John Cargher

Who was John Cargher?

Pinchas Cargher AM, known professionally as John Cargher, was a British-born Australian music and ballet journalist and radio broadcaster.

He was born in the Cockney area of London to a Jewish rabbinical family, but was raised mainly in Germany and Spain, returning to England in 1931, which resulted in his trademark hard-to-pin-down accent. He came to Australia with his wife and daughter in 1951. In Melbourne, he managed Thomas's Records, and became managing director of the National Theatre in St. Kilda from 1969 to 1989.

His many occupations included: aircraftman, art dealer, art exhibition organiser, assistant cameraman, author, ballet administrator, broadcaster, building designer, comedy writer, compere, concert promoter and manager, critic, diamond merchant, impresario, intimate revue pioneer, journalist, lecturer, mechanical engineer, opera producer, photographer, radio programmer, record producer, record retailer, recorded books reader, schools administrator, television presenter, theatre manager, theatrical agent, toolmaker and turner-fitter.