Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Thursday 19 August 1954, page 3


Big Job For Adelaide Radio Chief

SYDNEY. August 18;

The general manager of station 5KA, Ade-laide (Mr. Eric Pearce), has heen annotated direc-

tor of programmes for the Major Broadcasting Network, of which 5 AD is the SA unit. This was announced to-day by the chairman of the management committee of the Major Broadcasting Network (Mr. J. Ridley). Mr. Ridley, who is gen-eral manager of station 2UE, key station of the network in Sydney, said that the office of director of programmes was new, and resulted from expand-ing operations on a nation-wide, basis. The number of national programmes now on the network's drawing boards had made the appointment of an executive of Mr. Pearce's standing and ex-perience imperative. Mr. Pearce will take up his appointment in Sydney on November 1. From England Mr. Pearce, who is 49, was born and educated in Eng-land. He came to Australia in 1938 and joined 2CH Sydney, as an announcer and compere. In 1940 he became pro-gramme and studio man-ager for 3XY, Melbourne. He enlisted in the RAAF in that year, and was invalided out in 1942 with the rank of Flying Officer. He then joined 3DB as studio manager and feature compere. In this office he was prominent in the planning

and production of many musical and dramatic fea-tures, some of which are still current in Australia, NZ, Canada and South Africa. They included such radio classics as "Life of'Melba," "Opera for the People," "The Amazing Oscar Ham-merstein" and "Mobil Quest.'' Studied TV In 1947 Mr. Pearce visited England and America' to study radio and television for 3DB, the Victorian unit of the Major Broadcasting Network. In 1950 Mr. Pearce be-came general manager of 5KA-AU-RM. The chairman of direc-tors of 5RA-AU-RM (Rev. A. Irwin Vogt) said in Ade-laide yesterday that Mr. Pearce relinquished his post at 5KA with the under-standing and goodwill of the stations. "Eric Pearce is one of the oustanding personalities in Australian radio, and the choice which his new em-ployers have made reflects their good judgment," he said. "His decision is received with regret, but the 5KA board congratulates him on it," said Mr. Vogt. 'The appointment of a new general manager for 5KA will be made at an early date"'said Mr. Vogt.

Mr. Eric Pearce