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1960-1969

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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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    • Robyn on 4 May 2014 at 3:22 AM
    • Reply

    What were the music shows on tv in Australia in the 1960’s. I remember Hulabaloo was one. Col Joye Show. Others?????

    • Chris on 8 May 2014 at 8:26 PM
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    G’day I am looking for a copy of the Jimmy Hannan Show from July 13th 1967, it is my mum (who past away in 1973) appeared, her name was Joan Foenander

    cheers Chris

    1. Hi Chris

      Episodes of old programs are not often released to the public for a number of reasons. Some of those reasons are explained here. But the most likely reason is that the footage no longer exists.

    • Mimi on 11 May 2014 at 7:55 PM
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    Hi does anyone remember the name of an Australian series about a Jewish girl who gets pregnant and marrys outside of her religion against he families wishes. They have two children, a boy followed by a daughter. The husband ends up being the own of an extremely successful caravan building company.
    I think their son dies in an accident.
    I think it aired in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s in Melbourne.
    Any ideas?

      • Chris Keating on 16 April 2015 at 1:09 PM
      • Reply

      The program was called “Twenty Good Years” – aired on the ABC in 1979. There were twenty episodes, each dealing with a year in the family’s life, starting from 1976.

      Stars included Harold Hopkins, Anne Pendlebury, Anne Charleston, and Julia Blake.

    • elaine on 8 June 2014 at 12:39 PM
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    I’m looking for some footage of a show that my husband’s Ray brother sang and played his guitar,it was a talent show that went to air on a Friday one Febuary

    • Andrew M on 18 June 2014 at 5:20 PM
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    Happy Birthday RVN 2 Wagga Wagga now Prime Television

    • andrew M on 26 June 2014 at 3:27 PM
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    on this day 26th of June our world was broadcast via satiate it was the first world wide event ever taken one of the acts to appear was The Beatles singing All you Need is Love around 7am Australian time please note I said 26th as the event was 25th due to time zones

    • laurie on 10 July 2014 at 10:14 PM
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    Any one rember a tv show called Dance Party
    The show was on Chanel 6 in Hobart 1966

      • Robbie on 25 November 2015 at 11:05 PM
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      I remember the show, I was one of the people on it along with Becky who became my wife.

        • L Phillips on 20 November 2021 at 10:02 PM
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        Hi it’s Lorraine I was on dance party I have some photos do you have any

    • Max on 13 August 2014 at 10:54 AM
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    I’m trying to find the name of the children’s show that ended with the song “TOODALOO GOODBYE TO YOU WE REALLY HAVE TO GO, HOPE YOU LIKED THE FUN AND GAMES IN OUR TV SHOW”, and the rest of the songs lyrics. Can anyone help?

      • Rob on 10 September 2014 at 5:21 PM
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      Pretty sure it was teh Tarax Show.

      I’m actually after the words to the song

      • Lyn on 26 October 2014 at 12:56 PM
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      those words are from the Mickey Mouse Club March, you will find them here and on youtube if you google it. http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/themicke.htm

      • john on 11 January 2015 at 2:12 PM
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      Perhaps :Always joyful, always fun, To see you smiles a treat, so Toodleoo goodbye to you, Until next time we meet.

      • Jeni on 21 April 2015 at 1:42 PM
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      Always cheerful, always bright.
      I really hate to go…

      • Rosemary on 7 October 2015 at 8:22 PM
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      The song was from the Perth STW Channel Nine children’s program hosted by Peter Harries. The words, as far as I remember, were “Toodaloo, Goodbye to you. We really have to go. Hope you liked the fun and games in our TV show. Eat your dinner, go to bed, wearing a smile like mine. So toodaloo, goodbye to you from all at Channel Nine.” I suggest you contact Channel Nine in Perth to ask them the name of Peter harries’ children’s show in the 60s.

      • Rosemary on 7 October 2015 at 8:28 PM
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      By the way, I have just checked on the internet and the show was called “The Channel Niners Club”.

        • Jennie on 24 December 2015 at 9:24 PM
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        It was the Tarax Show in Melbiurne, but could have been pinched by STW and others. It was written by Margot Sheridan who was the pianist on the Tarax Show, among others.

    • Paul on 14 December 2014 at 9:41 AM
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    Hi,
    I’m looking for information about a show that I think aired in the late 60s early 70s called shadow stumpers? I know there was an American version that was aired in Baltimore but I’m pretty sure there was an Aussie version too. I can’t seem to find any info anywhere. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks
    Paul

      • Leonie on 6 January 2016 at 12:38 AM
      • Reply

      I think this was a segment in a show called Rosemary Either ‘s Shadow Stumpers. The show could even have been The Rosemary Either Show. One particular shadow has always remained very clear in my memory because i knew it but had no way to enter the comp. It was a stack of coins. lol Hope that helps

      • Kate on 23 November 2022 at 9:48 PM
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      My grandfather, Carl Edward Gerber, was the photographer for this show!

    • Dave Wane on 14 December 2014 at 5:00 PM
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    Hello,

    Do you have any information about a junior version of Graeme (forgotten his surname) Blind Date. It was called Junior Blind Date and was usually on at the end of the year – maybe in the school holidays. I was on the show in 1968 or 1969. All the winners and their dates were treated to day at Luna Park with a celebrity chaperone. I was the blind date. The girl who “won me” and I had Judy Stone as our chaperone.

    Any information would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks

    Regards,

    Dave Wane

    1. Hi Dave. Thanks for the message. I don’t know a great deal about Junior Blind Date, other than (like you recall) it appears to have taken place over the Christmas-New Year period of 1968-69 while the regular series was in recess.

      Graham Webb was the host up until the end of 1969. Jeremy Cordeaux took over as host of Blind Date from January 1970.

        • Marylou Leggett on 19 July 2015 at 1:11 AM
        • Reply

        Hi Andrew, I was a Production Assistant on Blind Date. Is there any footage at all from 1969/70? Also Johnny Farnham did a show around the same time! Other Shows I worked on were Spending Spree and Marriage Game. Would beaming to view any footage if you have it!

        1. Hi Marylou. Thanks for the message. Footage from these programs is hard to come by as a lot of them weren’t kept as videotape was often re-used to save costs and any footage that may still exist is unlikely to be made available for reasons of copyright. There is more information about that here.

    • Karen Weir on 9 January 2015 at 11:35 AM
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    I am wondering if there is anything in the archives of a kids show that was on NEN 9 Tamworth in the 60’s, it was called ‘We’re Just Kids”, I was probably about 10 at the time so it was on around 1966 or 1967. I sang a song on that show and thought it would be great to be able to watch it, I never did get to see my peformance.

    1. Hi Karen

      Unfortunately it is often the case with shows of that era that they went to air ‘live’ and were never recorded.

        • Ken on 4 May 2016 at 1:18 PM
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        True Andrew. I was at NEN9 in those days. We didn’t get a videotape machine until 1966 and use was kept to a minimum. That show was never recorded or archived.

      • sandy woods on 14 June 2015 at 9:22 AM
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      Hi I am wondering if any photos around of that show We’re Just Kids

      • Vanessa May on 16 October 2021 at 8:05 PM
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      I was on that show too. I was one of the regulars in the chorus. The night I sang a solo there was a big thunderstorm which disrupted the transmission and no-one saw my performance except for the live audience. I have always wanted to get hold of footage of the show or some photographs.

    • Sally Parker on 10 January 2015 at 3:32 PM
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    Looking for any hints to find footage of band my husband played in. The Brentwoods. Record produced 1969 Penny to my name. Appeared on the first ever The Me Walsh Show on channel 7.

    1. Hi Sally

      Unfortunately your chances are not good. Read this page for more information

    • Goran on 29 January 2015 at 7:09 PM
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    Hi I’m wondering where I can find the vfa grand final
    Preston vs prahan 1969 footage I have been told it was recorded by
    Channel 0

    • diane on 3 February 2015 at 10:50 AM
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    hijust want to know who karen barlin married
    also i sang on her show as a child

    CHILDRENS TELEVISION CORNOR with KAREN BARLIN

    I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING ABOUT US ANY WERE

    THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL ONE OF THE FIRST ON TELEVISION IT WAS IN B/W TV
    WOULD KAREN HAVE ANY THING ON THIS SHE MUST HAVE MEMORIES OF SOME THING AND IT NEED TO BE PUT UP HERE AS IT WAS IN TH 60th
    my name was DIANE ETCHELLS my married name is Diane Wiggins

    • crawley allan on 20 February 2015 at 3:55 PM
    • Reply

    I was in a performance of IOLANTHE by Belmore Boys High School, probably in 1960’s. Would the footage still be available by channel 9.?

    1. Unfortunately, it is not likely. Even if they had the footage they wouldn’t be able to give it to you for reasons of copyright etc.

      Refer to this page for more details

    • Ross on 11 March 2015 at 5:38 PM
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    Who was weather girl with Geoff Raymond when television first started

    • John on 20 March 2015 at 3:35 PM
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    Saturday 15th April, 1961. First live telecast of Rugby League Football in Sydney.
    Balmain Vs North Sydney (2nd half only) ABN 2.

    • roly on 8 April 2015 at 11:36 PM
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    I am looking for footage of a tv show tommy Hanlon it could be you, July 29, 1963, my aunt was a guest on the show. Appreciate any help!

    1. Hi Roly,

      Unfortunately your chances are not good. Please refer to this page for more information.

    • sonia on 4 May 2015 at 12:05 AM
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    hi im looking for a programe on channel nine in the 60s country and western hr my uncle played on it thanks

    • June on 25 June 2015 at 6:20 PM
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    MY MOTHER WAS ALSO ON IT COULD BE YOU BACK IN THE 60S,BUT THE COMPERE WAS NOT TOMMY HANLON ON THIS DAY,I CANT REMEMBER WHO IT WAS ? MY MOTHER HAD 15 CHILDREN AND SHE WAS GIVEN A FURNITURE VAN TO TRANSPORT US AROUND,WHICH WAS QUITE FUNNY BECAUSE IT ONLY HAD ONE SEAT FOR THE DRIVE.MUM HAS BEEN DEAD NOW FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LOVELY TO SHOW HER GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.HER NAME WAS RUBY NICHOLLS.

  1. Could you please give me some information on Brian Baker, who was a guest singer for sometime on In Melbourne Tonight or one of Graeme Kennedy shows around 1960-1962? thank you,

    • Wayne on 11 August 2015 at 6:47 PM
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    Hi
    I’m hoping that someone might help. I’m looking for a copy of an old test pattern / outage screen that would have been shown many times on ATN7 during live broadcast in the 70’s with programs like ‘This is your life’ or the Sunday Football, even the old Bathurst Hardies 1000 live events. This was an old B&W splash screen of the outside broadcast technician dressed in his Ch7 overalls, and the message used to read ‘ Apologies for the outage, our technicians are working on restoring the satellite link’ – this photo is my Dad, and I would love to have a copy of it.

    1. Hi Wayne,

      I’m not sure if you’ve heard of Television Pioneers but they are a group of ex-TV employees in Sydney and many worked at ATN7. Someone there might have some information about the picture you’re after.

    • Jack on 19 August 2015 at 5:22 PM
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    This is a real longshot – we used to get Tv for school hols in the 60s and I would watch crusader Rabbit at 6.55 each morning when the Sydney seven station opened. The music that led into the opening of the station has bugged me for 50 years because I don’t know the name of it. It was Lawrence Welk/ like andre Kostelantz like violin stuff was popular in the late 50s but I cant fing out what it is. As I said its a longshot but I can still remember the tune vividly…

    1. Hi Jack, thanks for the message. I can’t offer any details on the tune you’re looking for but you could try contacting Television Pioneers, a group of ex-TV employees, many of whom worked at ATN7 in Sydney in the early days.

    • Deb Clark on 9 October 2015 at 9:24 PM
    • Reply

    Hello,
    Does anyone remember an ABC children’s show in the 1960’s about fish. It used puppets.
    A name would be great. I am sure it’s too old for footage.
    Thank you.

    • Kym B on 14 October 2015 at 11:09 PM
    • Reply

    Maybe you are thinking of “Diver Dan” which had a man in a diving suit & marionette fish. My memories of it are hazy but there was a barracuda named The Baron who wore a monocle.

    • Dean on 20 October 2015 at 5:59 AM
    • Reply

    Hi there!
    What are the chances of any footage being available from the 1966 Channel 9 Telethon Appeal? Also, what’s the chances of getting a copy?

    Thanks

    Dean

    1. Hi Dean

      Unfortunately your chances for both questions is likely to be zero. Some more information may be found here

  2. Swallows Juniors are not mentioned anywhere and yet this show went to air weekly first as a talent quest and then with a group like Young Talent Time.
    I was in the group all through the show’s time on TV and have strong memories of the station. I still have a photo of one of the lineups.
    I believe the group ran for about 4 years and was sponsored by Swallow Biscuits for some of that time.
    I’m guessing there isn’t any footage left of us although I know of an audio recording from 1967.

    1. Hi Jenny. Thanks for the message. There is an article about Swallows Juniors at this page.

    • R K YOUNG on 20 December 2015 at 10:01 PM
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    hi i would like to know if it would be possible to view ATN 7 telecast of the sydney showground speedway. we used to watch it on saturday arvos in 1965 then go off to the speedway that evening. i raced for a little while on bikes before
    i was called up for nashos in 66.
    cheers bob.

    1. Hi Bob. Your chances of seeing footage are pretty much zero I’m afraid. See more information at this page.

    • Jillian Bowker on 27 December 2015 at 11:27 AM
    • Reply

    Hello
    I would like to know if there are any archival photos of the Channel Sixers children’s show produced by TVT6 Hobart in the 1960’s. I was one of the dancers so would love to be able to show my family.

      • jennifer tucker on 18 March 2016 at 5:08 PM
      • Reply

      I too would like to see some photos or old footage..i was a Channel Sixers member…also to show my family….

      • Kerry on 15 August 2016 at 12:27 PM
      • Reply

      Hi Jillian. My mum was also a dancer with the Channel Sixers. Her name was Denise Ekin-smyth back then. Did you manage to find any archive photos or footage? Kerry

  3. Is it possible to get CD/Box Set of the Revue’61-63 series. I thought it was one of the best TV variety shows ever? Although I only got to see some if the 62 series. So has Australian TV ever produced a better Variety series? Be honest.
    Clive Court.
    Toronto.

    PS. “Variety” means not full of singers or musical acts.

    1. Hi Clive. I am not aware of any DVD of the Revue series. Like many Australian programs at the time, it is possible that not much of the show has survived in the archives.

    • jennifer tucker on 18 March 2016 at 5:11 PM
    • Reply

    Any chance there is footage or old photos of the Channel Sixers Club back in the 60s…I was one of those little members…would love to show my grandchildren…

  4. The show I remember so vividly was called the godfathers classed as a comedy I thought it was more in the drama category the storylines were some what strange as I remember it

    • Cathrine Murphy on 21 April 2016 at 2:57 PM
    • Reply

    Hi Guy’s I’m trying to find a Video i can buy of the 1968 Anzac Day dawn service
    & street march in Sydney at the time I was 13 & playing in Lakemba Pipe Band that morning I would love to be able to show my children & grandsons. Hope you can help me out. Thank you.
    Regards Cath.

    • lisa on 18 May 2016 at 1:40 AM
    • Reply

    Hi I am looking for a copy of the Albany cup horse race on Saturday the 4/2/1967 do you have a copy of it or know where to find it

    1. Your chances are very slim, essentially zero. Firstly, the footage may simply no longer exist. Secondly, even if the footage does exist somewhere the means to retrieve it may not be possible. More information can be found here.

    • Robyn Fletcher on 8 June 2016 at 5:15 PM
    • Reply

    No doubt this is a long shot. One of the TV week issues had a picture of Brian Naylor holding me when I had appeared on Brian and the Juniors at age 4or 5 I think in 1967/1968. I appeared singing Royal Telephone. I can remember the studio was GMV6 Shepparton and we lived in Yarrawonga. I have seen it but do not have access to a copy and I would really appreciate it if someone knows where I could obtain recording or magazine. Sadly we wait until many years have passed and then become sentimental. I now have a grand daughter I would love to show it to, let alone my immediate family. Can anyone help?

    1. Hi Robyn. I only have a handful of TV Week magazines from that era but if by small chance I do come across something I can let you know.

      I’m not sure where you are located but the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne has TV Week on microfilm in its archive. You may be able to locate/view the image there and potentially print off a copy.

    • Mike from Jersey on 19 July 2016 at 7:20 AM
    • Reply

    Let me get this straight. You guys put up a timeline for Australian tv in the 1960’s with no mention of the cultural icon Skippy the Bush Kangaroo?
    Were you just trying to stir the possum by dissing Skip, who is still the biggest star in Australian history?
    I suspect this site is run by a secret Pommie cabel.

    1. That is an unfortunate oversight it shall be fixed!

      In the meantime there are a number of blog posts referring to Skippy:

      https://televisionau.com/search/label/skippy-the-bush-kangaroo

        • Mike from Jersey on 19 July 2016 at 11:07 AM
        • Reply

        Hi Andrew,
        Here is some interesting Skippy trivia.
        The ground breaking movie comedy They’re a Weird Mob (1966) features many links to Skippy though filmed before the Skippy pilot.
        It’s Production Supervisor Lee Robinson had the original idea for the Skippy tv series.
        Weird Mob cast members Ed Devereaux(Ranger Matt Hammond) and Tony Bonner(Flight Ranger Jerry King) starred in Skip. Skippy regular Liza Goddard(Clancy) appears for 3 seconds in the ferry scene, kissing another teen while a drunk is ranting. Ken James who appeared as Deveraux’s son Mark Hammond in Skippy has a small part as a bellhop in the Kings Cross Hotel scene.
        Weird Mob actors John Meillon,Chips Rafferty and Jack Allen guest starred on Skip, while sultry Jeanie Dryan appeared in the Skippy movie The Intruders but not the series.

        1. Thanks Mike 😎

    • Mike from Jersey on 22 July 2016 at 1:31 PM
    • Reply

    Andrew,
    Hey buddy I hope you know I was just pulling your leg with that “secret Pommie cabel” crack.
    I was in wise guy Seppo mode.
    I enjoy watching many of your Australian tv shows. Skippy was my favorite tv series as a kid and as a result I was the only kid in New Jersey who didn’t think Australia was located just south of Germany and that Vienna is your capitol.
    You guys have a nice site here and kudos for all the work you put into it.

    1. Hey Mike, it’s all good, thanks for the kind words and nice to know someone up there knows we’re not Austria 😃

    • Mike from Jersey on 28 July 2016 at 12:36 PM
    • Reply

    Hi,
    I have looked everywhere on line but couldn’t find one book on the tv series Blue Heelers. This seems odd, as with over 500 episodes it surely is one of the most popular Australian series ever produced.
    Can anyone tell me if there is a Blue Heelers book and if so, where can I buy it?
    I became a fan when I was laid up for two years from a foot wound and my Aussie friend Molly who was helping me insisted on watching 4 or 5 episodes a day while she was aiding me. For over 100 days! I was dreaming of Constable Maggie Doyle and Mount Thomas in my sleep.
    I accused Molly of trying to brainwash me, but she said with me all that was needed was a light rinse. But I digress.
    Any help about a Blue Heelers book will be greatly appreciated. Thank you amigos.

    1. Hi Mike. Unfortunately, I’m not aware of any books relating to Blue Heelers.

    • Stephen on 6 September 2016 at 6:28 AM
    • Reply

    Anyone remember a science fiction drama series, I think for children, set in the outback. The most haunting image is that of an ancient aboringinal painting of a man that could be interpreted as an early alien visitor. Sorry to be so vagued but it has left a lasting impression. I saw it on TV in Perth.
    .

    • Lesley Torr on 3 November 2016 at 4:28 PM
    • Reply

    Hi, my partner sang two little boys with Rolf Harris on Bandstand in Ballarat.. Would you have a copy of this?

    • Pamela on 4 November 2016 at 11:01 PM
    • Reply

    A lovely lady I know who used to entertain as a singer, the troops in Vietnam for four years, entered a talent quest called Search for a Star, hosted by Bert Newton. She can’t remember what year it was but it was when she returned form Vietnam in the 60’s. Her maiden name was Yvonne Ross and she said she won the competition.. She would like a tape of it if possible and said she knows one was made as she later heard it. What are the chances?

    1. Hi Pamela. Chances would be close to zero I’m afraid. Mostly for reasons of copyright but also because so much early footage no longer exists.

    • Sue Rutherford on 6 November 2016 at 12:55 AM
    • Reply

    Hi , I,m looking for the epilogue shown at the end of each night in the late sixties. I was in it eating lunch on the lawn at U.W.A and would love to see it again. Thanks, Sue

    1. Hi Sue. Which channel was this shown on? But unfortunately chances of obtaining this footage are quite slim, usually due to reasons of copyright or because the footage just no longer exists. You could try contacting the TV channel or if you’re in Western Australia check out WA TV History.

    • Sue Rutherford on 6 November 2016 at 12:56 AM
    • Reply

    Thank you.

    • Paul Dufficy on 21 November 2016 at 7:04 PM
    • Reply

    Trying to track down information on TCN 9 show of the early 60s Play Your Hunch and in particular, information about the host, George Foster. Were any of the shows preserved?
    Cheers
    paul

    1. Hi Paul. Suggest you contact Channel Nine in Sydney, or possibly the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra.

    • Carmen on 31 December 2016 at 12:00 PM
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    Would like to know if any footage available of the TVQ-0 Brisbane show named The In show – music artist year 1966 or 1967?

    • Liz Oates on 6 January 2017 at 10:51 PM
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    Hi…I am looking for a footage on the Here’s humphrey B Bear show back in 1966 or 1967…My twin sister & i were in the front row watching in the ordience & we were the only set of twins in there on that one day so we ended up on the show….I would love to get a copy of that…My twin sister & i are now 56 years old & it was my sister that reminded me of that day….Love to see those memories again…If you could help that would be great…we so loved Humphrey B Bear back then…
    Thank you so much… Liz Oates…

    1. Hi Liz. Unfortunately your chances of obtaining any footage are very small. Mostly for reasons of copyright and because it is likely the footage no longer exists. Please refer to this page for more information.

    • Robyn on 27 January 2017 at 6:11 AM
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    TVQ 1 Brisbane broadcast THE SURF GIRL QUEST each year for Queensland contestants. Would love to see years 1969 and 1970 as I was in one of them notbsure which, hence wanting to see both. Any chance there are copies hanging around.

    1. Unfortunately very unlikely, Robyn. More information can be found here.

    • George on 31 January 2017 at 7:17 PM
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    The first ever colour tv was the pakenham races in 1967 by reg ansett for a midweek meeting although it shown in black and white. The first vfa game in colour was in 1975 between northcote v sunshine. You would think that these would have been kept especially being the first in colour and of historical value. Would yhese be in archives?

    1. Despite their apparent significance I doubt the respective footage still exists.

      I suppose there is a slim chance that they may be in the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra.

    • George on 2 February 2017 at 6:34 PM
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    I have seen a photo still shot in colour most likely from the footage so more than likely it could exist. There is a lot of news articles in canisters where you would find the various news and sports items from ch0 in the nfsa. Not sure about northcote v sunshine 1975 though. Maybe a slim change unmarked. There was a mention of the 1960 vfa gf between oakleigh v Sandringham that was listed as missing? Could have either been misplaced, wrongly marked and put in different container or grabbed by someone.

      • Martin on 2 June 2020 at 9:10 PM
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      NFSA holds ATV-0 news items on the Pakenham races in 1973 and 1974.

    • John Mann on 27 February 2017 at 1:57 PM
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    My brother was on the news as a small child being interviewed regarding his historic “hole in the heart” operation in Adelaide in November 1960 – Any remote chance this footage is still around?

    1. Possibly try contacting the local channels but I doubt they would have the footage anymore.

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