Max Cryer - Funny As Interview
2019
A purveyor of good grammar and master of words, Max Cryer had an extensive career in the New Zealand entertainment industry. Cryer passed away on 25 August 2021. In this Funny As interview from 2019, the broadcaster turned author discussed his career, including:
- The early days of New Zealand television, and how the public reacted to go-go dancers
- Ray Columbus playing Cryer's ventriloquist dummy on 1960s music show A Girl to Watch Music By
- Nearly interviewing Spike Milligan on Aotearoa's first live chat show, Town Cryer
- Producing 90 episodes of Mastermind, featuring “first-class host” Peter Sinclair
- Unexpectedly becoming a wrestling announcer on legendary show On the Mat
- The New Zealand vernacular, and how it has changed
“It really was one of the most memorable things I think either of us ever did ... when something makes the impact that that did, it's best to leave it as it is.”
Max Cryer on doing a ventriloquist act with singer Ray Columbus, for show A Girl to Watch Music By (12 minutes into Cryer's interview)
Copyright
This interview was recorded for 2019 TV series Funny As: The Story of New Zealand Comedy. All audiovisual content is copyright to Augusto, and may not be reproduced. Publication of Funny As extended interviews made possible with funding from the NZ Lotteries Grants Board.
