Mo Awards
The Mo Awards, technically The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards, are an annual Australian entertainment industry award, that where established in 1975, to recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia.
| Mo Awards | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Achievement in Live Entertainment |
| Location | Australia |
| First awarded | 1975 |
| Last awarded | 2021 |
Biography
The Mo Awards began as a state only honour in New South Wales known as the Star Awards when local entertainers started the awards to promote live entertainment in New South Wales. When singer Johnny O'Keefe became chairman in 1976, he decided the awards should become an Australia-wide national awards program. Entertainer Don Lane then proposed the awards be renamed the Mo Awards in honour of Australian comedian and vaudevillian Roy Rene, who used the stage name "Mo McCackie."
The award statue was designed by H. K. Fischer, model maker of Morisset.
The award categories where reviewed annually and adapted to new trends in the Australian entertainment sector; categories included awards in: musical theatre, opera, Classical music, dance, comedy, rock music, jazz, country music, plays and variety shows.
The violinist Martin Lass won the Mo Award for Instrumental Excellence for seven years running from 1984 until 1990.