To celebrate 60 years of TV WEEK, we’ve got three extra special editions of the mag (the first is on sale now!). Our birthday issues include our definitive list of the 60 biggest TV stars EVER, exclusive interviews and retro specials.
This week, we look at the 1950s, the era that changed everything. Australians welcomed the arrival of TV in 1956 – and TV WEEK launched a year later. Scroll through to relive memorable TV moments from that decade.
Bruce Gyngell
1956: It all began on September 16, when the switch was pulled at TCN9 Sydney, and Bruce Gyngell introduced the new medium with the immortal words “Good evening and welcome to television”. TV came to Melbourne on November 4 with HSV7’s grand opening telecast. One day later, the ABC made its small-screen debut in Sydney.
Bob and Dolly Dyer
1957: Bob Dyer’s radio game show Pick-A-Box became a television phenomenon as it switched to the screen. Hosted by Bob and wife Dolly, Pick-A-Box was on TV for more than 14 years and clocked up 900 episodes. Bob won a TV WEEK Gold Logie in 1961, and was also named TV Quizmaster Of The Decade at the 1968 Logie Awards.
Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton
1957: Two legends were born when Graham Kennedy stepped in front of the cameras for the premiere of variety show In Melbourne Tonight. The show became a national favourite and made Graham a TV superstar.
The Tarax Show
1957:Aussie drama was also born with the serial The House On The Corner, and local soapie Autumn Affair. The Tarax Show was one of our first children’s TV shows.
Brian Henderson
1958: The marriage of music and TV was off and running with the premiere of Bandstand, hosted by Brian Henderson. Later on, regular performers included the Bee Gees and Olivia Newton-John. The next year, Johnny O’Keefe offered a rockier sound on Six O’Clock Rock.
