Autumn Affair is an Australian television series made by and aired by Network Seven station ATN-7, and also shown in Melbourne on Nine Network station GTV-9. Television in Australia had only been broadcasting since 1956 and Seven was the first commercial station to make drama a priority. It premiered 24 October 1958 and continued until 1959. The series was the first ever Australian television soap opera. It was also the second regular Australian-produced dramatic television series of any kind, with previous locally produced drama consisting of religious series The House on the Corner, and one-off plays largely aired on ABC.
ABC Television in New South Wales comprises national and local programming on the ABC television network in the Australian state of New South Wales, headquartered in Sydney.
1959 in Australian television was the fourth year of television broadcasts in Australia.
Any Questions was an Australian television series which aired on the ABC from 1958 to 1963. The series presented a panel, who would discuss various topics in each episode. ABC produced several discussion series during the 1950s and 1960s. Originally aired on Thursdays, it later moved to Wednesdays. Some of the editions were made in Sydney, while others were made in Melbourne.
Patrick O'Hagan Sings was an Australian television series starring the Irish tenor of the same name. It was produced by station ATN-7 in November 1958, and began being broadcast in early 1959. Unlike most Australian-produced series of the era, which were live, Patrick O'Hagan Sings was produced directly on film, with a total of 26 episodes made, each of which was designed to fit in a quarter-hour time-slot. Patrick O'Hagan sang songs in the series.
Books and Authors was an Australian television series which aired from December 1956 to 1 September 1957. Broadcast live on Sydney station ATN-7 in a 15-minute time-slot on Sundays, as the title suggests the series focused on the authors of books. It is not known if any of the episodes were kinescoped.
Sydney Tonight was an Australian television variety series which aired from December 1956 to early 1959 on Sydney station ATN-7. Originally compered by Keith Walshe, it was later hosted by Roy Hampson and re-titled Tonight. The series featured a format including guests, interviews, audience participation, and music. Like In Melbourne Tonight, which came later, it was patterned on the groundbreaking U.S. series Tonight Starring Steve Allen.
Choice of the People is an Australian daytime television series which aired on Sydney television station ATN-7 from 25 November 1957 to 3 October 1958. It was replaced on the schedule by Melody with Milton (1958-1960), which featured the same host.
Look Who's Dropped In was a four-part Australian television variety series which aired on Sydney station ABN-2. The half-hour series presented jazz music, competing in the time-slot against Pick a Box on ATN-7 and U.S. series Racket Squad on TCN-9. It aired fortnightly from 14 December 1957 to 25 January 1958, alternating with Tele-Variety. It is worth noting that ABC variety series of the era typically had shorter seasons than those on commercial television. The series featured George Trevare.
Tele-Variety was a four-part Australian television variety series which aired fortnightly on Sydney station ABN-2 on Saturdays from 7 December 1957 to 18 January 1958. It alternated in the time-slot with Look Who's Dropped In. The producer was Harry Pringle. It is worth noting that ABC series of the period often had shorter seasons than those on commercial television.
Tomorrow's Child is an Australian television film, or rather a live one-off television play, which aired in 1957 on ABC. Directed by Raymond Menmuir, it is notable as an early example of Australian television comedy and was Australia's first live hour long drama.
Box for One is a live television play which has been presented three times, twice on British broadcaster BBC and once on Australian broadcaster ABC. It is a drama about a "spiv", and the entire 30-minute drama takes place in a London telephone box. It was written by Peter Brook.
Roundabout is a television movie, or rather a live television play, which aired on Australian television in 1957. Broadcast 4 January 1957 on ABC station ABV-2, it is notable as the first example of television drama produced in Melbourne.
Serenade is an Australian television series which aired 1959 to 1960 on Sydney station ATN-7. It was a music series featuring singer Ray Melton, though several episodes instead featured singer Peggy Brooks. Little else is known about the series.
"No Picnic Tomorrow" is an Australian television drama one-off which aired in 1960 on ATN-7 in Sydney and GTV-9 in Melbourne. Part of the Shell Presents series of one-off television dramas and comedies, it was produced in Melbourne, but first shown in Sydney on 9 January 1960, and on 23 January 1960 Melbourne.
The George Wallace Show was an Australian television series which aired in 1960. Starring George Wallace Jnr, it was a variety series aired in a daytime time-slot on Sydney station TCN-9. Aired at 2:00PM, it aired against Your Home on ATN-7, while ABN-2 did not offer any programming until 2:30PM.
Killer in Close-Up was a blanket title covering four live television drama plays produced by the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1957 and 1958. It could be seen as the first anthology series produced for Australian television.
The House on the Corner is an early Australian television program which aired from 1957 to 1958. A 10-minute segment on Sydney station ATN-7, it was a drama about a family, and was produced by the Christian Television Association. Cast included Harry Howlett, his wife also played a role, as well as Rosemary Barker and Annette Andre.
The Duke in Darkness is a 1942 play by Patrick Hamilton. A psychological drama set during the French Wars of Religion, it was first staged on 7 September 1942 at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh. It ran for 72 performances at the St. James Theatre, London, and had a brief run on Broadway in 1944.
