Dana Niehaus

Dana Niehaus (b. Zeerust, 21/12/1918 – d. Germiston, 12/10/1995) was a broadcaster and a film and television actor.

Biography

Daniel Retief Niehaus, the son of Hendrik Johannes Niehaus and Jacoba Johanna du Preez, was born in the Zeerust district of what was then Western Transvaal (North West Province). Though he had roles in a number of films and television productions, it was as a radio personality that he was most popular and that capacity he handled everything from sports commentaries and quiz shows, to children’s programmes and boeremusiek competitions. In fact, in 1947 he was the commentator responsible for the first broadcasts in Afrikaans of Springbok cricket matches being played in England and some credit him with finding suitable Afrikaans equivalents for the cricket terms used in English. He was an almost permanent fixture on Springbok Radio, on which he presented the breakfast show, notably with Clark McKay and later with Jeremy Dawes. Together with Marie Tjaden he also hosted a programme on LM Radio.

In addition he was occasionally the Afrikaans narrator of documentaries intended for screening in both English and Afrikaans and was frequently called upon to act as compere at public presentations. In November 1945 he produced Die Droom van Nebukadnezar (The Dream of Nebuchadnezzar) for the SABC radio station, Durban and Pietermartizburg "B" (Afrikaans). Thus, in 1979, he was one of the presenters of the Sarie Awards for popular music and five years later he was the master of ceremonies of Koffiehuis 1984, presented by the Afrikaanse Kultuurraad and the Vereeniging Operatic and Dramatic Society (VODS). He also brought out a number of long-playing records, mostly of children’s stories and his beloved boeremusiek, and appeared in many adverts. For some time he was the chairman of the Rand Sportswriters’ Society. In 1947 he married Anna (Ansie) Sophia Hanekom. Singer Danie Niehaus is their son.

Credits

Radio

November 1945: Die Droom van Nebukadnezar (The Dream of Nebuchadnezzar) about the king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who ruled from 605 to 562 BCE and is famous for his conquests, including the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile of the Jews. Staged for the SABC radio station, Durban and Pietermartizburg "B" (Afrikaans).

Films

1959 – Satanskoraal (Director: Elmo de Witt), 1960 – Rip van Wyk (Director: Emil Nofal), 1960 – Oupa en die Plaasnooientjie (uncredited) (Director: Pierre de Wet), 1961 – Doodkry Is Min (Director: Jamie Uys), 1963 – Huis op Horings (Director: Truida Pohl), 1965 – Die Wonderwêreld van Kammie Kamfer (Director: Al Debbo), 1970 – Vicki! (Director: Ivan Hall), 1975 – Ma Skryf Matriek (Director: Franz Marx), 1975 – Jakkalsdraai se Mense (Director: Franz Marx), 1976 – Liefste Madelein (Director: Franz Marx), 1979 – Plekkie in die Son (Director: William C. Faure), 1981 – Blink Stefaans (Director: Jans Rautenbach), 1982 – Verkeerde Nommer (Director: Franz Marx), 1983 – Wolhaarstories (Director: Bromley Cawood), 1989 – Windprints (Director: David Wicht), 1990 – The Fourth Reich (Director: Manie van Rensburg).

Television

1976 – Willem (TV series) (Director: Manie van Rensburg), 1977 – Net ‘n Bietjie Liefde (TV series), (Director: Henk Hugo), 1977 – ‘n Rand ‘n Droom ..... (TV movie) (Director: Katinka Heyns), 1978 – TJ 7 (TV series) (Director: Katinka Heyns), 1979 – Phoenix & Kie (TV series) (Director: Katinka Heyns), 1980 – Pas Getroud (TV movie) (Director: Franz Marx), 1981 – Slampampersirkus (TV series) (Director: Fred Nel), 1982 – Mielie Malie Maantuig (TV series for children) (Director: Dalene Kotzé) , 1982 – Die Inspekteur (TV movie) (Director: Henk Hugo), 1983 – Kromburg (TV movie) (Director: Daan Retief), 1983 – Koöperasiestories (TV series) (Episode: Mammon Oorwin) (Director: Koos Roets), 1983 – Wilna Variété (3-part variety series) (Producer: Merwede van der Merwe), 1984 – Sien Jy Nou! (TV series) (Director: Tobie Cronje), 1985 – Donkerhoek (TV movie) (Director: Koos Roets), 1986 – Doffel Babbel en Bekkie (educational TV series for pre-school children) (Director: Roelna Louw), 1986 – Hoekie vir Eensames (TV series) (Directors: Elmo de Witt & Herman Binge), 1986 – Die Losprys (TV series) (Director: Koos Roets), 1986 – Kinderlektuur (educational TV series) (Director: Wolfgang Wiesner), 1992 – The Fourth Reich (TV series) (Director: Manie van Rensburg).