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Aunt Daisy

Every morning at nine, three generations of New Zealanders were greeted by Aunt Daisy's optimism over the airwaves.

Aunt Daisy

14 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 4 hours, 2683 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
6 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from February 14, 1950:

"Morning Programme"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Aunt Daisy (Maud Ruby Basham)
(1879 – 1963)

What we call Old Time Radio was the medium that helped to unify Americans as more than a Nation; through Radio, we became a community. In the US the impetus was Commercial, of course, the earliest successful Radio programs were designed to sell Radios as much as they were intended to entertain.

Aunt DaisyIt is easy to forget that Radio's community-building power extended to other nations around the Globe. To many, New Zealand is little more than a quaint outpost of the British Commonwealth, or perhaps Australia's "little sister" nation. In fact, the islands of New Zealand were among the last large habitable regions on the planet to be settled with the Polynesians who would become the Maori Culture not arriving until the mid-Thirteenth century.

Although New Zealand became a part of the British Empire in 1841, its relative isolation led to a fiercely independent yet socially liberal-minded people. There were conflicts between the Maori and the English settlers, but there has also been a good deal of cultural respect.

Experimental radio broadcasting began in 1921 at the University of Otago in Dunedin. Station 1ZR began operating from Auckland's Queen Street district in 1930, and one of the broadcaster's most important voices was that of Aunt Daisy.

Maud Ruby "Daisy" Basham was born in London, England, in 1879, and lost her father soon after her birth. Her mother emigrated to New Plymouth in New Zealand's North Island and Daisy attended Central School and New Plymouth High School. She was active in the choir as well as student theatrical productions and debating contests. In 1904, Daisy married engineer Frederick Basham. They had three children, but when Basham lost his job, Daisy sought out work to feed the family.

Daisy began as a singer on Auckland radio in the Twenties and was hired as a full-time announcer in 1929. When the station began broadcasting on Wednesdays, Daisy was assigned to "fill up" the airtime. Daisy became Aunt Daisy for a children's program and in 1937 moved to Wellington to take over the morning spot that brought her to fame.

A hearty " Good Morning, Good Morning, Everybody!" greeted three generations of New Zealanders every morning at nine. Her rapid patter was fueled by a wide-ranging curiosity that helped her to expound on any subject. Daisy's clear diction and sincerity made her listeners believe that she had personally used the products she pitched.

As the War in the Pacific raged, Daisy made a series of visits to Army, Navy, and Air Force bases and reported on the women stationed there. In 1944, she traveled to the USA to promote New Zealand while recording broadcasts for her listeners back home. Daisy had tea with Mrs. Roosevelt and passed on messages from G.I.s stationed in New Zealand.

After the War, Daisy returned to North America for a lecture tour that included stops in Canada. She spoke on the appreciation of the natural world while describing New Zealand's landscapes and wildlife. Daisy was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1956 New Year Honours list.

Aunt Daisy continued to broadcast until just a few days before her passing on July 14, 1963. She was 83.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    COMMENTS

    Aunt Daisy is an interesting program. This daily morning show had Aunt Daisy talking about various things to her New Zealand audience. I listened to her tell about her trips to Canada and the United States. What makes it relevant to me is that I have a nephew and his family currently residing in Christchurch.

    Dan Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    14 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 4 hours, 2683 min
    14 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 4 hours, 2683 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 14 shows – total playtime 4 hours, 44 minutes
    2. Aunt Daisy 400000 Promotes St Johns Ambulance Baby Contest.mp3
    3. Aunt Daisy 410000.mp3
    4. Aunt Daisy 460000 American Visit.mp3
    5. Aunt Daisy 500000 Portrait from Life.mp3
    6. Aunt Daisy 500200 Beetrootchutney Partial.mp3
    7. Aunt Daisy 500215 Excerpt.mp3
    8. Aunt Daisy 500215 Morning Programme.mp3
    9. Aunt Daisy 500216Morning Programme.mp3
    10. Aunt Daisy 581210 Morning Programme.mp3
    11. Aunt Daisy 581212Morning Programme.mp3
    12. Aunt Daisy 630625Morning Programme.mp3
    13. Aunt Daisy Blancmange excerpt.mp3
    14. Aunt Daisy Travelling With Aunt Daisy Episodes 56.mp3
    15. Aunt Daisys 630716 Funeral.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    14 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 4 hours, 2683 min
    14 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    130 MB – total playtime 4 hours, 44 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 14 shows – 130 MB – total playtime 4 hours, 44 minutes
    2. Aunt Daisy 400000 Promotes St Johns Ambulance Baby Contest.mp3
    3. Aunt Daisy 410000.mp3
    4. Aunt Daisy 460000 American Visit.mp3
    5. Aunt Daisy 500000 Portrait from Life.mp3
    6. Aunt Daisy 500200 Beetrootchutney Partial.mp3
    7. Aunt Daisy 500215 Excerpt.mp3
    8. Aunt Daisy 500215 Morning Programme.mp3
    9. Aunt Daisy 500216Morning Programme.mp3
    10. Aunt Daisy 581210 Morning Programme.mp3
    11. Aunt Daisy 581212Morning Programme.mp3
    12. Aunt Daisy 630625Morning Programme.mp3
    13. Aunt Daisy Blancmange excerpt.mp3
    14. Aunt Daisy Travelling With Aunt Daisy Episodes 56.mp3
    15. Aunt Daisys 630716 Funeral.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    14 recordings on 6 Audio CDs. Total playtime 4 hours, 44 min
    14 recordings on 6 Audio CDs
    total playtime 4 hours, 44 min

    Aunt Daisy Disc A001

    1. Aunt Daisy Blancmange excerpt
    2. Aunt Daisy Travelling With Aunt Daisy Episodes 56
    3. Aunt Daisy 400000 Promotes St Johns Ambulance Baby Contest
    4. Aunt Daisy 410000
    5. Aunt Daisy 460000 American Visit

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Aunt Daisy Disc A002

    1. Aunt Daisy 500000 Portrait from Life
    2. Aunt Daisy 500200 Beetrootchutney Partial
    3. Aunt Daisy 500215 Excerpt
    4. Aunt Daisy 500215 Morning Programme

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Aunt Daisy Disc A003

    1. Aunt Daisy 500216Morning Programme

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Aunt Daisy Disc A004

    1. Aunt Daisy 581210 Morning Programme

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Aunt Daisy Disc A005

    1. Aunt Daisy 581212Morning Programme
    2. Aunt Daisy 630625Morning Programme

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Aunt Daisy Disc A006

    1. Aunt Daisys 630716 Funeral

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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