Tag: Bellbird

The Wicked City: ill-fated 1880s drama

In 1971, the Seven Network had bold plans for a new “provocative and bawdy” series set in Melbourne in the 1880s. The network had a proposal titled Man Of Property, starring Robin Ramsay, formerly of Bellbird, in the lead role of a strait-laced English doctor living in Melbourne at the end of the gold rush …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2023/09/the-wicked-city-ill-fated-1880s-drama.html

On This Day — 30 August

30 August 1969: Elspeth Ballantyne (Bellbird) 30 August 1975: Steven Zammit, Johnny Young, Karen Knowles (Young Talent Time) 30 August 1975: Mike Willesee (This Is Your Life) 30 August 1980: Michael Caton (The Sullivans) 30 August 2003: Caroline Craig (Blue Heelers) 30 August 2008: Tessa James and Lincoln Lewis (Home And Away) 30 August 1960: …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2023/08/on-this-day-30-august.html

On This Day — 28 August

28 August 1958: Panda Lisner (In Melbourne Tonight) 28 August 1959: Johnny O’Keefe (Six O’Clock Rock) 28 August 1965: Pop star Normie Rowe 28 August 1976: Victoria Quilter and Lucky Grills (Bluey) 28 August 1982: Rowena Wallace (Sons And Daughters) 28 August 1993: Cathy Godbold (Newlyweds) 28 August 1999: Jesse Spencer and Brooke Satchwell (Neighbours) …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2023/08/on-this-day-28-august.html

On This Day — 14 July

14 July 1973: Peter Aanensen (Bellbird) 14 July 1973: Candy Raymond and Vicki Raymond (Number 96) 14 July 1979: Elspeth Ballantyne, Patsy King, Fiona Spence (Prisoner) 14 July 1990: Jana Wendt (A Current Affair) 14 July 2001: Gretel Killeen (Big Brother), Judith McGrath (All Saints), Cornelia Frances (The Weakest Link), Jackie O (Popstars), Ita Buttrose …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2023/07/on-this-day-14-july.html

Classic TV Guides: Ryan

Having already produced successful dramas Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police based around the Victorian police force, Crawford Productions took a different path with its 1973 action drama, Ryan. Instead of focusing on the police force, the central character, Michael Ryan (Rod Mullinar) is a private investigator. The only other regular characters are Ryan’s secretary …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2023/05/classic-tv-guides-ryan.html

Obituary: Terry Norris

Terry Norris, veteran actor and former state politician, has died at the age of 92. His early acting career was in the theatre, first at Melbourne’s Tivoli before going to the United Kingdom, where he stayed for over a decade. It was there that he met his future wife, Julia Blake, and the pair would …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2023/03/obituary-terry-norris.html

ABC’s Certain Women

Fifty years ago, ABC‘s Certain Women marked a shift in putting the primary focus in Australian television drama on women. Up until then, Australian television drama was largely male-dominated. Indeed, it was not until 1972 that the TV Week Logie Awards sought to add a category for Best Actress. Although serials like Motel, Bellbird and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2023/02/abcs-certain-women.html

Classic TV Guides: Cop Shop

After Crawford Productions suffered the indignity of having its three police dramas — Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police — axed within a year of each other in 1975, Cop Shop in 1977 represented a successful return to the genre. Unlike the earlier dramas, Cop Shop also incorporated the increasingly popular soap opera element. Storylines relating to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2022/11/classic-tv-guides-cop-shop.html

ABC celebrates 90 years

ABC has announced the special shows that will commemorate its upcoming 90th anniversary. ABC 90 Celebrate! A live two-hour special celebrating ABC’s 90th anniversary. HostsCraig Reucassel, Zan Rowe and Tony Armstrong (pictured) will lead a night filled with festivities, entertainment, and fun. With cast reunions, special guests, and performances from some of Australia’s biggest acts, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2022/05/abc-celebrates-90-years.html

Obituary: Alan Hopgood

Alan Hopgood, veteran actor and playwright, has died from cancer at the age of 87. Born in Tasmania, Hopgood made his TV acting debut in 1957, starring in the ABC play Sound Of Thunder. He went on to appear in a number of one-off plays for television including Tragedy In A Temporary Town, Antony And …

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Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2022/03/obituary-alan-hopgood.html