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.
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.
Swallows Parade was an Australian radio and television series. The radio version was broadcast by Melbourne station 3DB in the 1950s, and was also heard on other Major Broadcasting Network stations on a Thursday evening, with auditions being held on Tuesdays. It was presented in front of a live audience from various towns and cities with Major Network outlets.
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.
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.
Make Ours Music was an Australian music television series which aired from 1958 to circa 1961 on ABC. Produced in Sydney, it also aired in Melbourne. Originally a half-hour series, it later expanded to an hour. Make Ours Music featured a mix of live songs and dance numbers.
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.
Melody Time was an early Australian music television series that aired in 1957 on Melbourne station ABV-2. The live show was hosted by singer Ormonde Douglas, who also made guest appearances on other Australian television series of the era.
At Your Request was an Australian television daytime series which aired from 1958 to 1959. The series aired on Tuesdays at 2:30PM on Melbourne station HSV-7, and was hosted by baritone Charles Skase, who was also known as a radio personality. Information on this series is scarce. The series presented requested songs, but it is not clear how these songs were presented. The archival status of the series is also not known, although being a daytime series aired in a single city means it is unlikely that kinescope recordings exist of it.
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.
Snakes and Ladders is a short-lived Australian television game show which aired on Melbourne station HSV-7 in 1959. Hosted by Pat Hodgins, it was a half-hour "jackpot quiz" based on the board game of the same name. It was preceded on the HSV-7's schedule by Strictly for Mothers and followed by Home Decorator. It is extremely unlikely that any of the episodes exist as kinescope recordings, and as such it is likely lost.
Club Seven was an Australian television variety series which aired from 1959 to 1961. It aired on Melbourne station HSV-7, broadcast live at 10:00PM on Thursdays. Hosts of the series included Terry Scanlon and Frank Wilson. The series faced tough competition from GTV-9's popular In Melbourne Tonight. At least part of an episode is known to exist and is available for viewing on YouTube.
The Bert Newton Show was an Australian television series which aired from 1959 to 1960. Aired at 6:30PM Saturdays on Melbourne station GTV-9, it was aimed at teenagers and featured acts lip-syncing their songs.
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.
Women's World was an Australian television series which aired from 1956 to 1963 on ABC. Originally broadcast in Sydney and later Melbourne, it would appear the last couple years of the series were only broadcast in Sydney.
Don't Argue was an Australian television series which aired from 26 July to 13 December 1959 on Melbourne television station HSV-7. Broadcast at 4:00PM on Sundays, the half-hour series featured Alwyn Kurts and Judy Banks, and was broadcast live. The exact format is unclear, but it featured an audience participation format. It likely only aired in Melbourne.
Meet is an early Australian television series which aired on ABC during 1957. The series consisted of interviews in a 15-minute time-slot, with a single person interviewed in each episode. It aired live in Melbourne, with telerecordings made of the broadcasts so it could be shown in Sydney. In Melbourne it aired on Mondays. Following the end of the series, it was followed up with an interview series titled People.
Showtime is an Australian television series which aired on ABC Television from 1959 to 1960. It was a short-lived variety series which featured pianist Ted Preston and other performers. It aired live in Melbourne. It is shown in a 1959 television schedule as airing at 9:00PM, aired against Whitehall Playhouse on HSV-7 and U.S. series The Loretta Young Show on GTV-9. It is not known if any of the episodes survive as kinescopes.
