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L-R Jim Fisher, Ken Hankock, June Bronhill, Bill Catmul, Graham Foster, Jack Perry, , Doug McKenzie, Athol Guy, Judith Durham, Bruce Woodley, Keith Potger, Rod Kirkham, John Symons, Panda Listner, Happy Hammond, Alf Potter, Jimmy Edwards, Geoff Owen-Taylor. Doug Elliot, , Shirleen Clancy, Elaine McKenna, Mike Williamson, Syd Haylen, Bill Collins, Norman Spencer, Olivia Newton-John, Pat Carrol, Dick Jones, , Johnathon Daly, John Gilby, Rowland Strong, Marlene Dietrich, Raymond Burr, Peter Doyle, Brendan McKenna, Ann Watt, Jean Hanger, Bob Crosby, Alf Spargo, Greame Fettling and Eric Scherer.

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Baird's first mechanical television Now a number of members have have sent photos including John put together a CD of photo's of the Gilby, Graham Fettling and my Introduction These were very interesting times reunions, plus a collection of mother Nancy. as all local programming was live- historical photos of the early days John Logie Baird My name is John to-air. I worked at the channel for Ex-channel 7 staff Symons. I was 10 years before starting my own member Harold Aspinall John Logie Baird was born on born in 1944, in a television production company sent a copy of the CD to August 13th, 1888, in Helensburgh, small country which I ran until I retired in 1997. I me. I was so inspired by Dunbarton, Scotland and died on town, Leongatha now live on the island of Bali in these old photos, June 14th, 1946. The television 130 km south east Indonesia. I decided to write a memoir of the pioneer created the first of Melbourne, period from my perspective. Photos televised pictures of Australia. Old Codgers were augmented by others from objects in motion In 1960 at of 16, I was In recent years one of the internet. We acknowledge (1924) the first lucky enough to get a job at HSV the old timers from the these suppliers of photographs. televised human face channel 7 in Melbourne. Television era, Mr Donald Smith Harold Aspinall, Russell Bourne, (1925) and a year later J.L. Baird in Australia was still in it's infancy, has formed a group Richard Bence, Dick McEwan, Dick he televised the first moving object only beginning in Melbourne in late called the OLD Jones, Graham Foster, Don Smith, image in London. The BBC started 1956, in time for the Melbourne CODGERS. Annually he organizes a David Perry, John Walters and broadcasting television on the Baird Olympic Games. reunion of people from the era. Wilma Gray. Also many others who 30-line system in 1929.

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In July 1930, the first British Play How it worked to a lamp, providing the two was transmitted, "The Man with the scanning wheels were in Tv in Australia Flower in his Mouth. " The world's synchronization the viewer would The engineering pioneer of first regular transmissions using the see an image. Australian Television was James electronic Marconi-EMI, 405 line As the subject varied from black to Hurbert Thomas Fisher, born 1911 system started in England in 1936. white so did the lamp, reproducing and died at the age of 81 in 1992. a picture. Later the thermonic He commenced camera tube was invented. studying at the The scanning University of wheel, consisted in 1929 of 2 identical and in 1930 he scanning wheels joined the drilled to create a Postmaster scan of the Generals object. department (PMG) as a cadet engineer. After qualifying in 1930 he moved to Melbourne to work for the PMG Early ad for Baird Tv kits research laboratories. 20 years before the advent of television in The "Logies" Australia he avidly read overseas The annual Australian Television technical publications on the awards are called the "Logies" development of television. In 1937 in honour of to raise awareness of Tv, he wrote John Logie and presented a paper "Recent Baird. The name developments in Television" He was suggested The Baird mechanical Tv gave a demonstration with a hand by the "King" built system of his own design. Pre and first star of The picture information was W.W.II Mr Fisher presented many Australian picked up by a photo-electric The first television picture secret reports to Television, . valve, passed through an amplifier using Baird's scanner Government on the development

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of Tv overseas and it's possible the Federation of Australian roof level for easy maintenance. introduction to Australia. W.W.II Commercial Television Stations. The microwave dishes pointed interrupted Mr Fisher's research, he Building a Tv Station upwards to a "beam-bender" set at was redeployed to the secret 45 degrees, sending the signal on 1955 Mr Fisher was faced with the development of radar. After the to Mt Dandenong. formidable task of building a war there was pressure to adopt television station from ground up. A the British 405 line Tv standard. Mr transmitter had to be built at Mt Fisher put forward the radical Dandenong, studios had to be built proposal to introduce the much in South Melbourne, all in time for advanced 625 line system. He was the Melbourne Olympic Games in Demolition at Dorcas St successful and that system is still in late 1956. use today. Mr Fisher travelled to Europe and the US to study the latest developments in Television, returned to Australia to train many technicians and creative in the new medium. Two of his students were Hector and Dorothy Crawford. Mr Fisher left the PMG in 1954 and joined the Broadcast Control Board The tower under construction where he wrote the first technical The studio tower, clearly standards for the introduction of The Studios showing the "beam-bender" television to Australia. The Meanwhile an old paper store On top of the tower was a fully following year he was to join HSV7 owned by HSV7 owners, The motor controlled microwave dish Melbourne to become Chief Herald and Weekly Times was for receiving broadcasts from the engineer. He held the position until being partly demolished for the Outside Broadcast (OB) van. The his retirement in 1977. In 1986 the construction of the South location making broadcasts possible Tower base and Studio 1 Television Society of Australia Melbourne link tower. The South from most parts of the city, From the master control room the presented him with the Colin Melbourne tower had an unusual especially the inner-city VFL football motorized dish could be controlled, Bednal Award and in 1989 he was feature which allowed the grounds, making 7 the premier horizontally or vertically, the 2 large awarded the Paul Marlan Award by microwave transmitters to be at football channel. circular white dials in the ....

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picture below indicating the dish's source, 1 camera unit, but with compas position and asmuth. mechanical controls you could dissolve between a slide and film. Reel changes were done as in a cinema. Commercial were spliced into the film so the station could rely on just one of these machines for continuous program. The first video tape machines was not aquired until 1960.

Master Control Test Transmissions Work at the transmitter site was Channel-7's OB Van arriving from England at Port Melbourne well advanced compared to the Studio site. At the transmitter a On Aug. 28 1944, in a little country telecine machine was installed and town 140km from Melbourne, 16mm films could be broadcast. Nancy Symons gave birth to a son, The telecine machine was a one John in the Stradbroke hospital, Leongatha. Simple 1 camera telecine Simple setup In 1960 the station only possessed 5 Marconi Mk 3 cameras, 2 telecine's and a vidicon caption camera. A far cry from the present day when stations own hundreds of cameras. The studio cameras were dismantled and taken out to Telecine machine Outside broadcasts (OB's) John at 18 months old

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When I was about 12 and in Form At the High School, Mrs Daisy including "Music for the People", newsagent. From these magazines 1 at the Leongatha High, the first Bacon, the librarian, would paste the "Seekers, welcome home I learnt about how radio's and Tv's Australian Tv channels had started the daily news paper up on the concert" and the annual "Miss worked and taught myself to read test transmissions from Mt inside of the library windows, so Australia Ball" electronic circuits. For around 2 Dandenong, in the Melbourne they could be read from outside by years my mother took me to outskirts. Neither of the 3 channels the students. Melbourne by train (shown left) to had completed their studios. In One day whilst reading the library see an Orthodontist which only Leongatha there was only 1 Tv set window, I saw the photo in "The took an hour. Mum went her way and that was in the window of Sun" of the, channel 7 OB van shopping and I would hang around Joel's Radio in McCartain St. This being lifted off the ship from all the Radio parts shops. was around June 1956. Every night England, I looked at it for ages - a crowd of people, suitably rugged dreaming about the magic of I build a Radio up and with their camp stools, they broadcasting outside events in Finally when I was about 14, I built used at the local footy each Melbourne, all the way to our a 3 valve, regenerative short-wave Saturday, assembled on the street village of Leongatha. I was very interested in electronics receiver, it didn't work straight outside to watch the few hours of (known as RADIO in those days) away, so I took it to the technician test film programs and slides. Every month I would wait for the at Joel's radio, who got it working new edition of Radio,Television & Hobbies, to arrive at the Leongatha

"Jumbo" when new Little did I know I would end up The regenerative radio sitting for endless hours in Later I discovered that when the "Jumbo" (as the OB van was radio regenerated, it transmitted a An early Astor 17" B&W Tv known) doing audio, broadcasting signal, which could be heard as a I was there many nights and totally the football every Saturday and whistle on other radios, I became besotted by television. many other outside events, Radio & Hobbies magazine interested in transmitters.

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connecting the phone line and was electrically fired by a Scope work in television. We sent off an doing talk-back radio years before soldering iron transformer. application, but after a week or so the stations were allowed to do it. My Uncle Charley returned from a no reply. So mum rang Mr Fisher, Programs would consist of waffle trip to England, where he bought God knows what she said to him, from yours truly, 78 records from me a book on the workings of but I was to have an interview next mum's collection and the news on television broadcasting. It featured week. The following day we did get the hour re-broadcast from 3UZ. I the workings of a Tv camera and a a mail reply from HSV 7, to say I don't think we had any listeners, studio the transmitter and the was not excepted. But clever Mum except mum in the kitchen, but a receiver. I read it many times. had got me an interview. friend at school who lived nearby John, school friends and radio claimed he could receive the signal. The Interview Mum and Dad drove me to I build a Transmitter Television I poured over many amateur Melbourne, to the Channel 7 I was an avid television viewer, transmitter circuits and realized studios in South Melbourne. After a fascinated with how it all worked, maybe I could modulate the nervous wait I finally met Mr technically and production. We transmitted signal from my radio Fisher. He talked to me for more didn't have a Tv, every afternoon I with sound, by putting a speaker HSV7 in 1959 (arrow shows Mr than ½ an hour, then sent me off would go around to Auntie Vi's to transformer primary in the power Fishers office) to complete an exam. I was not watch Tv. I Love Lucy, the Micky supply to the regenerating valve shown around the studios, but I felt Mouse Club and Rin-Tin-Tin. I leave school and adding audio to the at home there, I liked the smell of Auntie Vi's youngest son Graham Dec. 1959, I left school after just transformer. It worked, then I the excitement. We returned home built a crystal set, I learnt from him passing Intermediate. I was not a persuaded my dad to cut down a to Leongatha for the long wait of and built one too using a rusty good student, I was too busy with gum tree at the farm to make a acceptance or refusal. Finally the razor blade and a safety pin as the my other study agenda. transmitting antenna. call came, I was to start work on diode, feeding into some army I had no idea what I would do for a The range of the transmitter was Tuesday Feb 2, 1960. surplus headphones from Waltham job, but I dreamt of working in a about 500 meters. Trading Store in Elizabeth St. radio station or the wildest dream a To Melbourne ON-THE-AIR Melbourne. I read everything I Tv station. One day while pouring Finally I moved to Melbourne and I built a small 3 channel passive could find in the High school library over the job adds there was an add stayed with my Godfather Colin audio mixer, which I could feed a about radio, electricity and in the Sun newspaper. HSV Campbell and his wife Nancy in carbon microphone, turntable and chemistry. I made my own Channel 7, Melbourne was Oakleigh, while I found looked for radio into. At one stage even gunpowder and built a rocket that advertising for cadets, to train and suitable accommodation.

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My starting salary was £5.13.06 left to pay for my food and other The "Greasy Spoon" Graham Foster ($11.35) p/w, after tax, hardly expenses. I was to work in the Soon it was lunch time, off over the enough to find salubrious digs. Mr audio department and train to be road from the studios to the RAAF In charge of the Fisher suggested the YMCA on the an audio operator. canteen in a shed on the corner of technical staff and corner of City Rd. and Sturt St., 20 The First Day Wells and Coventry St. Later this rostering was mins walk from the studios. A Tues. Feb 2, 1960, I arrived at the land was to be purchased by Graham Foster, shared room with public bathroom, studios at 9 am. I was introduced Channel 7, after many years of known to the staff as cost £3.13.06 p/w, including to staff chief Graham Foster, who negotiation by Gerald Carrington. Foz. He had the breakfast. So I had $4.00 a week took me to Studio 2 where they Studio 7 was build on the site. unenviable task of YMCA Melbourne were rehearsing "Cooking with Gas" The greasy spoon served pies, and crewing all the shows as well as the with Jean Ford. Jean was a well a variety of fried in lard goodies. other technical areas. He was know Herald food journalist. They were only open on week days extremely patient and good to me. for lunch. Crews working week- His assistant Ron Coster did the ends or nights bought their own staff rosters and did his best to food to the studios or starved. arrange consecutive days off, so I could return home each month. Live Commercials This was not easy, in those days it Throughout the day live was common for us to work a 70 commercials were slotted in to the hr week. Management preferring film programs. to pay overtime rather than hire more permanent staff. The cooking set in studio 2 I was introduced to audio operator, Lyle Hughes and Arrow shows my room on the 3rd boom operator, floor. I lived there for 2 years. In John Brennan. I the foreground the Trocadero Ball was told to stay Room and Wirth's permanent by the boom, Lyle Hughes A live car commercial circus. Now the site of the not speak, not make any noise and In those days, with no networking Victorian arts centre. The YMCA just watch. It was fascinated, I commitments, commercials often was demolished a few years ago. John meets Foz in 2003 couldn't believe I was actually there went far longer than scheduled.

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This was especially true on the Starting work on the opposition channel 9's In same day as I was Melbourne Tonight, Hall Todd, Graham Strahan. We made it in the Guinness book of had a lot in common records as having presented the and became good world's longest running Tv friends. He went on to become a commercial. It was over one hour. very successful businessman. OB van "Jumbo" at the Football Club 7 with Lou Topano & band Saturday Hell Friday night was the big night of Saturday's were particularly I spent "100's" of Saturdays in the the week with Sunny Side Up. It chaotic, especially during the OB van, mixing audio for the was amazing how such a large football season. The Outside football broadcast. Often it was show, plus audience were crammed Broadcast (OB) football crew freezing cold, pouring with rain, into the restricted area of Studio 1. started at 8am to dismantle 3 of blowing a gale or hailing. I was one Little did many people realize the the 5 studio cameras the station of the lucky ones - the cameraman cameraman had his back against possessed and load them into the froze outside. Alf Potter directed Graham and Bert - IMT the rear wall, just to get a wide van. When packed the van would the football, his wife Isabele always turned up at half-time with the Live Variety shot of a production number. There head off the the ground where the was not even room for the band, VFL game of the day was being most delicious vegetable and barley Almost every night 7 did a live they played in the upstairs office played. Often to Melbourne's soup for the the whole crew. show. On staff was a band and area and the sound was fed back to famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, ballet. There was a scenery building the studio floor via a speaker. venue of the 1956 Olympics. workshop and a wardrobe department complete with it's own staff of seamstresses. Plus freelance arrangers and writers. Thursday night was Club 7 with compere Frank Wilson, who went on to be a notable actor. Syd Heylen & Bill Collins in SSU The MCG in the 60's Alf Potter plots the football

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Harold Reminisces The whole thing Ex HSV7 audio engineer, Harold was hosted by Aspinall sent us this story. Johnny O'Keefe and presented in front of an audience of screaming girls at

Technician Max Everett lines up a Marconi Mk 4 camera The camera's were huge by Harold at the 2004 reunion modern standards and only black On this day, April 15th 1964, (I still and white. The camera came in two have a copy of the running sheet to parts, the camera-head, which prove it!) the HSV-7 Fitzroy The Fitzroy Teletheater needed 4 men to carry and the Teletheater (Melbourne, Aus.) was Camera Control Unit (CCU) which the Fitzroy Teletheater. The artists, jumping to the strains of the was in the OB van or in the case of A block & tackle had to be used only one step below the emerging "Liverpool Sound Show". the studio in the CCU room. to get a camera in position Beetles. They were all under the a kick. His cameraman trained wing of, one, Harry M. Miller. Harry almost as hard as the footballers. For it's day this was M. & Johnny O'Keefe were Alf Always insisted on covering the a BIG SHOW. ensconced in the best rooms at the full warm-up game, so when we Appearing live were Southern Cross Hotel on Exhibition went to to air with the Match of the Gene Pitney St. The taping day began at Day the 3 cameramen had already breakfast in O'Keefe's room where had 2 hours practice. Four hours of Gerry & the your young inexperienced sound- camera-work on the freezing cold Pacemakers, Brian mixer was treated to the sight of J was no mean feat. My responsibility Poole & the O'K passing around to all the girls a Russell Bourne at a CCU was to mix the audio. Set-up Tremeloes and the frothy pink highly alcoholic drink Alf Potter became famous for his involved running microphone cables unmatched (before which he called a "Leg opener". football broadcasts. They were easy up into the commentators position or since) Dusty They loved it. Just the thing at 8 in to watch and he never missed in the stand. Springfield. the morning!

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exposed to sound at that LEVEL! I recording on the stations one corner. The show starred Happy recall grouping the guitar amps and video-tape machine commercials Hammond along with Panda, who the drums in a tight semi- for re-play over the week-end. had become a household name circle & covering it with a We also recorded appearing with Graham Kennedy on single Neumann U47 Sunday Magazine Channel 9 on "In Melbourne (microphone suspended a Catholic Tonight." (IMT) as the "barrel girl". over the lot. The solo & program for backing voices were miked Sunday morning separately & mixed in. The replay, featuring biggest problem was to U47 the one and only minimize the continuous Bob Santamaria. screaming from the audience. The After we recorded show broadcast a few weeks later a religious program Old Southern Cross Hotel, on the 7 network. The 'wrap' party, for the Church of After a production conference we also at the Southern Cross that England who were GK, Panda and the wheel on 9 moved onto the teletheater at night, was something to remember. given equal time. She had also moved around 10 for all-day rehearsals, I had a chance to have a brief chat The program was from channel 9 to 7 which featured all the usual dramas with Dusty Springfield, a charming hosted by a young and reinvented associated with artists of this young lady just starting out on her Peter Hollingworth herself as Princess calibre. (Although come to think of exciting career. For me a highlight In Studio 1 frantically camera Panda. Also on the it everyone seemed to know what of my 4 years at HSV7. Sadly Dusty rehearsals for Sunny Side Up, the show were, Vic they were doing - so not too many Springfield died at the age of 60 of which went to air at 7.30 pm. Later "Funnyface" Gordon, "Lovely dramas in fact). I was most cancer on Mar 2, 1999. the show moved to the teletheatre. Anne" (Watt) & "Uncle impressed with Dusty Springfield Friday's at Dorcas St In Studio 2 the midday news. Roy" (Lyons) At the height of the who, like me, was 25 at the time. Friday was a big day. The band Lunch, more commercials and at show's popularity Her voice was fantastic, with a came in early in the morning to the same time live Cartoon Corner Anne Watt and marvellous raw quality, which can audio record the production Hostings while we set up the Happy Cameraman be heard on the tapes I still have of numbers for the Sunny Side Up Show, what a squeeze, Pianist Brendan McKenner the show. It was my first big mixing show. The even smaller studio 2 Shirley Radford, upright and married, thousands job and, up to that time, neither I next door was hell, not only drummer under the stairs and a turned up at the nor the teletheater had been presenting live commercials, but small audience crammed into one wedding.

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Station Anatomy C1963 16 The Equipment Rack Room 33 Film Department Notes 17 Studio 1 scenery door 34 Telecine 4 "The Dungeon" was aptly 18 Studio 2 scenery door 35 Studio 2 audio control named, it was a dingy basement 19 OB van garage 36 Studio 2 video control below the dressing room. This 20 Stairs and notice board 37 Voice over booth area was out of bounds for 21 Scenery Bay 38 Microphone storage management and a relaxation 22 Technical workshop 39 Studio 1 video control area for the staff. It was 23 Canteen 40 Studio 1 audio control complete with a fridge to keep 24 Props office 41 Client viewing room beer cold. 25 Goods entrance 42 Record library 14 Master control co-ordinated all 26 Props cage 43 Production conference room the program sources and sent 44 Chief engineers office them to the transmitter. 45 Engineering & roster office 46 Commercial traffic department 47 Sales office 48 Managers office Ground floor Dorcas St Studios 49 Mail room 1 Main Entrance, reception 50 Production office 2 Switchboard / PABX 51 Film librarian 3 Make up & Dressing room 52 Production offices 4 Stairs to "The Dungeon" Lower ground 5 Talent entrance to Studio 1 floor "The 6 Public entrance to Studio 1 15 If there was an outside Dungeon" 7 Studio 1 loading door to lane broadcast the number of 8 Originally managers office cameras were reduced to 2, it 9 Camera Control Unit (CCU) The Second floor was essential cameras could be 10 Electronic Maintenance 27 News Room dragged from one studio to 11 Video Tape 28 Film camera equipment another quickly. 12 OB Microwave links 29 Still Photography Department The third floor 30 The sound dubbing room had 3 13 Stairs from studio to control 30 Sound dubbing room 53 Man hole and Microwave links turntables and was used to add 14 Master Control 31 Theatrette 54 Dark room and Kine machine sound effects and music to the 15 Throughway for cameras 32 16 mm projector booth 55 Air-conditioning Plant news stories.

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hosted by a young Brian Naylor, Anne Watt, Peter commercials for Peters Ice cream. Happy Hammond who was actually on 3DB radio Doyle, Rod Kirkham, Then straight back into the story, if Happy, real name station staff and had not yet moved Phillip Gould, Debra there was one, no problem, just Harold. During to channel 7. The show was the Byrne , Jan Scali, W.W.II worked in forerunner to 's Debra Byrne & Vikki John Gilby a troop "Young Talent Time" and ran for Broughton. The entertainment many years. When I first started show was produced Debra Byrne group with old the show went to air live, later it by Mac Irvine who friend Keith was taped and became national. owned an advertising agency who Glover. Later he Many stars owe their start to the had the Swallow & Aerial Biscuit worked in radio at Happy show. people like:- Jamie Redfern, company account, who naturally 3GL Geelong Hammond sponsored the show. The earlier before moving to Melbourne's top live shows were done in Studio 2 at rating radio station 3UZ in the 50's. Dorcas street, with the 2 remaining He moved to GTV9, when Tv began camera from the 3 that had gone to With John Gilby age 16 and appeared in the very successful the football. I was audio engineer Cameraman and good friend John kids show The Happy Show. When on the show for a number of years. Gilby went on to run the television Frank Packer bought GTV9 many Meanwhile in camera-less Studio 1 centre at Monash University. This stars and production personnel the sets were being set and photo was taken at the defected to HSV. Happy Hammond rehearsals attempted for Peters Fun Teletheatre by Panda. 1961 and the The Happy Show amongst Brian Naylor Peter Doyle Fair featuring Zig (Jack Perry) and them. Zag (Doug Makenzie) Saturdays The show went to air straight after Brian and the Juniors at 5.30 pm. Saturday was a big day at the That gave them 2 minutes of station, not only was there the commercials to drag the camera's football broadcast, the studio's through to Studio 1. The Zig and were hard at work. Zag show was pure slapstick, they At around 11 am a whole gang of made the story up as they went talented kids would arrive for the along, only stopping at regular With John Gilby 43 years later "Brian and the Juniors" show Rod Kirkham Jamie Redfern intervals to do their own at the 2003 reunion

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throw some more The dubbing room was very shorts and thongs below the desk cream pies at important for the news as we could out of the cameras view. Naturally each other play live from disk, sound effects he had a jacket, shirt and tie nobody could and atmospheric music. I often did above. One of the floor boys remember the this. It involved coming in an hour crawled under the news desk and story anyway. Jack Perry before the news, getting a copy of proceeded to squirt Geoff's bare played Zig the news rundown, then going to legs with a water pistol whilst Geoff Saturday News the record library and picking out read a serious story. Geoff being suitable tracks for the stories. We the professional he was showed Straight after Zig & Zag, it was time Flip card man - Ken Fitzgerald were suppose to preview the film now emotion and kept reading. for the evening news, back in the We couldn't even put reporters footage first to get a feel for the However the expletives that now reset studio 2, As before the 2 phone calls on air. These were the story. But this never happened as emanated from the studio once we camera's were dragged back from days before Talkback Radio and the often they were still splicing the went to the commercial break had Studio 1 to Studio 2 during the Postmaster Generals Dept. (PMG) film seconds before the news went to be heard to be believed. station break. News in those days strictly forbad the broadcasting or to air. I always loved working on relied heavily on film footage, recording of phone calls. Sometime April Fool the news, a better adrenaline rush either shot by seven's cameramen, we did voice interviews on location Another I have yet to experience. or syndicated film rushed from the with a spring wound, battery valve memorable airport. Most interstate stories were tape recorder, then played overlay Pranks prank was a day or so late as the cable had film shots of the interviewee, so Many pranks were played on news played on not yet been put through to wide so you could not see their readers. There was no way they the public by . International stories could mouth.. could laugh or smile, immediate the David be up to a week old. Stories were demotion would result. Especially if Johnston. often just illustrated by photos send the Chairman of Sir John David and a down from the stations owners, Williams or station manager Keith cameraman The Herald and Weekly Times. Cairns were watching. I remember were in David These were mounted on a Flip - one time Geoff Raymond was Johnstone stand and the camera pointed at it. reading the evening news. It was a shooting a news story on a A good flipper could flip the card Melbourne summer heatwave. The vineyard. David decided to do forward so fast that you would heat of the studio lights another story, he draped the vines believe you were seeing a cut to unbearable. On this occasion Geoff with cooked spaghetti, then another camera. Eric Pearce reading the news read the news only wearing standing in front, David told us of

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the plight of the Mildura spaghetti John D'arcy front of the desk and read it as if it second delay in the audio in his growers and how their crop had Many tricks were played on John was printed on a toilet roll. On this headphones. Halfway through an failed. The story included an D'arcy who was always a good particular week-end night a few of announcement, the delay was interview with an Italian Mumma, sport about it. In his later days at the floor boys were still back switched in. Happy immediately emotionally explaining how they Channel 7 John drinking "Scrumpy" a very cheap started to drawl as if he was drunk. would be ruined, shots of her was often the apple cider. One of them crawled The manager was listening in his children who were soon to starve booth announcer under the desk while john was on- office and came down to the and her husband telling us how all and live presenter. air and lit the end of the paper roll control room accusing Happy of his hard work since arriving from I remember one with a match. John and the viewers being drunk. Everyone knew happy Italy was in vein. On April 1 the weekend as he could see the smoke rising. John was a teetotaller except apparently story was put to air, on the news, was reading a live read as fast as he could before the the manager. with no explanation or back voice over flames got to desk level, Late Night John D'arcy announcement as to it being a commercial. announced the studio was on fire Some nights we would get joke. The whole studio was in fits Brian Naylor lowered a large metal and quickly said goodnight. particularly bored during the Late of laughter as no one had been rubbish bin over his head as he did Again much laughter from the Night Movie. We would amuse pre-warned. Then the joke this the sound became very tinny. control room. ourselves by playing sound effects backfired. The Channel 7 John kept on reading the Happy Hammond under the movie soundtrack. switchboard lit up like never before. commercial regardless. The Monkey screeches over love Hundreds of viewers called and laughter from the control room scenes. Baby cries, for no reason at wanted to donate money to the could be clearly heard on-air. all and car and aircraft sounds on stricken families. On another occasion John D'arcy wild west movies. We all thought it An official apology was reading the late news. In those hilarious. had to be given days there was no journalist on Other nights if we wanted to go on-air and David duty John would have to go to the home early we would leave the Johnstone was news room and find whatever news Late Movie running during severely he could of the teletype machine. commercial breaks. No one seemed reprimanded. Ian This he would edit by sticky taping One day Happy Hammond was to notice and we could go home Davey edited the different articles together and read doing an announce booth shift. The early, especially Friday nights when story and says he on-air. In order that the long length audio operator connected Happy's everyone wanted to get to the has dined out on Ian Davey of paper could not be seen he headphones via an audio tape Regent Cinema, South Yarra for the the story often. 2004 draped it over the machine which created one midnight Show.

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The only top rating variety program home. Dad of course would have a 7 had was Sunny Side Up, which beer. Mum might even have a dash went to air Friday nights at 7.30. of beer in her lemonade (a For many Melbourne households Shandy). At 7.30 the Fish and Chips Friday night was fish and chip would be served in front of the Tv night. With work over for the week, as the whole family sat down to Dad would usually have a few enjoy Sunny Side Up. beers with his working mates at the pub. In those days the Melbourne Pubs closed at 6 pm.

The competition in live variety 3 hr morning program on sister programs between GTV-9 and HSV- radio station 3AK. HSV-7 were The Local Pub Getting ready for the show 7 was intense. Sir Frank Packer had desperate, something had to be One could order as many beers as recently bought GTV-9, which was done to topple Channel 9's lead. you liked before that time, then you The biggest studio Channel 7 had rating well with it's complete radio had 15 minutes to finish them. was far smaller than Studio 1 at and Tv "Television City" product, After closing time he would head Channel 9, there was no dedicated headed by Graham Kennedy and off to the nearby Fish & Chip shop audience area, it was just too small side kick . In for some, Fish and Chips, all fried for live variety. Melbourne Tonight rated so highly in lard (animal fat), smothered in Things were not all that happy at it was very much envied by the salt and vinegar wrapped up in Channel 9 after the new Herald-Sun organization. Graham newspaper. He would arrive home management took over. One Kennedy and Bert Newton were at just after 7, mum would put the Norman Spencer, who had became the height of their careers, not only Fish and Chips in the oven, then a household name as the director appearing every night on IMT they she and the kids would enjoy some of and the also did a Graham & Bert at 3AK Tarax lemonade dad had bought television father of Graham ......

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Kennedy was not A lighting grid was assembled happy with the across what was the upstairs new regime at 9, seating area. The floor was fully so he resigned and cemented from the audience area moved to channel to what was the old stage. Two 7. He was put in huge cycloramas (Cycs) were charge of bringing installed. The studio floor area was 7's ratings up and Norman huge. The studio was connected to toppling Kennedy. Spencer the Dorcas St. studios by 2 It was decided that a new studio microwave links, one up and one could be built at minimum cost, down. The Audio was send and styled after the Ed Sullivan theatre received by high quality telephone in New York, which was basically a lines from the Postmaster Generals converted theatre. In Melbourne Dept, (PMG) The studio was due to the impact of Tv many equipped with 3 brand new black and white Marconi MkIV cameras.

Ed Sullivan Theatre NYC still going strong with the "Late brilliance was controlled remotely Show" with David Letterman. Camera 1 & 3 were either side of from the control room by the Cinema's had closed and sitting the Camera Bay, whilst Camera 2 Camera Control Unit operator. The idle. Channel 7 was able to take was mounted on a crane which cameras were so unstable they had over the Hoyt's Theatre Fitzroy, a could elevate to 8 feet. The to be completely lined up before couple of Km from the Melbourne cameras had 4 lenses, from very every transmission. The vision CBD. The whole construction job wide angle to telescopic. The mixer was supplied by RCA USA was done in a few months. exposure of each lens, contrast and and was capable of key effects. A Key effect

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The Teletheater had many technical The Opening Night innovations and also many The opening of the teletheater was problems. The audio mixer was the spectacular to end all built in Australia under contract by spectaculars. Norman Spencer had AWA. The faders or individual imported from the USA, Bob volume controls were made using a Crosby, to host the show, Co- stepping resistive system, rather starring was British comedian than a geared potentiometer. Jimmy Edwards. The show featured many local stars of the time, a brass band and circus elephants. Not Ready On opening night the Teletheater was far from completion. Most of the new equipment had not turned up and the broadcast was really an OB (Outside Broadcast), Equipment The end result was the sound was pirated from all over the place. would fade up in steps rather than The OB van was parked out the smoothly like a conventional front of the theatre to relay the potentiometer also they were pictures back to Dorcas St. The susceptible to dust, often making lighting console was the only new loud crackling sounds on-air. equipment working. The audio mixer had not turned up from AWA. posses enough microphones to to the heat of the lights from the So various portable 4 channel cover the spectacular. Ralph non-airconditioned theatre. mixers, sourced from Dorcas St and Clarkson phoned old mate and sister radio station 3DB, were Neuman microphone importer Wolf strung together on some card Grey who turned over his entire tables and operated by Colin stock, saving the day. Stevenson, assisted by audio boss The tension in the teletheater Ian McLeod. The previous day it before the show was incredible. Harold & Teletheater mixer was realized the station didn't Equipment was breaking down due Ralph & Colin catch up in 2002

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Against all adversity Norman Nevertheless, he achieved success Goons, Frank Muir and Denis Raymond Burr Spencer got the show on air. He in his own right. He joined the Norden, the writing partnership, was so tense he threw up in the Tommy Dorsey band. In 1935 a they would reinvigorate British In the early days of the Teletheater rubbish bin 5 mins before airtime. new group formed and needed a comedy. Appearing on hit radio Raymond Burr appeared on a show. He may be best Bob Crosby front man, they approached Bob, shows such as Take It From Here the band was later to as Pa Glum and starring in remembered for Star of the show his part in "Perry become Bob televisions Whack-O! as the cane- was Bob Crosby, Mason" in the Crosby and the happy headmaster of a minor who was famous 1950s and 60s. Bobcats. They public school, "Professor" Jim for his band Burr began his folded in 1942 Edwards’ popular persona was "The Bob Cats" - largely a reflection of the private career typecast as he was the but Crosby continued to make films a motion picture and personal appearances, man. Jimmy was a keen polo brother Bing player, on one villain in such films as Alfred Crosby. sometimes as leader of dixieland style bands, sometimes of more occasion, during Hitchcock's " Rear Window". As contemporary-sounding bands. one match when intensely private as he was Crosby died in 1993 at 80. the Duke of talented, Raymond Burr was an Edinburgh was often anonymous philanthropist Jimmy Edwards playing on the and foster parent. Born Raymond Jimmy Edwards opposite side and William Stacey Burr May 21st, 1917 was one of after having just in British Columbia. Burr was with a British comedy’s been ridden Toronto based repertory theatre, biggest stars in off the ball by the Queen’s which teamed during its summer the post-war husband, he is reported to have season with players from a British era. A former yelled out: "Stay close to me, Sir, touring company. Among the Bob Crosby with brother Bing distinguished and you’ll get your face in the company's players was a young Bob Crosby was born as George RAF pilot, he newspapers!" Later he starred in Scottish actress, Annette Robert Crosby, 25 Aug. 1913, first appeared at Lionel Bart’s hit musical, Oliver. In Southerland, with whom Burr Spokane, Washington, USA. For Soho’s his later days he lived between eloped in England. The couple lived most of his early career, Crosby infamous Windmill Theatre , soon Australia and England. Jimmy in England and France, Burr was inevitably overshadowed by his finding stardom, first with his Edwards died in 1988. became a popular nightclub singer older brother, Bing Crosby. success "trombonolgy" act, then onto radio He had travelled the world an in Paris, in 1942 they had a son thanks to a pleasant voice and television. Along with the entertained millions. Michael Evan Burr. Burr and his

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family returned to America ahead had been battling leukaemia. microphone. Being a keen young of the worst of WW II. Burr Michael Burr lost his fight before his lad of 17 I ran up the stairs and out eventually scored a hit in the 1943 eleventh birthday. Several years along the rickety scaffold walkway. show "Duke In Darkness". On the later, Burr lost his third wife, Adrina As I ran I kept my head down to eve of Burr's professional triumph Morgan, to cancer. Before dying of navigate the gaps in the planks. personal tragedy struck Annette cancer in 1993 Burr gave away Suddenly, thump, I hit my head Sutherland, with other British most of his fortune to his foster and bounced back laying flat on my actors supporting the troops and children, friends & charities. back, I couldn't believe my eyes, I The Queen and Duke 1963 the war effort, travelled to her had run head first into Mr Burr's I bump into Mr Burr was attending a reception in some native Great Britain on a public not inconsiderable stomach. He While Raymond Burr was in other part of the hospital. Suddenly relations junket. On June 1st, 1943, said "are you ok son" and helped Melbourne he appeared at the a microphone failed in the ward the plane carrying Ms. Sutherland, me back on my feet. Teletheater, my job was a go for or and I was sent up to fix it. I ran up actor Leslie Howard and others do anything the head audio person I bump into the Queen the fire stairs and out into the from London to Lisbon was shot needed. At the Teletheater there Well almost! passage. There 5 meters in front of down by German forces. All on was a very rickety scaffold leading The 1963 Royal Tour was Queen me was the Queen and entourage. board were killed. In 1952 Burr from the upstairs dressing room to Elizabeth's second tour of Australia I screeched to a halt and stood to the back stage area, so stars could after her Coronation. She arrived in attention with my back to the wall, appear from behind the curtains Melbourne on the Royal yacht terrified, as Her Majesty walked by. and not have to walk through the Britannia. The next day she visited I was told later that if I had not audience before their appearance the Royal Children's Hospital. We stopped when I did, I could have We were on-air when I was sent did a live broadcast of the the been shot by her body guards. down to back stage to fix a event. A camera was set up in one of the wards to show the Queen Burr with long time friend visiting the child patients. Now 18, Barbara Hale (Della Street) I was again working as an audio mysteriously trimmed down his assistant runner. The security was appearances in film and stage heavy, even for those times, we productions, taking only four roles were all issued with very important that year. It was later revealed that looking "P" passes. Just before the Burr's son, Michael, whom he had broadcast I was in the OB van, the carefully protected from the press, The position of the walkway Queen had already arrived and

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I get involved Late in the 60's I was to become the recording and post-production sound engineer on the second series of Homicide. The drama involved 2½ days of my week.

The first episode (not the pilot), 'The Stunt', went to air on HSV-7 at 7:30 October 20, 1964, with Ian Turpie playing the first victim. Starting in 1961, Channel 7's first sound proof, on one occasion regular drama program was production stopped due to rain, as My audio console - Studio 1 "" originally a the time was limited, taping had to Tues. afternoon we set up all the successful on 3DB, continue. Quick thinking Dorothy microphones after the set was produced by the independent Crawford had the Judge say to a constructed for the studio shoot . witness "Can you speak up, I can't which started at 7am on Wed's, we hear you for the rain" , production were scheduled to finish at 7pm, continued with the rain pouring in but often 9 or 10, one time 1am. the background. Crawford Mondays was Productions was integration day, established in Ian Turpie & director Ian Jones where we 1945 by Hector Homicide was a milestone in completed the Crawford and his Australian Tv, Hector Crawford final master of sister Dorothy. believed Australians wanted to program, Only 3 hours was allocated for the They produced watch Australian drama's, although integrating the Stars of the production, the drama was radio programs many were sceptical. The show was outdoor16mm series, Jack produced at Studio 1 at Dorcas St, as well as the "Music for the an immediate success regularly film segments Fegan, Terry then later at the Teletheater, which People" at the Myer Music Bowl. rating in the 60's. A rating of 20 is with the taped McDermott & had an iron roof and was not Broadcast on radio 3DB & HSV7. considered excellent these days. studio footage. Leonard Teal.

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The film sequences were all shot by sound would be out of sync if I did The Rola Tape Machine Recording television Crawford Productions. The location not press the play button in perfect The first method of recording sound was mixed in their sound time. Not that noticeable, until a television programs was with the studios and copied to 1/4 inch detective slammed a car door, or use of a kinescope machine, which audio tape for replay. someone was punched in a fight, was basically a 16m film camera On integration day we would you could see the action before or pointed at a television screen. The attempt to play the synchronous after you heard the sound. picture quality was quite poor, but audio with the silent location film. at the time, better than nothing. To roll the tape in sync a system was devised where 4 holes were Holes punched punched in the 16mm film, 4 every 4 frames frames apart. The audio tape had 4 by a paper corresponding tone bips. The Rola folder punch. The Rola 77 audio tape machine audio machine was cued up on the Many scenes featured car door was designed by Max Beyer who 4th bip. When the holes in the film slamming - a very important piece ran the Beyer factory just a few were viewed "1-2-3-4" I would of dramatic action for the actors in doors up from Channel 7 at 8 press the play button on viewing Homicide, lead to many jokes about Dorcas Street. First he made the A Kinescope Recorder the 4th hole. "Sudden death" no the show on opposing stations and Model 66 and 77 Mk1 model, time for re-takes. Sometimes the in the press.. before the company was taken over by Rola, the speaker manufacturer. The recorder featured 3 motors and 3 heads, erase, record and playback. As the machine had instant playback, the machine was often used as a make-do echo device, by feeding the replay back to the audio mixing panel. The Kinerecording Camera company ceased producing the The sound was recorded on a machine when the Menzies separate 16mm audio recording government lowered the trade machine which was electro- tariffs and they could no longer mechanically locked to the compete with imported machines. recording camera.

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Video Tape Arrives passing 2 inch tape, with a writing Unreliable The first video tape recorder was speed of 1500 inch/second. This 2" The first tape machines were very made by the BBC in the UK. they system was called quadraplex unreliable and subject to used a very high tape speed to recording and became the industry mechanical and electronic break record the 4 Mhz signal. It was not standard for well over 25 years. down. Often when a program went really practical as only 15 mins to air in primetime a kine-recording could be recorded on a roll of tape. was run in Telecine as a back-up. So if the videotape machine broke down, the presentation director could switch to the duplicate The quadraplex tape head program running from telecine. Primitive Editing Initially it was impossible to edit video tape. Programs had to be recorded from one commercial break to another. If a mistake was made, the whole section would have to be re-recorded. Eventually Track pattern on the 2" tape the Smith tape splicing system was Early RCA Quad machine devised, wher the tape was The early machines were huge and physically cut and spliced. In the USA the first practical video entirely valve, were not recorder was developed in the 50's used until later models. by Ampex & RCA engineers at the They consumed a huge amount of request of Bing Crosby, who power and even had an inbuilt wanted his national show time aircompressor to supply the delayed across America. In 1960 airbearing for the spinning head channel 7 received their first video and a vacuum pump for the tape tape recorder from RCA America. head pressure of a massive Machine head adjustment was The high speed tape problem was 1,000lbs/sq inch. Each head critical, if the tape tension was solved by using a 15,000 rpm recorded 16 lines of the 625 line incorrect the picture would be rotating head wheel with 4 heads television picture. horizontally distorted. The Smith splicer

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The problem was to splice the tape could be recorded weekdays saving at the end of a single frame penalties and overtime. otherwise the splice was obvious to the viewer. Secret Communication One of my early jobs was to play the "Test Music" in the mornings from 9am until we opened transmission at 11.30 am. The cost of phone calls to Mum in Leongatha was prohibitive. I devised a system to let Mum know if I would be home for the An incorrect splice week-end on the train. If I was, To correct this, the Smith splicer I would play a track from the came with a iron particle solution Roly Lau in the video-tape musical "My Fair that was brushed on to the tape. room in the 60's with the new Lady", as the last With the aid of the microscope, the Ampex machine and old RCA track, before the operator could identify the frame machines in the background. 11.30am news. Ampex AVR1 Video recorder pulses and attempt to cut the tape Quiz and Game shows. The Mum would be exactly on the frame. Pre-Recording accounts department loved tuned in to videotape. Weekend programs channel 7. If she Videotape recording dramatically heard one of the tracks from the changed television. No longer did , she knew I would be home. programs have to go to air live, they could be recorded ahead of time and be distributed nationally. Many old timers lamented this, because they felt the "live" went Visible frame pulses out of television and recorded Later Channel 7 installed Ampex programs lacked spontaneity. They Videotape machines that came with often referred the television Editek which gave the ability to studio's as the Sausage Factory, electronically edit the tape. where we churned out hundreds of Demise of "Open Reel" 2003. John playing Test Music

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Prime Minister Harold Mr Holt and four others stopped at Concluding his report, he said: "So Cheviot Beach for a swim. A keen at this stage the search has come Holt's disappearance swimmer and snorkeller, Mr Holt to a dead halt." Oopps! On the 17th December 1967, I was remarked "I doing audio at the Christmas Music know this beach for the People concert, when we like the back of were told, (4½ hours before the my hand" shortly news was released to the public) before he that Australian Prime Minister, entered the Harold Holt had disappeared at water. One of Cheviot beach, Portsea. the men swam in the shallows while Mr Holt swam out to sea. But, aged 59, with a bad shoulder and John swings the boom on SSU fatigued from a possible leadership Anne Wennrick, film librarian I worked on the show for many challenge, he was not as strong in with Jean Hanger. years, first as an audio assistant, the water as he thought. Sunny Side Up then a boom pusher, microphone He disappeared in a savage boom operator and finally playing Channel 7's, longest running variety undertow, never to be seen again. tapes on the show. show was Sunny Side Up, Myer Music Bowl There were many wild rumours that produced by Alf A group of management and Holt had been taken by a Russian Spargo. Starting executive technicians arrived and or Chinese submarine. as the Happy took one of our 3 camera's off in Geoff's Blooper Gang on radio the stations second makeshift OB My favourite TV story was admitted 3DB it made a van, a modified VW combi van by the culprit himself, none other successful to get live than news reader Geoff Raymond. transition to Tv. pictures from Reflecting on his long career, he Portsea for the said the worst moment was a live Directed by Dick evening news, report from Cheviot Beach, Jones the show when the D- reporting the disappearance of was soon to notice on Holt Prime Minister Harold Holt. The become a was lifted. PM Holt broadcast went on for ages. national success. Syd Heylan & Bill Collins

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The cast and crew on the 200th edition of Sunny Side Up. Foreground Director Dick Jones, Director's assistant Barbera Pearson, Producer Alfred Spargo. Myself circled.

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Make a wish little or no talent, but surrounded probably the largest sponsor of Mr Kerr was just starting out and it himself with yes men who kept television Melbourne has ever seen. was painfully obvious that he was Make a Wish, with Wally Peterson telling him he was the greatest star Dennis Gowing went on the working on a very tight budget. the compere, sponsor and owner of of all. He also had a morning radio become a successful restaurateur. The series of 13 shows were taped Web's Radio. Wally with his side program - he was everywhere, well In 1985 he was part owner in rapid succession. "Keep rolling" kick Jim Cruise would offer 3 for only a few months until his of racehorse, "What a he would call as the operators unfortunate down and out entire empire collapsed with huge Nuisance" that won the barely had time to change tapes. housewives to "Make a Wish" if debits. He died the following year. . Ridden by they were successful they would Pat Hyland, the horse won win a prize. The show was a vehicle Tell the Truth with the odds of 15/1. That year to promote Web's Radio who sold Compered first by George Foster was the first time the Melbourne new television sets and offered then by Michael Cup boasted a first prize of one generous trade-ins on your old set Williamson, Tell million Australian dollars. which he told us he needed for The Truth, fringe area sets. But they produced by Tribute Rosalie actually became I am indebted to Dennis Gowing, Stephenson, was rented coin in the he was one of the first people who a Celebrity slot Tv's for gave me work making Tv people that panel game show based on a US commercials, that helped me couldn't afford to original in which the panel team establish my Tv production had to guess which one of a trio of company Gable Summertime, which buy a tv set. Mr Coin Tv Peterson was the contestants was actually telling the I ran for 27 years before retiring to truth about a given statement. fringe area!. Although the real Bali. Kerr in action Concluding by the real person to reason seemed to be that the show The Galloping Gourmet The actual cooking took second please stand up. The show ran was to promote Mr Peterson Graham Kerr taped place over his comedy antics. from 1959-1965. himself to stardom. He bought a the first series of He often put far too much spice or luxury boat originally owned by the Kevin Dennis national television wine in a dish, anything for a late radio quiz star Jack Davey. The The show was later sponsored by cooking programs laugh. It is well known Tv crews boat was called the Webray and Kevin Dennis Motors and often "The Galloping will eat just about anything - was constantly being used in featured Dennis Gowing alias Kevin Gourmet" in the especially if it is free. Often Mr promotional gimmicks. The shows Dennis on the show. Mr Gowing's Melbourne studios Kerr's creations were left were dreadful, Mr Peterson had chain of used car yards was of HSV channel 7. untouched by the crew.

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and that made the viewer feel like The lighting was a nightmare and a breakers, holding them closed. they were actually there. Others military like operation. The Palais Their shoes were so hot you could would make it sound like a studio de Dance was a huge area and had smell leather burning. recording. I felt quite chuffed at the to be lit so the insensitive black and The Miss Australia Ball broadcast praise and that Alf would specially white Tv cameras could see was the glamour broadcast of the request me. The real reason for my something. The only way to light it year. Everybody who was anybody sound was that the outside was to get the light level to at least was there, the Governor General, broadcast van's audio mixer only half level and then use a powerful the State Governor, the Prime had a few channels, so after arc spotlight to focus on the Minister and all the usual Toorak Each year throughout the early 60's subtracting the microphones comperes, judges and models. socialites and hangers on. HSV 7 would broadcast the Miss needed for the compere and Ken Hancok who HSV staff were required to wear Australian Ball. At the time I was commentators there was only one had worked on station supplied dinner suites. The still a Junior Audio Engineer mic channels left. films in England crew were provided with a table and each year Alf All I could do was string a mic way was the lighting out of sight behind the band. Potter, the over the top of the band area director. he hired Before the broadcast we were director of the where it picked up the band, along dozens of 5,000 given the same 3 course meal as outside with clinking of glasses, chatter and watt lamps to the guests, drink flowed freely, but broadcast would the overall atmosphere. light the Palais de we were forbidden to drink before request me to do Dance. Ken Hancok the broadcast. After the broadcast the sound. I HSV's largest studio lights were we returned to enjoy all the free could never only 2,000 watts. One could drinks we wished. I remember one understand why Alf Potter imagine the huge amount of year whilst John Gorton was Prime I was selected electrical power needed. George Minister of Australia, he came and when there were Morrison the station electrician sat at our table. so many other would order a mini sub-station from Always the larrikin, senior engineers the State Electricity Comm. So he said he to me. I was much power was being pulled that preferred to sit later told that my The channel 7 OB Van the huge circuit breakers would pop with us workers, sound from the Planning started weeks before with out. During the broadcast George rather than the band was many meetings in Alf's office to and one of his assistants sat with "boring fart" atmospheric Junior John organizing the logistics. their shoes up on the circuit official party. John Gorton

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Miss Australia Quest from the beginnings, to the thrilling For many years, the Miss Australia heyday of the quest when winners Ball was televised to an audience of like Tania Verstak and Rosemary millions, becoming one of Fenton, to name but two, were Australia's most popular and front-page, banner-headline news, productive fund-raising events. to the grand finale in 2000. They also offered young women an Penelope opportunity to directly contribute to Plummer a worthwhile cause, build self- another Miss confidence, and hone new skills. Australia winner. Many title-holders went on to She went on to successful careers in business and become Miss World in 1968. the media because of the The Palais de Dance - burnt down in 1968 Beryl Mills became the first Miss experience and public profile they the new silent films that were all achieved through the awards. Australia in June 1926. The 19- year-old was born and grew up on the rage. To replace it a new Palais Miss Australia: a sheep station near Geraldton. de Dance was built next door. A Retrospective The Palais de Dance was a 1908-2000 is a showplace for different bands, stunning record in including those of Jim Davidson, words and Ern Pettifer, Sammy Lee and Bobby pictures of a Gibson. The Palais de Dance was unique annual very pleasant on a balmy evening, event that lasted when the doors were opened to the almost 100 years. sea and and stars beyond. Author Katherine Beard, Miss ACT It was considered the best dance 1998, interviewed hundreds of Tania Verstak, Sydney 1962 hall in the Southern Hemisphere. people and collected personal The original Palais de Dance was Each year the Palais de Dance stories from almost every Miss the now, still standing, Palais hosted the Gala Miss Australia Ball Australia since 1946. She shared Theatre, built in 1913 by the and Beauty Quest. the fabulous memories of all of Phillips Brothers. It was later The Palais de Dance was sadly those talented and caring women, First Miss Australia 1926 renamed the Palais Theatre, for destroyed by fire in 1968.

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My Minute of Fame Tue Nov 2, 1962 this story was published in the Sun News Pictorial in the daily "Young Sun" section. The story was written by Jim Foley, a Herald staff reporter and the photo taken by Harry Wonacot. HSV 7's publicity photographer.

Vic Gordon, Princess Panda, Happy Hammond, Lovely Anne and Uncle Roy. One of HSV7's most successful shows was "The Happy Show" The show originally ran on GTV9 before moving to HSV7.

A very young Ross Campbell with Happy Hammond and Denzyl Howsen. John age 17 on the boom

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60's Memories Doug always like to be paid in cash The show was first directed by The Infamous Dungeon often collecting from the sponsor John Dixon who gave the show a "Were off to Church" was what straight after the ad went to air. relaxing Sunday casual air. most of the sporting personalities Show Success of the day would tell their wives, as Later the channel management, they left home for the Channel 7 who obviously all slept in Sunday studios on a Sunday morning. morning, realized what a gold mine On arrival they headed for the the show was and took the show basement under the Studio One over from Mr Elliot, who after only make-up room called "The received commission for the . Dungeon". We must remember it Dick Jones, director of Sunny Side was during the time of 6 o'clock Up became the director. closing in Melbourne and also alcohol could not be sold on Sundays. In the Dungeon the beer flowed freely, the only place in Melbourne where you could get a beer on Sunday. An exclusive club, Ron Casey just for the top sportsmen. World of Sport was the brainchild Ad man - Doug Elliot of Doug Elliot, who bought 2 hours From humble beginnings the show of time on channel 7, starting was soon a huge success, collecting Sunday at noon, at the rumoured more money than prestige shows in price of 60 pounds per hour, in evening night slots. Ron Casey had what was before a non existing the knack of surrounding himself with excellent people. time slot. Elliot joined with Ron The World of Sport Casey of 3DB who hosted and WOS Director Dick Jones football panel produced the show. Elliot found the HSV-7 was THE Football Channel The Four and twenty meat pie sponsors and presented the live and managed to get all the company supplied an industrial pie advertisements himself. Most ads personalities into the studio. warmer and free pies. A great time were scheduled for 30 seconds Opposition GTV-9 tried to copy the was had by all. In the Dungeon however often ran 3 minutes. Uncle show, but they could never get the were the Who's Who's of the Doug gave them value for money. Racing Panel with Bill Collins personalities. What was 7's secret? Melbourne's sporting world.

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Show's Secret After all Carlton and United seen on-air running behind Ron screaming through a distorted The show's floor manager only had Breweries were one of the major Casey, on camera, followed by 2 speaker to follow. Bakelite discs to go to the Dungeon to find sponsors. All went well for a long policemen. It was reality Tv flew everywhere, occasionally anyone they needed for an time. However it had got out of Keystone Cops. The management breaking, in the scramble to find interview. Channel 9 couldn't match hand. Apart from the sports stars, "knew nothing" (par for the course the theme music for a segment that that. Of course the Seven word had got around Melbourne even when it came to Television). was not planned just now. management knew nothing at all that if you needed a dozen cans of A couple of staff were charged but Sometimes after the 3 studio about the illegal grog shop in the Beer on a Sunday morning "Drop got off lightly. Magically the story cameras were criss crossed around "The Dungeon" or did they? down to Seven". Engine idling cars was kept out of the press, Ah "the the studio, their cables would were queued outside the studio as power of the press". After all the tv become entwined to the point that the drivers would run out of the station was owned by a major they had to be unplugged and main 7 entrance with a dozen cans newspaper. untangled. I would play some up their jumpers. Back to Normal interlude music during the process. Only a few weeks passed before the beer was flowing again. However now with a security guard on the front door, making sure that only bona fide show guests entered the building. The show went on for 28 years and for some time was the longest running Tv show anywhere in the world. Ron Casey - oblivious I often worked on World of Sport, Ron Casey new nothing of the first on disks, playing theme music, party below the studio, he never sound effects and sound Boom Op Graham Fettling The HSV -7 "Sly Grog" Shop seemed to hear the endless commercials from the dubbing Later I was often the audio laughter emanating from the Police Raid room, a small room designed for engineer for the show. The show Dungeon into the studio, the floor One Sunday morning the Victorian laying soundtracks on film was chaotic, although there was a manager often having to quieten Police raided the studios while the programs. The Dubbing Room was production meeting before the the crowd down. Barrels of beer show was on-air. The props person quite remote from the studio, all I show, and a rundown of events were delivered as "show props". in charge of the beer props was had was the voice of the director nothing ever went to plan.

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More Shows Time for Terry also Chevron Hotel Melbourne, a group Norm Spencer Specials featured Olivia of people were invited to attend With the introduction of Videotape, In the 60's Norman Spencer Newton-John before and were shown a kine-film of It many afternoon variety, quiz and produced a number of Tv specials she went overseas Could be You and Time for Terry. game shows were produced. Video in which he produced on 16mm film and on to After they were interviewed. I was Village, Make Mine Music, Time for as well as with studio segments. International often rostered to the Chevron to Terry and many others. One of the first stardom. help with the technical side. Dr specials The June Time for Terry Channel 7 spent a lot of money on Belsen interviewed hundreds of Bronhill Special The 1 hour afternoon variety show, the show, to try and break Tommy people. The study went on for featured the Time for Terry, starred English Hanlon's grip on the time slot. weeks finally Dr Belsen presented Australian Light comedian Terry O'Neil, it his report. Station gossip said that Market Research Opera star, on her ran for a few The station management decided Dr Belsen told the triumphant return years against they would find out what was HSV manager from London. Tommy Hanlon's wrong with the show using the new that he has very successful market research techniques being learned from his show It could be used in England and America. At months of You. on huge expense Dr Belsen, a research that opposition Time for Terry Tommy Hanlon professor of marketing psychology channel GTV-9, was bought from England to fails because research Time for Terry and see if Terry O'Neil has O'Neil he could come up with a way of dirty cigarette stained teeth, this improving the show. The research revolts housewives. We suggest sessions were held at the you tell him to get his teeth cleaned. The horrified HSV Gordon Bennett, Norm manager retorted "I can't tell him Spencer, June Bronhill & Eric that! - he's a big star", end of Scherer meeting. Dr Belsen flew back to Another Special was, the Pat and Time for Terry - Joe Hudson, Ian England and was never heard of Olivia Special, starring Pat Carroll Turpie, Olivia Newton -John, Terry again. Time for Terry folded and and Olivia Newton-John, filmed on O'Neil, Vi Greenhalf, Brian Naylor Terry O'Neil and his teeth were also 16mm film at various locations and Ivan Hutchinson. Chevron Hotel Melbourne never seen again. around Melbourne.

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Pat & Olivia Special studio, then taken to the film department and transferred to 16mm magnetic recording film. The 16mm player had synchronous motors, which means they run at a constant speed to the 50 Htz mains frequency. The 16mm film camera was also fitted with a synchronous 50Htz motor. When connected to the mains power the system worked perfectly, both machines Later on things improved with the Pat and Olivia on Location running together, resulting in the purchase of a Nagra Mk III ¼" film sound being in sync. recorder. The Nagra was far more In those days generators were not very stable an could run up to 20% Olivia & Pat off to England fast or slow resulting in the replay On location a 16mm magnetic sound being very fast or slow, replay machine was connected making it very difficult for the through an amplifier to a speaker performer to mime. The only for the performer to hear the replay answer the HSV technical and mime the song. department could come up with First the song to be performed was was a Hot Water Urn, full of water, Another shot from the show audio recorded in the sound attached to the generator. The Later Olivia won a free trip to generator speed could be adjusted England on the Johnny O'Keef by changing the heat settings on Nagra Mark III show, partner Pat Carrol followed. the urn. Off for full speed, low, portable than the original set up Technical Nightmare medium or high to slow the sound and ran on dry batteries. The In those days synchronous pre- down. The performers worked machine recorded a Pilot Tone from recorded sound with the performer under great difficulty, with the the camera motor which allowed miming was a technical nightmare sound speed changing and trying to for perfect frame synchronization especially if 240 volt mains power hear the replay over the sound of with the film when dubbed to was not available. the noisy generator. 16mm magnetic tape.

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Another Special produced by Norm The Magic of Marlene installed in positions to not detract Will Have; The Laziest Gal In Spencer, directed by Michael from the live performance for the Town; When The World Was In 1967 HSV7 Brayshay was Down paying customers. Bruce Adderley Joung; Johnny; Go Away From My produced "Magic Under aimed at the Australian and was in charge of the sound, he and Window; White Grass; Boomerang of Marlene" in UK markets. The show showed the his assistants ran many cables to Baby; La Vie En Rose; Lola; Frag association with seekers travelling all over Australia junction boxes for a split of the Nicht Warum Ich Gehe; Lili Aztec Services. and doing their hit numbers. house microphones, From the OB Marlene; Where Have All The The station was van pictures were beamed by Flowers Gone; Falling In Love Again buzzing with excitement. The show microwave link back to the Dorcas - All to a standing ovation. was to be taped at the Princess Street, studios for taping. Theatre, Melbourne where Miss Back to the Studio Dietrich was performing in a season After the show Miss Dietrich was from Oct. 7 - 23. The stage show invited back to the 7 studios to was produced and directed by Miss watch the replay of the rehearsal Dietrich, with arrangements: Burt which channel 7 had taped. The Bacharac, lighting: Joe Davis, idea being that suggestions could costumes: Jean Louis. be made for improvement of the The Seekers Downunder show before the final taping. Marlene up close Princess Theatre 1887 Marlene arrives at the Channel 7 Audience gathered studios, I was standing in the in the Princess passage way as she passed by on theatre and the her way to the theatrette for the show began. viewing of the Princess Theatre Melbourne Marlene sang I show. I had seen The contract for the taping of the Can't give You her on stage show allowed for a camera Anything But Love; many times, I rehearsal of one performance then You're The Creme could not believe the taping of the next performance. In My Coffee; My my eyes, she was The day for the rehearsal came, the Blue Heaven; See so small and The Seekers - Coping well with OB van was set up outside the What The Boy's In looked like a little primitive location shooting Princess Theatre, cameras were The Backroom old grandmother

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and she spoke with an American and one only." As they had already Miss Dietrich returned to Melbourne United States citizen and devoted accent, not the German one she done this, all the equipment, 10 years later where she performed most of her energy during World used when appearing on stage. cameras etc. must be removed at Her Majesties from Sep 1st - 13, War II to entertaining Allied troops from the Princess Theatre before 1975. She went on to a Sydney with the USO. There is no doubt tonight's performance. Fortunately season, when on Oct 4, 1975 she that she made a major contribution the rehearsal had few mistakes and fell off the stage and broke her hip to the morale of the troops. the rehearsal version after lots of and never performed again. She During the Africa and Italian editing went on-air as the show. died in Paris on May 6, 1992 and campaigns, she withstood much was buried in Berlin. privation in order to stay with the troops at the front, where she not only entertained but helped co- ordinate hospital and mess details. Arriving Sydney Airport In the French and German campaigns, she often rode with Ballistic Marlene Patton at the front. Next thing we knew Marlene and Her vehement denouncement of her entourage hurriedly left the the Nazi regime, and her studio - something was wrong. The participation in Radio broadcasts story I heard was that Miss Dietrich aimed at Germany got the desired was livid about the camera Princess Theatre interior result - she got under the skin of direction of the show. She was the Nazis. For her work, the U.S. quoted as screaming "Who the hell Maria Magdalene Dietrich was born and and French governments directed this" a voice said "I did, on December 27, 1901, the second awarded her medals. Miss Dietrich", she screamed "who child of Lieutenant Louis Erich Otto the hell did you .... to get this job. Dietrich and Wilhelmina Elisabeth Cancellation Josephine Felsing. In 1935, Adolf Next morning Miss Dietrich's Hitler demanded that the famous lawyers contacted the seven German actress return to the management announcing "Miss Fatherland. Dietrich, an ardent anti- Dietrich has fulfilled her contract, Nazi, refused, resulting in all her which stated that the channel had films being banned from Germany. the rights to tape one performance Marlene in her heyday Dietrich became a

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Queenslander Malcom Searl compered Coles £3000 question from 1960-1963. becoming one of the first Australian national Television personalities. Malcom Searl Malcom Searl with a contestant Major Coles Crisis One day in 1963 Malcom Searl failed to turn up for the taping of the show. There was great panic in the studio. We were told he had Coles £3000 Question began on The national Coles department had a nervous breakdown. HSV-7 in 1960 with Malcom Searle store sponsored the show. On the The show's as quiz master assisted by Janet occasion of a contestant winning producer Roland Mead. Back then £3,000 was a lot the £3000, Coles founder Mr G J Strong stepped in of money. My junior 16yo salary at Coles would present the cheque. at the last minute HSV-7 for a 40 hour week was at Mid 1960 the show was video taped to fill in as the time £5.15.06 (A$11.50). with the arrival of channel 7's new compere until a The show was HSV -7's first all state RCA video recorder from the USA. new one was nationally broadcast show and found. Roland Strong became known as Coles Quiz, even It was decided to hold Auditions. though on the program it was I was at the teletheater for the always referred to as Coles £3,000 auditions. it was chaos every Question. No facilities were would-be actor, television available for direct broadcast in personality and amateur thespian those days so the show was kine turned up. To our surprise even recorded on 16mm film and Counting the money one of our audio staff, Andy distributed nationally. One step from the £3000 prize Malcolm Searl & the hostesses Bickford turned up to audition.

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Auditions Decimal Currency Coles $6,000 Question However this was no match for The auditions went on for hours, On the first Wednesday after the opposition Channel 9 show Money with the directors floor speaker decimal change over Coles £3000 Makers compered by Phillip Brady squawking out "NEXT, THANK YOU became Coles $6,000 Question. which offered a $25,000 prize. The - we'll let you know" The Later on the prize money was show eventually folded in 1971 atmosphere was gloomy everyone increased to $7,000. when the Coles company withdrew could see there was no one who their sponsorship. could match the suave Mr Searl. Most were absolutely hopeless. On Monday the Between the Audition and the next 14th of February, taping we were all kept in suspense 1966 the as to who would be the new Australian currency compere. The newspapers and Tv changed from he weeklies all buzzed about it. old British system Finally it was decided, as Roland of Pounds, Shillings and Pence to Strong was doing a good job, he Dollars and Cents. One Pound would become resident compere. equalled 2 Dollars. Initially the He was assisted by hostess Rowlan's familiar farewell government wanted to call the unit "Goodnight Australia - Beverley Robbins and the of currency the Austral, Merino or Roland Strong and contestant announcer was Max Rowley. Roland Goodnight" Royal. There was such an outcry, I often worked on Coles Quiz, strong still produced the show, but the government settled on the A$. was assisted by Greame Bent. playing intro/outro music and themes. The music was specially recorded by the Channel 7 orchestra. The dozen or so tracks were pressed on a LP recording by W&G Records Melbourne to make cueing up of the many different A portrait of QEII, engraved from a tracks simpler. With 2 turntables photograph by London photo- and 2 one-sided disks any track grapher Douglas Glass, appeared Stewart (Stewy) Kitchen reads could be played almost Hostess Beverley Robbins on the front of the first dollar note. the clapper board immediately.

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