Bob Dyer
The American-born showman whose booming voice and folksy charm turned 'Pick a Box' into a national Australian ritual for over two decades.
1909–1984 (age 75)·American-born vaudeville entertainer, radio personality and quiz show host·Birthday: May 22·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bob Dyer imported a particular brand of American razzle-dazzle to Australian airwaves and, later, television screens. A veteran of vaudeville and radio in the US, he arrived in Australia in the 1940s and quickly understood the local appetite for spectacle and participation. His genius was in packaging the quiz show 'Pick a Box' not as a stern test, but as a boisterous party. With his wife and co-host Dolly beside him, Dyer created an atmosphere of palpable excitement, his signature cry of 'Take the box or the money?' becoming a household phrase. The show's longevity—running from 1948 on radio until 1971 on TV—was a testament to his mastery of audience engagement, making him one of the most recognizable and beloved personalities in Australian entertainment history.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bob was born in 1909, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1909
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1909Born
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1914Started school
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Became a teenager
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1925Could drive
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1927Could vote
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Turned 21
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1939Turned 30
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 40
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 50
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 60
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 70
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Died at 75
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
Key Achievements
- Hosted the immensely popular quiz show 'Pick a Box' for 23 years, first on radio and then on television.
- Won the Gold Logie award for Most Popular Male Personality on Australian television in 1961.
- Was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to entertainment.
- Pioneered the use of big-money prizes and suspenseful formats in Australian game shows.
Did You Know?
He was a skilled yodeler and often incorporated it into his stage and radio acts early in his career.
The famous 'box' on his show was originally a makeshift prop covered in wallpaper.
He and his wife Dolly were one of the first husband-and-wife hosting teams on Australian television.
Before fame, he worked as a tobacco auctioneer, honing his rapid-fire, persuasive speaking style.
“Come on down and give it a go for cash and prizes!”
