb took up the torch of supplying middle-Australia's tastes in entertainment from the dead hand of Jack DaveyJack Davey
John Andrew Davey was a New Zealand-born star of Australian radio in the 1930s, '40s and '50s.-New Zealand:Jack Davey was born John Andrew Davey on 8 February 1907 and educated at King's College, Auckland...
, but Limb's star began to fade in the 1970s when the TV audience shifted its tastes away from family 'variety' shows towards wall-to-wall pop-music, home-grown soap-opera like 'A Country Practice' and harder-edged, satirical comedy like 'The Aunty Jack Show
The Aunty Jack Show
The Aunty Jack Show was a Logie Award–winning Australian television comedy series that ran from 1972 to 1973. Produced by and broadcast on ABC-TV, the series attained an instant cult status that persists to the present day....
'.
Bobby Limb remained a hit with Australia's 'pensioner set', but his later appearances were almost entirely off-screen, held at various live venues around the nation, often in connection with charity fund-raising.
In 1983, following many professional and personal problems, Bobby Limb became a born-again Christian.
Honours and awards
He won a total of 11 Logie Awards, including the 1964 Gold LogieGold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
The Gold Logie Award has been awarded annually to the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television at the TV Week Logie Awards since 1960...
, awarded to the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.
He won a Mr Show Business award in the USA.
In 1983, he won the Australian Father of the Year award
Australian Father Of The Year award
The Australian Father Of The Year award is an Australian award to honor and showcase a fine example of Australian fatherhood. Spanning over fifty years, the ‘Australian Father of the Year’ has been awarded to high-profile, famous fathers, from prime ministers & politicians to sportsmen and business...
.
In 1967 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) for his efforts in entertaining Australian troops in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. In 2000, nine months after his death, he was awarded the honour of Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AO) "For service to the Australian entertainment industry, to tourism, and to the community, particularly through support for charitable organisations". Although announced posthumously, the award was made with effect from 2 September 1999.