Olivia Newton-John on "Boomeride" [Australia] (1965)

Olivia newton-John performs 3 songs ("When I Grow Up", "Crawl Baby Crawl" and "Which Of My Daughters" [duetting with Tony Cole) on the forgotton 1965 Australian music television program "Boomeride". In May 1965, a softly spoken Melbourne teenager found herself opening an episode of "Boomeride", a groundbreaking new live music television show on GTV-9. But despite her young age, performing for the cameras was already second nature for this confident 16 year old. In the previous year she had made a number of television performances in Melbourne, won a nationally televised singing competition in Sydney and filmed scenes for a new children's feature film. Things were moving fast for Olivia Newton-John. Newton-John burst onto the scene at just 15 years old, winning the Sitmar Talent Quest on ATN-7’s popular "Sing Sing Sing" in April 1964. Possessing a pure, yet powerful, voice Newton-John was quickly in demand. Television appearances began accumulating with bookings on HSV-7’s "Sunnyside Up", ABC TV’s "Teen Scene" and a return to "Sing Sing Sing" by year’s end. After filling in as hostess ‘Lovely Livvy’ on HSV-7’s "Happy Show" in 1964–65, over the end-of-year non-ratings period, Newton-John left school to concentrate on her burgeoning new career. While leaving school was against the wishes of her Cambridge-educated father, she became a regular on Australia television throughout 1965. She filmed scenes for the children’s movie "Funny Things Happen Down Under", before making the first of many appearances on ATV-0’s swinging pop show "GO!"! and signing a contract with HSV-7 to appear on the popular daytime variety show "Time For Terry". These three productions would also unite Olivia with her boyfriend of the time, the equally busy singer and actor Ian ‘Turps’ Turpie. Also in 1965, Newton-John found herself a guest in an entirely original music television concept. "Boomeride" was filmed in ATV-0's Nunawading Studios. Named after a song by Sydney songwriter Charles Marawood, and produced by Melbourne production company PAKKTEL, Boomeride was an Australian first. In contrast to the lip-synced pop music shows of the time, all songs in "Boomeride" were performed live and backed by a four-piece combo. The show featured only songs written by Marawood, whose compositions covered a wide range of lyrical styles, including ballads, cool lounge jazz and the occasional up-tempo mover. "Boomeride's" specific aesthetic was further emphasised by the use of camera ‘crash zooms’ and creative lighting in a music-theatre-in-the-round setting. Completely uncredited in published TV guides from the time, a 16mm black-and-white print acquired by the NSFA in 2018 from a member of the public has revealed Newton-John appearing in Episode 7 of "Boomeride". Older sister Rona’s series credit as Production Assistant is perhaps a clue as to how she came to appear. Broadcast by GTV-9 on 16 May 1965, the three Marawood-composed songs performed by Newton-John are among her earliest-known surviving live musical performances. All songs remain unissued commercially and none were included on the accompanying soundtrack album released later that year.

Added 9 Apr 2026