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Patti Rock (nee Nicholas) worked in both the Accounts and Production Departments at TVW Channel Seven between 1965 and 1969.


Patti kindly provided the following information and photos…

I arrived at Seven in 1965 working in the ‘front’ office as a ledger machinist. Alf Binks was my immediate boss. I ventured onto the newly acquired Punch Card machine which spat out information onto the very large computer machine housed up the corridor. I enjoyed my time in the accounts department for 3 years then left to travel for a few months.

Back I came and took up a position as a production assistant working with director Keith Mackenzie and producer Jeff Newman. An exciting time in television with many new shows on the drawing board. Spellbound with Martin St James was intriguing and talent show – Perth’s New Faces – which produced some seriously bad talent but provided many laughs and made my time at 7 extremely enjoyable.

Just retrieved these photos from my archives…


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Joy Heweston, Patti Nicholas, Marg Heweston & Sue Ammon doing a skit at the 1965 Ball.


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Seemed to be a good idea at the time!


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Ball Ticket 1966 (think this was done by Seven’s graphic artist Sandy Lucas)

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Jeff Newman, Garry Meadows, Keith Mackenzie and me at a production meeting. Think it was for New Faces??


Looking forward to seeing some old faces on the 18th (TVW Reunion on Sunday 18th October, 2009)

Take care

Patti Rock


Additional photos by TVW and clippings courtesy of Keith Mackenzie…


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Spellbound production meeting with Martin St James standing then director Keith Mackenzie to the right followed by Barry Daniel, Patti Nicholas and John Easton



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Same Photo: Closeup of Patti Nicholas and John Easton (Floor Manager)



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Same production meeting with Martin St James standing and director Keith Mackenzie seated on the right



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Special guest Barry Morse (Lt. Philip Gerard in the Fugitive TV series), Martin St James and Garry Meadows



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Martin St James created Studio mayhem with the Moon Man, watched by host and often victim Garry Meadows and crew



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Hi-jinx with the hypnotised audience members



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Martin discusses the night’s mischief with co-producer Jeff Newman and director Keith Mackenzie

Martin St James with his wife Lee, his partner in an extra-sensory perception act

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Bill Renfrey, who under Martin’s influence thinks he comes from the moon and can only speak the moon language








3 Responses to “Patti Rock (nee Nicholas) reflects on the 1960’s at Seven”

  1. trev says:

    is there any footage of Bill Moonman from Spellbound still around? It was hillarious!

  2. Mark says:

    Sadly, the only footage I know of is here

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv5kYpJVJos

  3. Leela says:

    There is moon man footage – I’m pretty sure – on one of Martin’s ‘Best of’ DVDs. So pleased to see these images and read more about the history of ‘Spellbound’ Thank you.

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