1. Maud Ruby Basham, usually known as Daisy Basham or professionally as Aunt Daisy, was a New Zealand radio broadcaster from 1930 to 1963.
18 Facts About Aunt Daisy
1. 2.
Aunt Daisy was born in London, England, to Robert and Eliza Taylor.
3.
Aunt Daisy's father died shortly after she was born and her mother soon emigrated to New Plymouth in 1891.
4.
Aunt Daisy went to Central School and New Plymouth High School, and was active in a choir, concerts, play performances and debating contests.
5.
Aunt Daisy married Frederick Basham in 1904, and they had three children.
6.
Aunt Daisy's husband worked as an engineer in New Plymouth but lost his job during the depression.
7.
Aunt Daisy's unemployment led to Daisy seeking work to support their family.
8.
Aunt Daisy continued to shift stations as more became nationalised and she and other staffers moved to private stations.
9.
In 1933 Aunt Daisy began work at the private "Friendly Road" station 1ZB in Auckland run by Colin Scrimgeour.
10.
Aunt Daisy's role was primarily to promote sponsors' products by interspersing anecdotes and recommendations into a free-form, fast-flowing patter, a predecessor of the modern infomercial.
11.
Aunt Daisy answered letters with listeners' problems, and is credited with helping to boost morale during World War II.
12.
Aunt Daisy was renowned as a very fast talker, averaged 202 words a minute during her shows which opened to the song 'Daisy Bell' and the greeting "Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning everybody".
13.
In 1944 Aunt Daisy went to the United States to promote New Zealand.
14.
Aunt Daisy was invited to a tea with the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, where she passed on messages from the American troops and nurses stationed in New Zealand.
15.
Aunt Daisy continued to record morning shows informing New Zealanders of what she encountered in the United States.
16.
In 1946 Aunt Daisy returned to the United States to deliver a lecture series which extended to include Canada.
17.
Aunt Daisy spoke on New Zealand's landscapes and wildlife and advocated for the appreciation of nature.
18.
Aunt Daisy was still broadcasting up to a few days beforehand.