1950s Australian game shows based on US formats
by Thor-Delta | created - 16 Jan 2014 | updated - 29 Apr 2014 | PublicIt is a myth that most 1950s Australian TV shows were game shows. If anything, variety/music shows and "women's programmes" (such as cooking and decorating) were more common among local content. Nevertheless, quite a few game shows were produced in Australia in the 1950s. Importing US game shows was impractical, though they did import "People are Funny".
This is a list of 1950s Australian game shows based on US formats. The archival status of most of these series is not known, however I have added some info when possible.
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. 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
Aired in Sydney only. Archival status is not known.
2. Stop the Music (1956–1957)
30 min | Game-Show
A music-based game show which also featured audience participation.
Aired in Melbourne only. Archival status is not known.
3. 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
Aired in Melbourne only. Archival status is not known.
4. 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
Aired in Sydney only. Archival status is not known.
Aired in Sydney and Melbourne. An episode is possibly held by the National Film and Sound Archive.
6. Noughts and Crosses (1957–1960)
30 min | Game-Show
A quiz show in which contestants choose subjects on which they are asked questions. Their answers provide the moves to the noughts and crosses board.
Stars: Geoff Raymond, Danny Webb
Aired in Melbourne only. I am pretty sure this was based on US series "Tic-Tac-Dough". Unlike the other shows on this list, which were based on legitimate, un-rehearsed game shows, "Noughts and Crosses" was based on a US show that was implicated in the US quiz show scandals of the late-1950s. However, even so, it is likely that the Australian version was legitimate, along with other Australian shows of the period.
Archival status is unknown.
7. Pantomime Quiz (1957)
30 min | Game-Show
Two celebrity teams competed in a game of charades.
Stars: Harry Dearth, Tony Wager, George Foster, Keith Peterson
Aired in Sydney and Melbourne. Archival status is not known.
8. Do You Trust Your Wife? (1957–1958)
30 min | Game-Show
Game show hosted by ventriloquist Ron Blaskett, accompanied by his three "dolls".
Star: Ron Blaskett
Aired in Melbourne only. Archival status is not known.
9. The Price Is Right (1958– )
30 min | Game-Show
Contestants bid on items in an attempt to win them.
Star: Geoff Manion
Two versions were produced: A Sydney version (not listed on IMDb) and this Melbourne version.
I believe I once saw a clip of the 1958 Melbourne version in a TV retrospective, which indicates that an episode or episodes still exist.
10. Tell the Truth (1958–1960)
30 min | Game-Show
Stars: Danny Webb, Anton Bowler, Joyce Turner, Deidre Neylon
This page is for the Melbourne version. A Sydney version debuted the same year. Archival status of either version is unknown. There was also a late-1960s revival in Melbourne which is lost.
11. Wheel of Fortune (1959–1962)
30 min | Game-Show
A game show, in which a wheel is spun to determine the prizes.
Stars: Walter Elliott, Reg Grundy
Aired in Sydney only. An episode of this series is held by the National Film and Sound Archive.
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