1959 In Australian Television
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1959 in Australian television was the fourth year of television broadcasts in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.


Events

Television Broadcasts in
Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
were aired for the first time on
15 October Events Pre-1600 *1066 – Following the death of Harold II at the Battle of Hastings, Edgar the Ætheling is proclaimed King of England by the Witan; he is never crowned, and concedes power to William the Conqueror two months later. *1211 ...
1959 Events January * January 1 - Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance. * January 2 - Lunar probe Luna 1 was the first man-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reached the vicinity of E ...
,
TVW TVW is a television station broadcasting in Perth, Western Australia, wholly owned by Seven West Media. It was the first television station in Western Australia, commencing broadcasting on 16 October 1959. It broadcasts a modulated 64-QAM signa ...
was opened by the Governor of Western Australia,
Sir Charles Gairdner Lieutenant General Sir Charles Henry Gairdner, (20 March 1898 – 22 February 1983) was a senior British Army officer who later occupied two viceregal positions in Australia. Born in Batavia (now Jakarta) in the Dutch East Indies, he was brough ...
. Television broadcasts in the state of Queensland (Brisbane) were aired for the very first time, starting with the
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
's
QTQ QTQ is an Australian television station, licensed to, and serving Brisbane, Queensland. It is owned by the Nine Entertainment Co., and is part of the Nine Network. It broadcasts on VHF Channel 8 (digital). QTQ began broadcasting on 16 August 19 ...
on 16 August, followed soon after by the
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
's
BTQ BTQ is the Brisbane television station of the Seven Network in Australia. BTQ was the second television station to launch in Brisbane, going to air on 1 November 1959, after QTQ (station of the Nine Network) launched three months earlier. Along ...
on 1 November, and the
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
's
ABQ ABC Television in Brisbane comprises national programming on the ABC television network in or from Brisbane, Queensland which broadcasts on a number of channels under the ABC call sign. There is some local programming from the Brisbane studio ...
on the next day. The first television station in
Adelaide, South Australia Adelaide ( ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater A ...
( NWS-9) began broadcasting on 5 September. On 1 July, Australian children's TV series ''
Mr. Squiggle and Friends ''Mr. Squiggle'' (originally also known as ''Mr. Squiggle and Friends'') is an Australian children's television series, and the name of the title character from that ABC show. The show was presented on television in many formats, between its inc ...
'' debuts on
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
starting off as a temporary fill in. Years later the show has been so popular it continues to air on the ABC until 9 July 1999. Melbourne and Sydney are linked by microwave for the first time on 9 January, enabling television programs to be screened, simultaneously in both cities.


Notable debuts and endings

Notable Australian series that debuted during 1959 included variety and/or music series ''
Adelaide Tonight ''Adelaide Tonight'' was a nightly variety show, running four days a week at 9.30 pm on Nine Network, NWS-9 Adelaide. The show was broadcast live from Studio 1 between 1959 and 1973. The show was similar to ''In Melbourne Tonight'' with Gra ...
'', ''
The Bobby Limb Show ''The Bobby Limb Show'' was an early Australian television music/variety series which aired from 1959 to 1961, and was later re-titled (with minor format changes) as ''The Mobil-Limb Show'' from 1961 to 1964. It was hosted by Bobby Limb, and was ...
'', ''
Six O'Clock Rock ''Six O'Clock Rock'' was an Australian rock and roll television show broadcast on ABC from 28 February 1959 to 1962 at 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Program synopsis Inspired by the BBC program '' 6.5 Special'', it had a similar format to its rival ...
'' and ''
Make Ours Music ''Make Ours Music'' was an Australian music television series which aired from 1958 to circa 1961 on ABC. Produced in Sydney, it also aired in Melbourne. Originally a half-hour series, it later expanded to an hour. ''Make Ours Music'' featured a ...
'', game show ''
Wheel of Fortune The Wheel of Fortune or ''Rota Fortunae'' has been a concept and metaphor since ancient times referring to the capricious nature of Fate. Wheel of Fortune may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Art * ''The Wheel of Fortune'' (Burne-Jo ...
'', discussion series '' The Critics'', and short-lived drama series '' Emergency''. Additionally, ATN-7 and GTV-9 experimented with local drama with the '' Shell Presents'' productions of plays. Notable series which ended in 1959 included variety and/or music series ''
Astor Showcase ''Astor Showcase'' was an Australian television variety series which aired from 1957 to 1959 on Sydney station ATN-7. As the title suggests, it was sponsored by Astor Radio Corporation. The producer was Frank Strain. The orchestra was conducted ...
'', ''
Hit Parade A hit parade is a ranked list of the most popular recordings at a given point in time, usually determined either by sales or airplay. The term originated in the 1930s; ''Billboard'' magazine published its first music hit parade on January 4, 1936 ...
'' and '' Sydney Tonight'' (which had been re-titled and re-formatted as ''Tonight''), drama series ''
Autumn Affair ''Autumn Affair'' is an Australian television series made by and aired by Network Seven station ATN-7, and also shown in Melbourne on Nine Network station GTV-9. Television in Australia had only been broadcasting since 1956 and Seven was the firs ...
'' and ''Emergency'', and comedy series '' Take That''.


New programming


Domestic

*16 February – '' Emergency'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
- Melbourne) *9 April – ''
Balance Your Budget ''Balance Your Budget'' was an Australian television game show, which aired from around 9 April 1959 to 16 June 1960 on Sydney television station TCN-9. At the time, most Australian series aired in only a single city, which was likely also the cas ...
'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
) *13 May – ''
Eric Baume's Viewpoint ''Eric Baume's Viewpoint'', also known simply as ''Viewpoint'', is an Australian television program which aired from 1959 to 1961 on Sydney station TCN-9. Debuting on 13 May 1959, the program was a current affairs program broadcast on Wednesdays ...
'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
) *1 July – ''
Mr. Squiggle and Friends ''Mr. Squiggle'' (originally also known as ''Mr. Squiggle and Friends'') is an Australian children's television series, and the name of the title character from that ABC show. The show was presented on television in many formats, between its inc ...
'' ( ABC TV) *9 July – ''
Rooftop Rendezvous ''Rooftop Rendezvous'' is an Australian television series which aired on ABC Television during 1959. It was a half-hour variety series hosted by Bill Brady and produced by Harry Pringle. Produced in Sydney, it was regularly kinescope Kinesco ...
'' ( ABC TV) *26 July – '' Don't Argue'' (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
- Melbourne) *29 July – '' What's On'' (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
) *29 July – ''
Let's Make Clothes ''Let's Make Clothes'' is an Australian television series. It was broadcast on Melbourne station HSV-7 HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks ...
'' (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
) *31 July – ''
About Your Garden ''About Your Garden'' was an Australian television series that aired from 31 July 1959 to 11 March 1960 on Melbourne station HSV-7. A series about gardening, it was hosted by Martha Gardener, who provided hints on gardening. A 15-minute series, i ...
'' (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
- Melbourne) *1 November – '' Canberra Report'' (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
- Sydney) *6 December – '' On the Spot'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
- Melbourne) *29 December – '' New Look at New Guinea'' ( ABC TV)


International

*2 January – '' The Donna Reed Show'' ( ABC TV) *30 January/8 June – '' Rescue 8'' (30 January:
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
- Sydney, 8 June:
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
- Melbourne) *2 February – '' Frontier Doctor'' (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
) *5 February – '' Naked City'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
) *13 April – '' Wanted Dead or Alive'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
) *24 May – '' The Adventures of William Tell'' (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
) *7 August/4 September – '' Adventures of Pow Wow'' (7 August:
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
- Sydney, 4 September:
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
- Melbourne) *22 August – '' Bronco'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
- Sydney,
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
- Melbourne) *31 August – ''The Invisible Man'' (1958) (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
) *12 October – ''
Sword of Freedom ''Sword of Freedom'' was a 1958 drama adventure series for a family audience. Like several of its predecessors (most notably ''The Adventures of Robin Hood''), it was produced by Sapphire Films for ITC Entertainment and fitted into the same sw ...
'' ( ABC TV) * '' Huckleberry Hound'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
- Sydney,
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
- Melbourne) * ''
Spunky and Tadpole ''The Adventures of Spunky and Tadpole'' is an animated television series produced by Beverly Hills Productions and syndicated beginning on September 6, 1958. The show's characters were a boy and a bear who hunted down bad guys. The show was made ...
'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
) * '' Quick Draw McGraw'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
- Sydney,
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
- Melbourne) */ ''
Cannonball A round shot (also called solid shot or simply ball) is a solid spherical projectile without explosive charge, launched from a gun. Its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the barrel from which it is shot. A round shot fired from a lar ...
'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
) * ''
Tom Terrific ''Tom Terrific'' is a 1957–1959 animated series on American television, presented as part of the ''Captain Kangaroo'' children's television show. Created by Gene Deitch under the Terrytoons studio (which by that time was a subsidiary of CBS, ...
'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
- Sydney,
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
- Melbourne) * '' 77 Sunset Strip'' (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
) * '' Union Pacific'' (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
) * '' Peter Gunn'' (
Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
) * '' Mackenzie's Raiders'' (
Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...
)


Television shows


1950s

* '' Australian Unlimited'' (1956 – 1961) * ''
The Late Show The Late Show may refer to: Books * ''The Late Show'' (book), a 2017 book by Michael Connelly Film * ''The Late Show'' (film), a 1977 film * ''Late Show'', a 1999 German film by director Helmut Dietl Music * ''The Late Show'' (Eddie "Loc ...
'' (1957 – 1959) * ''
Swallow's Juniors ''Swallow's Juniors'' was a popular Australian radio and television series, which aired on 3DB (Melbourne) at 6.30 pm on a Saturday evening, from the 1950s and into the early 1960s. It was telecast from November 1957 to 1970 on Melbourne televis ...
'' (1957 – 1970) * '' The Price is Right'' (1957 – 1959) * ''
The Happy Go Lucky Show ''The Happy Go Lucky Show'' is an Australian television variety series which aired from 30 October 1957 to 4 November 1959 on Melbourne television station GTV-9. Originally hosted by Happy Hammond, by 1958 the series was hosted by Bob Horsfall. ...
'' (1957 – 1959) * '' Binnie Time'' (1958 – 1959) * '' My Fair Lady'' (1958 – 1962) * ''
That's My Desire "That's My Desire" is a 1931 popular song with music by Helmy Kresa and lyrics by Carroll Loveday. The highest-charting version of the song was recorded by the Sammy Kaye orchestra in 1946, although a version of the song recorded by Frankie Lai ...
'' (1958 – 1960) * '' Room for Two'' (1958 – 1959) * ''
The Toppanos ''The Toppanos'' (also known as ''Meet the Toppanos'') is a 15-minute Australian television series which aired from 1958 to 1959 on Sydney station ATN-7. It starred Enzo and Peggy Toppano, and combined music with ab-libbed comedy, along with a do ...
'' (1958 – 1959) * '' Binnie Time'' (1958 – 1959) * ''
The Annette Klooger Show ''The Annette Klooger Show'' is an Australian television series that aired 1959–61 on ABC1, ABC. Starring singer Annette Klooger, it was a half-hour variety series that aired live in Melbourne, and was kinescoped for showing in Sydney (it is not ...
'' (1959 – 1961) * '' Bandwagon'' (1959 – 1960) * '' Sweet and Low'' (1959) * ''
Mr. Squiggle and Friends ''Mr. Squiggle'' (originally also known as ''Mr. Squiggle and Friends'') is an Australian children's television series, and the name of the title character from that ABC show. The show was presented on television in many formats, between its inc ...
'' (1959 – 1999) * ''
Serenade In music, a serenade (; also sometimes called a serenata, from the Italian) is a musical composition or performance delivered in honor of someone or something. Serenades are typically calm, light pieces of music. The term comes from the Italian w ...
'' (1959 – 1960)


Ending this year


References


See also

* NWS-9 {{Years in Australian TV