Bob Dyer

Bob Dyer
Bob Dyer
Born	Robert Neal Dyer; Template:Birth date; Hartsville, Tennessee, United States
Died	January 9, 1984 (aged 74)
Occupation(s)	Entertainer, singer, radio and television presenter, quiz show host
Years active	1930s–1971
Known for	Pick a Box

Robert Neal Dyer OBE (22 May 1909 – 9 January 1984) was an American-born entertainer who gained fame in Australia as a vaudeville performer, singer, radio and television presenter, and quiz show host. He is most famously associated with the enduring radio and TV quiz program, Pick a Box.

During the height of his radio career, Dyer and his competitor Jack Davey were regarded as Australia's foremost quiz show hosts.

Bob and his spouse, Dolly, were among the most prominent entertainment duos in Australia throughout the 1960s, surpassed in public recognition only by Sir Robert and Dame Pattie Menzies. Outside their entertainment careers, they were avid big-game fishing enthusiasts, collectively setting over 200 world and Australian records.

Early life and career

Born in Hartsville, Tennessee, to sharecropper Heywood Leahman Dies and Delia (née Bell), Dyer left formal education at age 12 and took on various occupations before embarking on a theatrical career in the American vaudeville circuit. His initial visit to Australia occurred in 1936 when he toured with Jim Davidson's ABC Dance Band. Returning in 1937, he became part of the Marcus Show on the Tivoli circuit, where he performed a hillbilly-themed ukulele act combining comedy and song. Australian radio personality Harry Griffiths remembered Dyer as a standout artist known for his energetic humor and musical skills.

Following this period, Dyer relocated to England to appear on early television broadcasts before coming back to Australia in 1940 under the moniker "the last of the hillbillies." He produced a series of 26 episodes titled The Last of the Hill Billies for Melbourne's 3DB (Melbourne). That same year, while performing at Sydney’s Tivoli Theatre, he met chorus girl Thelma Phoebe McLean—who later became Dolly Dyer. They married soon after, celebrating their wedding reception during intermissions of The Crazy Show tour.

Throughout World War II, Bob and Dolly entertained Australian and American military personnel stationed in combat zones across New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Radio and television career

Bob Dyer rose to prominence as a radio personality during the 1940s and 1950s before successfully transitioning to television by the late 1950s. Renowned for his flamboyant style, he combined genuine warmth with carefully orchestrated stunts to captivate audiences.

Radio

Dyer’s early radio programs broke new ground by emphasizing audience involvement through stunt-based formats rather than traditional comedic sketches. His notable shows included Can You Take it? and It Pays to Be Funny, both adapted from American concepts with authorization from star Art Linkletter. These shows placed contestants in amusing or awkward scenarios while offering valuable prizes, all delivered with Dyer’s affable demeanor.

Sponsors for these programs featured brands such as Solvol, Atlantic Union Oil—promoting "Happy motoring, customers"—and Colgate-Palmolive, which used the tagline "Happy lathering, customers." The program Can You Take It? incorporated sound effects and was designed to rival Jack Davey’s offerings. Dyer maintained a partly authentic rivalry with Davey, inspired by the American feud between comedians Jack Benny and Fred Allen. While Davey was recognized for his sharper wit, he found adapting to television challenging. In contrast, Dyer effectively modified his performance style for the visual medium.

Radio commentator John Pearce observed that Dyer embraced television’s visual requirements by actively seeking critiques to refine his presentation—unlike Davey’s less flexible approach.

Esteemed Australian actors such as Bud Tingwell and John Ewart served as assistant hosts on Dyer’s radio programs. Tingwell described his responsibilities as delivering major advertisements and introductions while praising Dyer’s professionalism and willingness to accommodate his film schedule.

Pick a Box

In 1948, while presenting Winner Take All and Cop The Lot, Dyer introduced the quiz program Pick a Box on radio. He adopted a more refined broadcast persona, trading his hillbilly image for a suit and tie. The show made its television debut in 1957, initially backed by Colgate-Palmolive and subsequently by BP, marking it as Australia's pioneering nationally broadcast TV quiz show. Dyer's iconic phrase, "the money or the box," became deeply ingrained in Australian popular culture, alongside his other memorable lines such as "Howdy, customers, howdy" and "Tell them Bob sent you."

Honours

By 1969, noticing a decline in audience interest, Dyer and Dolly decided to retire in 1971. Just prior to the final episode's broadcast, both were recognized in the Queen's Birthday Honours: Bob was awarded an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) despite his American citizenship, while Dolly was named a Member (MBE). During the ceremony, NSW Governor Sir Roden Cutler jokingly asked Bob whether he preferred the medal itself or its box. Over his career, Dyer received two Gold Logie Awards—one in 1960 and a special joint award with Dolly in 1971 celebrating their 15 years of contribution to the entertainment industry.

First television simulcast

At the start of 1957, ATN commenced simulcasting eight radio programs from the Macquarie Auditorium, including Dyer's It Pays to Be Funny and Pick a Box. Within twelve months, only Pick a Box persisted on air, maintaining simulcast transmissions for five years. In comparison, Jack Davey's trio of simulcast shows were discontinued within approximately a year.

Big-game fishing

Following retirement, Bob and Dolly moved to the Isle of Capri on Queensland's Gold Coast and devoted more time to big-game fishing, focusing on species such as marlin. Together, they set more than 50 world records along with 150 Australian records.

Death

In the late 1970s, the couple sold their residence and relocated to a high-rise apartment. Bob was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and withdrew from public life until his passing in 1984. Dolly died nearly 21 years later on Christmas Day 2004.

External links

Pick A Box was inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry in 2010.
Pick A Box at australianscreen online