Number 96 proves lucky for librarian

Thanks to photographer Gary Warrick, and journalist Elisha Pearce, of the Penrith City Gazette (Click the hyperlink to see the online version).

Opening Night: 52-Week Illustration Challenge Exhibition!

Exhibition pre-publicity poster of Tania McCartney by Penny Fisher

Opening Night for the "52-Week Illustration Challenge" exhibition at Arts Brookfield Gallery, Perth, Australia, was on Monday night, so the embargo is finally lifted. My shortlisted entry for "Week 11: Architecture" (for which I did an architectural caricature watercolour of the infamous Number 96 building) is on the wall! Number 96, of course, was the popular/naughty TV soap opera in Australia in the 70s, and a major part of this blog's origins.

Flickr slideshow of Opening Night.

"When children's author Tania McCartney challenged herself to produce an image per week for 52 weeks, to reconnect with her long-lost love of illustration (and hopefully illustrate her own books), she never imagined her tiny seed of an idea would become a mighty oak. Now in its second year, and with over 3000 members from around the globe, the weekly Facebook group has spawned connections and reconnections with decades of lost creativity. Friendships have been formed, collaborations forged, contracts signed, books produced, careers redirected, lives changed. And yes, Tania has realised her dream of illustrating her own books. Dare to dream.
"The exhibition features one carefully selected piece from each of the 52 themes in 2014." [From the entry poster.]

A great introduction to the 52-Week Illustration Challenge Exhibition is this video clip by The West Australian newspaper:

Challenging creativity: Illustration challenge unites artists around the world

Towards the conclusion of the 2014 Challenge, we were asked to submit our thoughts, perhaps to be compiled as testimonials:

MOTIVATION AND DISCIPLINE

What I immediately latched onto with the Challenge was an opportunity to, once again, accept a series of external hard and fast dates (this time 52 of them!). The deadlines to complete something were invaluable. This seems to be how I get the best out of myself. In my daily life, I will happily postpone and ignore self-imposed deadlines, and rarely get things done as getting through the days just swamps me and keeps me distracted. I do seem to be able to meet externally applied deadlines, though, and I happily achieved the individual 365 Photos Challenge a few years ago (which lasted a whole year), and I was then bemused/disappointed when a group of enthusiastic teacher colleagues starting dropping like flies during a month-long 30 Photos Challenge a few years later.

So Tania's initial list of 52 weekly art deadlines, the already-assigned topics, was just the Challenge I'd been waiting for. I remembered back to an adult evening college art collective I joined in 1980, and had continued with until moving house in late 1984. The weekly two-hour art-making sessions made me quite productive. In that focused time, amid the happy banter of people relaxing and being creative, I could often achieve a finished piece - so very satisfying! Upon reexamining it the next morning, there would sometimes be a few finishing touches (a schedule that has become a great yardstick for the 2014 Challenge, too, actually). But the enforced discipline to complete something was invaluable.

Week 25: Dots - Fairy Fatality Bread

THEMES AND MEDIA

Knowing the 52 topics ahead of time, and being exposed to the daily uploads from all the other group members, helps to get ideas percolating in my head. Without the Challenge, these ideas might often flash through my head, but I don't usually act upon them. Or I simply never put aside the time and another once-great idea fades away. With the Challenge sitting in a corner of my brain, a mere stroll through a $2 bargain store, a new art supply store, the local Bunnings, the dog park, a cloud formation, or a classroom at school (I'm a primary school teacher-librarian), ideas for possible ways to marry certain themes and art media can merge - and emerge - resulting in singularly clever and innovative artworks. Without a doubt, some of my favourite pieces I've shared in the Challenge have been physically created in just minutes - sometimes seconds! - but the thought processes may have evolved in my head over many days, or weeks, and sometimes months.

So the cello bags of feathers I bought months ago (just before "Feather" week) were also on hand for "Black + White" and "Bird" weeks. The papier mâché koala mask I bought on a whim went with me to the USA so I could be prepared to paint it up at my penpal's house in Michigan for "Sydney" week. I knew that the cupcake patty pan cases in my pantry were destined to make it into "Under the Sea" week the moment I saw some child craft creations in a Kindergarten classroom months earlier.

Week 11: Architecture - Number 96 Lindsay Street, Paddington

SHARING IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES

I have been deliberately eclectic when approaching the theme each week and have been inspired by the many ideas and techniques displayed (and sometimes explained) on the Facebook page and the blog that Tania set up. It has been rewarding to share my own little tricks I've picked up over the years, and then to see what people do with them! Squinting to see the negative shapes, the "rules" for painting authentic skies, clouds and horizons, paper weaving, "drawing on the right side of the brain", long-forgotten kids' art from people's own childhoods, such as crayon resist... So much fun to share!

Because of this Challenge, I tried watercolour for the first time (beyond those frustrating Boxing Day memories of childhood, trying to use a giant Christmas gift tin of watercolour paint cakes and totally messing up a colouring book, and then going back to one's reliable, predictable pencils and Textas). Due to my success with that first watercolour scene, I've now done many more. with a long row of recently framed watercolours in my lounge room.

I think I've found new respect for collage. Several artworks created by me for this Challenge have surprised me by evolving into 3D collages just before the deadline. A few times it has been to repair an accidental splodge. A few times the artwork begged for some signage, or a naturally-cast shadow. And sometimes the 2D artwork simply refused to remain two-dimensional.

I've tried to be quite spontaneous. Several of my artworks have been created without pencil guidelines! Sometimes I amaze myself with such bravery (and dumb luck) and, again, those are the pieces that often seem to receive the most praise, which encourages me to be brave (or lucky) more often.

Week 35: Paris - Abbesses, le Métro

THE QUEST TO FIND ONE'S STYLE

I know it's been mentioned on the Challenge page often. So many of us have an obvious "style", but so many of us seem to be searching for one. I know I've now found a few ways to make my own works quirkily unique to me, but have I yet found my style? I think the quest may be ongoing.

I know it's important to embrace serendipity, and of that there has been no shortage in this Challenge. In "Boxes" week, I had to create a display in a box for my school library. I travelled in a plane approaching "Plane" week, and then there was that terrible air disaster that (at first) threatened to shadow our efforts with doom and gloom, but we were triumphant and respectful. I had to create both "Sydney" and "Snow" in Michigan, USA, where I usually see so much snow - but it was the middle of their summer. I loved how "Bird" week happened to fall in National Bird Week, catching Tania by surprise. Serendipity is alive and well and we embrace it!

POST SCRIPT

Speaking of serendipity and wild coincidences:

Above: This is Bettina Dodson, my frame buddy. Her work for "Week 12: Numbers" and mine are right next to one another. Bettina was named after actress Bettina Welch, who (as Maggie Cameron) once blew up the Number 96 deli in my painting with a bomb!

To top off an amazing week, my image Fairy Fatality Bread, created for a different week of the 2014 Challenge, was requested for publication in a new romance fanzine, Trousseau, launched last weekend at the annual Australian Romance Readers' Convention!

THE VIRTUAL TOUR

And here's the whole thing! The virtual tour of the 52-week Illustration Challenge Exhibition Opening Night​, as blogged by Tania McCartney​ and Nicky Johnston​!

Tania and Nicky have also compiled a report on the exhibition, with more photos and the text of Tania's Opening Night speech: HERE!

Flickr slideshows of my work can be found here: 2014 artworks and 2015 artworks.

Captain's Log: Supplemental: The exhibition has now been extended to Friday 27th March!

52-Week Illustration Challenge, Bonus Week

Lettering in Pages word processing program, printed onto photocopy paper. Cartoon animals drawn freehand (no pencil lines!) and detailed in watercolour.

Bonus Week: Alphabet

The concept for this came to my mind's eye several months ago and it drew itself in my head until the other night when I did it for real. I think originally, I imagined all the creatures interacting more. The snake was supposed to have consumed his letter, but it didn't work out that way, so the mouse has nibbled on the "M" to reflect that intention. Animals represented are: anteater, bat, camel, dog, elephant, fox, giraffe, hippopotamus, iguana, jellyfish, koala, lion, mouse, numbat, octopus, pig, quail, rabbit, snake, tiger, unicorn, vulture, whale, x-ray tetra, yak and zebra.

And the Challenge is complete... until 2015, when it all happens again.

Meanwhile...
... my watercolour from Week 11, entitled "Architecture: Number 96", has been shortlisted, with the possibility of being part of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge exhibition, to be held in Perth in March 2015. Still early days yet (results aren't disclosed until the day of the exhibition's opening), but so wonderful to be ever closer! Will keep you posted on my progress!

Week 11: Architecture

Exhibition poster of Tania McCartney by Penny Fisher

I've created a 2014 Challenge photobook (and it was ready next morning!). I had coded the titles of several jpegs with "aaa" and "zzz" to force them to appear in a certain order on the USB, but basically I accepted OfficeWorks' program to decide the layout, just switching a few bigger-for-smaller images, sometimes to separate same colours, and removing just a few images that were more photo than art. About 130 pieces of art. I opted not to add captions (beyond the date on the title page), 'cos I've seen way too many photobooks with typos in recent years... and I wanted to eat dinner at some point.

Awful typos are so easy to make, so I think that letting the images talk for themselves can be sensible and safe. OfficeWorks have plain covers, but titles can always be added later. For the image I used for the title page, I simply added "2014" in blue font with their caption maker, and Tania's pink Challenge logo served as a title. This is the deluxe option (and the program said I needed ten pages added to each book for my number of images), but for speed and beauty, well worth it. This was $30 each (plus the extra pages at $1.80 per page). You can do it with cheaper options and people who made only 52 pieces of art in 2014 would have it much easier, but I highly recommend this culminating activity to fellow Challengees.

52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 38

Oil pastel giraffe wearing a bilby mask - and a bilby wearing a giraffe mask. Signage created in Word, torn edges and painted with coffee.

Week 38: Giraffe

Update:

Two-part paper finger puppet - one finger forms the neck. Outlined in black Sharpie, coloured with watercolours.

Week 38: Giraffe II

Week 38: Giraffe III

Freehand silhouette in black card collaged to a safari print gift bag. 3D eyelashes cut from white paper, with curls rolled over the end of a paintbrush. I was creating this at lunchtime today when a Facebook message came in announcing the passing of my actor friend, Elaine Lee (Vera in TV's Number 96) and I suddenly realised that my new giraffe needed to have - instead of white cartoon eyes - big white eyelashes. (Many happy memories having drinkies in Elaine's dressing room, after a stage performance, and watching her peel off her huge false eyelashes.)

Week 38: Giraffe IV

Mixed media collage with chenille sticks (poking through random holes made with a hole punch), torn paper and self-adhesive faux fur safari skin on a quill board background.

52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 12

Week 12: Numbers

Collage in light card. Numerals cut freehand. I was mulling this over in my head, among other ideas, but I didn't get around to actually creating it until about 9.30pm, just before the start of Week 12. Perhaps I should have played a little more with the negative shapes before gluing down, but I wasn't sure if I was going to do any overlapping. It ended up fairly random.

Update:
I decided to have another go at numbers, using the previous week's architecture pic.

52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 11

Week 11: Architecture

Watercolours on white acrylic gesso primed canvas sheet, with fine-point, waterproof, black Sharpie outlining, and miniature signage in Word (and further reduced on photocopier). As I was inking in the pencil lines, I decided to do an "architectural caricature" of the building, such as seen in those artistic interpretations in pamphlets, hand-drawn maps and prospectuses.

My third ever serious attempt at watercolour: the Number 96 building, Paddington locale of the hit Australian TV soap opera of the 70s. The actual building, Moncur Flats, is at 83 Moncur Street, Woollahra. I sketched and painted this on Saturday evening, after hearing of the passing of Australian actress Wendy Hughes. First thing I saw her in was Number 96, when she played Lucy Sutcliffe's niece, Vanessa Harrison. She shared a very funny bathtub scene with Arnold Feather. After many wonderful stage and screen adventures, she became one of only a handful of Aussie actors to appear in Star Trek: The Next Generation, as Picard's girlfriend, Nella Daren (below) in Lessons.

R.I.P. Wendy Hughes

Number 96, Mavis Bramston... and David Sale

David Sale's tell-all book about "Number 96" and "The Mavis Bramston Show" is out... very soon!

MEDIA RELEASE:

"In the history of Australian television, two shows changed the face of television forever and rocked the nation to its foundations. Now the creator of 'Number 96' and the Executive Producer of 'The Mavis Bramston Show' goes behind the scenes of these two controversial, outrageously ground-breaking series for a jaunt through the industry’s Golden Years.

"'Number 96' and 'The Mavis Bramston Show' flaunted the unmentionable, destroyed taboos, ridiculed sacred cows and dared to deal with subjects hitherto considered too shocking for polite society. They were condemned from the pulpit, slayed by the critics, yet adored by an immense majority of viewers.

"'NUMBER 96, MAVIS BRAMSTON AND ME' by David Sale will be launched by the Hon Michael Kirby on May 13 at a function hosted by Carol Raye, and available online and at selected bookshops from that date.

"Actor, script writer, producer and author David Sale’s career progressed through the theatres and movie studios of London and Hollywood and the turbulent world of Australia’s TV industry. As an actor early in his career, he performed in the UK and Europe including a tour to Malta playing the lead in 'The Mousetrap' and Malcolm in 'MacBeth', before roles for the Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney’s Tivoli Theatre and across Australia in 'The King And I'.

"Sale has been a contributor to many TV series including 'A Country Practice', 'The Group' and 'Carrots', and has provided special material for some of Australia’s legendary entertainers to perform on TV, stage and in cabaret, including Julie Anthony, Maria Venuti, Toni Lamond, Carol Raye, Lorrae Desmond, Hazel Phillips and Donna Lee. He produced the last in the line of Sydney’s notoriously naughty Phillip Street Theatre revues, 'Lie Back and Enjoy It', and created 'Arcade', one of the biggest flops in Australia’s television history. He has written six novels, two of which – bestsellers in England - were bought for the movies.

"He is frank and revealing about his own life, a life that began in war-ravaged Manchester, followed the migrant route to Australia, and – against all odds – hit the heights of show business.

"But over and above anything else, Sale gives the inside story on Australia’s two most iconic television shows. After years of enduring misconceptions, outright lies and under-researched reporting of the series in which he was intimately involved, David Sale decided the truth should be told. He doesn’t pull any punches about any aspects of this incredible journey. He takes us with him every step of the way - huddled in a bomb shelter as a child to dodging Aussie’s TV critics as an adult.

"From blitz to glitz, David Sale tells of a fascinating life in 'Number 96, Mavis Bramston and Me'."

SALES DETAILS:

Cost: $29.95

Published by Vivid Publishing. Available from all good Australian bookstores and worldwide in paperback and ebook editions.

See also www.vividpublishing.com.au/number96/

"We've passed a lot of water under the bridge."

Ten's News at Five

Angela Bishop's showbiz report on last night's "Number 96" 40th anniversary celebration went to air today. Spotto Ian McLean, Vivienne Garrett (Rose Goldofus-Meyers) and Martin Harris (Mark Eastwood).

Celebrating the night Australian TV lost its virginity

Forty years ago today, Australian TV lost its innocence.

Tonight, at the Star Bar in Sydney's CBD, we were there to celebrate!


With Vivienne Garrett (aka as Rose Goldolfus-Meyers)


With TV historian and friend Andrew Mercado, who is holding a framed photo
of Ron "Herb" Shand, Mate-of-the-Month in the Kings Cross Whisper.

Get set for "The Set"

Found this book in Dymocks' city store yesterday, recognised it as 70s Aussie culture gold, started reading the introduction - and immediately thought Andrew Mercado needs to see this! And suddenly realised I was reading Andrew's own introduction! Well done to Roger Ward, Hazel Phillips and Andrew! This is an exciting publication!

This only-recently published novel (2011) was the basis of the highly controversial Australian movie, "The Set" (released 1970). The movie turned out to be a a bit of a career-killer for 60s TV chat show hostess Hazel Phillips, who shocked her "ladies" (ie. avid fans of "Girl Talk") by appearing nude. It was also Australia's first "queer film", portraying homosexuality on the silver screen at a time when homosexuality was outlawed Down Under.

The book's author, actor Roger Ward, is well known for his roles in feature films such as "Mad Max" and "Turkey Shoot", but he also did a memorable stint in the TV soap opera, "Number 96", as Weppo the Shakespeare-spouting garbo.

Incidentally, Hazel Phillips was an early contender to play Vera Collins in "Number 96". Ms Phillips did eventually do some episodes, portraying bisexual Marie Crowther, a friend of Vera's estranged husband, Harry. Marie moves into Flat 7 briefly, on the pretext of giving them some Alcoholics Anonymous moral support. Marie was more interested, though, in peeping on Vera while she showerered.

96 in Ozploitation (volume 4)

Been looking for "Number 96: The Movie" on DVD but unable to find the double disc collector's edition? Umbrella Entertainment has now re-released Disc 1 (ie. not the docos) as part of "Ozploitation Volume 4". Included in the six-disc set are "Alvin Purple", "Alvin Rides Again", "Stork", "BMX Bandits", "Dark Age" and the short film, "Three Old Friends". $39, great value, from JB Hi-Fi. (Note that the box notes incorrectly state that Abigail stars in "Number 96: The Movie"; she does, however, feature in the "Alvin" movies.)

Umbrella's series of Ozploitation movies are derived from the feature documentary, "Not Quite Hollywood" (below left), in order to satisfy demand for the original movies after the documentary's theatrical release.



"Ozploitation Volume 1" (above right) includes "The Adventures of Barry McKenzie", "Turkey Shoot", "Harlequin", "The Naked Bunyip", "Road Games", "Night of Fear" and "Inn of the Damned".



"Ozploitation Volume 2" (above left) includes "Long Weekend", "Razorback", "Fantasm", "Fantasm Comes Again", "The Chain Reaction", "Stone", "The True Story of Eskimo Nell" and the short, "The Sparks Obituary". "Ozploitation Volume 3" (above right) includes "Barry McKenzie Holds His Own", "Les Patterson Saves the World", "Mad Dog Morgan", "Felicity", "Patrick", "Australia After Dark" and "The ABC of Love and Sex".

New Number 96 DVD cover art!

Next March, you can celebrate the 40th anniversary of Australia's classic TV soap opera, "Number 96", with a new boxed set of DVDs, presented by Andrew Mercado and released through Umbrella Entertainment. It's already up for pre-order at JB Hi-Fi. (Not a bad way to secure your copy, as not too many sets made their way to shop shelves last time.)

As you can see from the above proposed cover art, the infamous Mad Bomber episodes are a feature, but there'll also be discs of early b/w episodes. Full details of the episodes to be included are HERE. Thanks for the heads-up, JB Hi-Fi.

Youtube flashback! Number 96 in Best of Aussie Dramas

Another Ian-chatting-about-"Number 96" Youtube find:


Ian inserted into the famous "Number 96" bomb episode's split-screen shot.

THE BEST OF AUSSIE DRAMAS (November 2002)
Presented by Kate Ritchie of Home and Away. Contained numerous clips of Number 96, with sound byte comments from John Orcsik, Elaine Lee, Jeff Kevin, Lorrae Desmond, Vince Sorrenti and Number 96 historian, Ian McLean. Seven Network.

Youtube flashback! Tonight Live salutes Number 96

Another "Number 96" Youtube find:


Photo © 1993 Artist Services. Thanks Fiona Vizard.

TONIGHT LIVE WITH STEVE VIZARD. (20/7/1993)
Hosted by Steve Vizard. Featured flashback footage and live interviews with Elaine Lee, Jeff Kevin, Steve Bedwell and Number 96 historian, Ian McLean. Comedian Vince Sorrenti conducted a tour of Moncur Flats, at 83 Moncur Street, Woollahra, the actual location of the Number 96 building seen in the show's credits. Seven Network.
Part 1 (Elaine Lee)

Part 2 (Jeff Kevin, Steve Bedwell)

Part 3 (featuring yours truly).

Darren Gray interviews Andrew Mercado & Ian McLean

"Darren Gray Down Under" on CTV1, 1995.

Wow, what a surprise to find this interview about Aussie TV soap opera, Number 96, on Youtube today! CTV1 was a community access television station out of Redfern, in inner-suburban Sydney. The producer at CTV1 was Joy Hruby. I've never had my own copy of this interview on video (thanks to Australia Post x two attempts), and yet here it is on Youtube! While my book proposal continued to hit brick walls, Andrew successfully launched "Super Aussie Soaps" a few years later. Thanks for uploading the interview, Darren Gray!


Frame grab features Darren Gray, Ian McLean and Andrew Mercado.

Ah, by the way, the trivia question I missed in the interview:

Louise Howitt portrayed Pamela Marshall, the estranged wife of Andy (Peter Adams), who has kept the birth of his child a secret - until Tanya Schnolskevitska (Natalie Mosco) interferes. Pam overdosed with pills in a desperate attempt to take Andy away from Tanya, but her life was saved.

Finally, more Number 96 DVDs are coming!

Thanks to my ol' pal, Andrew Mercado, there is news of another boxed set of 32 "Number 96" episodes to celebrate the upcoming 40th anniversary of the show next year. Thanks Umbrella Entertainment and Andrew!

Due to space constraints on the DVD, Andrew has hand-picked the most important sixteen episodes from the 21 episodes from the b/w era that remain in existence. He promises nothing important will be omitted. As Andrew says on his website, "many of you asked for, and will now get, the first ever episodes. Every colour episode (from 585 – 1218) has been saved by the National Film and Sound Archive but tragically, nearly every black and white episode before then was lost, taped over or destroyed. Just 21 episodes remain from 1972-1974 which means most of the gritty groundbreaking stuff seems lost forever."

Disk 1 will commence with the first three episodes, that were originally broadcast together in Sydney on premiere night.

EPISODES 1, 2, 3. (First aired in Sydney: 13/3/1972) Mark Eastwood (Martin Harris) and his eight-month pregnant wife, Helen (Briony Behets), move into Flat 4 of Number 96. Dorrie and Herb Evans (Pat McDonald & Ron Shand) introduce themselves to the new neighbours. When Helen rejects her frustrated husband's sexual advances, Mark turns to young Rose Godolfus (Vivienne Garrett) for consolation. In Flat 6, actress Janie Somers (Robyn Gurney) worries about her meeting with an American producer, Alex Lederer (Harry Harris). Mark rescues Rose from a sleazy bikie, Cliff Stevens (Vincent Gil). Helen's condition after her tragic fall causes concern and the building's residents are generous in their offers of support. Flat 5's Bruce Taylor (Paul Weingott) plans his latest wild party. Episode #3 was a new version of the November 1971 pilot, reshot to blend with the other instalments. In Melbourne, the first two episodes were aired back-to-back on 14/3/72. Channel 0 elected to black out the lower half of the screen during Mark's attempted seduction of his wife. When repeated in a daytime timeslot, commencing 4/2/74 at 1.30 pm in Sydney, the episodes were aired in 30-minute segments. The "Janie/Alex" plotline was novelised for the 1972 Arkon paperback, Janie Stagestruck, while the "Mark/Helen/Rose" plotline was novelised in 1973 as The Wayward Husband.

4. (14/3) Dorrie, the self-proclaimed "conserge" of Number 96, continues her relentless interference into the lives of the building's tenants. Bruce's flatmate, Don Finlayson (Joe Hasham) admits that he sabotaged their latest party in order to pacify Dorrie. Flat 8's Lucy Sutcliffe (Elisabeth Kirkby) begins her job as manager at the new laundrette, but her day is cut short by electrical problems. Alf Sutcliffe (James Elliott) isn’t too happy that Lucy has got herself a job. Bev Houghton (Abigail) is thrilled with her nude shoot. Meanwhile, in Flat 7, Vera Collins (Elaine Lee) is being plagued by phantom phone calls.

5. (15/3) Vera hosts a party to celebrate Mark's good news about Helen and their baby daughter. Meanwhile, Janie and her flatmate, Bev, do their own celebrating: a double date with Alex and Charles (Max Osbiston). Delicatessen owner Aldo Godolfus (Johnny Lockwood) is unable to keep his daughter at home. In desperation, he tries to arrange a suitable match for Rose "just as they did in the old country", but she is unimpressed with his selection, Dr Julian Myers (Lew Luton). Vera advises Peter Harvey (Peter Guest) about future business ventures through a card-reading.

6. (16/3) How will Mark break the shocking news about the baby to Helen? Dorrie is eager to spread the gossip. Alf is bickering with Lucy again; he wants to return home to England, but his wife is determined to stay. Bev flirts with both Don and Alex and each responds in quite different ways. Helen is suffering from catatonic withdrawal. Rose expresses her true feelings for Mark, but Aldo overhears.

7. (17/3) Maggie Cameron (Bettina Welch) drops by her love nest as lover Bruce tries to hide his boyfriend Don. Dorrie makes it her special project to discover who is occupying the vacant shop in front of Flat 1.

8. (20/3) Maggie and Bruce find their time well occupied when they return to Number 96, but Maggie has to be home by eleven o'clock to avoid arousing the suspicions of her husband, Victor (Owen Weingott). Bev flirts with Don but can’t figure out why he becomes so uncomfortable. This plotline was novelised for the 1973 Arkon paperback, Bev & Bruce & Maggie & Don. Note that the actors who played Maggie's husband and lover were, in reality, father and son.



Disk 2:

9. (21/3/1972) Dorrie discovers a chemist is opening in the building. Ethel Brinkman (Jenny Lee), the daughter of Alf and Lucy, returns from Newcastle in a desperate plea for help.

10. (22/3) The mysterious caller finally reveals his identity to Vera. It is her estranged husband, Harry (Norman Yemm), and he's not very friendly.

13. (27/3) Dorrie condescends to patronise Lucy's laundrette, at least on a trial basis, to give Lucy a boost. However, two young hippies (Chard Hayward and Cathy Jones) have no inhibitions about using the laundrette at all.

31. (21/4) Sonia feels that Gordon is using her and she forces the issue with him. Herb's solicitor, Mr Calthrop (Ken Fraser), oversees the contractual agreement that makes Herb and Harry partners. Maggie invites Cliff up to Flat 5 for a modelling audition. Vera and Harry try to conceal an intoxicated Herb from Dorrie.

33. (25/4) Chad Farrell (Ronne Arnold) and Sonia share an evening out and he confesses his true feelings for her. However, Sonia tries to convince him that she has been in love with Gordon for two years. Aldo leaves Julian and Rose alone, but will he find out that they actually played Monopoly? Alf and Lucy's 30th wedding anniversary is threatened by an impromptu drinking session with George Baker (Barry Donnelly) and Harry. Harry's bigotry reaches breaking point when he encounters Chad on the stairs.

34. (26/4) Bev tries unsuccessfully to face reality; Don is no longer the man with whom she first fell in love; ie. she reacts badly when Don tells her that he is a homosexual.

35. (27/4) Don is surprisingly sympathetic towards Bev when she apologises for her previous outburst. Maggie has a surprise for Don and Bev, as does Bev's mother, Claire Houghton (Thelma Scott). Sonia meets Gordon’s wife, Sylvia Vansard (Shirley Cameron). A development of this plotline was novelised for the 1973 Arkon paperback, Who Killed Sylvia Vansard?

450. (1/2/1974) Don's Aunt Amanda, the Baroness von Pappenburg (Carol Raye), takes Flo Patterson (Bunney Brooke), plus Dorrie and Herb, to her fancy dress farewell party, but Herb gets himself arrested. Claire vows to have her revenge over her daughter's death. Amanda resolves Herb's court ordeal. Lucy is uneasy about Mr Poreski (Tim Eliott) and his men, but Alf is determined to tell all on the "Names in the News" television show. Harry wants Vera to have an abortion. This is only surviving episode from 1974; and it's hilarious!



Disk 3:

832. (27/8/1975) Jaja Gibson (Anya Seleky), and her latest escapades, infuriate Grace "Prim" Primrose (Pamela Gibbons). Norma Whittaker (Sheila Kennelly) can't understand the new mystery.

833. (28/8) Dudley Butterfield (Chard Hayward) has plans that amaze the Sutcliffes. Maggie confronts Jaja.

834. (29/8) Reg and Edie MacDonald (Mike Dorsey & Wendy Blacklock) receive a nasty shock. Roma Godolfus (Philippa Baker) loses her patience with Aldo.

835. (1/9) Roma speaks harshly to Aldo. Flo's behaviour baffles Dorrie.

836. (2/9) Reg and Edie are unsure how to handle a situation. Maggie has strong advice for Vera.

837. (3/9) Flo is desperately unhappy, while it seems that Vera has overplayed her hand.

838. (4/9) Maggie has infuriated Warwick Thompson (Kit Talor). Some unlikely visitors call on Reg at one o'clock in the morning. A bomb is hidden in a box of olives.

839. (5/9) The new Flo raises Dorrie's suspicions that her friend is shoplifting. Lucy and Alf think they have solved their house-hunting troubles: they decide to swap flats with Don. Prim sends Miles Cooper (Scott Lambert) on an errand downstairs. Les finds a note about a bomb in Number 96 and sounds a warning to all the residents, but will he have enough time?

Disk 4:

840, 841. (8/9/1975) The explosion in the deli has claimed the lives of four Number 96 residents. Alf is worried about Lucy and the baby, while Vera turns to Warwick for comfort. Norma is in a critical condition. Nigel Morgan (John Allen) takes over and Maggie is determined to solve a new mystery. Two episodes were screened back-to-back to create a sixty-minute presentation. Episode #840 was later incorporated into an episode of The Golden Years of Television entitled "Salute to Australian Soaps".

842. (9/9) Arnold Feather (Jeff Kevin) is shocked by a visit from Aldo's daughter, Rose Myers (Vivienne Garrett). Don has some plans afoot.

843. (10/9) Dudley runs into trouble, while Reg has some explaining to do to Edie. Lucy discovers the truth about the tragic bomb blast.

844. (11/9) Alf blames himself for his awful mistake. Dorrie has a mystery to solve.

845. (12/9) Mystery continues to surround Maggie. Jack Sellars (Tom Oliver) lends a hand to trap the bomber. What is the truth behind Flo's strange secret? Lucy learns the truth about the blast.

846. (15/9) Dudley's reaction to Jaja's adventures thrill her. Arnold makes a noble sacrifice. Jack sets a trap for the killer.

847. (16/9) Dorrie is not sure if she approves of the changes in Flo. Some news brings out a strange reaction in Liz Chalmers (Margaret Laurence).

Be watching for this boxed set in March 2012!


"Bomb? What bomb?"

Star Trot x 2

I'd seen "The Paul Hogan Show" version of "Star Trot", but this TV parody of "Star Trek" with the same name from the much earlier "Mavis Bramston Show" - another iconic Australian satirical sketch comedy series - and featuring Johnny Lockwood, later of "Number 96" fame. Very cool Youtube find!



Note that the captain calls one female officer "Number One", so it also drew from "The Menagerie" ("The Cage" being unknown in Australia in the 60s). The "Mavis Bramston Show" ran 1964-68, so it was sending up "Star Trek" as a then-current show.

Here's the "Paul Hogan Show" (late 70s/early 80s) version. It once received a write-up in "Starlog" magazine, long before Hogan became a household name in the USA. The skit uses the same Spock-in-the-elevator joke, not just the title of the old MBS skit:

On finding Abigail

A few weeks ago, one of Australia's "current affairs" programs, "Today Tonight", tracked down the now-elusive Australian icon, Abigail (aka "Number 96"'s first Bev Houghton), who had holed herself up in a disused country church building after being flooded out in Victoria's share of 2011: The Year of Natural Disasters.

Mmmmm. None of these reports by the TV tabloid shows ("Today Tonight" and similar, opposition "A Current Affair", or was it the other way around? - the shows are almost interchangeable sometimes) have lived up to their mysterious and frenetic hype. It’s crazy when the “What dark secrets of Aussie TV will be revealed this time?” segments seem shorter than the oft-repeated promos that lead up to them. I guess it gives us a respite to the other TT and ACA exposes that often turn out to be extended advertisements for their networks' latest dancing, cooking or weight-loss lifestyle shows.

One of Abigail's defenders on Andrew Mercado's website (article linked here; see also TV Tonight) was Sheila Kennelly, better known to "Number 96" fans as Norma Whittaker. Well said, Mrs Whitt! And great to see her online! I love how the “Number 96″ cast continue to look out for each other in so many ways. When I was interviewing many of the cast in the 90s, it was frustrating that the anecdotes of those groundbreaking years at Channel Ten were mostly warm and affectionate, not the nasty stuff that sells books (and editors need for getting the marketing people on side).

It’s disappointing that Abigail has chosen to retire from showbiz. Her performances were always compelling to watch, whether selling B&D Rollerdoors and Amber tiles, or flirting with Don Finlayson (below) , Jack Sellars and Alvin Purple. I hope she can again slip into her self-chosen countryside obscurity as/if she so wishes.

Happy 75th Luna Park Sydney!

Feeling nostalgic in Milson's Point today (I went off to Luna Park to pick up some anniversary goodies!), I realised that the Youtube footage of the "Number 96" characters' 1976 visit to Luna Park Sydney is actually missing its fleeting glimpse of the familiar face! In this, Luna Park's 75th Anniversary week, I believe it's about time to dig out the ol' pics!


Luna Park in "Number 96" in '76




Dorrie, Herb, Flo and Junior on the Big Dipper


Topsy Turvy Flo


Refreshments? Now?


Junior feasts on hot chips and heads for the Tumble Bug


Dorrie staggers


Fairy floss - and a touch of Marilyn with an air vent, Coney Island


Sydney Harbour Bridge backdrop


Back on the Big Dipper!


One more pie before home!

(Airdate of "And They Said It Wouldn't Last": 24/06/76, Network Ten.)

As for today:


Yes, it's 75th Anniversary Luna Park Sydney Monopoly!
Limited to 2500 copies, available only from their souvenir shop or the website!



I got to thinking, though: this game needed some Aussie icons as tokens, not the traditional car, shoe, thimble, hat, etc. Racing past three George Street souvenir shops, on my way to the railway station, I quickly found a miniature Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House in painted resin, a Kombi van with surfboard on top (pencil topper), a silver and enamelled thong (flip flop) with road signs on the inner sole (mobile phone charm), fuzzy kangaroo and koala (keyrings) and two thimbles, illustrating a boomerang and Sydney Tower. Clever, eh?