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1960-1969

slider_1960s

1965: Don Lane and Graham Kennedy performed a duet in a split-screen telecast between Sydney and Melbourne via the coaxial cable that linked the two cities

As could be expected, television was warmly received in Australia. While a lot of the faces on our screens were still predominantly imported, the Australian identity was slowly but surely making itself known in the new medium. Hit shows like Bandstand, IMT, Homicide and The Mavis Bramston Show were making their mark in Australian popular culture.

Bob Dyer

1960:

  • Highlights of Graham Kennedy’s In Melbourne Tonight are screened interstate as The Graham Kennedy Channel Nine Show
  • New TV stations: ABS2 Adelaide (11 March), ABW2 Perth (7 May), TVT6 Hobart (23 May), ABT2 Hobart (4 June).
  • July: Frank Packer’s Consolidated Press (proprietor of TCN9, Sydney) acquires a controlling interest in GTV9, Melbourne, forming Australia’s first commercial television “network”.
  • November:  The Postmaster-General announces the thirteen successful applicants to operate the first stage in the roll-out of commercial television to regional areas in New South Wales (including Canberra), Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.
  • TV Week Gold Logie Winner: Graham Kennedy (In Melbourne Tonight, GTV9)

1961:

Lorrae Desmond

1962:

  • New TV stations: NBN3 Newcastle (4 March), CBN8 Orange (17 March), WIN4 Wollongong (18 March), BTV6 Ballarat (27 April), RTN8 Lismore (12 May), TNT9 Launceston (26 May), CTC7 Canberra (2 June), DDQ10 Toowoomba (13 July), TNQ7 Townsville (1 November), ABC3 Canberra (18 December).
  • Variety program Revue ’61, produced at ATN7, is sold to the Canadian CTV network. It is believed to be the first Australian production sold to an overseas network for prime-time screening.
  • March: The Government announces that an additional commercial television station will be licenced for each of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.  In April it was announced that the new Sydney and Adelaide stations will be licensed to broadcast on Channel 10, the Melbourne and Brisbane stations on Channel 0, and the new Perth station on Channel 9.
  • July 1: Station affiliations change. GTV9 and TCN9 align to form the National Television Network (now the Nine Network) along with QTQ9 and NWS9; HSV7 and ATN7 align to form the Australian Television Network (now the Seven Network) along with BTQ7 and ADS7. TVW7, being the sole commercial TV station in Perth, remains independent of network affiliation.
  • TV Week Gold Logie Winner: Tommy Hanlon Jnr (It Could Be You, GTV9), Lorrae Desmond (The Lorrae Desmond Show, ABC)

1963:

  • New TV station: RTQ7 Rockhampton (7 September).
  • ABC launches its first regional stations
  • November: TCN9 and GTV9 are connected via coaxial cable, allowing the instant sharing of news stories and programs between both cities.
  • TV Week Gold Logie Winner: Michael Charlton (Four Corners, ABC)

Leonard Teale, Homicide.

1964:

  • New TV stations: RVN2 Wagga Wagga (19 June), AMV4 Albury (7 September)
  • August 1: Melbourne’s third commercial TV station, ATV0, is opened by Ansett Transport Industries. The first program is This Is It! presented live from studios in the Melbourne suburb of Nunawading.
  • October: Coverage of the 1964 Olympic Games from Tokyo is provided by ABC and commercial stations, in co-operation with the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), compiling daily 30-minute reports from Tokyo and rushed to Australia for transmission within 24 hours.
  • October 20: HSV7 screens the first episode of a new Melbourne-produced police drama, Homicide. It becomes a huge success and runs on the Seven Network for 510 episodes over 12 years.
  • November 11: Comedy revue series The Mavis Bramston Show debuts on ATN7, Sydney.
  • TV Week Gold Logie Winner: Bobby Limb (Sound Of Music, Nine)

Jimmy Hannan

1965:

  • New TV stations: NRN10 Coffs Harbour (23 January). TEN10 Sydney (5 April), NEN9 Tamworth (10 April), WBQ8 Maryborough (10 April),  STW9 Perth (12 June), TVQ0 Brisbane (1 July), SAS10 Adelaide (26 July), STV8 Mildura (27 November), CWN6 Dubbo (1 December), MTN9 Griffith (15 December)
  • TV Spells Magic, a lavish variety production with over 150 performers and extras, is the highlight of opening night for TEN10 and is relayed to ATV0 and regional stations.
  • The Independent Television System, Australia’s third commercial television network, is formed between TEN10, ATV0, TVQ0 and SAS10. The network is later re-named the 0-10 Network.
  • September 15: Showcase, promoted as Australia’s richest talent quest, begins a five-year run.
  • TV Week Gold Logie Winner: Jimmy Hannan (Saturday Date, Nine)

1966:

  • New TV stations: SDQ4 Southern Downs (26 February), SES8 Mt Gambier (25 March), ECN8 Taree (27 May), FNQ10 Cairns (7 September)
  • Australia starts to receive daily news reports via satellite.
  • An Australian version of Play School, based on the BBC production of the same name, begins on ABC.  Here’s Humphrey begins its long run on Nine.
  • TV Week Gold Logie Winner: Gordon Chater (The Mavis Bramston Show, Seven)

1967:

  • New TV stations: BTW3 Bunbury (10 March)
  • April 10: ABC’s controversial nightly current affairs program This Day Tonight begins.
  • June: Australia takes part in two global satellite telecasts: Our World, a two-hour telecast screened simultaneously in 30 countries and included segments produced in 18 countries including Australia, and Expo 67 a live telecast highlighting Australia’s contribution at Expo 67 in Montreal.
  • June 15: ATV0 produces the first colour TV program on Australian television when it televises the Pakenham racing in colour.
  • August 28:  ABC’s popular evening series Bellbird premieres. A huge hit in the country, but only a moderate success in the cities, it ran until 1977.
  • September 16: The NSW Rugby League Grand Final is telecast live for the first time
  • TV Week Gold Logie Winners: Graham Kennedy (In Melbourne Tonight, Nine) and Hazel Phillips (Girl Talk, 0-10). The first TV Week Logie Awards presentation hosted by Bert Newton.

Brian Henderson

1968:

1969:

  • January: Sydney channels ATN7 and TCN9 launch competing breakfast news shows, Sydney Today and Today respectively.
  • February: The Government announces that Australia will adopt the European PAL colour TV standard, instead of the American NTSC system.
  • March 8: The world title fight between Lionel Rose and Alan Rudkin becomes the most watched telecast in Australian television history.
  • March 11: Crawford Productions and GTV9 launch Division 4, a new police drama.
  • Fredd Bear’s Breakfast-A-Go-Go

    Fredd Bear’s Breakfast-A-Go-Go, with Judy Banks and Fredd Bear, starts a successful run on ATV0.

  • July: Australian television broadcasts live coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landing. GTV9 extends transmission to 24 hours a day for the duration of the Apollo 11 mission to include live coverage.
  • December 23: Graham Kennedy presents his final In Melbourne Tonight
  • TV Week Gold Logie Winner: Graham Kennedy (In Melbourne Tonight, Nine)

Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/timeline/1960-1969

265 comments

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    • santi on 7 September 2012 at 3:54 AM
    • Reply

    i am looking for an australian tv show about a boy who has a boomerang that once is in the air it stops time. saw it around 1966 1972.
    thanks for all
    cheers
    santi

      • Chris on 21 May 2013 at 6:01 PM
      • Reply

      Its called the magic boomerang. Search on youtube

    • Paul on 8 September 2012 at 5:36 PM
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    I’ve been searching for an Ugly Dave Gray live tv show from around 1969-1972. It involved people having to do some pretty silly things for money and then risking the money against not laughing at one of Gray’s jokes. All good fun, but can’t find any reference to the show at all. Hoping someone can help.
    Many thanks,
    Paul

      • Lesley on 4 November 2016 at 9:15 AM
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      Blanket Blanks

      • Martin on 2 June 2020 at 9:15 PM
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      His show from 1973 was Free For All, did it predate this?

    • paul on 16 September 2012 at 11:32 AM
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    pretty sure it was the magic boomarang set in the out back young boy in it starred David Morgan, Telford Jackson and Penelope Shelton

    • Leo on 3 October 2012 at 9:41 PM
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    The magic boomerang.

    • Bill Lee on 1 November 2012 at 6:48 PM
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    Tasmanian Television , TvT Channel six, started first in the then “apple Isle” in May 1960. Was followed a few weeks later by the ABC with ABT2.
    It was a new experience to all, and a great time !
    I was working at a Hobart Radio Station , 7HT, at the time, and the premises were all brushed up to try and help get the TV licence when it was to be decided.
    We, the working staff of 7HT, found that if we had won the Licence, it would have been known as “HTT Channel 8”
    WoW! I had a very large sign made up an stuck in the 7Ht Control room saying exactly that.
    Pity ,I then left and joined the opposition Radio Station’s 7HO’s lot who won the licence allocation ,in August of ’60. Never looked back !
    Great times…..

    • Michele Hartley on 8 January 2013 at 9:00 AM
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    I am looking for a Rock and Roll show that played visiting bands. Mainline band from Canada in particular. Any help you can give me would be extremely appreciated.

      • Dean Edgecombe on 17 July 2013 at 11:49 AM
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      Hi Michael

      I think the show you are looking for would most likely be GTK, which was aired on ABC TV around 6.30pm on weeknights. The show was only about five minutes long and featured a single clip from a band each night.

      When Mainline toured here they got a certain amount of publicity by arranging for the local chapter of the Hells Angels to escort them from the airport to their hotel. I have a vague memory that some footage of the escort may have been included in the film clip.

      Their album “Bump and Grind Review” was reasonably popular at the time.

    • michael bradford on 9 January 2013 at 11:12 PM
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    looking for two tv game shows of the sixties inwhich my parents were contestants and prize winners. think they were on TCN9 one was called, What’s my line, where a panel had to guess a contestants occupation by clues given by the contestant, and the other was Name that tune, where a contestant had to name a tune by a series of clues, i think

    • Trish Hindmarsh on 6 February 2013 at 8:31 PM
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    I am searching for TV footage of a Channel 7 show called Beauty and the Beast that aired in 1969. At the time Noel Ferrier was the ‘Beast’. My father Lawrie Hokin was interviewed on this show, and I would love to see any footage if it has been kept and archived. I think the show I am looking for aired in May, but
    I ‘am not really sure. Does anyone know how to go about locating old TV footage ?
    Thanks Trish

    1. Hi Trish

      It is unlikely the footage has been kept or is available, either for reasons of copyright or because a lot of older material has not been archived.

      Refer the Contact page for more information

    • Janette on 16 March 2013 at 8:15 PM
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    I would like to know the name of the little man who use to open and close television and also if there is any footage available on utube.

    • Fran on 18 March 2013 at 1:34 AM
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    Hi I remember seeing a tv series i around 1970/7, it was in the north of WA or QLD, Cornelia Frances was in it, I thought it was called ” A SERPENT IN A RAINBOW”, I have goggled this without success.
    Hope someone out there knows this show, from memory it was set in the late 1800s and black and white.

    Thanks Fran.

    • Jim on 3 April 2013 at 9:49 PM
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    Fran, it sounds vaguely aboriginal, so it could have been called The Rainbow Serpent. Just a guess.

    Jim.

    • Andy on 4 April 2013 at 10:23 AM
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    Can anyone remember a TV series about a tugboat crew during the 60’s? I think it was called ‘Waterfront’ and if my memory is correct the main actors in it were the same one’s who were in the Canadian TV series ‘Cannonball’. It ran weekly and had a very haunting musical theme. I think the actors were Paul Birch and William Campbell. Thanks! – Andy

    • Anna on 20 April 2013 at 8:49 PM
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    There was an Australian children’s ‘live’ TV show in the early 1960’s, involving some sort of ‘princess’. A vague description, I know, but all I remember is that It featured a prize draw during each episode where children were asked to send in an envelope with their name and address on the back. Would anyone have any idea of its name, or any other details?

      • Merie Strates on 25 June 2013 at 12:41 AM
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      The Happy Show with Princess Panda

      • Merie Strates on 25 June 2013 at 12:44 AM
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      More details as follows:
      The Happy Show featured Princess Panda (Panda Lisner), Lovely Anne (Anne Watt), Parer the Magician (Tommy Parer), Funny Face (Vic Gordon), Big John (John D’Arcy), Robbie Rob (Bob Horsfall), Cousin Roy (Roy Lyons), Sylvester the Talking Sock (Ian Wiliams). The program was also relayed to ATN-7 in Sydney. During Watt’s honeymoon absence in early 1965, her place was taken by a young Olivia Newton-John.

      Source: Wikipedia

    • Marilyn Randall on 29 April 2013 at 1:05 PM
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    My mother was a contestant on the show IT COULD BE YOU compered by Tommy Hanlon Jr in early July 1969. She was given a lot of prizes for her contribution to her community service. I had written a letter to the show some months previously outlining her outstanding work and I was contacted to come on the show which my Mum knew nothing about until they called her up.
    A month before the show I lost my 9mths old son and it was a very difficult time but I went to the show so my Mum could have her day.
    I just wondered is there anywhere I could find this episode and purchase it or watch it online.
    The pearls my mother was given have now been handed down to my daughter and she is trying to find out more information about them before I,too, depart this life.

    1. Hi Marilyn

      It is unlikely that any footage of the program still exists as many programs from that era were not archived or are not compatible with modern-day equipment for playback. There are also issues associated with copyright in making such material available.

      I can only suggest you contact the channel that originally produced the program (a list of TV stations and addresses are here) or maybe try the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra

      Andrew

      • Martin on 2 June 2020 at 9:21 PM
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      The NFSA hold 12 episodes and part episodes, plus a compilation.

    • Michael on 4 May 2013 at 4:35 PM
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    I wish to purchase a copy of a Bandstand show – Channel 9. It was call Golden Rock and featured the finalists in the Inaugural NSW Miss Teenage Competition. The show was aired in Sept/ Oct 1960.
    Whom do I contact?

    1. Hi Michael

      It is unlikely that the program you’re after has been archived or maintained in a format that is compatible with current playback equipment. There are also issues of copyright often preventing such program material being made public.

      I can only suggest you contact the TV station that made the program (a list of TV station addresses is on the contact page) or maybe the National Film and Sound Archive.

      Andrew

    • Russell on 15 May 2013 at 1:55 PM
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    i am looking for the name of childrens variety show on channel seven sydney in 1968

    1. The program you are discussing is possibly “Captain Fortune’s Saturday Party”. This kid’s show was on live every week, on ATN 7 Sydney, and included people like ventriloquist Clifford Warne. Ran for about 2 hours each Saturday afternoon.

    • Claire on 11 June 2013 at 5:28 PM
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    I am looking for a program from the 1960’s made in Mt. Gambier, possibly calledGirl’s Talk?

    • Jody Payne on 20 June 2013 at 1:47 PM
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    im looking for copies of the tv show “showcase” in which the act the three imps performed. filmed in 1968 they appeared 10 times on the show on channel 9. any information would be appreciated Jody.

      • Marnie Dadsden on 16 September 2013 at 12:54 AM
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      Hi Jody,

      Great to hear that someone remembers The Three Imps who won Showcase 69.
      They were from Perth and attended Kewdale Senior High School in the late sixties. Two of the girls names were Vicki-Dawn Wagner and Marlene Henneberry. I cannot remember the third. Marlene’s parents Frank and Betty are now both deceased.

      I have heard nothing since leaving Kewdale in the early seventies.

      Kind regards
      Marnie

        • Marnie Dadsden on 10 November 2023 at 12:25 AM
        • Reply

        Cheryl McCulloch was the third imp.

    • Tim on 2 August 2013 at 5:08 PM
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    I’m looking for the name of a kids show in the late 60s or 70s that consisted of a number of puppet skits – there was george the giraffe & mini monk, bill the koala “Play time with Bill he’s a cuddley litte bear…” and a boy and girl (maybe brother and sister) who used to play on swings ….. think they had magic windows as well but don’t think it was playschool – from memory i think it was on channel 9 but who knows why i think that. Thanks.

      • C. Milligan on 20 April 2014 at 9:22 PM
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      Hi Tim
      I don’t know if this is what you are thinking of .. Bill Milligan and benny bear (puppet) was on QTQ 9 in late 50s and during the 60s. It was on a children’s show hosted by Jim Iliffe (captain jim). Bill was my dad. I would like to get hold of any old footage of this show. Does anyone know if it is available?

        • Les Beckett on 4 September 2014 at 12:05 AM
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        Hello I have been trying to contact Kirsten since we left school in 1970. I remember your dad from our school dance,so I know I am in the right spot now. If you could give your sister my email I would be thankful. [email protected].

        • Bruce Steel on 18 April 2020 at 11:22 PM
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        Hi
        Your Dad was my English teacher & Rugby coach at School. Brilliant man & naturally funny. Respected by all kids. We loved his Scottish accent too. I too would love to see Benny The Bear episodes.

        Best line at Rugby from your Dad to the opposition coach (he told me after the game). I’ve kicked a field goal from half way with my left foot. Bill has turned to the BBC Coach & said “you want to see his right” apparently leaving the BBC coach stunned. Bill knew I could only drop kick with my left foot although I could kick with both feet.

        • Alexander Straker on 8 May 2023 at 8:02 AM
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        Hi, your dad was also my English teacher and I ended up his apprentice in the art of magic as well and used to visit your house for International Brotherhood of Magicians meetings. Your mum used to make the best lasagne on the planet!

        The positive impact Bill had on so many young lives is not to be taken lightly. As Bruce said everyone loved Bill and I felt very lucky to get to learn how to entertain with magic from him one on one, he was the most natural born entertainer I have ever met. Largely from Bill’s influence I went on to a performance career in a combination of music and magic.

        I could never forget the forst time I saw Benny the Bear live when Bill performed at St Iganatius school, Toowong. This was the highlight of the night amongst some very accomplished magicians – Al Ward, Joe Lewis, Vince Nash and others all performed fantastic magic that night but Bill & Benny’s segment was what brought the house down! Watching Bill was like seeing a multi-character cartoon with strong emotional hooks and brilliant comedy done live by a single performer, pure genius. I would love to see footage of Benny if anything surfaced…and show my kids! Anyone associated with Bill is welcome to contact me: [email protected]

      • Steve Flanagan on 26 November 2022 at 8:09 AM
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      Jodie giraffe and Mickey Monk. I think the presenter was Clifford Warne but I could be wrong

      • Steve Flanagan on 26 November 2022 at 8:12 AM
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      Might have been Jodie Giraffe as the theme song went ‘Here comes Jodie, long neck Jodie. Here comes Jodie Giraffe.

    • Andrew on 2 August 2013 at 8:04 PM
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    I’m looking for a series that had a theme song

    Toodaloo, goodbye to you we really have to go
    Hoped you liked the fun and games in your tv show
    Always cheerful always bright to see you smiles a treat
    So toodaloo goodbye to you until next time we meet

    Regards
    Andrew

      • Keith on 16 August 2013 at 3:38 PM
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      Hmmm, yes, I’d like to know too Andrew. I’m about to out those very words into a short story!

      • Michael on 20 October 2013 at 4:57 PM
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      I’m pretty sure it was the Tarax Show on GTV9 in Victoria.

    • Virginia baker on 16 October 2013 at 7:03 PM
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    Hello am hoping to get any information on a show called The little people. It was towards 1969 -70 maybe! It was a game show?! And if anyone can help I would dearly like to get copies of the show if at all possible! It was filmed in Sydney! I was four and was on it a few times im just a little interested!

    1. Hi Virginia. Unfortunately, copies of the show are not likely to be possible, as per this page.

      However I may have some press reports of The Little People that I will see if I can dig up. Watch this space.

    • Virginia baker on 17 October 2013 at 8:53 AM
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    Thanks very much Andrew 🙂

    1. Hi Virginia

      I hope this post, though brief, is of some interest

    • Mike Shone on 25 October 2013 at 5:00 PM
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    I am looking for a copy of any of the performances of Soprano Jacqueline Chapman on “Showcase” in the late 60s or early 70s.

    Can anyone advise me who to contact?

    Many thanks

    1. Hi Mike

      Please refer to this page regarding availability of copies of old programs. You could either contact Network Ten or Crawfords Australia who produced the program but I expect it is unlikely that any archival material would be made available.

    • Stephanie on 26 October 2013 at 11:31 PM
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    Is there any footage of Saturday Date available.

    1. Hi Stephanie.

      Please refer to this page.

      • Neil Forbes on 30 January 2014 at 1:28 AM
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      Saturday Date was a crowd scene of people dancing to records, it was basically “radio with pictures” there were no live performances or guest acts and some regional stations had their own versions in the same format. Local disc jockeys would occasionally be seen introducing the show and the songs but the show format was a “no-brainer”, anyone could’ve produced it. Whether it was caught on film or the then-emerging videotape technology, most likely not. Hardly worth the effort.

    • Wilhelmina van Hennik on 5 December 2013 at 3:57 PM
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    Also would like to know if there is any footage of “Saturday Date TV Show” pictures, anything???? Can’t see Stephanie had any answers. Thanks Willie

    • doug on 9 January 2014 at 10:08 PM
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    I’m looking for a tv series from the 60’s that was possibly French about kings and soldiers and battles, I don’t remember much but the was somebody called The Bertram ? lots of holy wars type of stuff, just a vague memory of a show I watched when I was a kid, thanks doug

    • Octavio Ortiz on 20 January 2014 at 5:27 PM
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    I’m looking for the video on Our World (tv Special, 1967) recorded by Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). I really needed for academic purpose. I’m doing my Ph. D. thesis in Social Sciences (Communications) at the National University of Mexico. This video was in YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbWMBiz2z7k), but had been blocked it. What a bad luck!

    Can anybody help me to get it? I would really thanks that.

    1. Hi Octavio

      I’m not aware of any other copy publicly available. You could try to contact ABC Sales or the National Film and Sound Archive to see if there are any options available there.

    • Neil Forbes on 24 January 2014 at 1:09 AM
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    Looking at the originally-intended names for the networks, why didn’t the stations have the “guts” to actually use these names on-air? Australian Television Network, Station ATN-Sydney, HSV-Melbourne, BTQ-Brisbane and ADS-Adelaide actually did identify themselves thus in the mid-1980s with a logo that included the Star of Federation with a red wedge beside it, and the Southern Cross star constellation. The third new network of TEN, ATV, TVQ and SAS were to call themselves the “Independent Television System” and stations TCN, GTV, QTQ and NWS were to be the “National Television Network” though I’d suggest “General Television Network”. We should’ve followed Britain’s lead in identification of our TV stations…. give our stations proper names, based on the corporate names of the licencees…. NOT hide behind the channel numbers.

    • Andrew on 24 January 2014 at 2:19 PM
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    I think they were copying the American format Neil

    • Andrew on 24 January 2014 at 3:12 PM
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    was wondering back in the sixties did the stations have little intermission between shows showing the test pattern ?

    • Enid on 24 January 2014 at 10:59 PM
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    I remember there was a song, with footage of stockmen, that used to close transmission in the 60s and early 70s. We only got ABC (Melbourne) and GMV from Shepparton – so must have been on one of these… I think it was to the tune of Waltzing Matilda….

    • andrew on 25 January 2014 at 11:30 AM
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    back in the seventies and I think they phased it out around 1985 or 1986 the ABC used to have lot of test pattern breaks to bring up programs on schedule

    • Terry on 26 January 2014 at 10:01 AM
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    It was more to do with broadcasting law of the era. ATN, as I understand, refers to Australian Television NSW (not network). Every TV station in NSW had heir call-sign ending in ‘N’, which stood for NSW (not network). e.g. WIN 4, NBN 3 etc.

    So as a result, by law, they had to refer to themselves on-air as ATN 7 & TCN 9 etc.

    I believe this has all been dropped for digital channels.

    Dr Terry

      • Neil Forbes on 29 January 2014 at 2:13 PM
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      You’re correct on ‘N’ for New South Wales. TV callsign template: N=NSW, V=Vic., S=S.A., Q=Qld., W=W.A., T=Tas. The odd one out was Northern Territory which was D=Darwin, because it is not a state. Northern Territory stations should’ve been listed with an ‘S’ and included as South Australian stations(my opinion only). The template was ditched long before digital TV was even dreamt of. SBS does not conform to the template or it would’ve used a system similar to the ABC…e.g.: SBN-Sydney, SBV, Melbourne, etc. Regional ABC stations had an extra letter inserted after ahead of the state identifier to indicate the region they served(ABHN-Newcastle/Hunter, the ‘H’ referred to Hunter). Under the template, the first two letters represented the licencee, but not always… otherwise it would’ve been UTN instead of TEN(UT=United Telecasters Ltd.).

      1. I would suspect D=Northern Territory because “N” was already taken (NSW)

          • Neil Forbes on 30 January 2014 at 1:21 AM
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          And they couldn’t use ‘T’ either as that was the State Alpha identifier for Tasmania. Like I said, they should’ve registered Northern Territory stations as if they were South Australian, with the state letter S on the callsign, likewise, stations in the ACT should be regarded as NSW stations, hence CTN-Canberra for Capital Television and ABCTN as the call for the ABC service Territories should have no status of their own and should, in all purposes, be annexed to the states, ACT to New South Wales, Northern Territory to South Australia(historically Adelaide WAS the administrative capital for N.T. back in the 1920s, should’ve stayed that way!)

    • andrew on 29 January 2014 at 3:36 PM
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    did regional stations broadcast the magic circle club? I have a vague memory seeing it

    1. Some of them did. Check the TV guides section it might be there

    • andrew on 30 January 2014 at 12:12 PM
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    Saturday Date sounds like copy of the uk’s Top of The Pops

    • Debbie Hill on 1 February 2014 at 11:55 AM
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    I remember in the 60’s waiting for the cartoons to start on channel 9 – I am guessing it was 7am. They used to play a short cartoon at the start of transmission that had a little man running through the studio turning on lights, sweeping and operating the camera.
    Any idea where I could get this?

    1. Hi Debbie

      Have a look at YouTube it may be there somewhere

    • Debbie Hill on 1 February 2014 at 1:39 PM
    • Reply

    Thanks Andrew. I have searched a little, but I don;t know what key words to search.

    1. I share your frustration. If I ever do come across it I’ll link it here

    • robert on 2 February 2014 at 10:38 AM
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    I am looking for a tv series late 60’s or possibly early 70’s set in Balmain on the waterfront

      • Neil Forbes on 6 February 2014 at 4:46 PM
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      Likely that was a comedy series called “My Name’s McGooley, What’s Yours”, produced by and for Station ATN-Sydney and featured John Meillon as Wally Stiller, Judy Farr as his long-suffering wife, Rita, and Gordon Chater in the title role as Domenic McGooley. A short-lived spin-off series called Rita & Wally, had the Stillers moving to a more affluent Sydney suburb(unnamed).

        • Neil Forbes on 6 February 2014 at 8:38 PM
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        Further detail, the show’s vintage, about 1965 to 1967. Chater was, at the time, still part of the Mavis Bramston Show cast, along with Barry Creyton, June Salter, Carole Raye and singer, Brian Davies.

    • Neil Forbes on 6 February 2014 at 8:34 PM
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    As I cannot find where I originally posted this info, I’ll re-post it here: –
    Last Sunday(2nd Feb.) I was in Newcastle, browsing through Rice’s Bookshop, they also have old records, I found an EP(45rpm, 2 tracks per side, normally) by The Aulton Mob on the Festival label, vintage, 1967, the leading track(side A/Track 1) being Theme From This Day Tonight. The catalogue number is FX-11,415. The front cover has a monochrome photo of the late Bill Peach, as he was in 1967. The other three tracks, in sequential order are; Groovy Gravel March; March Of The Mods; What Did The Seagull Say. This is a rare find indeed. Another EP I found last year was on Polydor, included “The Lost Patrol”, but billed as “The Four Corners Theme” by Oberst Nicholson’s Band. The ABC claimed on their website that the tune was by Johnny Keating’s Z-Men, but on hearing it, it is definitely the Oberst Nicholson version which is the authentic 4 Corners theme. The EP which contained this track was titled “4 All-Time Great Instrumentals” Issued around 1967 on Polydor as EPH-60012.

    • andrew on 8 February 2014 at 12:05 PM
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    GMV-6 Shepparton the oldest regional television station in australia

    1. Actually GLV10 beat it to air by two weeks.

    • andrew on 8 February 2014 at 1:05 PM
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    ah ok so that makes GMV-6 second oldest

    1. GMV6 and BCV8 both opened the same night so I suppose that makes them equal second

    • andrew on 8 February 2014 at 6:32 PM
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    the our world footage is on YouTube The Beatles performed All You Need Is Love at 8:54pm GMT that was 7:54am AEST I wonder how many people on the east coast of Australia saw that event

    • Neil Forbes on 10 February 2014 at 10:55 AM
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    The “All You Need Is Love” clip was included in the documentary, The Compleat Beatles, originally issued on MGM/UA Home Video in VHS format, back in 1982(with linear Stereo audio track), then some years later(with Hi-Fi Stereo audio track). No word on whether the doco was issued on DVD at all, maybe Andrew, this website’s moderator/owner might know that one. If you see a stray copy floating around, GRAB IT! It’s a well-produced doco, tracing the “fab four’s career from beginning to end. The only thing not covered(owing to its 1982 vintage) was George Harrison’s death in 2001. Phonetically the title is “Complee-at” Beatles, as it’s the spelling: “Compleat” on the sleeve and in the on-screen titles.

    • andrew on 10 February 2014 at 5:49 PM
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    just to correct you Neil the proper spelling is compete not compeat reason for that spelling is to rhyme with the word beat and if you see the original broadcast of all you need is love at the beginning of the fanfare there is no drum roll it was originally a tambourine the drum roll was dubbed in later looking at my old TV week magazine from 1987 NBN television showed the movie late at night so this has been updated now everyone knows as the Beatles anthology that gives more in depth story of the Beatles so you would class the compleat (c0mplete) Beatles as a younger viewers guide of the group

      • Neil Forbes on 20 February 2014 at 1:20 AM
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      Okay, corrected again, but don’t you mean “pronunciation” to rhyme with “Beat”.. I don’t recall mentioning a “drum roll”, I can scroll up the page here to check what I wrote, as the message-posting window is almost directly below my post, and directly below your, Andrew. What I do remember is the All You Need Is Love sequence starting in EMI’s Abbey Road Studio control room where we see a tape recorder started in order to record the song for the eventual single release. We see the recording engineer start the machine and count in to the start of the performance. I believe he was Norman “Hurricane” Smith, who recorded two hits in his own right for EMI/Columbia in 1971 and 1972, “Oh Babe, What Would You Say”, followed by “Who Was It”, the second of which, penned by Gilbert O’Sullivan. Now ain’t I a fountain of useless knowledge?

    • andrew on 11 February 2014 at 1:17 PM
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    sorry left out the letter L

      • Neil Forbes on 20 February 2014 at 1:21 AM
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      You can blame that on those dastardly “keyboard Gremlins”, Andrew!

    • sharyne on 17 February 2014 at 3:49 PM
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    im looking for the smartie adds from the 60sand also the tarax lemonade commercials could you please help.

    • Martin on 20 February 2014 at 6:31 PM
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    Hi Neil just to correct you there Norman Smith left EMI in 1965 two years before the our world event if you watch carefully George Martin turns to the sound engineer and says are you ready Richard. The original broadcast feature a tambourine (drum roll dubbed in later) John Lennon wasn’t satisfied with the original singing vocal so he redid the vocal track for the single release PHEW!!!!! so much for my wall to wall bookcase of knowledge

    • Lisa on 25 February 2014 at 6:19 PM
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    Hello, I am wondering if there is any possibility of getting DVDs of showcase talent show 1968/69. It was before I was born and my father and uncle were on it. I have a dvd of them on countdown in the 70’s but I only have photos of the appearance on showcase. I would really love to see them and give my father a fantastic birthday surprise. Regards Lisa.

    1. Hi Lisa

      Unfortunately, individual episodes of TV programs are not usually released to the public for reasons of copyright and also because a lot of older programs are no longer kept by TV stations, or maintained in a format that is compatible with current equipment.

      See this page for more information, or you could contact Crawfords Australia as they have put some of their programs out on DVD although I am not aware of Showcase being available.

      • Cheryl on 30 November 2016 at 11:22 PM
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      Hi Lisa, did you find any Tapes of Showcase 1969. I was also part of an act “The 3 Imps” . I have been trying forever to be told tapes destroyed. I live in hope of finding them someday.

    • Debbie on 6 April 2014 at 1:09 PM
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    Hi,
    I was a dancer on Junior Bandstand back in the late 1960’s with Brian Henderson. Shirley Reagan was our choreographer and Johnny Young Talent Team appeared as well. I have been searching for information and would love to have copies of the 2 years I worked on the show. Do you have any information as to where I could go to find out more. Many years ago on the Kerry Anne Morning show they showed old footage but I tried to get information but they were not interested. Please help me if at all possible as no-one seems to know. Regards Deb

    1. Hi Deb

      Refer to this page about obtaining episodes of certain programs. I can only suggest you contact TCN Nine in Sydney. However, I’ve noticed some episodes of Bandstand have been released on DVD so check your local or online DVD retailer.

      • Ann Cunningham on 18 May 2020 at 2:26 PM
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      Hi Deb,
      I was just googling Junior Bandstand and your comment came up . I too was a dancer in the show . I’m not sure if you seen the 1967 episode of Junior Bandstand , I was in this one, it’s available on dvd and also available on the net

      https://rememberingthepastaustralia.com/brian-hendersons-bandstand-2-september-1967/amp/

      I’d love to know if you had any luck getting any other info on the other years , I know I was in it for a few years . I had long red hair when I was young . I can’t remember the names of any of the dancers . I continued to do dance classes after I finished Junior Bandstand for a few years at Glebe with Shirley Regan . My mum would drive me over from The Northern Beaches .

      If you have any other gems from the show I’d love to know . I don’t even have a photo from that time , so it was amazing to watch the 1967 episode & the memories came flooding back , even some of the dance sequences .

      Cheers
      Ann Cunningham (ne Bradstreet )

    • Trish on 3 May 2014 at 1:23 AM
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    Hi guys,

    I’m writing a book about Australians living in country towns like Gunnedah, Tamworth, Aberdeen and Scone area.

    I would really like to know the following:

    Was cricket broadcast on TV in the early 60’s in these areas?

    What were some of the most popular TV shows in these areas in the early 60’s?

    Your assistance and help will be greatly appreciated.

    thank you,

    Trish

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