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1950-1959

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Bruce Gyngell appeared on TCN9’s opening night

Although experimental television transmissions were conducted in Australia as far back as 1929, it was the 1940s before the government of the day considered the full scale introduction of television — and with a World War currently in progress, any further development was put on hold.  Progress after the war was slow, but the upcoming 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games would ensure that TV would arrive in time for the Opening Ceremony — and it did, only just!

1950:

  • The Menzies Government decides that television services will initially consist of a national service (ABC) in Sydney with expansion to follow into other areas as funding allowed – and a commercial station in each of Sydney and Melbourne and ‘any other capital city where it is felt that the applicant’s capacity to provide a service justifies the issue of a licence’

1953:

  • Following public pressure, the Government appoints a Royal Commission into the introduction of television in Australia.

1954:

  • The Royal Commission reports that television services should be introduced gradually – initially an ABC station and two commercial stations in each of Sydney and Melbourne with other areas to follow.

1955:

  • The Australian Broadcasting Control Board conducts public hearings into the allocation of commercial television licences for Sydney and Melbourne.
  • April 18: The first commercial television licences issued to Herald and Weekly Times (Melbourne), General Television Corporation (Melbourne), Amalgamated Television Services (Sydney) and Television Corporation (Sydney).

1956:

  • July: Test TV transmissions commence from TCN9 Sydney and HSV7 Melbourne
  • September 16: TCN9 Sydney becomes the first TV station to begin regular transmission. Station announcer John Godson introduces the station on-air at 7.00pm, then Bruce Gyngell introduces the first program, This Is Television.
  • September 27: GTV9 Melbourne conducts its first program transmission with a one hour and 20 minute broadcast of cartoons and a John Wayne film from 4.30pm, hosted by Geoff Corke. From Monday 1 October the station commences daily test pattern transmission.
  • October 27: TCN9 is officially opened.
  • November 4: HSV7 Melbourne is officially opened.
  • November 5: Opening night of the ‘national television service’ with the first ABC television station, ABN2 Sydney.
  • November 19: ABC’s second television station, ABV2 Melbourne, is launched
  • ABV2, HSV7 and GTV9 (conducting test transmissions) televise the Melbourne Olympic Games.
  • December 2: ATN7 Sydney is officially opened. The following day, ATN launches Australia’s first current affairs program At Seven On Seven with Howard Craven, and the first ‘tonight’ show, Sydney Tonight with Keith Walshe.
  • 5% of Melbourne households and 1% of Sydney households own a TV set.
1957:

TV Week

  • January 19: Sir Dallas Brooks opens GTV9 Melbourne
  • March 2: Bob Dyer’s Pick-A-Box, a radio quiz since 1948, launches on ATN7/GTV9 and runs until 1971.
  • April 20: The Victorian Football League (VFL) is televised for the first time, with Melbourne channels ABV2, HSV7 and GTV9 permitted to broadcast live coverage of the final quarter of league matches.
  • May 6: GTV9 launches Graham Kennedy’s In Melbourne Tonight, a live variety program that lasted 13 years.
  • TCN9 forms an affiliation with HSV7, and GTV9 lines up with ATN7.
  • December: The first edition of TV Week goes on sale in Melbourne.
1958:
  • June:  ABC launches its own TV magazine, TV News, in Sydney.
  • October 20: ATN7 launches Australia’s first TV ‘breakfast session’, including the first serial drama, Autumn Affair.
  • November: TCN9 launches Brian Henderson’s Bandstand, a variety music program that launched the careers of many Australians. It lasts for 14 years on Nine.
  • TV Week launches its own annual TV awards, initially known as the TV Week Awards but would later be named the TV Week Logie Awards, after television pioneer John Logie Baird, the following year.
1959:

Johnny O’Keefe

  • New TV stations: QTQ9 Brisbane (16 August), NWS9 Adelaide (5 September), TVW7 Perth (16 October), ADS7 Adelaide (24 October), BTQ7 Brisbane (1 November), ABQ2 Brisbane (2 November).
  • January 9: Melbourne and Sydney are linked by microwave for the first time, enabling television programs to be screened simultaneously in both cities.
  • ABC launches Six O’Clock Rock with Johnny O’Keefe
  • In Melbourne Tonight presents special editions live from Ballarat and Bendigo
  • August:  ABC’s TV News-Times (formerly TV News) expands circulation with the launch of a Melbourne edition in competition with TV Week.
  • HSV7’s weekly sports program World Of Sport begins on Saturday mornings. It soon moves to Sunday afternoons and continues every week for 28 years.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/timeline/1950-1959

128 comments

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    • Peter Stone on 3 October 2012 at 10:38 PM
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    1957 April 20. Was it not the FIRST quarter telecast live, not the last. The VFL were afraid that showing the last quarter would greatly diminih attendance at the games.
    Peter, Yarra, Vic.

    1. Hi Peter. I double checked and it was the Final Quarter. According to The Age at the time, on Saturday 20 April 1957, all 3 Melbourne channels were to broadcast the final quarter of the Collingwood v Essendon match starting at around 4.00pm. The channels were originally intended to broadcast a different game each but a last minute pay dispute led to them all covering the same game.

      Source: The Age, 20 April 1957 (via Google News Archive)

        • Roger on 15 June 2021 at 1:07 PM
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        What was the theme music for the midday movie in the 60s and 70s?

      • Jimbo on 13 April 2013 at 7:39 PM
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      Does anybody remember the Teenage hour in the fifties I think it was on at about 2.00pm Saturdays in Melbourne

    • Peter Stone on 4 October 2012 at 10:54 PM
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    You are absolutely correct Andrew. I see from my diary as a kid that on 31 August 1957 I watched the 4th quarter of the first semi-final with Carlton v Hawthorn. I have a feeling though that sometime later, next season, it was only the first quarter shown because of the concern for ground attendance. I have no record of this however. Great website by the way. Thankyou.
    Peter Stone, Yarram, Vic.

    • Steve Ellis on 11 October 2012 at 12:27 PM
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    Is there anywhere where I view the cartoon that opened GTV9 each day (guy runningthru the studio turning everything on) and a similar one at the end of transmission?

    Regards
    Steve

    1. There might be something of that footage on YouTube but I am not aware of any I’m afraid.

      • lee davidson on 6 May 2014 at 7:54 PM
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      Steve, ive wondered the same question myself.. Ive tried to find that cartoon but to no avail.. If i ever see it, i will be transported back to all those early saturday mornings when id get up to watch it..

        • Chris Keating on 15 December 2014 at 3:32 PM
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        The cartoon footage was used at the start of the late ’90 Melbourne series “Television: The Way We Were”, and again at the start of a “50 Years Of TV” DVD release via the Herald-Sun in 2006.

    2. That cartoon of man running and, turning on the power ect, was to lntroduce Phillip Brady’s morning show Mon-Friday, I’m sure this was the earliest breakfast show, it ran for an hour and, started at 6am. I’m sure Phillip could provide more info and,possibly the opening clip.

      1. I believe Sydney’s ATN7 was the first in Australia to launch a daily breakfast program, Today. But GTV9 in Melbourne did later launch its own program, also called Today.

    • Carol on 9 November 2012 at 2:56 PM
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    Does anyone know how long that first show, ‘This is Television’ was? I am trying to find out exactly what was telecast that first evening, 16/9/56, and also where people could watch it in Sydney as there were so few TV sets.

    • Peter Cox on 29 November 2012 at 8:32 PM
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    In reply to Carol’s question re day one Channel 9 Sydney. The opening program “This is Television” commenced at 1900 and lasted for 30 minutes – it was a mix of 16mm and 35mm film with brief studio bridges. Briefly the evening was as follows:
    19.30 – Johnny O’ Connor Show
    19.45 – Patti Page Show
    20.00 – What’s My Line
    20.30 – Douglas Fairbanks Show
    21.00 – Air Force Show
    21.15 – Accent on Strings
    21.30 – Father Knows Best
    22.00 – I Love Lucy
    22.30 – Robin Hood
    22.50 – Tivoli Show
    23.00 – National Anthem
    Carol you are perfectly correct there were very few receivers, with the result that many people got their first taste of television by crowding around the windows of retail shops – yes they actually did that!

    1. Peter, many thanks for your fantastic reply 🙂

    2. Great to watch this on the ‘good old days’ when Bruce Gyngell was our boss. I worked at TCN untill 1968 on the office and record library – would love to hear from Telecine folk or anyone else. Television had wonderful dramas and variety shows like Bobby Limb,Don Lane, Ray Martin at Midday with ‘live’ studio audiences.
      I have extremely happy memories of my TCN days.

    • laurie on 28 December 2012 at 11:53 AM
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    Hello .I am looking for photos or film of a show called dance party in 1966 in hobart has any one any infomation on this show
    Thankyou Laurie

      • Roma on 3 November 2013 at 2:22 PM
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      Hi Laurie

      My husband Greg Hill performed in Dance Party. we have tried to get footage through Win TV in Hobart but with no success. If you have info please let us know. Roma Hill ph 0412 600 473

    • Gabrielle on 9 January 2013 at 2:41 PM
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    Hello,
    I am wondering if there is any footage of GTV9 ‘s program “Thursday at one”
    I think it was the first live afternoon show?
    (I appeared on it !!!)
    Thanks a million…
    Gabrielle

    1. Hi Gabrielle.

      Unfortunately, as per the Contacts page, there is unlikely to be any surviving footage from shows of that vintage. The ability to archive programs then was limited and even if material was archived we don’t necessarily have compatible technology to be able to retrieve it. Copyright is another issue as well.

      Interesting to hear about you appearing on Thursday At One, though. What was your role in that program? You may have also read recently that host Binny Lum passed away at the age of 97.

        • Chris Keating on 15 December 2014 at 3:34 PM
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        I have (from a very poor quality kine transfer) about twenty minutes of “Thursday At One” – only people in the segment I’ve got are Bert Newton, Laurel Young, Ernie Bourne, and Shirley Broadway.

          • Geoff Dart on 2 January 2017 at 3:53 PM
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          Hi Gabrielle
          Very interested to hear about your comments regarding “Thursday At One” .I have very fond memories of that show as I was a member of a group called “The Hi-fi’s” and we were contracted to that show for a 13 week period to vocally introduce all the guests that were appearing each week. Godfrey Phillips was the director of the show and Phillip Brady the compare.
          I still have some of the scripts from the show. I don’t think videos of that show would be available, although I do remember that Godfrey did have some vision which he had at his TV memorabilty display down Frankston way. Sadly Godrey is no longer with us.

          • Megan Young on 22 January 2019 at 2:23 PM
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          I would love to see that footage- my aunt was Laurel Young – I also have some typed scripts – in those days the comperes had to do everything! she found it a bit too much so stepped down so her assistant Bert newton could take over the show!

    • michaela on 28 January 2013 at 1:45 PM
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    Hello,
    my dad is trying to find any clips from a show called The Youth Show. It showed in 1958 or 1959 he thinks. With Keith Walsh and Carol Finlayson.
    I hope you can help.

    Cheers
    Michaela

    1. Hi Michaela,

      Unfortunately, as per the Contacts page, there is unlikely to be any surviving footage from shows of that vintage. The ability to archive programs then was limited and even if material was archived we don’t necessarily have compatible technology to be able to retrieve it. Copyright is another issue as well.

      • shell on 17 August 2015 at 10:33 PM
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      hi michaela, it was called teen time and only about 5 seconds exist. from the band members. it is metiioned in a book called behind the rock and beyond

    • Chris on 1 February 2013 at 11:50 AM
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    I am inquiring on the singer named Bill Mc Cormick, who appeared on early telivision.
    Thank you.

      • Ian Musgrove on 18 February 2017 at 12:23 PM
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      My Father (Alf Musgrove) worked with Bill McCormick, Said his real name was Bill Erskine, hope this helps

    • ellie on 24 February 2013 at 5:48 PM
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    Hi
    I am looking for any footage/images or information from the Coles 3,000 question quiz. My father John Carew was one of the first big winners on the show with a specialist subject on boxing Perhaps there are some memories out therel,
    thanks
    Ellie

      • Vicki Austin on 8 May 2016 at 8:16 AM
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      I’d also like some footage or info on The Coles 3000 Question Quiz. My dad, Eric Lysaght, was a champion for six weeks, eventually winning a cruise to London.

    • Glennis on 16 September 2013 at 5:34 AM
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    Hi – Do you know where I could find more information about an Australian TV program called Lady for a Day (not the the Capra movie of the same name)? I think it was screened on HSV 7. Thanks

      • Chris Keating on 15 December 2014 at 3:37 PM
      • Reply

      “Lady For A Day” was based upon the US series “Queen For A Day”. It was hosted by Larry K. Nixon, with Graeme Bent, June Lansell, and John D’Arcy also featuring.

      It began in August 1960, and ran on HSV-7 until 1962.

    • HJeanA on 20 October 2013 at 2:55 PM
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    Just wondering WHY there is no info or photos of Bobo the Clown. I remember watching him as a kid & have searched high & low, for any info & nothing shows up – my search keeps giving me stupid Bozo the clown, obviously American. I worked at Radio Station 5DN from January 68 through to December 69 & the first 12 months I was office junior, which meant going to the Channel 9 canteen to get food for people at 5DN & met quite a few celebrities around that time, including the man who played Bobo the Clown. Would LOVE a really good photo of Bobo, plus info of from when & to when, he was on TV. Thanks 🙂

      • Alicia on 25 October 2013 at 12:16 AM
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      Hi my mum was one one of the dancers on the bobo show. Im trying to find anything that may have her in it as I have never seen any footage.

      • John on 13 March 2015 at 8:15 PM
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      Hi. Are you still looking for info and photos of Bobo the clown?

      John

    • Felicity Giffney on 15 November 2013 at 8:13 PM
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    I’m trying to find the name and footage of a morning show on channel 7 in the late 50’s or early 60’s I was modeling hats on the show but I was very young about 8 or 9 the hats had plates on them would love to show my children and grandchildren.

    • Margaret on 7 January 2014 at 10:21 PM
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    TV personality Joy Fountain If anyone has some information on this lady I would really appreciated you forwarding it on to me

      • Melissa on 9 July 2017 at 1:49 AM
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      Hi I am Joy Fountain’s daughter.. are you still wanting information?
      Cheers
      Melissa

    • Matthew Paul Argall on 15 January 2014 at 12:56 PM
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    What is the earliest surviving recording of an Australian television variety series? A possibility is the 11 April 1957 episode of “TV Channell” (with Douglas Channell), which appears to be held by the National Archives of Australia as a 16mm film print (a kinescope recording, to be exact).

    As for the earliest surviving recording of a locally-produced game show, well, National Film and Sound Archive lists the first episode of “Give it a Go” among their holdings (broadcast 25 February 1957). At the very least one of the earliest.

    Earliest surviving example of a locally-produced drama is more difficult. Some of ABC’s 1957 Sydney-produced TV plays were kinescoped so they could be shown in Melbourne, but I can’t determine if any of those kinescopes still exist. One 1958 live play that I know exists as a kinescope is “Murder Story”, set in England, with a cast including John Ewart. National Archives lists it as being from 20 May 1958. Incorrect. According to a newspaper TV listing it was actually broadcast 21 May 1958 in Sydney. The kinescope however wasn’t shown in Melbourne until 15 July 1958. It wasn’t unusual in 1958 for Sydney-produced ABC shows to take weeks before being shown in Melbourne. It worked both ways. A 19 October 1958 Melbourne-produced live play called “Last Call” wasn’t shown in Sydney (as a kinescope recording) until 4 January 1959! No idea if the kinescope still exists.

    Earliest surviving music broadcast? No idea at all. One that I do know of is “William Clauson Recital”, featuring US folk singer, held as a kinescope recording by the National Archives, it was originally broadcast on 19 September 1957. But a 1960s documentary included a very, VERY brief clip of “Campfire Favourites”, which ran during the last two months of 1956. Does the kinescope still exist?

      • Matthew Paul Argall on 17 March 2014 at 9:18 PM
      • Reply

      After doing some additional research, it appears that a 1957 ABC live television play called “Shadow of Doubt” (shown live in Sydney on 5 June 1957) may possibly exist as a kinescope recording held by the National Film and Sound Archive. That would certainly make it an early surviving example of Australian television drama, though admittedly it was an adaptation of a 1955 British stage play. Further information can be found on Wikipedia’s article on it.

      I am more interested though as to whether a kinescope still exists of another 1957 ABC television play, called “Ending It”, starring Bruce Beeby, Madi Hedd and Keith Buckley. I know for a fact that it was kinescoped, the question is whether the kinescope still exists. One of the main reasons it interests me is because it was a remake of a 1939 BBC TV one-off play.

        • Chris Keating on 15 December 2014 at 3:46 PM
        • Reply

        The very first ABC play, “Twelve-Pound Look” survives, minus sound.

    1. A very strong contender for this title would be Sydney’s TCN Channel 9’s Bandstand. The programmes were recorded on kinescope and are in Channel 9’s archives.

    • Martin on 20 February 2014 at 5:50 PM
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    there was a rumour going around in the New South Wales Town of West Wallsend the first ever live broadcast of bowls ever broadcast it was claimed it was first for Australia and first in the world

    • Karen on 8 March 2014 at 11:04 AM
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    I am chasing the origional footage for CINEMA SOUND – it has got a speed boat in the ad…….
    Please help if you can

    • andrew on 17 March 2014 at 6:03 PM
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    reading in the 1996 edition of TV Week bruce said the the welcome to television introduction clip wasn’t the original it was a remake the original got lost some how

    1. Yes, I wrote about it here

    • cheryl alldridge on 19 March 2014 at 2:39 PM
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    I was one of the child dancers in the childrens Saturday morning Show on QTQ9 Brisbane called Coca Cola Bottlers Club with the host Alan Brandt from 4BH in Brisbane. It was around 1959, 1960. I have a photo from the Christmas Show. Does anyone have photos or maybe film from this time???

      • Mary Harris on 1 March 2017 at 8:59 PM
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      Hello Cheryl, I was one of the little girls on the Coca Cola Bottlers Club around about the dates you mentioned. Sorry I do not have any photographs. I seem to remember your name. Did you attend Dawn and Robyn Piceathly (no idea of spelling) Dance Classes at Annerley, Brisbane? It’s rather sentimental isn’t it? Kind regards.

      • bob Brown on 25 June 2018 at 7:56 PM
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      Vaguely remember attending The ‘Hi Fi’ club which I think was associated with Coca Cola Bottlers Club 1959. they had a meet once at The Police Club Woolloongabba.
      Bob

    • George on 30 March 2014 at 9:18 PM
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    Does anyone know how to access a news/sport article on hsv featuring the 1961 vfa grand final between Yarraville v Williamstown. This was also shown in 1984 when Yarraville folded. This year Williamstown fc are celebrating 150 years as a club and are having a hall of fame dinner. This footage could be used as part of the Williamstown fc highlights.

    Thanks
    George Paras

    1. Hi George

      Try contacting HSV Seven Melbourne:

      GPO Box 4477
      Melbourne VIC 3001

      03 96977777

    • debbie on 4 April 2014 at 9:44 PM
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    I was just curious as to what was the very first ad aired on Australian tv? I have looked around for the info cant seem to find it

    1. This post might shed some light on the earliest ads

    2. The first commercial on Australian television was on Sunday 16th September 1956 on TCN Channel 9 Sydney. It was for Rothmans cigarettes.

    • Barry on 17 April 2014 at 1:59 PM
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    in 2016 television celebrates sixty years of broadcasting I be looking forward seeing that

    • Wade on 22 June 2014 at 8:52 PM
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    Hi was just wondering if anyone knew who the first news reader at GTV-9 was and which year did Eric Pearce take over? As I am sure that Eric Pearce began at HSV-7 first.

    1. Hi Wade.

      Yes, Eric Pearce was initially at HSV7. I don’t know the timing of his shift to GTV9 I’m afraid but gather it was late 1950s.

        • Wade on 23 June 2014 at 10:58 AM
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        Well going by this site, I think Eric Pearce may have transferred when GTV was officially opened, and therefore was the first newsreader for both. But I could be wrong.

    • danny mccarthy on 29 July 2014 at 10:54 PM
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    Hi everyone

    I am looking for episodes of teenbeat i think my sister colleen appeared on one show. Digby richards was also on

    • Selena Burne on 31 December 2014 at 8:39 PM
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    Joy fountain was my mother. Feel free to contact me
    Selena

    • Selena Burne on 4 January 2015 at 10:46 AM
    • Reply

    Hi not sure if my last message was sent or not. Joy Fountain was my mother. I know only a year on since your request but happy to help.

    • Jack on 9 February 2015 at 9:24 AM
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    Andrew is a flipping idiot

    1. Cheers Jack

    • John on 20 March 2015 at 5:02 PM
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    The well known ATN7 1950’s/60’S station close of the kangaroo putting the joey to bed is easy to come across, but their station opening of the same era seems to have disappeared. It was a traditional indigenous warrior approaching a cliff edge and throwing his boomerang which travels through the air and becomes an animated ATN7 logo. Has anyone seen it in recent times? I hope it has not “gone missing” because of political correctness.

      • John on 4 September 2017 at 1:25 PM
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      Glad to say this film survived and can be seen at 9.42 on “Channel 7: 40 years of Television” (YouTube). Robert Tudawali’s major achievement is always given as Jedda, though I think for many Sydney baby boomers he is much better recognised for opening Channel 7s daily transmission around mid-day for nearly ten years.

    • Robert Hegyes on 15 April 2015 at 12:28 PM
    • Reply

    April 14 2015

    I can still remember a very old program that we watched every day after school. My uncle had bought a 1952, 17 inch Admiral tv. The program
    was called Moonstone. All the neighborhood kids would come and watch
    it on the TV. That program was aired at around 4:30 PM in 1952 on CBC television and wecould not wait to come home to watch this program.
    When on these sites, they talk about old programs, I find it quite amusing when they talk of the sixties. I am talking the fifties, now that is old.
    I wonder if any old timers like me saw these programs.

    • Dianne Lucas on 16 May 2015 at 10:58 AM
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    I am looking for an advertisement made during the 1950’s by Millers Transport or Millers Furniture located in Brunswick Victoria. it contains footage of my father Ronald Law and his friend. I have been to the Film archives and they callus only supply the details of Millers itself. But I desperately need the advertisement. Can you help. Or maybe tell wher I can go for assistance..

    Kindest regards,

    Dianne

    1. Hi Dianne. Sorry to say your chances are slim. Very little material of that era exists.

    • Maree on 17 June 2015 at 12:04 PM
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    Can anyone tell me the theme music for the midday movie intro…..think it was channel 7………… in the 50’s/60’s. Was classical music I think…..

      • John on 18 October 2015 at 11:42 AM
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      I remember the theme well Maree, but not the name. I will have to go through Youtube one day and find it. Your right, it was ATN7, and they used it from when the station opened until the late 60’s. Although the TV guides always listed it as Mid-day Movie, Channel 7 always advertised and referred to it as The Mid-day Matinee.

        • Maree on 11 December 2016 at 7:56 PM
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        Just remembered I’d put up this post….thank you for your response…I remember this song for some reason and was curious as to its name….and I do remember the “Matinee” being used well…..

        • Maree Gardner on 11 December 2016 at 7:58 PM
        • Reply

        Just remembered I’d put up this post….thank you for your response…I remember this song for some reason and was curious as to its name….and I do remember the “Matinee” being used well…..

      • Wayne on 25 August 2016 at 9:58 PM
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      elizabethan serenade could be Ronald binge or matovani, two best waltzes ever wrote came from the 20th century, so difficult to track down as this was not a waltz or even classic music, it was recorded by many artists, Roger Whittaker brilliant whistle version and check vocal version by louise tucker (only for you) sensational music

        • Maree Gardner on 24 August 2017 at 12:42 PM
        • Reply

        Thanks Wayne

        Just found a link to the exact music on YouTube:
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWXB2_n3qzU
        Brings back memories

        Cheers
        Maree

      • Marilyn on 1 January 2024 at 5:48 PM
      • Reply

      It was Elizabethan Serenade

    • Barry on 21 June 2015 at 2:37 PM
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    Can you tell me when the first television broadcast occured on the mid north coast of N S W by ABC television

    • Alex on 15 September 2015 at 8:36 PM
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    When was this timeline published? I need to use it for an essay.
    Thanks!

    1. First published in 2000 but is constantly a work in progress as new information comes to hand.

    • Elizabeth on 13 November 2015 at 9:27 PM
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    Does anyone remember an American horror show that used to be on Friday nights in the late 1950s called “The Hour of Mystery” or “Mystery Hour”? Would love to see it again, even just the beginning.. I think they had a differnt story each week. It was on Channel 9. Cant seem to find it on You Tube

      • John on 25 April 2016 at 3:12 PM
      • Reply

      Hi Elizabeth
      I was young at the time but remember it well because the intro scared the hell out of me. It was a woman walking along a footpath at night. As she disappeared into the fog she would let out a piercing scream.
      It was actually English and called “Hour of Mystery” and only made for one season 1957. Apparently it is lost and only two episodes still survive.

    • GARY ELLIS on 22 December 2015 at 6:06 PM
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    I appeared on Many Tv programs on Early Melbourne Tv. On all channels,Has anyone got any film or Broadcasts. It would be great to Show the Grand kids.

    • Zednik on 20 April 2016 at 6:29 PM
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    What was the name of the female newsreader on ABV2 (Melbourne) who read the 7PM news in the mid fifties. I would guess she was the first female newsreader on prime time OZ TV.

    1. Hi Zednik I put your question out to Twitter. I’ve had a response that the person in question is Margaret Doyle. (Answer courtesy @nancycato1)

    • BrownSquirrel on 20 April 2016 at 10:38 PM
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    wasnt the then Sie Donovan was it?

    • Carolyn Choate on 29 September 2016 at 10:35 AM
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    Just wondering if there is any information regarding the contestants and winners of the Coles 3000 pound Question show. Muriel Flewell-Smith won in 1959/1960 with questions relating to Oscar award winning movies.

    1. Hi Carolyn. Unfortunately not aware of any resources with that level of information. I doubt much of it remains on file anywhere. You might have some luck contacting Channel 7 in Melbourne but I don’t know how you would go.

    • Kathy on 1 October 2016 at 4:14 PM
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    Hi just wondering if it would be possible to find an story on Cobram Victoria.
    It was about a dog that could climb ladders. It was suppose to be the second ever documentary done on the ABC in around 1956-58. We have friends that can remember the day and have photos.

    • Helen on 3 October 2016 at 11:35 PM
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    I’m trying to find the name of a show which was broadcast late 50’s early 60’s. I think it went for 30 minutes and my recollection was that there was only one singer with a guitar, and always the same singer. He sang very croony songs and there was always a bevy of very nicely done up Bobby Soxers gazing up at him. Very close to the singer and on the same level.

    1. Hi Helen, do you recall which city or channel this was from? Was it an Australian show or from elsewhere?

      • Bob on 25 June 2018 at 8:03 PM
      • Reply

      I think you mean the Mickey Mouse Club.
      He played a 4 string guitar accompanied by the mouseketees

      “. . .here’s your ears, you’re an honorary mouseketeer”

      Annette Funicello etc.

      Robert

    • Denise Greatbanks on 19 February 2017 at 6:21 PM
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    We were the first on our street to have a television set in Seven Hills, Sydney. The neighbourhood children came after school to watch for an hour or two.
    Does anyone know when the Movie “Gullivers’ Travels” was aired? It was in the early evening I’m guessing about 1957/ 1958. My parents got me out of bed so I could see it.
    It made a great impression on me at the time!
    Thanks,
    Dee

      • Martin Dunne on 11 October 2018 at 2:31 AM
      • Reply

      From The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 15 Monday 13 April 1959.

      1st Feature Cartoon

      THE first full-length cartoon feature to be shown on local TV will be presented tonight at 7.30 by ATN 7 It is “Gulliver’s Travels”, a free adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s satire, and is the first of two feature-length cartoons purchased for TV by ATN 7. The other—”Mr Bug Goes To Town”—will be screened later this year.

    • Chris on 6 April 2017 at 7:48 PM
    • Reply

    Does anyone have information/photos regarding Leslie Gotto when she appeared on the show ‘Thursday At One’ interviewing local and international guests?
    Many thanks,
    Chris

      • Peter De Silva on 30 December 2021 at 4:27 PM
      • Reply

      Leslie Gotto was known as Leslie Webster who conducted the cooking segment ‘Fun With Food’ on ‘Thursday At One’.

      She moved to Canberra where her daughter, Ainslie Gotto,
      became secretary to Prime Minister John Gorton.

      Ainslie later moved to Monaco with Drake International.

    • Ken on 22 April 2017 at 12:01 PM
    • Reply

    Does anyone know the name of the attractive singer who appeared on either “In melbourne tonight” or one of its rival shows during the late 50’s.her stage name was something like Palita or similar. I have a photo of her but the name escapes me.

      • john on 31 August 2017 at 12:48 AM
      • Reply

      Hi
      if you are still looking for the answer, send me the photo and I will get the answer for you.

    • Amelie on 12 May 2017 at 2:21 PM
    • Reply

    Do you have any qualifications that make your information super reliable?
    I’m trying to reference some of this for an assignment and I don’t have much info.

    1. Information on this website comes from a variety of sources. Blog posts mostly include citations where applicable.

    • s best on 23 July 2017 at 8:02 PM
    • Reply

    Hi there

    Where might we view early eps of THE WIDE WORLD OF SPORT
    particularly with Allan Stewart (The Great White Hunter of Darwin).
    He appeared in several segments.

    Many many thanks

    S

  1. This is very good site for the knowing how transmission of television become in really. In Australia this was firstly done in 1929. thi article is so interesting i want to read more about this

    • Phillip Murphy on 12 April 2018 at 9:45 PM
    • Reply

    Hi about 1959 there was a documentary filming on preschools around Sydney and there was some filming at the Erskinville Preschool in Prospect Street that I was attending at the time , is it at all possible to get a copy of the documentary.

    • Robert on 7 June 2018 at 7:33 PM
    • Reply

    I need info on a channel 7 “Parliament of Youth” program where schools in Vic in the 1950’s entered a debating team to compete against other schools on topical issues I was a member of one of these teams and wish to access these programs and gain a copy
    can anyone help where I can follow this up?

    1. Unlikely that you would be able to obtain a copy. Please refer to this page.

      • Gwyn Morris on 27 June 2018 at 10:04 AM
      • Reply

      Hi Robert,
      I also debated on the program against Heidelberg High.
      I still have a photo of both teams plus the moderator
      Niall Brennan (spelling ?). I was in the Geelong High team.
      Probably not much help ?
      Gwyn

    • Belinda on 26 June 2018 at 9:00 PM
    • Reply

    Hello,
    I was just wondering if anyone knows when the American TV series: The Lone Ranger starring Clayton Moore aired on Australian TV and for how long did it run? Thanks

    1. I don’t know the answer but if you browse the Classic TV Guides section or enter The Lone Ranger into the search bar at the top of the page, there might be some mentions of the program.

    • Megan Young on 22 January 2019 at 2:27 PM
    • Reply

    Sadly Laurel Young one of TVs first female comperes who was originally assisted by Bert Newton on GTV9 Thursday at One passed away peacefully almost 90 in 2017

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