Obituary: Dan Webb

Dan Webb, one of the first personalities on Melbourne television, has died at the age of 92.

Webb was breakfast announcer at radio station 3DB before being picked up by its sister television station HSV7 as one of its star line-up, alongside Eric Pearce and actress Mary Parker.

He introduced HSV7’s test transmissions and was on-air on opening night, 4 November 1956.

Following the station’s official launch, Webb became one of its first newsreaders, sharing duties with Pearce, as well as hosting a game show, Paterson’s Family Quiz.

Webb’s fame was on the rise in the 1960s as host of HSV7’s popular game show Video Village. The daily half-hour program was a hit not just in Melbourne but across the country and ran for four years.

After Video Village wound up in 1966, Webb later hosted It’s Academic and continued in the news division, reporting and presenting the news. One report that many will remember was Webb’s “spag-worm” report that was an elaborate April Fool’s Day prank:

 
YouTube: Conniptions886

On a more serious note, Webb continued to report on state politics for Seven National News and was a host of local current affairs program Day By Day.

While at Seven and in retirement he was a devout contributor, supporter and ambassador to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. 

A presenter on Seven’s first Good Friday Appeal telethon in 1957, Webb made his last TV appearance on last year’s appeal.

 

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2017/03/obituary-dan-webb.html

5 comments

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    • Peter Strange on 14 March 2017 at 9:42 AM
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    Vale Dan Webb
    Does anyone know if Dan had children etc ?
    Sympathies to them if he did.
    He seemed a very private man and a gentle soul.

    1. My understanding is that he was married with children.

    • steven pitcher on 14 March 2017 at 3:58 PM
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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MVjYGZuAE8

    • Henri Lausberg on 30 April 2018 at 3:36 PM
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    I was looking at Google to find out if Dan was still alive.
    To my sorry I read of his death.
    I worked with him on the Channel 7 Show, “Fighting Words”, on Sunday nights. I used to warm up the
    Audience.
    He was great to work with.

    Henri Lausberg.

    • Dean on 15 April 2019 at 5:53 AM
    • Reply

    Pity that 7 are devoting less time to the appeal now with it only being in the afternoon and evening. They have dumped the morning side of it.

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