FAREWELL TO AUCKLAND'S KNAVES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 723, 22 May 1953, Page 25

FAREWELL TO AUCKLAND'S KNAVES

AUCKLAND'S clever entertainers The " ~ Knaves will make their farewell appearance at 1YA on Thursday, May 28, at 8.5 p.m. Two members have found their business affairs taking up more and more time. Their secretary, Buster Mowbray, said last week: "We thought it best to wind up while The Knaves are at the peak of their popularity. There is a feeling that we have reached a standard that amateurs with so many other calls on their time could not hope to maintain indefinitely, and we are signing off before there is any tendency to go down hill." The Knaves were formed seven years ago on the suggestion of Lee Humphreys, and gave their first concert as a group in the Radio Theatre at 1ZB where Bob Bothamley, officer in charge of the NZBS Dance Section, heard them and provided the encouragement they needed to keep together and go ahead. The first group was Phil Maguire, Lee Humphreys, Claude Ker, Clive Arndt, and Buster Mowbray (who was then playing the guitar). In 1949 they toured New Zeaand for the NZBS. Arndt retired and Tom Yandall (double bass) joined. Later Dick Hobday teamed up as guitarist and Mowbray stuck to singing. Last year Maguire went to Australia, and is now making a name for himself at 4MK Queensland. Peter Young, a 1YA announcer, became a Knave, while Bob Ewing took on the double bass. The Knaves have sung in almost every

major show in Auckland, and have given two concerts in the Auckland prison. They work on a system of everybody contributing ideas and all problems are solyed by discussion among themselves. All their radio scripts have been written by Wally Ransom, .who was also their compére. They usually work to a plan of four songs per programme, each aimed at a different section of the | audience. Once they. have selected a song for their specialty-a funny nhum-ber-they pull it to bits, juggle with it, and re-asemble it with all sorts of additions and startling results. Usually the ‘piece chosen is one that has been worked to death in its original form. The Knaves used to carry with them box loads of sound effects, including cowbells, tins of nails, whistles and hammers; but lately they’ve been relying on mouth effects. Gunshots, bird noises, -train and boat whistles are all done with the mouth, although an empty beer bottle often comes in handy. The group began making recordings for commercial use in 1951, and they have cut 16 discs intended for New Zealand consumption. Reports of success abroad have come from England, the J.S.A., and Australia, and once they heard they had topped the hit parade in Pakistan. The Knaves have no idea how the recordings found their way overseas. One of their best hits with a local colour touch was: "I’m goin’ to ride the T.A.B. Trail Because they’ve locked up my bookie in Mount Eden Jail..."