Meandering down memory lane, I started to recall the Australian shows we used to watch long ago on television. The early police dramas were popular, and there was a certain mystique attached to the actors in Homicide and Division 4. These were created by Crawford Productions, and were devoted to promoting Aussie talents. Actors such as Leonard Teale became household names, particularly in Melbourne.
TV held its viewers spellbound, and still does, despite all our digital distractions. Additionally, there was a magazine, TV Week (launched in 1957), dedicated to celebrating TV shows and personalities. The magazine is still being published today – an enduring witness to ‘the box’.
In the ’60s, there were several venues for Aussie entertainers in a range of shows. As well as police dramas, there were classics such as the variety TV show In Melbourne Tonight (IMT), which featured ‘famous’ hosts such as Graham Kennedy, with singers and comedians.
Then came along the favoured soap opera Number 96. This show presented the real mystique of our passive observation of relationships. Some people never missed an episode, compelled to view, and became totally involved in the series. Australian TV producers created Number 96 to rival the ever-popular British soap opera Coronation Street, which had a large fan base.
Around this time, I wanted to teach graph drawing to my grade of 11 year olds. So I surveyed my class, conducting a poll on their favourite after-school and weekend TV shows. I was slightly horrified to discover that the most popular show was the British comedy The Benny Hill Show. Can you imagine? Benny Hill, captivating his pre-teen Aussie fans, teaching them real-life values in relationships! Indeed, all my pupils understood every risqué skit and double entendre. After all, they were devout Catholics, the future of Australian faith, with Benny Hill as their confessional.
It was no surprise that their second-most-favourite show was Nine’s Wide World of Sports. To the 11-year-olds, TV meant Benny Hill – amid his hot chicks – and sport! There was nothing to discuss. I must say, their graphs were effective and colourful, the whole class was fully engaged in their Maths activity. Happily, I promoted my pupils to secondary education, to explore the mystique of teenagers – with Benny Hill by their side! These days, they are known as Gen X, and have probably forgotten the whole thing!
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