| Take That | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Inspired by | Yes, What? by Rex Dawe |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Production locations | South Melbourne, Victoria |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Production company | Crawford Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | HSV-7 |
| Release | 1957 – March 1959 |
Take That was one of the earliest Australian television series. It debuted in late 1957 and ran till March 1959. As was often the case with early Australian television, it aired only on a single station, in this case HSV-7, in Melbourne.
Take That was a slapstick comedy series set in an unruly schoolroom; one of the earliest such series produced for Australian television, and is sometimes considered to be Australia's first, regularly scheduled sitcom. [1] [2]
The series was produced by Crawford Productions, who made several other pioneering 1950s series, like the game show Wedding Day and the children's show Peters Club (also featuring Joff Ellen), at the Channel 7 studios in Dorcas Street, South Melbourne, before live audiences.
The program, inspired by a popular radio show and the BBC's Whack-O! , was notable for its unpredictable stunts and pranks featuring noisy sound effects, onstage smokebombs and fireworks. [3]
Cast included the portly British comic actor Philip Stainton as the schoolmaster, and naughty local students Irene Hewitt, Frank Rich, Keith Eden, and Joff Ellen. [4]
The archival status of the show (which was broadcast live) is not clear; although Kinescope recording existed, many early Australian broadcasts of the period were not recorded. Former Crawfords' staffer Ian Crawford has said that the program was kinescoped, but that no footage survives. [5]
For some time the series aired in a 15-minute time-slot 7:00PM on Wednesday, was preceded by a brief newscast and followed by another 15-minute series titled Teenage Mailbag at 7:15PM, itself followed at 8:00PM by an American program ( The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin ). [6] At some point in 1959, the series aired on Saturday at 5:30PM, preceded by These Were Hits (consisting of clips from the series Hit Parade ) and followed at 5:45PM by Cavalcade of Sport. [7]
Homicide was a landmark Australian television police procedural drama series broadcast on the Seven Network and produced by Crawford Productions. It was the television successor to Crawfords' radio series D24. The "Consummate Homicide cast" includes the four characters that are the best known: Det. Snr. Sgt. David "Mac" MacKay, Det. Sgt. Peter Barnes, Inspector Colin Fox and Sen. Det. Jim Patterson.
Matlock Police is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for The 0-10 Network between 1971 and 1976. The series focused on the police station and crime in the Victorian town of Matlock and the surrounding district, and the backgrounds and personal lives of the main policemen.
The Link Men was a short lived Australian television series shown in 1970 that was axed after 12 weeks.
The Long Arm was an Australian television police series shown from April 1970, which ran for 19 episodes.
Peters Club was an Australian children's television series which reportedly debuted in 1958, and aired on GTV-9, running into 1959. At the time, many Australian TV series were only broadcast on a single station instead of being networked, which may have also been the case with the series.
Oxford Show was an Australian radio program which was broadcast on Melbourne station 3KZ in the 1950s. According to an article in the 4 April 1957 issue of The Age newspaper, It was a variety series hosted by Jim Berinson, a tenor. Also featured were Laurie Wilson, pianist-organist, and Hector McLennan, banjoist.
The Jean Bowring Show is an Australian television cooking show that aired on Melbourne station HSV-7 from 1957 to 1960. At one point it aired in a 15-minute timeslot, but later became a 30-minute series.
Cool Cats Show was an Australian television series that aired live on Melbourne station HSV-7 from 1958 to 1960. When it debuted Australian series often aired on a single station, but this was becoming less common during the run of the series, as more shows began being shown in several cities as television spread across the country. The series is notable as an early example of an Australian television series aimed at teenagers. TV listings of the era described it as a "teenage studio dance" hosted by Don Bennetts with guest artists. The Ted Vining Trio is listed as appearing in several episodes.
That's My Desire is an Australian television game show which ran from 1958 to 1960 on Melbourne station HSV-7. Hosted by Danny Webb, it was a panel game. The half-hour series changed time-slot several times. At one point it aired at 4:45PM, it later aired at 3:00PM, then at 4:00PM, and finally at 2:30PM.
Sweet and Low was an Australian television series which aired from 24 August 1959 until 28 September 1959 on ABC Television station ABV-2 in Melbourne. Hosted by Bob Walters, the half-hour series presented performances by jazz musicians. Bruce Clarke appeared as a guest in the second episode.
The Chef Presents was an early Australian television series, which aired from 1957 to 1959 on Melbourne station HSV-7, and was hosted by Willi Koeppen, who became a celebrity in Melbourne due to the series. At one point, the series aired in a 5-minute time-slot, later expanding to a 15-minute timeslot at 7:15 p.m. before being moved to 2:15 p.m., and finally aired at 4:00 p.m. In 1976, long after the series ended, Koeppen mysteriously vanished. One of the earliest cooking shows on Australian television, there is little information available on the series, and it is unlikely that any kinescope recordings exist of it.
Geoff and Judy was a short-lived television variety series which aired in 1959 on Melbourne television station GTV-9. Hosted by Geoff Corke and Judy Jack, the series aired at 1:00PM on Tuesdays. The obscure series is largely notable for pairing two then-popular figures in Melbourne television. At the time, Australian series tended to be aired on a single station only, something that would change in the 1960s.
The Ken Noyle Show is an Australian television series which aired on ABC Television. A half-hour variety series, in Sydney it aired on Thursdays, while in Melbourne it typically aired on Wednesdays.
The Late Show is an Australian television variety series which aired from 1957 to 1959 on Melbourne station HSV-7. Aired on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and competing in the time-slot with GTV-9's popular In Melbourne Tonight, the series included a mix of music and comedy. People who hosted the series during its run included John D'Arcy, Bert Newton and original host Noel Ferrier.
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.
At Seven on 7 was an early Australian television series, which aired from 3 December 1956 to circa 22 February 1957 on Sydney station ATN-7. Along with series like What's My Line, The Judy Jack Show and The Isador Goodman Show, it represented an early example at Australian-produced television content.
The Happy Go Lucky Show is an Australian television variety series which aired from 30 October 1957 to 4 November 1959 on Melbourne television station GTV-9. Originally hosted by Happy Hammond, by 1958 the series was hosted by Bob Horsfall. Horsfall sometimes had a female co-host, these varied during the run of the series and included Pat McCormack, Susan Gaye Anderson, Patricia Rumbold, and Joy Fountain. The series aired at 1:00PM on Wednesdays. During 1958, one of the segments included "community singing". Other segments included guests and competitions.
Health Club is an Australian television series which aired from 1957 to 1959, also known as Health and Happiness. A daytime series aired on Melbourne station HSV-7, very little information is available on the series, however it is notable as an early example of an Australian television series aimed at women. A 15-minute series, it was hosted by Beryl Wright and aired weekly on Wednesdays.
Kevin James Dobson is an Australian director who worked extensively in film and television. His full name is used in order to avoid confusion with the actor Kevin Dobson.
Allan Trevor was an Australian actor, writer and producer.
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