Shell Presents

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Shell Presents
Shell Presents.png
Advertisement in SMH on 1 April 1959
GenreAnthology
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerBrett Porter
Original release
Network
Release4 April 1959 (1959-04-04) 
5 March 1960 (1960-03-05)

Shell Presents was an early attempt at Australian television drama, being an umbrella title for several different productions. It debuted on 4 April 1959, [1] and aired on ATN-7 and GTV-9, who split production of plays for the series between them. It was an anthology series, each program being a self-contained play for television. [2] The series won a Logie award in 1960 for TV Highlight of 1959. As the title suggests, it was sponsored by Shell. It was described as "a very big deal for the station: major institutional sponsorship from international companies for locally produced drama." [3] It would be followed by The General Motors Hour .

Contents

Though it usually presented straight drama, it also presented a live [4] musical production titled Pardon Miss Westcott , set in colonial-era Australia. A total of 13 productions aired under the Shell Presents banner from 1959 to 1960. [5] There is little information about this series online, however, some of the productions are held at the National Film and Sound Archive [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] ATN-7 originally announced that the second episode of Shell Presents would be an adaptation of Children of the Sun by Morris West but that was not made. [11]

The first drama from GTV-9 in Melbourne was meant to be a production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. [12]

Some of the productions were based on overseas plays (such as Thunder of Silence), while some were locally written, such as The Big Day (by Sydney author John Ford). [13]

An article in the 30 October 1960 edition of the Sydney Morning Herald called Australian TV is growing up, while not mentioning it by name, nevertheless provides some information on the series. The article said that the production of "modestly unpretentious" soap opera Autumn Affair provided some of the experience needed to produce Shell Presents productions like Johnny Belinda, and listed the cost to produce Pardon Miss Westcott at £5,000 (a considerable budget at the time). It mentions that work on a live drama production of the era started a month to six weeks before telecast, and that a video-tape of the final rehearsal was made so cast and camera crew could correct last minute faults. [14]

Five of the episodes may have been shown in Perth during 1960 on station TVW-7. [15]

History

In February 1959 leading Australian writers were invited to present plays for the series. [16]

Episodes

No.TitleOriginal StationOriginal air date
1"Johnny Belinda"ATN-7 [3] 4 April 1959 (1959-04-04)
2"Other People's Houses"ATN-7 [3] 2 May 1959 (1959-05-02)
3"Tragedy in a Temporary Town"GTV-9 [3] 16 May 1959 (1959-05-16)
4"They Were Big, They Were Blue, They Were Beautiful"ATN-7 [3] 27 June 1959 (1959-06-27)
5"The Big Day"GTV-9 [3] 11 July 1959 (1959-07-11)
6"Thunder of Silence"ATN-7 [3] 22 August 1959 (1959-08-22)
7"Ruth"GTV-9 [3] 5 September 1959 (1959-09-05)
8"A Tongue of Silver"GTV-9 [3] 5 October 1959 (1959-10-05)
9"Rope"GTV-9 [17] 14 November 1959 (1959-11-14)
10"Pardon Miss Westcott"ATN-7 [3] 12 December 1959 (1959-12-12)
11"No Picnic Tomorrow"ATN-7 [18] 9 January 1960 (1960-01-09)
12"Reflections in Dark Glasses"ATN-7 [3] 6 February 1960 (1960-02-06)
13"Man in a Blue Vase"GTV-9 [18] 5 March 1960 (1960-03-05)

Ratings Success

On 20 July 1959 a Sydney Morning Herald article said the program had an estimated audience of around 300,000 in both Sydney and in Melbourne. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<i>Stormy Petrel</i> (TV series) Television series

Stormy Petrel is an early Australian television drama. A period drama, the 12-episode serial told the story of William Bligh and aired in 1960 on ABC. It was the first live TV serial from the ABC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reflections in Dark Glasses</span> 12th episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents

"Reflections in Dark Glasses" is an Australian television film, or rather a television play, which aired in 1960. It aired as part of Shell Presents, which consisted of monthly presentations of stand-alone television dramas. It was written by Sydney writer James Workman, and is notable as an early example of Australian-written television drama. It was broadcast live in Sydney on 6 February 1960, then recorded and shown in Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">They Were Big, They Were Blue, They Were Beautiful</span> 4th episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents

"They Were Big, They Were Blue, They Were Beautiful" is an Australian television movie, or rather a live television play, which aired live on 27 June 1959 in Sydney, and on 8 August 1959 in Melbourne. It aired as part of Shell Presents, a monthly presentation of standalone productions which aired from 1959 to 1960 on ATN-7 in Sydney and GTV-9 in Melbourne.

The Big Day (<i>Shell Presents</i>) 5th episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents

"The Big Day" is an Australian television film, or rather a live television play, which aired in 1959. The fifth episode of the Shell Presents presentations of standalone television dramas, it originally aired 11 July 1959 on Melbourne station GTV-9, a video-tape was made of the broadcast and shown on Sydney station ATN-7 on 25 July 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Picnic Tomorrow</span> 11th episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents

"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 General Motors Hour was an Australian radio and television drama series.

"Johnny Belinda" was a 1959 Australian TV adaptation of the 1940 play by Elmer Harris which had been filmed in 1948. It was the first "live" one hour drama on commercial television in Australia.

"Tragedy In A Temporary Town" is a 1959 episode of the Australian anthology drama show Shell Presents starring Michael Pate. It was filmed "live" in Melbourne, then recorded and broadcast in Sydney. It was the third episode of Shell Presents and the first shot in Melbourne. It aired live on 16 May 1959 in Melbourne with a tapped version airing on 30 May 1959 in Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pardon Miss Westcott</span> 10th episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents

"Pardon Miss Westcott" is a 1959 Australian TV play by the Seven Network as part of drama anthology series Shell Presents. It was a musical set in colonial Australia and was broadcast live. It was Australia's first television musical comedy. "Pardon Miss Westcott" aired on 12 December 1959 in Sydney and on 19 December 1959 in Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Other People's Houses</span> 2nd episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents

"Other People's Houses" is the second episode of the 1959 Australian TV drama anthology Shell Presents. It was based on a play by Tad Mosel and starred Diana Perryman and was directed by David Cahill. It aired on 2 May 1959 in Sydney and on 3 October 1959 in Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder of Silence</span> 6th episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents

"Thunder of Silence" is an episode of the 1959 Australian TV drama anthology Shell Presents, and the fourth made in Sydney. It was based on an American play by Stewart Stern which had been produced in the U.S. with Paul Newman and Inger Stevens. It aired live on 22 August 1959 in Sydney with a recorded version airing on 28 November 1959 in Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Tongue of Silver</span> 8th episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents

"A Tongue of Silver" is an episode of the 1959 Australian TV drama anthology Shell Presents. Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time. It starred John Meillon, who had been in Thunder of Silence in the same series.

Rope (<i>Shell Presents</i>) 9th episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents

"Rope" is a 1959 Australian TV play based on the play by Patrick Hamilton. It was part of Shell Presents. It aired on 31 October 1959 in Melbourne, and a tapped version aired on 15 November 1959 in Sydney.

Ruth (<i>Shell Presents</i>) 7th episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents

"Ruth" is a 1959 Australian television play. It was presented as part of the Shell Presents program and starred Lyndall Barbour. It was written by John Glennon, an American actor and writer who appeared in the production, and directed by Rod Kinnear. The play aired in Melbourne on 5 September 1959 and in Sydney on 19 September 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder on Sycamore Street</span> 3rd episode of the 1st season of The General Motors Hour

"Thunder on Sycamore Street" is a 1960 Australian television play directed by David Cahill. It was based on a script by Reginald Rose. It aired on 23 July 1960 in Melbourne and Sydney.

Brett Porter is an Australian producer, writer and director best known for his work in TV. He worked at ATN-7 producing some of the first drama made for Australian television. He moved to the ABC in 1964, where he made documentaries and worked on Four Corners. He was then producer on Bellbird. He died in 1970 aged 57.

"Shadow of a Pale Horse" is a television play that was produced for Australian TV by Sydney station ATN-7, it was also shown in Melbourne on station GTV-9, as this was prior to the creation of the Seven Network and Nine Network. "Shadow of a Pale Horse" aired on 17 September 1960 in Melbourne and Sydney.

References

  1. "Well-wishers Jam ATM Switchboard". The Sydney Morning Herald . 5 April 1959. p. 5. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  2. "OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES". National Film and Sound Archive . Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 McPherson, Ailsa (2007). "Dramas and Dreams at Epping: Early Days of ATN-7's Drama Production". In Liz, Liz; Dolin, Tim (eds.). Australian Television History. ACH: The Journal of the History of Culture in Australia. Australian Public Intellectual Network. p. 160. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  4. "'Live' Telecast of New Musical". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 December 1959. p. 13.
  5. "[SHELL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA : DOCUMENTATION] : [SHELL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA : SCRAPBOOK OF PRESS CLIPPINGS 1959-1960]". National Film & Sound Archive .
  6. "OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES". National Film & Sound Archive . Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  7. "PARDON MISS WESTCOTT". National Film & Sound Archive . Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  8. "REFLECTIONS IN DARK GLASSES". National Film & Sound Archive . Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  9. "SHELL PRESENTS. A TONGUE OF SILVER". National Film & Sound Archive . Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  10. "SHELL PRESENTS. NO. 01, JOHNNY BELINDA". National Film & Sound Archive . Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  11. "Hour Long Australian TV Play Series Begins Soon" . The Sydney Morning Herald . 12 March 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  12. "Delay in Presentation of TV Contest Plays" . The Age . 19 March 1959. p. 24. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  13. Vagg, Stephen (4 November 2020). "Forgotten TV Plays: Pardon Miss Wescott". Filmink . Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  14. Marshall, Valda (30 October 1960). "Australian TV is growing up". The Sydney Morning Herald . pp. 51, 75. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  15. Marshall, Valda (10 April 1960). "Easter message on television". The Sydney Morning Herald . p. 74. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  16. "Leading Australian Writers Invited to Take Part in TV Drama Project". The Age . 19 February 1959. p. 13. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  17. "Role in Rope for Glennon". Radio/TV Supplement. The Age . 17 September 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  18. 1 2 Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink . Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  19. "Local plays capture big audiences". TV Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald . 20 July 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 16 July 2023.