List of 1956 Australian television series debuts
by Thor-Delta | created - 19 Jul 2013 | updated - 29 Sep 2015 | PublicThe following is a list of Australian television series which debuted during 1956. Although the early Australian TV schedules were dominated by US programs, there were still a fair few Australian-produced series during 1956.
At the time, Australian-produced series aired in a single city only. "TCN-9", "ATN-7" and "ABN-2" series aired in Sydney, while "HSV-7" series aired on Melbourne.
A number of these series aired in 15-minute time-slots.
Although several of these stations had access to "Kinescope recording" (a method used to record live television in the days before video-tape), the archival status of these series is often unknown.
List of 1957 Australian television series debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/o3t6Y3NmXt0/[/link]
List of 1958 Australian television series debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/KLj8p6PYWN8/[/link]
List of 1959 Australian television series debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/lYErEjr5cqw/[/link]
List of 1950s Australian television one-offs:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/mBUPJyrNomU/[/link]
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
2. At Seven on 7 (1956–1957)
30 min | Talk-Show
Howard Craven interviewed personalities.
Star: Howard Craven
ATN-7
3. Books and Authors (I) (1956–1957)
15 min | Talk-Show
Colin Simpson interviewed a different author in each episode.
Star: Colin Simpson
ATN-7
4. Campfire Favourites (1956– )
15 min | Music
A country-and-western themed music series.
Star: Frank Ifield
TCN-9
5. Eric and Mary (1956– )
15 min
An informal programme, with episodes featuring guests.
Stars: Mary Parker, Eric Pearce
HSV-7
TCN-9 (note: this was an early example of an Australian-produced children's series)
7. Fun with Charades (1956–1958)
30 min | Game-Show
A game-show involving charades.
Stars: Miles Maxwell, Danny Webb
HSV-7
8. Give Us This Day (1956–1958)
6 min | Talk-Show
This was a 6-minute religious series, with a different speaker in each episode.
TCN-9
HSV-7 (note: this was likely an interview series)
10. Hit Parade (1957–1959)
30 min | Music
Hit recordings were danced to and lip-synced in settings.
Stars: John D'Arcy, Don Bennetts, Joan Bilceaux, Don Carter
Votes: 7
HSV-7 (although IMDb lists it as a 1957 series, it actually debuted 8 November 1956)
11. Home (1956–1957)
60 min | Talk-Show
A programme for the housewife, offering interviews, cooking, beauty tips, etc
Stars: Richard Boone, Robert Young, Arlene Francis, Clara Kimball Young
TCN-9
12. The Isador Goodman Show (1956– )
15 min | Music
A music show in which pianist Isador Goodman performed music on the piano. Debuting 6 November 1956 and running for about a year. Some episodes also featured a guest vocalist. It was a 15-minute show, aired at 7:15PM.
Star: Isador Goodman
HSV-7
13. I've Got a Secret (I) (1956–1958)
30 min | Game-Show
A panel game in which the panel had to determine the "secret" of the contestant.
Stars: Shirley Cecil, Olive Wykes, Freddie Bowler, Eric Pearce
HSV-7 (the first Melbourne-produced TV series)
14. The Johnny O'Connor Show (1956– )
15 min | Music
A short-lived live variety series which aired in the early days of Australian television. It aired in a 15-minute time-slot.
Star: Johnny O'Connor
TCN-9
15. The Judy Jack Show (1956–1957)
30 min
A children's program, featuring a mix of live and film segments.
Star: Judy Jack
HSV-7 (an early example of an Australian-produced children's series)
16. Melbourne 1956: Games of the XVI Olympiad (1956– )
Sport
Broadcast television coverage of the Melbourne 1956: Summer Olympics Games of the XVI Olympiad, an international sport competition that took place in and around Melbourne, Victoria, Australia from 22 November 1956 through 8 December 1956.
Stars: Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Prince Philip, Dawn Fraser
Votes: 23
All three stations in Melbourne.
17. Name That Tune (1956– )
30 min | Game-Show
The show had two contestants competing against each other to test their knowledge of tunes.
Stars: Chuck Faulkner, Bruce Gyngell, Jimmy Hannan
Votes: 9
TCN-9 (this was a music-based game show)
18. Picture Page (1956–1957)
30 min
An interview programme which also included variety segments (such as singers, etc).
Star: Val Cooney
ABN-2
19. Stop the Music (1956–1957)
30 min | Game-Show
A music-based game show which also featured audience participation.
HSV-7
20. Sports Talk (1956–1959)
15 min | Sport
This weekly series presented sporting news and personalities.
Stars: Bill Collins, Harry Gordon, Lou Richards
HSV-7
21. Stairway to the Stars (1956–1958)
30 min | Music
A talent contest featuring singers, dancers, etc.
Stars: Geoff McComas, Eric Pearce, Gaynor Bunning, Sonia Korn
HSV-7
22. This I Believe (1956–1958)
15 min | News
Prolific radio and television personality Eric Baume would provide a commentary on current world affairs in this series, which aired 5 nights a week.
Star: Eric Baume
ATN-7
23. Sydney Tonight (1956–1959)
60 min | Comedy, Music, Talk-Show
A variety/talk show, with interviews, guests, music, audience participation, etc.
Stars: Keith Walshe, Ray Taylor, Roy Hampson, Marie Tysoe
ATN-7 (A 1958 episode of this series is likely held by the National Film and Sound Archive)
24. TV Channell (1956–1957)
30 min | Comedy, Music
A variety series with singers, musicians, comedians, etc.
Stars: Douglass Channel, Reg Lewis, Wilbur Kentwell
ABN-2 (though admittedly only two of the episodes aired in 1956) (an episode of this series, broadcast 11 April 1957, may exist as a kinescope recording at the National Archives of Australia. If that's the case, then it is one of the earliest recordings of an Australian television variety series).
25. Woman's World (1956–1963)
30 min | Talk-Show
"Woman's World" was a television series featuring various segments of interest to women, including fashion, cooking, book reviews, etc; running out of Sydney and Melbourne between 1956 - 1963.
Stars: Jean Battersby, Nance Donkin, Corrine Kerby, Mary Mackay
ABC
26. Wedding Day (1956–1957)
Game-Show
Game show in which the contestants were couples who had just gotten married
Star: Alwyn Kurts
HSV-7
27. What's My Line (1956–1958)
30 min | Game-Show
A panel game, in which a panel had to determine the occupation of the contestant. Popular though short-lived Australian version of the popular U.S. series, later replaced with a version "Tell the Truth"
Stars: George Kennedy, Betty Sara
TCN-9
28. Your Home (1956–1964)
30 min | Talk-Show
A "program for the housewife", with segments on cooking, fashion, interviews, etc.
Star: Del Cartwright
ATN-7
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