THE HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN TELEVISION
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40 YEARS OF AUSTRALIAN
TV SOAPS In April 1999, I wrote a series of articles for the Sofcom TV Website commemorating 40 years of Australian TV soapies. With the permission of Sofcom I have republished these articles here. |
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| The First Decade | 70s Soap Steams Up | ||
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The seventies saw a sexual revolution going on, but not just in the bedroom, it was also happening on our TV screens. The cash strapped 0-10 Network took the lead with its first nightly soap opera - the racy Number 96 - and instantly the nation was captivated. The success of 96 led the way for a string of successful soaps in years to come. |
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NUMBER 96 |
The mother of all soaps. The nightly goings on in a fictional Sydney apartment block both shocked and captivated viewers across the country for five years. Constantly criticised by the press, it was a hit with viewers with its mix of sex, comedy and drama. The series won a number of awards, and sparked a movie spin-off. |
 Abigail |
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CLASS OF '74/'75 |
Seven's move into the classroom was the first soap to come from producer Reg Grundy. Featuring a mix of young talent and veteran performers. |
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THE BOX |
The success of Number 96 led to this nightly series from Crawford Productions. Produced in Melbourne and just as racy as its Sydney counterpart, it was set in a fictional television station, Channel 12. Both shows ran back-to-back five nights a week and dominated prime time ratings in the mid-seventies. |
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UNTIL TOMORROW |
Another daytime soap from Seven, produced at BTQ7 Brisbane and screening weekdays. The cast included Brisbane identities Babette Stephens and Ron Cadee, and former Gold Logie winner Hazel Phillips. |
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THE SULLIVANS |
Another hit from the Crawford Productions stable. Set in Melbourne during World War II, the series was often acclaimed for its accurate portrayal of life in the forties. |
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THE YOUNG DOCTORS Nine, 1976-1983 |
Grundy's nightly look at life around fictional Alfred Memorial Hospital was a huge early evening hit for Nine and sold well overseas. | |
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HOTEL STORY 0-10, 1977 |
Crawfords' proposed replacement to The Box was axed after six weeks in production, having never gone to air. |
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THE RESTLESS YEARS 0-10, 1977-1981 |
The lives of a group of teenagers coming to terms with the big grown-up world. Grundy's are now producing a European version of this same program. | |
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COP SHOP Seven, 1977-1984 |
Combining police drama with the popular soap element. The criminal goings on in suburban Riverside were mixed with a look at the lives of people around the local police station. | |
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GLENVIEW HIGH Seven, 1977-1978 |
Seven went back to the schoolroom for this soap attempt. Screened mostly out of ratings, class was soon dismissed. | |
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PRISONER 0-10, 1979-1986 |
Life inside a women's prison was a huge success in Australia, in the United States and particularly in the UK. | |
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SKYWAYS Seven, 1979-1981 |
The goings on around an international airport provided a somewhat bumpy ride for Seven. Screening back-to-back with Cop Shop two nights a week, it was axed after two years. Trivia: One episode features a very young Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue as brother and sister. | |
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Australian soaps were certainly in full swing by the late seventies, and were increasingly popular overseas. The trend continues into the eighties..... |
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