Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses : Honours Theses 2018 Rock ‘n’ roll radio: A case study of ‘tactics’ and teenage identity in Perth, WA, 1955-1960 Lorna Baker Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons Part of the Communication Commons Recommended Citation Baker, L. (2018). Rock ‘n’ roll radio: A case study of ‘tactics’ and teenage identity in Perth, WA, 1955-1960. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1514 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1514 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. 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Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio: A Case Study of ‘Tactics’ and Teenage Identity in Perth, WA, 1955-1960 Lorna Sharples Baker Bachelor of Communications This thesis is presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Honours in Communications School of Arts and Humanities Edith Cowan University 2018 ABSTRACT Post-war Australia was a time of celebration, of prosperity, abundance and consumerism. The booming economic and technological forces within Australia propelled the rise of popular culture and led to a transformation of traditions and identities. Most notable of these transformations was that of youth culture. The rise of the teenager, as a category of person and a consumer of culture, had an impact on the social interactions of many communities. At the same time, new technologies combined with newfound prosperity meant that popular culture, such as music, was available to all and radio became a prominent feature of everyday life. In addition, changing musical styles of the era (in this instance, I examine rock ‘n’ roll) were marketed towards teenagers, and this led to an expansion of self-expression and self- awareness amongst young people. This case study refers to the work of De Certeau (1984), specifically, his concept of ‘strategies’ and tactics’, and investigates the role that radio played in the emergence and development of a distinctive youth culture in Perth. A key focus of this study is to explore how radio addressed the new social categories of the post-war period, and the consequent impact of this on the everyday lives, practices and past- times of WA teenagers. Through semi-structured interviews and a content analysis of archival newspaper articles, this case study will measure the difference between those who experienced the social and cultural changes (teenagers), and those who reported on them (print media). i DECLARATION I certify that this thesis does not, to the best of my knowledge and belief: (i) incorporate without acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher education; (ii) contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text; or (iii) contain any defamatory material. Signed: Date: ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have helped me throughout this research journey. First, to my principal supervisor, Associate Professor Debbie Rodan; thank you for your guidance, encouragement, commitment and optimism these past years. Thank you also to Bethany Anderson for your feedback and assistance with written expression. To the participants who took the time to participate in this study; thank you for sharing your experiences, I learnt so much from you, and thoroughly enjoyed hearing your stories. Thank you to my mum and my sister for their continual support; to my dad for his enthusiasm; to my grandparents for their sharing of knowledge; and to my friends, colleagues and loved ones for their interest which inspired me to keep going. Lastly, I dedicate this thesis to Alan Sharples (1962 – 2015), who embodied and inspired rock ‘n’ roll, and the essence of ‘tactics’. Forever loved and missed. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................ i Declaration .................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ...................................................................................................... iv List of Tables .............................................................................................................. v Chapter One – Introduction ..................................................................................... 1 Chapter Two – Literature Review .......................................................................... 18 Chapter Three – Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio .................................................................... 30 Chapter Four – Perth, People & Places ................................................................. 42 Section 1 – Content Analysis ................................................................................. 42 Section 2 – Semi-structured Interviews and Everyday Life .................................. 53 Chapter Five – Conclusion ...................................................................................... 68 References ................................................................................................................. 71 Articles ...................................................................................................................... 81 iv LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Key Words 14 Table 2: Source Citations 45 Table 3: Categories 46 v CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION Background My interest in undertaking this research into the social and cultural impact of radio on Western Australian teenagers and teenage stems from my love of music history and popular culture. I initially became interested in this field after examining the phenomenon of pirate radio in Britain for my undergraduate degree, the Popular Music and Culture Unit (CMM3104), in 2012. Through secondary research, I examined this phenomenon from a cultural studies perspective by looking at radio’s impact upon U.K. youth subcultures of the 1960’s. Focusing upon the British Broadcasting industry (BBC), I identified their efforts to resist the potential commercialisation (and Americanisation) of British radio, and the effects this had on the distribution of popular music throughout the U.K. My research project into the BBC led me to reflect upon my own experiences with radio, and in turn, radio’s significance for Australian culture. I was intrigued as to whether WA teenagers experienced the same music limitations as British youth had, or whether Australia’s radio content was more liberal in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Through my examination of Australian history in the 1940’s and 1950’s, it became evident that Australian popular culture, and the Australian media industries were more reflective of America’s broadcasting formats than the U.K. radio industry during this time. The following section will outline the historical context of this thesis, specifically making the link between the presence and influence of the American servicemen on Australian cities; the post-war Australian economy and the increased importance and prominence of popular culture within the home. 1 Historical Context This section will provide a historical context prior to the diversification of the radio industry. Starting with the social conditions which faced Australians during WW2, and the impact of the visiting American servicemen, I explore how Australian society changed in the decade after the war. I discuss the conditions which led to post-war prosperity - the rise in employment, home ownership, consumer practises and leisure pursuits. These conditions also provided a space for the re-energised popular culture to become a part of everyday life. The American Influence Australia had long looked to Britain for its national identity, its traditions and its values, and British patriotism, prior to the 1940s, was a uniting force for almost all Australians (Stratton, 1992, p.27). In years past, many Australians died to defend Britain, and many more would. However, with the rising influence of globalisation, modernisation and the influx of overseas popular culture products, Australia was beginning to lose its cultural ties to Britain. Media products, such as film and the cinema, introduced American culture to Australian audiences in the early