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1958. "Swimmers listening to radio and relaxing at Oriental Bay Beach, Wellington, New Zealand." Evening Post photo archive. View full size.
Back in the early 1960s, we had a radio somewhat larger than that one that could not only pick up broadcast TV channels, but had a microphone input and could be used as a little PA.
Once, when my mom and dad were watching the news, I was able to turn the volume down on the TV set and play through the radio without them catching on. When Chet Huntley resumed a news segment after a commercial, I mimicked his voice to announce that, "In news today from Washington, President Kennedy announced that Jimbo Page required an allowance greater than a mere 25 cents a week, and would be meeting with Congress to discuss this urgent matter."
My dad instantly knew what I had done, but my mom was astonished and never did figure it out. I didn't get a raise in my allowance but I did get a chuckle from my dad, which was something.
--Jim
Imagine having to carry around that heavy radio to listen to music, and you had no way to play your favs, except by changing the channels.
It was rough in the '50s.
It's always been considered Wellington's own little slice of the Riviera and after its $7.5 million facelift that's an even more apt description.
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