Editing 2UE (section)

===1930s===
====Broadcast Services Association====
As a cost saving measure in the depths of the [[Great Depression]], in December 1935 it was announced that an organisation to be known as Broadcasting Service Association, Limited, would co-ordinate and provide combined production resources for 2UE and [[2GB]], but without owning or operating either station. On 7 January 1937, it was announced that the two stations would operate as the ''Red Network'' and the ''Blue Network''; a concept which was copied from the US's [[NBC]] network, which operated a [[NBC Red Network|Red Network]] and [[NBC Blue Network|Blue Network]] at this time. However, the concept never transpired in Australia, because in February 2GB announced that it was going to form its own national network, and that eventually led to the formation of the [[Macquarie Media|Macquarie Network]] in 1938<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237442801|title= The Labor Daily (Sydney, NSW : 1924 - 1938) : Interpretati0n Of Broadcast Regulations|date=17 February 1937|page=5 |website=Trove.nla.gov.au|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230799639 |title=Radio Network System |newspaper=[[The Sun (Sydney)|The Sun]] |issue=8457 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 February 1937 |access-date=28 October 2017 |page=23 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> which was at first jointly managed by 2GB and 2UE.<ref name=company>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229134023 |title=Radio Company Formed |newspaper=[[The Sun (Sydney)|The Sun]] |issue=1841 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 July 1938 |access-date=28 October 2017 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

====Major Broadcasting Network====
{{Main|Major Broadcasting Network}}

In 1938 2UE and [[3DB (Melbourne)|3DB]] Melbourne launched the [[Major Broadcasting Network]] which for many decades was Australia's second most important radio network, after the Macquarie Network. The main person behind the formation of the Major Network was [[David Thomas Worrall|David Worrall]], manager of 3DB, and a most important figure in broadcasting history.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/worrall-david-thomas-12074|title=Australian Dictionary of Biography|first=John|last=Spierings|chapter=Worrall, David Thomas (1894–1968) |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University|access-date=19 November 2021|via=Australian Dictionary of Biography}}</ref><ref name="Walker, R.R. 1973"/>

The Major Network's Sydney outlet later changed from 2UE to [[2CH]] and then to [[KIIS 106.5|2UW]] before 2UE yet again became the Major Network outlet in Sydney in September 1950.<ref name="Walker, R.R. 1973"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230472085 |title=Drug addict's struggle back to happiness |newspaper=[[The Sun (Sydney)|The Sun]] |issue=12,681 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=19 September 1950 |access-date=29 October 2017 |page=23 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The Network broadcast a wide range of live variety programs including quizzes and [[radio drama|dramas]] including [[soap operas]], mostly emanating from the 3DB or 2UE studios.<ref>Jones, Colin, ''Something in the Air: A History of Radio in Australia'', Kangaroo Press, 1995.</ref>

The formation of the Major Network actually happened after two earlier attempts by David Worrall to form a network with 2UE as the Sydney station. In 1933, a loose grouping, but the first Australian attempt to form a commercial network, was attempted, known as the Federal Network. Then, in 1933 the Associated Broadcasters of Australia was formed but, again, did not last long.<ref name="Walker, R.R. 1973"/>

====Accommodation====
In 1938 2UE and 2GB, as partners in the newly formed Broadcast Services Association moved their studios and offices to Savoy House, 29 Bligh Street, Sydney,<ref name=company/> with 2UE on the 4th and 5th floors and [[2GB]] on the 6th and 7th floors.

In 1930 a new transmitter was installed at [[Lilli Pilli, New South Wales|Lilli Pilli]].<ref name="Carty, Bruce 2011"/>

====Ownership====
In 1933–34 Pa Stevenson sold the station to Associated Newspapers Ltd, publishers of [[The Sun (Sydney)|The Sun]].<ref name="Griffen-Foley, Bridget 2009"/> However, the Stevenson family, particularly Murray Stevenson, continued to have an influence at the station.<ref name="Williams, Neville 1994"/>

====Time signal====
In 1938 the station was commencing its broadcasts at 6.00&nbsp;am with ''The Alarm Clock''.<ref name="Griffen-Foley, Bridget 2009"/>

From 1939, 2UE became the first Australian station to broadcast six pips from the Australian [[observatory]] as an hourly [[time signal]].<ref name="Carty, Bruce 2011"/> For many decades all Australian stations carried the six pip time signal first heard on 2UE, and many stations continued to provide this service until the service was switched off in October 2019.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

====Drama====
The 2UE Dramatic Players were established in the 1930s providing a number of dramas and serials on a [[repertory theatre|repertory]] basis. The Players were led by [[George Edwards (actor)|George Edwards]], arguably the most prominent radio actor and producer of the time. Some time later, Paul Jacklin<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/jacklin-paul-seymour-12687|title=Australian Dictionary of Biography|first=Richard|last=Lane|chapter=Jacklin, Paul Seymour (1914–1982) |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University|access-date=19 November 2021|via=Australian Dictionary of Biography}}</ref> was appointed 2UE's head of production.<ref name="Walker, R.R. 1973"/> Malcolm "Max" Afford<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/afford-malcolm-max-9315|title=Australian Dictionary of Biography|first=Michael J.|last=Tolley|chapter=Afford, Malcolm (Max) (1906–1954) |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University|access-date=19 November 2021|via=Australian Dictionary of Biography}}</ref> also played an important role in 2UE's dramatic productions in the 1930s and into the 1940s. Right up to the early 1960s 2UE was to produce many dozens of audio plays for the Major Broadcasting Network. These mainly consisted of 15-minute serials or soap operas and 30-minute dramas. However, probably the most important dramatic production to emanate from the 2UE studios was the Australian version of the ''[[Lux Radio Theatre]]''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.abctvgorehill.com.au/abchtm/pubs_abcweekly.htm |title=ABC Weekly Publication |access-date=5 November 2017 |archive-date=21 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121063932/http://www.abctvgorehill.com.au/abchtm/pubs_abcweekly.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A143501;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 |title=NFSA - Title Details |access-date=25 September 2017 |archive-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213010853/http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A143501;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which was heard at 8.00&nbsp;pm every Sunday evening until 1952 – in pre-television days, arguably the most listened-to hour in the week for any radio station. (For much of its time on air, the Lux Radio Theatre was in competition with 2GB's ''Macquarie Radio Theatre'' later known as the ''Caltex Theatre''.)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com.au/search?source=hp&q=Macquarie+radio+drama+Sunday&oq=Macquarie+radio+drama+Sunday&gs_l=psy-ab.3...1394.15393.0.16459.29.29.0.0.0.0.260.5280.2-23.24.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..5.21.4806.0..0j35i39k1j0i131k1j0i67k1j0i20i263k1j0i22i30k1j33i160k1j33i21k1j33i22i29i30k1.250.TtJlDsQFFQI|title=Macquarie radio drama Sunday - Google Search|website=Google.com.au|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="Griffen-Foley, Bridget 2009"/>

====Live music====
2UE transmitted many live musical broadcasts during this era. These ranged from classical to pop. The importance of these types of programming at that time, is highlighted by the fact that in 1933 the 2UE Academy of Music was formed under Rex Shaw<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://snaccooperative.org/ark:/99166/w6cj8dxv|title=Shaw, Rex - Social Networks and Archival Context|website=Snaccooperative.org|access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> and Professor Clarence Elkin, so as to train singers and instrumentalists, particularly in the classical field. However, the Academy only lasted about a year.<ref name="Griffen-Foley, Bridget 2009"/>

====Cricket / Don Bradman====
In the 1930s, [[Test Cricket]] had a particularly high profile and most capital city radio stations, both the ABC and commercial stations, used the cricket as a vehicle for competitive programming, often interspersing live variety programs with news of the ongoing match supplied by overseas [[cablegram]]s. In 1931 a Sydney menswear store arranged for [[Don Bradman]] to broadcast twice weekly during the cricket season. He was on a two-year contract at the very high sum of £1,000 a year; a deal which is credited with keeping Bradman in Australia.<ref name="Griffen-Foley, Bridget 2009"/>

Bradman also regularly played the piano during 2UE's weekly ''Call to Youth'' program.<ref name="Carty, Bruce 2011"/>

====World War II====
On 3 September 1939 2UE was broadcasting a radio drama in the [[Lux Radio Theatre]] series when the performance of [[Leah Kleschna]] was interrupted by the voice of the Prime Minister, [[Robert Menzies]] announcing that Australia was now at [[World War II|war]] with Germany.<ref name="youtube5">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZedhB6Olvk|title=Robert Menzies speech 1939: Declaration of War|access-date=14 January 2019|website=YouTube.com}}</ref>

Censorship was rife during the war, particularly after the [[Military history of the United States during World War II|U.S. entered the conflict]] on 7 December 1941. After General [[Douglas MacArthur]] set up his headquarters in Australia, he wielded enormous power, including on matters of censorship. Inter-alia, he declared that every Australian radio station would only broadcast three news bulletins per day and that these would be simultaneous at 7.45 am, midday and 7.00 pm.<ref name="Walker, R.R. 1973"/> Weather forecasts were banned because it was felt that this may assist the enemy.<ref>McLaughlin, Bill, ''From Wireless to Radio, The 3DB Story'', 1985, Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, Melbourne</ref>

Notices<ref>these were [[DSMA-Notice|D-Notices]] in everything but name, even though that name had been used in the U.K. since 1912. The actual term was first used in Australia in 1952.</ref> were issued banning radio stations from broadcasting some major wartime events, but as the federal government did not have the same power over the printed press as it did over radio, newspapers usually reported events that radio was not permitted to mention.<ref name="Griffen-Foley, Bridget 2009"/>

There was some talk of closing down all commercial radio stations, as the enemy could beam-in on the transmitters and use these as bombing targets. As it transpired, this did not happen. However, some stations (not 2UE) were closed down for 24 hours as ''punishment'' for perceivably ignoring bans on radio reporting particular news items.

Many sponsors donated their advertising time to patriotic appeals.

2UE was also badly affected by staff enlisting. 2UE personality Frank Bennett became a broadcaster at 9AP [[Labuan]], [[Borneo]]. Arthur Pettet, an engineer at 2UE, became the Chief Engineer at 9AD, [[Morotai]], [[Dutch East Indies]]. Bennett and Pettet were only two of dozens of radio personnel who took up positions at the 20 Australian military radio stations throughout the Pacific.<ref name="Carty, Bruce 2011"/>

The supply of overseas programs was virtually cut off during the war, particularly from the U.S., meaning that Australian stations had to produce more local programs; this was the case at 2UE.