List of 1958 Australian television series debuts (incomplete)
by Thor-Delta | created - 30 Sep 2013 | updated - 18 Sep 2015 | PublicThis is an incomplete list of Australian-produced television series which debuted during 1958. The reason the list is incomplete is because quite a few 1950s series are not listed on IMDb. Even on schedules that were dominated by U.S series, there were still room for some Australian-made content.
Nevertheless, it's worth noting that it's likely that less Australian series debuted in 1958 compared to 1957, partly because the many series of 1956/1957 continued through 1958 and even sometimes into 1959. Also, the broadcasters were becoming more reliant on US imports.
Again, I'd like to note that this is an incomplete list, which will be expanded later on.
Note: Melbourne commercial stations were GTV-9 and HSV-7, while Sydney commercial stations were TCN-9 and ATN-7. Many Australian shows in those days were shown in a single city only.
The archival status of these series does vary, and in most cases the archival status is unknown.
List of 1956 Australian television series debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/XpmmIZ0E5iU/[/link]
List of 1957 Australian television series debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/o3t6Y3NmXt0/[/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]
1960 debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075787888/[/link]
1961 debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075413276/[/link]
1962 debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075962928/[/link]
1963 debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075925193/[/link]
1964 debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/ls077734471/[/link]
1965 debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/ls077200256/[/link]
1966 debuts:
[link]http://www.imdb.com/list/ls073681336/[/link]
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Accent on Youth (1958– )
30 min | Music
Records would be played which were danced to by an audience of teenagers. Guest vocalists would also perform, more so later on in the run of the series. Originally a 30-minute series, it later expanded to an hour.
Stars: John Godson, Brian Henderson
TCN-9
2. Aloha Hawaii (1958– )
30 min | Music
A live variety show, with a Hawaiian theme.
Stars: Harry Willis, Johnny Wade
ABC
3. Ardath Hit Parade (1958–1959)
60 min | Music
A music show which featured the most popular songs of the week.
Stars: Jimmy Parkinson, Keith Walshe
ATN-7 (at least one episode may survive)
4. The Astor Show (1958– )
60 min | Music
The cast danced to and mimed hit recordings of the day by other artists, along with older recordings.
Star: John McMahon
GTV-9
5. At Your Request (1958–1959)
30 min | Music
Charles Skase, a baritone. The series provided requested songs, though the exact format remains unknown.
Star: Charles Skase
HSV-7 (this was a music series)
6. Autumn Affair (1958–1959)
15 min | Drama
A soap opera about a middle-aged woman in a love-triangle with two men.
Stars: Queenie Ashton, Owen Weingott, Muriel Steinbeck, John Huson
ATN-7 and GTV-9 (a near-complete run survives of this series. I've seen four episodes of it, which I found enjoyable)
7. Bandstand (1958–1972)
55 min | Music
A weekly presentation of popular music, which went through many format changes during its long run.
Stars: Brian Henderson, The Delltones, Judy Stone, Col Joye
Votes: 39
TCN-9 (later, in the 1960s, it became a Nine Network series)
8. Beauty Case (1958– )
45 min
A programme aimed at the housewives. A recurring fortnightly segment, presented by Phyllis Shillito, consisted of a technical course on fashion design.
Stars: Elaine White, Phyllis Shillito
TCN-9 (Note: it aired in a 45-minute time-slot. Running time minus commercials is unknown).
9. Binnie Time (1958–1959)
15 min | Game-Show
A musical quiz show, with some episodes featuring celebrity guests.
Stars: Binny Lum, Corinne Kerby, Winifred Atwell, Merle Taber
GTV-9
10. Cafe Continental (1958–1961)
30 min | Comedy, Music
Variety series featuring international performers.
Stars: June Bassi, Leo Bassi, Wilhelmina Bermingham, Terry Carr
ABC (shown in Sydney and Melbourne) (some episodes of this series still exist, two of which are from 1958)
11. Comment (1958–1960)
30 min | Talk-Show
Interviews with prominent personalities.
Star: George Baker
ATN-7
HSV-7 (a "studio dance" aimed at teenagers)
13. Counterpoints (1958– )
30 min | Talk-Show
Aired at the housewives, this series included comment on fashion, as well as gossip about what women were wearing, buying and doing in Sydney, Australia.
Stars: Norma Martyn, Pamela Page
TCN-9
14. Country Style (1958– )
30 min | Music
A music/variety program, featuring singers, a dance caller, etc.
Stars: Geza Bachman, Garry Cohen, Frank Ifield
ABC (Sydney and Melbourne) (at least one or two episodes are known to be held by the National Archives of Australia).
ABC (Sydney only?)
16. Discovering the Bible (1958– )
30 min
An eight part series about the meaning of the Bible. Aired live in Melbourne, it was kinescoped for Sydney broadcast.
Star: John Davis McCaughey
ABC (Melbourne and Sydney)
17. Eunice Gardiner Presents (1958– )
30 min | Music
In this short-lived series, Eunice Gardiner played the piano, and also interviewed personalities in music.
Star: Eunice Gardiner
TCN-9
18. Face the Nation (1958–1976)
30 min | Talk-Show
A weekly panel discussion series, often discussing topical matters.
Stars: Gerald Stone, James Robert McClelland, Chris Hurford, Tony Whitlam
GTV-9
ABC
20. Fiesta (1958– )
30 min | Music
A Sydney-produced variety series, with emphasis on Latin-American music.
Stars: Ron Fabri, Gino Hernandez
ABC (Sydney and Melbourne)
21. Franquin (1958– )
60 min
Picked up for a short season of two episodes, this series presented hypnotist Franquin.
Star: Franquin
HSV-7
22. The Gallery Comes to You (1958– )
Documentary
Eric Westbrook shows viewers items from the National Art Gallery. The running times varied of this Sunday afternoon series.
Star: Eric Westbrook
GTV-9
23. The Graeme Bell Show (1958– )
30 min | Music
A music orientated show hosted by Graeme Bell.
Star: Graeme Bell
ABC
24. Alabama Jubilee (1960– )
30 min | Comedy, Music
A minstrel variety show, with some of the performers appearing in blackface.
Stars: Paul Robeson, Syd Heylen, Jack Allan, Reg Quartly
ABC (shown in Sydney and Melbourne) (a few episodes still exist of this series, not clear if any of them are from 1958)
25. Home and Beauty (1958–1961)
30 min
A show aimed at the late-1950s/early 1960s housewives, with segments including cooking, gardening, fashion, etc.
Star: Elaine White
TCN-9
26. Homeward Bound (1958– )
30 min | Music
Sea shanties were sung by the cast.
Stars: Mervyn Bray, Alan Eddy, Paul Gavin, William Smith
ABC (Melbourne, possibly also shown in Sydney)
27. The House and Garden Show (1958– )
60 min
This short-lived daytime series had an unusual format. Henderson and Cooney played a newlywed couple who were furnishing an old house.
Stars: Val Cooney, Brian Henderson
TCN-9
28. Keeping Company (1958–1959)
15 min
Norma Ferris provided hints for the hostess.
Star: Norma Ferris
GTV-9
29. The Ken Noyle Show (1958– )
30 min | Comedy, Music
A live television variety series, with music, comedy etc.
Stars: Ken Noyle, Beryl Meekin, Red Moore
ABC (both Sydney and Melbourne)
30. Look and Laugh (1958–1959)
60 min | Comedy, Music
A weekly variety series, with emphasis on comedy.
Star: Ray McGeary
ATN-7
31. Malcolm Muggeridge Meets Australians (1958– )
30 min | Talk-Show
An interview program.
Star: Malcolm Muggeridge
ATN-7 and GTV-9.
32. Meet Me at Bebarfalds (1958–1959)
60 min | Game-Show, Talk-Show
From retail store Bebarfalds, featuring shoppers being asked topical questions, with quiz segments and a celebrity guest.
Star: Chuck Faulkner
TCN-9
33. Melody with Milton (1958–1960)
30 min | Music
Daytime series starring pianist Milton Saunders.
Star: Milton Saunders
ATN-7 (a music series. Milton Saunders was a pianist)
HSV-7
36. Music for You (1958–1960)
30 min | Music
Daytime series with the popular pianist Isador Goodman.
Star: Isador Goodman
TCN-9 (another music series. Isador Goodman was a pianist)
37. My Fair Lady (1958–1962)
30 min | Game-Show
Stars: Charles Bush, Bambi Smith, Gretta Miers, June Finlayson
HSV-7 (I believe this was a game show)
38. Nature Notebook (1958– )
30 min | Documentary
Educational series for schools which aired live on Wednesdays, but it was also kinescoped and shown during the evening on Thursdays.
ABC
40. Personal Album (1958–1959)
15 min | Talk-Show
A weekly interview series broadcast in a daytime time-slot.
Stars: Jack Little, Toni Lamond, Frank Sheldon, Noel Ferrier
GTV-9
41. Personal Column (1958–1959)
15 min | Talk-Show
Jean Battersby would discuss the viewers personal problems.
Stars: Brenda Marshall, Jean Battersby
HSV-7
42. Peters Club (1958–1959)
30 min | Family
A children's series, likely sponsored by Ice Cream company Peters.
Stars: Rod McLennan, Joff Ellen, Judy Banks, Gwenda Beard
GTV-9
43. The Price Is Right (1958– )
30 min | Game-Show
Contestants bid on items in an attempt to win them.
Star: Geoff Manion
GTV-9 (Melbourne version of the game show. There was also a Sydney version which debuted 1957, and which doesn't have a page on IMDb)
44. Rendezvous with Lindley Evans (1958–1959)
15 min | Music
This was a series broadcast in a 15-minute time-slot, featuring pianist Lindley Evans, who would perform on the piano.
Star: Lindley Evans
ATN-7
45. Room for Two (1958–1959)
60 min | Music
A live variety show, with music, etc..
Stars: Kevin Colson, Ray Taylor
ATN-7
ABC
47. The Shirley Abicair Show (1958– )
60 min | Music
This was a variety series, with emphasis on music.
Star: Shirley Abicair
ATN-7 and GTV-9
48. Sydney Grows Up (1958– )
30 min | Documentary
A three-part programme about Sydney's changing architecture. The first episode was a live outside telecast showing the skyline, the second episode was a filmed programme, and third episode was a live studio talk.
ABC
49. The Teenage Hour (1958–1960)
60 min | Music
A music show aimed at teenagers
Stars: Don Bennetts, John D'Arcy, Shirlene Clancy, Ernie Sigley
HSV-7
50. Tell the Truth (1958–1960)
30 min | Game-Show
Stars: Danny Webb, Anton Bowler, Joyce Turner, Deidre Neylon
HSV-7 (not to be confused to Sydney version)
51. That's My Desire (1958–1960)
30 min | Game-Show
A guessing game consisting of a panel who, through a series of questions, have to determine the "desire" of the contestant.
Star: Danny Webb
HSV-7
52. This Is TV (1958– )
Documentary
Intended to be viewed in schools, this was a two-episode educational series about television: "In and Around the Studio" and "Lines of Dots".
ABC.
53. The Toppanos (1958–1959)
15 min | Comedy, Music
This series aired on 8:30AM on weekdays, and presented a mix of music and comedy, along with a dog sock puppet named Jazza.
Stars: Peggy Mortimer, Enzo Toppano
ATN-7
54. Vic Sabrino Sings (1958– )
15 min | Music
Music show aired in a 15-minute time-slot.
Star: George Assang
ABN-2
55. Tuesday Home Show (1958–1959)
60 min | Talk-Show
A weekly daytime series aimed with women, including a segment on cooking, interviews, etc.
Stars: Maree Tomasetti, Elinor Gordon
HSV-7
ABC (Sydney only)
57. What Next (1958–1959)
30 min | Game-Show
A panel game in which two teams complete.
Stars: Bob Cornish, Robert Peach, Frank Doherty, John Moyle
ABC (Melbourne only?)
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