An accolade for Kevin Campbell

West Coast Eagles forward Mark Nicoski was a guest reporter for Today Tonight on the eve of the Eagles 600th game on Thursday 14th June, 2012. Mark interviewed a number of the Eagles most passionate supporters, of which one was Pam Hynson, a long-serving West Coast cheer squad member who has only missed one home match in the past 6½ years.

Pam said that her most precious memory is of Channel Seven sending her and husband Les to the 1991 Grand Final. Les had lost his dad, just a few weeks before, and TVW Managing Director Kevin Campbell organised the opportunity.

An accolade for Kevin Campbell

WA TV History
Pam Hynson said that her most precious memory is of Channel Seven sending her and husband Les to the 1991 Grand Final.

For 35 years, Kevin Campbell was involved in the broadcasting industry in Australia. Kevin joined TVW Channel 7 as an technician in 1964 and worked continuously with them until his retirement in 1999.

TVW was a case where talented individuals could rise through the ranks to fill the highest roles. Most executives at some point or other gained experience close to the work face. None more so that Kevin Campbell, who started as a technician and later became the Chairman and Managing Director. Where else could the person in the top position have the skills to walk into an operational area and demonstrate a full knowledge and experience in that area?

On completion of a technical cadetship through the Post Master General’s Department, Kevin joined TVW as an technician in 1964. From being appointed Operations Supervisor, then Operations Manager, Kevin was then promoted to the position of General Manager SAS Channel 7 Adelaide (1977). From 1988 to 1991 he was Managing Director of the Seven Television Network and from 1991 to 1999 he was Chairman and Managing Director of TVW Enterprises Ltd (Channel Seven Perth). In 1998, he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), for his contribution to broadcasting and his community service activities.

Former TVW Managing Director Kevin Campbell

WA TV History
Professor Mark Balnaves of the Curtin University in WA introduces Kevin Campbell AM, the former Chairman and Managing Director of TVW Enterprises Ltd (Channel Seven Perth, Western Australia).

This recording was made on Monday 23rd of May, 2011, at the home of TVW pioneer Coralie Condon OAM, who kindly played hostess to a gathering of colleagues when two former senior executives Max Bostock (MBE) and Kevin Campbell (AM) met with Professor Mark Balnaves, and fellow television veterans, to record an oral history of the early days at TVW Channel 7 in Perth, Western Australia. Professor Mark Balnaves is the Senior Research Fellow in New Media at the Curtin University of Technology. Also present were Audrey Long (formally Barnaby) and Betty Bostock, with Richard Ashton, Gordon McColl and Ken McKay recording the event.

Related stories…

• Kevin Campbell AM
• TVW Kevin
• Oral History recording of senior Seven Perth executives
• Kings Park Mini-Reunion
• TVW Engineering Reunion 2012
• The end of Local TV… or is it?

Michael Goodall of the Goodall Film Industry Dynasty

Michael Goodall was a cameraman in the newsroom at TVW from 1971 to 2003, continuing the Goodall family tradition, where father Leith Goodall (1903-1978) was a founding member of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS). Leith was posthumously inducted into the ACS Hall of Fame in 1998, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the art of cinematography, and for distinguished service to the ACS.

Though Michael’s bother Peter was a pioneering news cameraman from day one at TVW, Mike started in television with the competition, WA’s second commercial television station, STW Channel 9, working in the film department and as the official stills photographer, before venturing into news camera work too.

No doubt father Leith was a big influence on both sons, as he enjoyed a long career, both behind the camera and exhibiting films. After working 20 years for Hoyts Theatres, in which time he became chief projectionist and theatre manager, he then spent four years as a cameraman for Fox Movietone News. In the 1940’s he formed in partnership, which resulted in Southern Cross Films Ltd. For six years, he produced a great number of documentaries in 16mm and 35mm for Government departments and industry.

In 1947, when the Mayfair Theatrette was opened in the basement of Sheffield House at 721 Hay Street, Perth, the cinema owner soon found that he could not get newsreels from Cinesound Review or Australian Movietone News, so Leith Goodall was enlisted to produce a weekly “Westralian News”, which screened every Friday and ran for 35 weeks until the national newsreels were made available. Then in 1952, Leith joined the WA Education Department’s film unit and continued to produce documentaries and promotion programs for the WA State Government, including the WA Tourist Bureau. It was with this unit, a little later, that he would work with Daryl Binning, the founder of the Australian Museum of Motion Picture and Television (AMMPT), and Alex McPhee snr. Alex McPhee jun, would later work with Peter Goodall at TVW Channel 7, with Peter being an inaugural member of AMMPT and a member of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS), like his father.

In due course, television news killed off the cinema newsreels, and made the newsreel theatrettes redundant, with Peter and Michael fortunate by then to have successful careers in the new medium.

Leith Goodall was not only a pioneer of Perth cinema, but also brought the entertainment form to the suburbs when In he set up the Bayview Picture Theatre in Safety Bay and the Rockingham Cinema, with his great friend Jack Bidstrup. He also exhibited films weekly on Saturday nights at the Kelmscott Hall, where it was not uncommon to pack the venue out, such as the time he was screening ‘The African Queen’ starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.

While his father was still busy shooting film for government departments, Michael entered the workforce. He worked for Halse Photographics from 1964 till 1965, where he learnt still, movie and colour negative processing. The company was run by former school headmaster Jack Halse and his sons Ron and David. It was there that Michael gained skills in not only processing but also the art of mixing the complex and often dangerous photographic chemicals. Acids and alkali form part of the process, so mixing the wrong raw ingredients can cause a dramatic reaction. Michael learnt this craft very quickly, no doubt influenced by the strong family and industry connection. Halse was not only engaged in the developing of still photos but also archival microfilm of newspapers for the State Library and 16mm reversal movie film for the ABC.

The skills gained in film processing proved valuable for Michael joining STW in 1965, for the launch of the station on Saturday 12 June 1965. He started as a film assembler, news film processor and editor, whilst also the station still photographer, working under Geoff Wallace, where he made the 35mm slides and shot the occasional news film until 1968.

Michael then worked with the company of theatre advertising pioneer Cyril Cornish, from 1968 to 1971, whose slogan was: “Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you’re doing, but no-one else does”. Whilst there, Michael was engaged in the production of nearly two hundred 35mm colour movie cinema commercials.

Following a conversation with TVW company secretary Frank Moss, Michael joined Seven in 1971 to process news film and assist his father’s old friend Ken Alexander and Norm O’Loughlin editing film stories.

Michael was also a stills photographer with Steve Thomson and Dave Gordon, before becoming a full time news cameraman.

The story in Michael’s words…

In 1964 I started working for Halse Photographics in Hay street East Perth. Halse’s was housed in a grand old three story, nineteenth century building called Tynemouth Terrace. The processing machine was a fifteen foot long, temperamental, monster called a Huston Fearless Cine Processor. The film was wound into magazines in the dark and pulled through chemicals over rollers that were suspended over deep tanks full of liquid chemicals. The film was then pulled through a drying cabinet to the expectant operator. After the film was processed I had to deliver the rolls to the ABC in Adelaide Terrace.

In 1965, I worked in Channel Nine’s film assembly department. This department physically joins the TV commercials into the movie. The commercials are little rolls of 16 millimetre film in boxes. They are sent to the station by the advertisers and are stored in the vault at the television station until they are needed to be placed into programmes. The measuring slip is given to the traffic department and commercials are allocated a space in the rolls of the programme film.

During 1966, my daily duties at STW included working in the film department as a film assembler, still photographer, part time cameraman, film editing, and I also run the news film processor.

In 1968 I worked for Cyril Cornish Cinema Advertising. During my time there the film department produced over 200 commercials. Theses were shot on 35 mm motion picture film. The work print was edited and sent east then the release print was sent back to Perth for distribution to the cinemas and Drive ins .

In 1971, I started working for Channel Seven. I ran the cine processor and assisted with editing and shot news film. I was at Channel Seven for 31 years and spent most of my time as a cameraman in the news department.

Being a news cameraman, takes one to places the ordinary citizen normally learns of by watching a news bulletin. Stories happening at dizzying heights, that require the climbing of towers or mountains, or filming precariously from a helicopter, often witnessing dramatic events as they unfold, which at times may be overly graphic, or at worst, grotesque.

One such case involved being at the scene when a person, in effect, committed suicide by the hands of the police. Michael Goodall recalls a dramatic news story

At other times, its the reporter who is demonstrating bravado by hanging onto a lamp post in the midst of a cyclone, as Michael reports…

In February 1980, Cyclone Dean crossed the Northwest coast of Western Australia at Port Hedland. A news crew from Channel Seven News in Perth was there to record the Cyclone as it hit the town. Channel Seven was the first station to start shooting news on portable video tape machines. This made it possible to send the vision back live 16000 kms to Perth in the South. It was sent via the now obsolete Coaxial cable that was used mainly for telephone and data. The vision was recorded in Perth live from Port Hedland and segments were put live to air as it arrived at the studios in Tuart Hill. The audio is telephone quality and the vision isn’t much better but it was quite an achievement back then, getting pictures live to air soon after it was taped.

The news that night was recorded on a domestic Betamax tape that was found just recently in a tool shed. Remarkably, it was still playable after 32 years.

Cyclone Dean. Port Hedland, February 1980

Michael Goodall was the Seven News cameraman for the live report from Port Hedland during Cyclone Dean in 1980.

The original vision is courtesy of Channel Seven News in Perth.

The other stations missed the immediacy of this event by not being as innovative. Maybe the logic was that taking a film camera would be more robust that an electronic camera in extreme weather conditions? It certainly affected the outcome, as the exposed film had to be freighted back to Perth, processed and edited before broadcast. This then would be old news compared to what Michael was achieving at the time.

The TVW 50th anniversary reunion in October 2009 was an opportunity for veterans to catch up from all over the country and overseas.

Bill Meacham was the Head Cameraman at TVW from 1967 to 1980, Peter Goodall was a cameraman when TVW first opened, working from 1959 to 1966. He then returned to be predominantly a studio director between 1979 and 1983, whilst Michael Goodall covered the transition from film to electronic news gathering between 1971 and 2003.

Annette Grennell (Purvis) worked both in front of the camera and in TVW Publicity. Performing on Stars of the Future, Telethons, Miss West Coasts and singing the Fat Cat’s Fun Show theme song. She also worked in publicity from 1975 to 1979.

This article briefly touches on the Goodall saga, which we will follow up with “A Tribute to Andrew Leith Goodall”. For there was a time when all three were working for different television stations in Perth at the same time. Peter was with TVW Channel 7, Michael was with STW Channel 9 and father Leith was stringing for ABW Channel 2.

Related stories:

• Michael Goodall recalls a dramatic news story
• Chronicling History with the TV News Camera
• Peter Goodall demonstrates News Film equipment
• The origins of the TVW Channel 7 Newsroom
• The Evolution of Television News and Presentation
• Eric Walters – Tribute to a Veteran Newsreader
• Bob Cribb Tribute
• Obituary – Brian John Coulter
• Tribute to David Gordon TVW stills photographer
• TVW won the Television Society of Australia award for best “Television News Item – MANHUNT” in 1963
• Lindsay Smith seeks feedback on hunt for murderer Brian William Robinson OB
• Kings Park Mini-Reunion
• News Photo Collection
• Steve Thompson Collection
• Jeff Newman to Retire
• Jeff Newman’s last week presenting the weather on Seven

The News headlines are more often full of wars, disasters, crime, accidents, the antics of politicians and the economy rather than good news, and to a greater extent we hear about celebrities behaving badly rather than important people doing good deeds.

What the media gives prominence to is not necessarily based on excellence, virtue and merit. Yet the media is a big influence on how we perceive the world and what is important, other than our basic needs.

In addition to this, a half hour commercial television news bulletin only gives a short time to each story, as there’s little opportunity to cover a subject in depth after commercial breaks, sport and weather are taken into consideration. Eyes may soon glaze over if a newspaper story exceeds a few paragraphs, and our attention deficit computer game playing younger generation has given the printed journals a miss, now being more occupied with all that the online diversions can offer.

Reality TV has made big inroads into the realm that was once the domain of acted dramas and variety provided by professional entertainers. Particularly with so many people seeking their 15 minutes of fame. Fame is even fleeting for those who have gained great popularity, as the stars of yesteryear are soon forgotten.

As the following tale suggests:

A young teenager, listening to some music his mother was playing asked who the band was. “The Beatles,” she told him.

“Oh. Who’s in the group?”

When his mother told him, he said with surprise, “I didn’t know Paul McCartney had a group before Wings!”

The next story, written in 1995 by Colin Nichol, further illustrates this…

Remembering Dorothy Krantz

First published in the Western Review, February 1995

Colin Nichol

There’s no point in waiting any longer. It has been two months since the passing of Dorothy Krantz and still no word from major media other than appropriately laudatory bereavement notices from her family and those who knew her and remember.

How inadequate is memory today. Amidst preoccupation with the onward rush of this encroaching world how little acknowledgement and understanding of those who hardly more than a generation ago contributed so essentially to what was an isolated and necessarily self sufficient community that shaped and created much of what we are and have here today.

Another icon of our theatrical history has fallen in a year which lost us National Theatre contemporaries Sydney Davis and the well noted Nita Pannell. Dorothy will be remembered through theatre programmes from the 30s to the 60s recalling fine and, to those who were there, memorable performances. Most notably she shares a monument that should not be taken for granted: the Playhouse Theatre.

Dedicated in commemoration of those who fell in the Second World War, the Playhouse in Pier Street Perth opened on the 22nd of August 1956 as the realisation of a long cherished dream by the very active and high standard theatrical community of the day. Graduation to it as their permanent home marked the significant beginning of fully professional theatre in WA.

Previous clubrooms were the St Georges Terrace Repertory Theatre and earlier in Pier Street not far from today’s location. Before that the Commercial Building in King Street and, originally, the basement of the Palace Hotel. Performances began in 1919 at His Majesty’s Theatre and subsequently Perth Town Hall. Moving to the Terrace in 1933 required massive conversion of what had been the printing room of West Australian Newspapers. Club members including Dorothy Krantz “worked like slaves” to create that theatre, in the words of contemporary Nancy Nunn.

The two met the year before when the young Dorothy Powell was an up and coming actress with the ‘Rep’ in Pier Street at the time of the first paid secretary Molly Ick. “Harold Krantz always waited for her after the shows and much later, when he was a successful architect, his firm donated the plans for the Playhouse. Again she helped, amongst other things by raising money checking thousands of entries in the ‘Find the Ball’ competition run by the West Australian”.

Well known actress Margaret Ford was another close friend who notes Dorothy was a member of the Workers Art Guild, “and not just a champion bridge player, but a Grand Master”. The war years brought her great acclaim on the stage, which never diminished: “The last play before moving to the National Theatre at the Playhouse was ‘The Innocents’ in which Dorothy, with Sally Sander and the now noted violinist Ashley Arbuckle as the children, played to full houses every night. She was a beautiful, fine actress”.

It is difficult now for many to picture a Perth in which the Nullarbor was omnipresent and visiting shows were few and far between; entertainment was limited; television was something they had elsewhere. Theatre was a major force and London’s West End seemed closer since its successes had to be performed by our own actors if they were to be seen at all. With shows an important social event and usually packed out, a suitably large venue was seen as a logical culmination of years of fund-raising efforts to consolidate live theatre in the capital. Foremost as a driving force amongst those who took the Playhouse project through to completion was Dorothy Krantz.

As a performer with drawing power she helped box office contributions to government guaranteed building fund and a leading committee member utilised contacts and influence to ensure the plot of land leased from the adjacent Church would not lie empty for long. Many who bemoan what they see as the parlous state of live theatre today point to those times as the great years, perhaps local professional theatre’s last hurrah. That inheritance is still here in the form of the Playhouse.

“The Playhouse has played a crucial role in Perth’s professional theatre industry. In fact it is people with vision and commitment such as those who participated in the planning and building of this theatre that the industry could do with in its present circumstances. Household stage, television and film names of today owe a debt to those who made the Playhouse a reality”, So says the Playhouse based ‘today generation’ Perth Theatre Company General Manager Bronwyn Edinger.

Having come up from the then rather distant Fremantle in the early 40s and been put through the Repertory Club’s ‘fresher nights’ before serving her backstage apprenticeship, the now Grande Dame of theatre Coralie Condon found herself promoted to a small acting part opposite Dorothy Krantz playing the lead. “We became close friends for life. Of all the excellent roles she played, I especially remember her in Noel Coward’s ‘Blyth Spirit’ when she played Elvira, the ghost wife. Dorothy experimented for days to achieve just the right make-up and played the character with such an ethereal yet comedic touch that I felt it could hardly have been done better by anyone.

“Another of her outstanding performances that has stayed with me was that of Blanche Dubois in Tennessee Williams’ ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. Challenging roles. When the Playhouse was established, Harold Krantz, who designed it and supervised construction, went on to form the Company of Four with Sol Sainken and the late Lily P. Kavanagh and Nita Pannell. Under the auspices of the Adult Education Board they presented fully professional shows in which Dorothy appeared and which were milestones in WA’s theatrical history. Dorothy had a very individual way of getting under the skin of every character she played. She made a great contribution”.

The State’s theatre historian Ivan King alone remembered Dorothy Krantz in print for Arts West and adds: “In this era of the thirty second grab she should be remembered as a pioneer in real theatre. Let us not forget she was part of that wonderful Arts Council country touring circuit, which seems now to have withered and died”.

Dorothy Krantz spent most of the past thirty years as a member of the audience and in deteriorating health, devoting herself to Harold and their children. Happy, reminiscing lunches with theatrical contemporaries kept her in touch with the world in which she played so significant a part. Next time you pass by or visit the playhouse, don’t take it for granted. Remember.

Broadcaster, journalist and real estate manager, Colin Nichol knew Dorothy Krantz when as a young actor on the stages of Patch, Repertory and Playhouse theatres.

Acknowledgements: Ivan King and Museum of Performing Arts http://mopa.com.au

Footnote:

Dorothy Hope Krantz passed away on the 6th of December, 1994. Age 82 years.

The architect husband of Dorothy Krantz was responsible for the Playhouse Theatre in Perth.

The architectural firm of Krantz and Sheldon was established in the early 1930s and employed some 39 nationalities of migrant architects and draftsmen over the years. Harold Krantz was a nephew of Perth architect, Harold Boas, and Robert Sheldon (who had changed his name from Schläflik). Harold Krantz was a Jewish-Viennese émigré who had fled Nazi Europe. The firm made a significant contribution to the architectural history of Western Australia. They pioneered ‘European’ styles in a state in which all other architectural firms were ‘English’. They pioneered and specialised in apartment designs, through the range of economical low rise apartment to luxury medium to high rise apartments, using a variety of construction techniques, from the 1930s into the 1980s. In Perth, their practice produced up to one thousand home units a year. An iconic building attributed to this architectural firm is the Mount Eliza Apartments at 71 Mount Street, Perth, affectionately known as the ‘thermos flask’. This building completed in 1964 marked the change in generation from Harold Krantz to their son David.

Fellow architect, Iwan Iwanoff, who worked for Krantz and Sheldon from 1950 until the mid 1960s, painted the wall murals in the main lobby of the Playhouse Theatre.

Since the National Theatre Company was liquidated in February 1984, The Playhouse has been home to The Playhouse Theatre Company [1984–85], Western Australian Theatre Company [1985–1991] and Perth Theatre Company [1995 – present]. The theatre was managed by AEG Ogden (Perth) Pty Ltd on behalf of the Perth Theatre Trust. The Playhouse Theatre is now closed, since operations shifted to the State Theatre Centre in January, 2011. The Black Swan State Theatre Company and the Perth Theatre Company are the resident companies of the new theatre centre on the corner of William Street and Roe Street in Northbridge, with the Playhouse now destined for demolition.

No doubt the fact that the Playhouse was dedicated to the fallen soldiers of World War II has already been forgotten and the lasting monument to Perth theatre will soon be rubble.

Coralie Condon’s 97th Birthday Party

At a party held on 20th May, which was kindly organised by Rick Hearder, with Audrey Long (Barnaby) providing support, fifty guests and theatrical friends celebrated Coralie Condon’s birthday. She was 97 years young on May 16th, 2012.

Many well known thespians were present on the day…

Among the guests were Eileen and Holly Baden-Powell, Roz Barr, Simon Bush, Sister Anne Carter, Felicity and Richard Cole, Jill Collis, Harry Driver, John Easton, Pat Edgar, Orrena Elder, Brian Harffey with his friend Kevin, Cathy Jennings, Kevan Johnston, Max and Norma Kay, Tom and Jane Kozak, Beverly Lange, Sally Martin, Edgar Metcalf, Judy Murtath, Colin Nichol, Julianna Noonan, Damien O’Doherty, Sally and Maurie Ogden, Jill Perryman, John and Irene Roe, Sue Scrutton and many more.

Coralie Condon’s 97th Birthday Party

WA TV History
50 guests and theatrical friends celebrated Coralie Condon’s birthday, at a party held on 20th May, 2012.

Many guest were honoured for services to the entertainment industry, as in 1993, when Coralie was awarded The Order of Australia (OAM) during the Australia Day honours ceremony.

Another person to be recognised is Edgar Metcalf, who has been directing, producing and treading the boards of various Perth theatres for many years. He came from England in 1963 to be artistic director of the National Theatre of Western Australia at the Playhouse Theatre. What was intended to be a two-year stay became three stints over two decades, during which he directed or acted in more than 100 productions. Subsequently, he was Artistic Director at the Hole-in-the-Wall Theatre in Leederville.

Edgar Metcalfe was named WA Citizen of the Year in 1976 for services to the performing arts.

In 1978, Edgar was awarded the A.M. (Member of the Order of Australia) in the Queens Birthday List for his services to the performing arts.

In 2011, he was honoured with the renovated IMAX theatre in Northbridge, which was converted into a theatre venue and named the Edgar Metcalfe Playhouse, after the stage veteran and the defunct Playhouse Theatre at Pier Street in Perth.

Two members of the Baden-Powell clan were present at Coralie’s birthday party, Eileen and daughter Holly. Eileen will be remembered as Eileen Colocott, the actress who played many varied roles in theatre, both locally and nationally, appearing on television in Homicide (1966), Sons and Daughters (1982), Young Doctors (1983), Ship to Shore (1993-1994), The Gift (1997), Minty (1998), The Shark Net (TV movie in 2003), Southern Cross (2004), Wormwood (2007) and Movies Nickel Queen (1971) and Shame (1988).

The first Hole in the Wall Theatre was established by Frank Baden-Powell and John Gill in 1965 in the old Braille Hall on the corner of Stirling and Newcastle Streets. It was a 142 seat theatre-in-the-round, that was intended as a break away from the conventional theatre scene. Baden-Powell and Gill alternated as directors.

In 1967, Baden-Powell joined forces with Coralie Condon to revive the British Music Hall concept in Perth. It was a mixture of popular song, comedy, speciality acts and variety entertainment, which proved very popular as a theatre restaurant style musical. Whilst in August 1968, the new Hole in the Wall opened in a converted warehouse in Southport Street Leederville. Meanwhile, what started out as the Old Time Music Hole in the the former Braille Hall was then presented on a grander scale in Fremantle, before settling into the Civic Theatre Restaurant in Beaufort Street as the Old Time Music Hall.

The theatre restaurant notion proved popular, leading to Diamond Lil’s and then the Island Trader. In 1970 they opened Dirty Dick’s Elizabethan Room, which spread nation wide, with premises in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and several regional centres.

At one time there was even a Dirty Dick’s in Los Angeles. The theatre group also toured extensively throughout the country with a selection of about fifteen shows.

Max and Norma Kay were also in attendance. Max Kay has an extensive background in the performing arts and business in Western Australia. Born in Scotland, Max arrived in Perth in 1967 where he appeared many times on television. In 1976 he opened the Civic Theatre in Inglewood and wrote, produced, and performed his own shows. The “Five past Nine” shows as they were called, incorporated a unique blend of singing, dancing and sketch comedy (which gave birth to some favourite characters, including the World War II Japanese Officer “Colonel Itchy Knackers” “Rhamet Upya” the Pakistani Immigrant, “Luigi Savadamoni”, and many others). The Civic Theatre was a successful Perth icon, for 25 years, playing to over 1.5 million people, and employing up to 100 people during the busy seasons including stage performers, stage technicians, administration and sales staff and food and beverage staff.

He closed the theatre in 2001 to pursue other interests including becoming a City of Perth Councillor.

In June 2001 Max was awarded the WA Citizen of the Year for the Arts Culture and Entertainment category, while in January 2003 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the entertainment industry and for charitable works. He is the National Trust (WA Branch) President and is also on the Board of Swan Bells Foundation, the St Bartholomew’s Foundation and Curtin Radio 100.1.

Coralie’s 1958 musical comedy ‘The Good Oil’ was adapted for television by Max Bostock in 1964, for broadcast the following year. Coralie was delighted when Jill Perryman accepted the lead with the choreography and male lead performed by Jill’s husband Kevan Johnston. Both were present and enjoying Coralie’s party.

In the late 1950s and early 60s Jill and Kevan appeared in a string of Phillip Street revues. At age 19, Jill joined J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd as a member of the chorus and in 1953 understudied leading roles in stage musicals. Jill married dancer-choreographer Kevan Johnston in 1959. Their two children, Tod and Trudy, are both in show business.

In 1965 she was cast as Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly!, and played the lead when the star became ill. This led to her first great triumph taking the lead as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl in 1966, a performance that won her an Erik Award for Best Actress and led to major roles in other productions. These included I Do! I Do! in 1969; The Two of Us in 1971. No, No, Nanette in 1972 won her another Erik Award for Best Actress for her role as Lucille Early, then in 1973 she starred in A Little Night Music. Jill also made regular guest appearances on television variety programs and starred in her own series on ABC TV called Perryman On Parade (1973), for which she won a Penguin Award for Best Variety Performer. This was followed by Jill (1975) and An Evening With Jill Perryman (1977). In 1976 she played Gladys Zilch in Leading Lady, a musical production created especially for her. She also toured during 1977 in Side By Side By Sondheim. She played Miss Hannigan in Annie in 1978.

“Give Me 99 Good Reasons Why!” -and- “Dear Bunny”

WA TV History
Two numbers from the 1965 TVW Channel 7 production of ‘The Good Oil’ (a musical comedy written by Coralie Condon). The first song is titled “Give You 99 Good Reasons Why!” and features Kevan Johnston and the boys of the chorus. The second is titled “Dear Bunny” and starts with Clancy (Kevan Johnston) singing as he writes to Bunny, then segues into Bunny (Jill Perryman) singing in reply.

Among her many awards, Jill was presented with the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1979 Queen’s New Years Honours List, and then in the 1992 Queen’s New Years Honours List she was awarded the A.M. (Member of the Order of Australia) for her services to the performing arts. Whilst in the same honours list, Kevan was awarded the O.A.M. (Order of Australia Medal) for his services to the performing arts as a choreographer, actor, and dance teacher. In 1995 Jill received the Golden Swan, acknowledging her contribution to theatre in Western Australia.

Jill Perryman and Kevan Johnston at the 2011 WA Screen Awards

WA TV History
The 2011 WA Screen Awards Special on WTV Channel 44 reported on Jill Perryman receiving the Lotterywest Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry.

Also celebrating Coralie’s birthday was the award-winning actress Rosemary Barr, who is regarded as one of Western Australia’s leading and most popular actresses, having appeared with all the major theatre companies in a wide range of plays and musicals. Roz has also appeared on ABC and commercial television and radio. She has toured extensively through Australia, the United Kingdom and the Far and Middle East. She is a winner of the prestigious Swan Gold Award for Best Actress and also of the Equity Award for Best Actress.

Maurie and Sally Ogden were also present on the day…

Maurie and Sally (as Sally Sander) have appeared on stage, film and television in a wide range of productions. They also share a professional connection with Coralie through the Old Time Music Hall and Dirty Dick’s Theatre Restaurant. Venues they have played include the Playhouse Theatre, The Hole in the Wall Theatre, The Effie Crump Theatre, whilst Sally also worked His Majesty’s Theatre, and Maurie appeared at the Regal Theatre, New Fortune Theatre and Subiaco Theatre Centre… to mention a few.

Damien O’Doherty is the daughter of Colm O’Doherty, who performed on Children’s Channel Seven. A program Coralie Condon was associated with in the early days of television in Western Australia. Damien was associated with the Old Time Music Hall, the theatre, and as a stand-up comedian gained a degree of notoriety with her memorable impersonation of Rose Porteous.

John Easton and Rick Hearder appeared on stage together before Coralie enticed John to join TVW Channel 7 as a floor manager. John was also a stage manager at the Playhouse for Coralie’s 1958 production of The Good Oil, and then was the floor manager when it was produced for television by Max Bostock. Many of the original stage cast also appeared in the TV version. John even made a brief appearance.

The former dancer Orrena Elder was famous for her glamorous photos in major British newspapers. So iconic are her images that they remain popular adorning nostalgic posters and items of memorabilia to this day. In recent years, Orrena will be recognised as the friendly receptionist greeting guests at both the former ABC studios in Adelaide Terrace and the new ABC in Fielder Street, East Perth.

Sally Martin is the Office and Front-of-House Manager at the Blue Room Theatre, located at Artshouse in James Street, Northbridge, which was formally part of the Perth Technical College. The Performing Arts Centre Society Inc. (PACS) operates the theatre and fosters folk who are generating and producing their own work.

Prior to doing that, Sally studied classics and languages at the University of Western Australia, became an Associate of the Trinity College of London and gained her Performer’s Shield in dance before going on to do the theatre course at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).

After graduating, Sally worked extensively as an actor and wine promoter and formed the co-operative Actors Waiting and the all female, smoking, drinking and tap dancing group Veuve Click-O.

(No doubt a play on the Widow (veuve in French) Cliquot champagne, which sparkled at the courts of France, Britain, and Russia. An intelligent woman who lived during the French Revolution and took control of her destiny when fate left her on the brink of financial ruin, to rise above and become rich and successful.)

In 1957, Colin Nichol started as an announcer with the 6PM Network (including regional relay stations 6AM Northam, 6KG Kalgoorlie and 6GE Geraldton), just when there was a shift from 78’s to 45’s. A shift driven by a change in music to Elvis Presley and Bill Haley and the Comets. There was also a shift in the dance scene to that of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Prior to this, Coca-Cola was sponsoring a dance show hosted by John Fryer on 6IX, but this would soon change.

In 1959, Coca-Cola got the franchise for the Hi-Fi Club and Colin was appointed President of the Club. This new style of music and associated dance craze was then covered by 6PM. In 1960, TVW launched Teenbeat with the resident band being Clive Higgins and The Zodiac All-Stars, helped by Colin, as were many other artists make it onto the program. It was also the year that Colin was enticed to change stations to 6KY-NA where he became the top rating DJ in Perth, and station Programme Director, whilst 6KY went to Number One as well. This was orchestrated to suit Coca-Cola, with the Hi-Fi Club now following Colin to the Bob Mercer managed station, which was engaged in all manner of innovation from traffic reports to the eye in the sky.

Colin hosted the Coca Cola Hi Fi Club Hops at the Embassy Ballroom from 1959 until 1963. They enjoyed an attendance of between 1,000 and 2,000 teenagers attended these Saturday afternoon dances, until there was competition from Canterbury Court, which ran gigs at the same time.

To gain entrance, the teenagers had to be members, with Membership Cards obtained through Colin’s Hi Fi radio show on 6KY, which was broadcast from 5 to 6pm, five nights a week. Every state club ran on the same format. Johnny O’Keefe and the Dee Jays were the House Band in NSW; Col Joye and the Joy Boys in Victoria and The Penny Rockets in South Australia. These bands made guest appearances on the Perth show, where Bill Blaine and the Dynamics were the house band.

Colin made a name for himself championing many of the new Rock ‘n’ Roll bands of the time. There is a fascinating article about this period of Colin’s life on the Rock & Roll Council of Western Australia web-site.

At the same time that Colin joined 6PM in 1957, Judy Murtath was working with Athol Hill Agency, which represented Coronet Records (based in Sydney, NSW) with a local office in King Street, Perth. The local agency represented several record labels, in addition to Coronet Records, the Australian outlet for CBS Records, which in turn sponsored the Coronet Disc Jockey Conventions at Hayman Island, Terrigal etc., in the early 1960s. Coronet Records was owned by the Australian Record Company (ARC) and set up to market licensed CBS and local recordings. Coronet Records released several hundred recordings between 1956 and 1963, before being taken over by CBS Records.

In 1963 Colin left Perth and headed for Britain to become part of a revolution that impacted on the world music industry and Britain’s broadcasting. Colin spent over two years with Radio Caroline and other ship-based radio stations as an original radio pirate and Chief Announcer for a time. Radio Caroline was an English radio station founded in 1964 which broadcast from a former Danish ferry, renamed MV Caroline, that was anchored three miles (5 km) off the coast of England, just outside British territorial waters. The plan was to circumvent the record companies’ control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC’s radio broadcasting monopoly.

Radio Caroline

A short film about Radio Caroline.

Colin’s distinguished career continued with Radio Luxembourg, which included the post of Deputy Head of the English Service. Then interestingly, Colin joined the BBC as an announcer on both national and World Service networks. He was also a presenter, producer and editor for BBC Radio London. After four years with the BBC, Colin joined the British Forces Broadcasting Service for five years as a producer, announcer, instructor and program director in both Malta and Gibraltar. Since his return to Perth, Colin has been involved with Community Television and Radio. He has also been a guest lecturer to the graduating Media History class at Edith Cowan University in WA.

He continues with his interest in radio and is in regular contact with radio, entertainment and musician friends worldwide. His current major project is to place on record his collection of mementoes from all his activities. At the same time, he researches local history and writes on that and other matters for local newspapers.

Pat Edgar is a former British actress and friend of the theatre dating back to the Edgley era, whilst Julianna Noonan is the Arts Administrator with AEG Ogden (Perth) Pty Ltd, at His Majesty’s Theatre, the company which operates as the agent for the Perth Theatre Trust venues, including His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth Concert Hall, State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, Subiaco Arts Centre and the Albany Entertainment Centre. The parent company manages the largest network of entertainment and sporting venues in the Asia Pacific region.

This is but a small sample of the high calibre of friends who assembled to celebrate Coralie Condon’s birthday on Sunday 20th May, 2012. Of the fifty guests present, they represented a good slice of WA performing arts heritage, which relates to our living memory, for if they had not achieved the ultimate heights themselves within Perth theatre, then they knew or performed with many who had.

More stories…

• Coralie Condon
• Happy Birthday Coralie who is 97 years young on May 16th, 2012
• Coralie Condon’s Post TVW Reunion Get Together
• Coralie Condon welcomes old colleagues
• Coralie Condon’s contributions to theatre and television in WA

AMMPT preserving our broadcasting heritage

The Wireless Hill Museum is now undergoing refurbishment in time for the centenary on September 30th this year. The telecommunications collection has been deaccessioned with the two largest items now in the process of being moved, which will leave the main room clear of exhibits. The first large item is one of the two RCA TRT-1B videotape machines acquired by TVW Channel 7 in Perth, for the 1962 Commonwealth and Empire Games. This machine and its mate were responsible for recording such local classics as “Invitation to the Dance”, “The Good Oil”, “Nutcracker Suite”, “Baptism of Fire”, “Bradman”, inserts for the live variety show “In Perth Tonight” and the teenage program “Club 7 Teen”, and all the popular TVW Channel 7 shows up until the introduction of colour in 1975. They also were used to replay everything presented on videotape from quiz shows such as “Pick a Box” and “Coles Quiz” to “Bandstand”, “Sing Sing Sing” with Johnny O’Keefe, “Sound of Music” with Bobby Limb and “In Melbourne Tonight” with Graham Kennedy. This machine has now been dismantled in preparation for removal to a temporary storage site. The dismantling was largely the efforts of Ross McDonald and Daryl Binning.

TVW’s First Videotape Machine – RCA TRT-IB

WA TV History
TVW Channel 7 in Perth acquired two RCA manufactured TRT-IB two inch quadruplex videotape machines for the 1962 Perth Commonwealth and Empire Games. A third machine was borrowed from RCA for the duration of the games.

The original TVW videotape department staff included Tim Ball, Ernie Taylor, Colin Gorey, Geoff Mortlock and Ken McKay. Shortly after, Peter Hobson, Kevin Reeves, Peter Croft, John Cleary and Eileen Bacon joined the team. A number of other woman also worked in the area during that pioneering era. Eventually, most of TVW’s technical staff became proficient in operating these machines, and particularly the newer transistorised machines when the videotape and telecine areas were combined in one operations area with Kevin Campbell appointed Operations Supervisor, before rising in the ranks to become the Managing Director of TVW. Geoff Mortlock went on to be a Chief Engineer at TVW. John Quicke was the Chief Engineer responsible for the acquisition of the early videotape facilities at Seven.

The other large item still remaining at Wireless Hill Museum is the 10 kilowatt AM (amplitude modulated) radio transmitter, used to broadcast ABC programs from the 1950s till 1972. The facility was provided by the Post Master General’s (PMG) Department, which has since evolved into Telstra and Australia Post. The broadcasting site was located in bushland, then referred to as Wanneroo, but now known as Hamersley. It acted first as a transmitter for 6WN, with programs emanating from the ABC studios in Perth. It was then relocated to 6DL Dalwallinu, to provide a rural service till 1972, when it was replaced by solid state equipment. One well known ABC veteran announcer to broadcast through this transmitter is Earl Reeve.

In 1932, the Australian Broadcasting Commission Act was passed, leading to the Australian Broadcasting Commission taking over the service from the Australian Broadcasting Company (who earlier took over from Wesfarmers), following which the 6WF transmitter was relocated to Wanneroo.

The ABC’s technical services were then provided by the PMG Department, who procured the Wanneroo property for the purpose of establishing a new radio broadcasting station. At the end of the year, the eight year old medium-wave station 6WF, located on the top of the Wesfarmers building in downtown Perth, was retired and a new 5 kW transmitter for this ABC service was installed at Wanneroo.

In 1938, work commenced at Wanneroo for the installation of two additional broadcast transmitters, one medium-wave and one shortwave. The one year old medium-wave 6WN was transferred from the city General Post Office (GPO) building to Wanneroo, and a new shortwave transmitter VLX was installed for coverage of outback areas in Western Australia.

In 1959, the station was rebuilt and three shortwave transmitters installed, two at 10 kW and one at 50 kW. These three units were on the air under the two call-signs, VLW & VLX, and at times, the programming from Radio Australia in Melbourne was relayed by all three of these transmitters for coverage into Africa and Asia. Ten years later, the VLX call-sign was amalgamated into VLW, due to the fact that all three shortwave transmitters were carrying the same ABC programming. VLW9 was on air continuously during broadcast hours, whilst VLW6 covered the mornings and nights. VLW15 covered the daylight hours. Each broadcast on frequencies which took best advantage of the signal propagation for the atmospheric conditions, according to the time of day. Much of the programming emanated from Perth, until the construction of regional studios in Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Bunbury and Albany. Even then, only a small percentage of local regional programming came from the country located studios.

The VLW6, VLW9 and VLW15 shortwave transmitters at Wanneroo are now silent, being withdrawn from service and closed down in 1994.

Suburbia is fast encroaching on the Hamersley (former Wanneroo) transmitting site, with many complaints of radio interference coming from residents who chose to live nearby.

The VLW service was important during times when cyclones cause havoc in the North West of WA. The medium-wave local regional stations were often off the air as a result of storm damage and a loss of power. Program circuits were also interrupted by flooding. As the VLW service emanated from the Perth region, listeners in the north could depend on a consistent signal carrying cyclone warnings and damage updates. As a result of cost cutting and a desire to save on maintenance and equipment updating, it was decided to make Hamersley an unmanned transmitting site with the installation of modern solid state equipment for the medium-wave services 6WF and 6WN, which now included 6PB, the parliamentary service. It was considered that alternate means were available for remote homesteads to receive cyclone updates. They chose to overlook the fact that satellite reception was subject to rain fades, a feature of cyclones, when this decision was made. Once again this reinforced the notion that managers and accountants tend to override engineering wisdom when it comes to saving a dollar.

Different people and different generations have different notions of what’s important. Risk management has become a popular doctrine for those wishing to tighten the purse strings, which is a bit like accepting collateral damage when it comes to killing innocent civilians in a war zone. There will be consequences, but CEO’s and share holders will gain from the sacrifices of others. This doctrine also entered the public service as managers were recruited from private enterprise to replace the public service mentality. In many cases the baby got tossed out with the bath water.

There also seems to be a change in mainstream museum philosophy. In many cases the job of collecting our heritage, in the form of the tools, equipment and structures which formed a part of our development, now falls on the shoulders of concerned groups of enthusiasts doing it freely out of passion.

The conservation of our remaining content, the programs of the era, the biographies of those involved, and significant relics to illustrate how things were, are very important to telling the story of broadcasting… and the evolving history of WA. The loss of archival material, the disposal of cherished collections and the different values of younger curators, will change how future generations see our past. Meanwhile AMMPT is the only entity driven by veterans, enthusiasts, collectors and historians who value these things on the scale necessary for worthwhile preservation of our broadcasting and moving picture industries. They are the folk who lived the era, know what it was like, and understand what really took place.

I was recently listening to one young person’s rationale for pulling down Perth’s old buildings and digging up the Esplanade… to be told that all the old folk who protest will be dead soon so their opinions are irrelevant.

When one of our colleagues was writing his dissertation a few years ago, the professor was not content with it being told as it was, but insisted that it include an investigation into sexual discrimination in the commercial television industry. Interestingly, the ladies of the era did not perceive any, as many filled important roles, such as Coralie Condon, Marion Leyer, Jean Hunsley, Beverly Gledhill and others. True it was the custom that women did not get equal pay for equal work, but that was an industrial matter and more in the political sphere, rather than them being discriminated upon by management. Meanwhile, there was a revolution taking place within the ABC, with the Women’s Broadcasting Cooperative, and the Whitlam Labor government’s commitment to women’s rights, but the ABC was a different culture from the commercial arena. History needs to take into consideration the prevailing mood at the time, and care needs to be taken not to misrepresent it. Unfortunately, political correctness tends to cast harsh value judgements on some happenings, when there was no sinister intent. One needs to take care that the truth is not filtered by zealous upholders of an alternate reality… who weren’t part of the history.

How often do we see news reports that misconstrue a situation… one only has to watch the ABC’s “Media Watch” to realise how many errors are made in the reporting of current events. Today’s news becomes tomorrows history, so the likelihood of inaccuracies creeping into the story telling multiplies as time passes. The people who lived it need to document it before memories fade, giving credit where its due, as we celebrate our industry’s achievements. The equipment of yesteryear was massive compared to that of today. Most homes now have a digital video recorder that captures television programs in high definition. These devices are many times more sophisticated and smaller than the massive RCA video recorder AMMPT is preserving. Yet in 1962 it was the latest technology, which needed a team to operate and maintain. How else can one demonstrate how this was done, unless examples are kept so future generations can have an understanding of where things came from and how we arrived where we are today?

AMMPT is constantly expanding its horizons as the collection grows. There now exists an impressive accumulation of cinema artefacts with the broadcasting collection gathering increasing momentum. Its important therefore that the people who are most familiar with this equipment play a role in its preservation. For this reason we urge all veterans of the related industries to participate in the social and other activities aimed at this purpose. The past and present engineers, technicians, operators, personalities, performers, reporters, support staff and management are all encouraged to become involved.

Further reading:

Urgent need for space to store broadcasting relics

• AMMPT Appeal for Storage Space
• Finding a new home for TV stations and memorabilia
• New Age Museums can dramatically boost tourism

Wireless Hill Future – in six parts

The following series of articles explains why the Telecommunications Museum space will now be devoted to other things.

• Wireless Hill Future – Part 1 of 6
• Wireless Hill Future – Part 2 of 6
• Wireless Hill Future – Part 3 of 6
• Wireless Hill Future – Part 4 of 6
• Wireless Hill Future – Part 5 of 6
• Wireless Hill Future – Part 6 of 6

With STW Channel 9 approaching its 50th anniversary in 2015, and a spate of recent reunions in both television and radio, the suggestion has been put forward to establish a group to celebrate our past and the many friendships formed. The notion that a 7-2-9-10 Club, which also embraces radio, entertainers and allied fields, could be a goer if we find a suitable venue. AMMPT has offered their meeting place as a regular venue for just that.

• Notion of a 7-2-9-10 Club
• ABW Channel 2 – 50th Reunion
• TVW Reunion Photos
• TVW Engineering Reunion 2012
• Reunion Dinner at the historic Romany Restaurant
• Radio 6PM Reunion
• Radio 6PM Reunion – Video and Photos
• 96FM 30th Anniversary Reunion
• Kings Park Mini-Reunion
• Coralie Condon’s Post TVW Reunion Get Together
• Coralie Condon welcomes old colleagues

“The first lady of Western Australian television” deserves that honour on so many levels. Not only is Coralie the grande dame of WA theatre, being a playwright, composer, actor, producer and director of not only stage productions, but also kick started local television production in WA.

Coralie was also the first woman employed by TVW Channel 7 and the first lady seen live on WA television, on the evening prior to the official opening night.

On May 16th, 2012, Coralie will be celebrating her 97th birthday. As the below links will show, she still takes a keen interest in the theatre and everything else for that matter. Coralie regularly entertains friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry.

May 16th is Coralie Condon’s birthday

WA TV History
We wish her well for her birthday, and for many more thereafter.

More stories…

• Coralie Condon
• Coralie Condon’s Post TVW Reunion Get Together
• Coralie Condon welcomes old colleagues
• Coralie Condon’s contributions to theatre and television in WA

Classics of the Silver Screen

The Australian Museum of Motion Picture and Television (Inc) has a passion for preserving the heritage of the film and broadcasting industries. Members of the television fraternity will remember their “50 years of television broadcasting in Western Australia” exhibition in Fremantle to coincide with Channel Seven’s 50th anniversary. It was an exhibition that commemorated the activities of all television stations in this State.

AMMPT also conduct a regular public fund raising event at the Cygnet Cinema on the third Sunday morning of each month.

To Have and Have Not

To Have and Have Not - Plot Synopsis

Expatriate American Harry Morgan (Humphrey Bogart) and his alcoholic sidekick, Eddie (Walter Brennan), are based on the island of Martinique right after the fall of France in 1940 and tensions are high. As a French colonial possession, Martinique fell into the hands of the Vichy collaborationist government. Harry and Eddie crew a boat available for hire where they take rich American tourists on fishing junkets. A shooting in a nightclub of his client Johnson (Walter Sande) gets him involved with the local Vichy police, Capt. Renard (Dan Seymour) and Lt. Coyo (Sheldon Leonard), and the politics of the island. However, since the second world war is happening around them business is not what it could be and after a customer who owes them a large sum fails to pay, they are forced against their better judgement to violate their preferred neutrality and to take a job for the resistance transporting a fugitive couple on the run from the Nazis to Martinique. Mme. Hellene de Bursac (Dolores Moran) and Paul de Bursac (Walter Szurovy) are smuggled off the island by Morgan, at his own risk; they are sought by the local branch of the Gestapo. Through all this runs the stormy relationship between Morgan and Marie “Slim” Browning (Lauren Bacall), a mysterious young woman who loves adventure and is looking for a way to get back to the USA. She is also a resistance sympathiser and the sassy singer in the club where Morgan spends most of his days.

ADMISSION PRICES:

May 18, 2008
AMMPT Members	$ 5.00
Seniors Card Holders	$ 8.00
Public	$10.00

AMMPT Membership and Seniors Card must be shown.

For further information phone the Cygnet on 9367 1663 or Email: ammpt@iinet.net.au

All profits from the screenings used to further the Association’s objectives. Preserving the heritage of Australia’s Moving Image industries.

In 2007, TVW veteran Richard Ashton wrote and directed a documentary on the activities of a band of cinema and TV pioneers. One segment related to the dedicated team from AMMPT who congregate one Sunday each month to conduct screenings of classic movies from the heyday of Hollywood. The nostalgic venue for these former big studio productions is the Cygnet Cinema in Como, Western Australia. Adding to the charm of the occasion is that the cinema is a fine example of Art Deco style architecture, with the building being nominated by the National Trust in 1995 for the WA Register of Historic Buildings, and then included in the Register of the National Estate in 1997.

AMMPT Members in Action at Cygnet Cinema and TV activities 2006-2007

WA TV History
AMMPT members appearing in the video include: George Robinson, Barry Goldman, Tony Smith, Gerry Voutsinas, Graham Lacey, Peter Foyster, John and Kathleen Richman-Scott, the late Hedley Sims and Eddie Herbert, and many more. Eddie Mills provided the narration.

The Cygnet Cinema was originally named The Como Theatre, with the building designed by architect William Leighton, for cinema pioneer James Stiles. Leighton designed several Perth cinemas, including the Piccadilly Theatre and Arcade, Windsor Theatre, and Astor Theatre, as well as the refurbishment of the Royal Theatre and Grand Theatre.

The Como Theatre (Cygnet) was officially opened in March 1938, to be the most modern cinema in the district. It superseded both the Gaiety Picture Theatre, situated on the corner of Coode and Angelo Streets, and Hurlingham Picture Theatre on Canning Highway in size, and was the first cinema in the area built to screen ‘talkies’. James Stiles was involved with all three cinemas.

The central tower with balcony and steel railings, gave the theatre a nautical theme, with three ‘port hole’ windows facing Preston Street. The tower originally marked the main entrance at ground level, with the ‘bio box’ on the upper level. The ‘bio box’ was designed to allow the projector to be rolled between the indoor auditorium and the outdoor garden screens. The entrance and foyer of the cinema was shifted west in 1964, and the original entrance area converted into part of the sweets counter. The gardens closed in 1971.

The Cygnet remains as an example of the many film theatres built in Perth and the suburbs, between the world wars, during a period of great movie going popularity. It was the mass entertainment form of the era, being more affordable than most live theatre, though its popularity waned following the introduction of television.

After James Stiles’ death in 1944, the cinema was operated by South Perth Theatres Pty Ltd, which was absorbed into City Theatres in 1968. At that time it was air-conditioned and extensively remodelled, to hold only 510, and re-opened as the Cygnet on 4 July 1968. It was named Cygnet to associate the cinema with the Festival of Perth, the logo of which is a swan. Despite the name change, the original Broadway face type lettering stating ‘The Como Theatre’ around the ‘bio box’ still exists.

The cinema was leased briefly by Hoyts until Glen Darlington became involved in 1969, followed by Ron Moody. The building remained owned by the Stiles family, and was managed from 1984 till 2009 by the late Eddie Herbert. The cinema is now managed by AMMPT member Graham Kahn.

In 2010, the Cygnet owner Colin Stiles announced a $20 million concept for redeveloping the vacant land and other property surrounding the theatre.

“We still plan to retain the ambience of the cinema but need to make it more viable because the public now expect a higher standard of comfort,” he said.

He proposes building four new cinemas, upgrading the existing Cygnet with the latest digital technology, whilst respecting the heritage elements. There will also be a gold class lounge, an outdoor screening garden, restaurants, shops and offices with an underground carpark. The emphasis will be on commercial viability with diversified income streams.

The proposal is expected to add much to the economic life of Preston Street, with the opportunity to challenge Mends Street as a vibrant hub of activity.

Though the WA TV History group is a separate entity from the Australian Museum of Motion Picture and Television (Inc) we share a passion for preserving the heritage of the broadcasting and film industries. The following will give a glimpse of what AMMPT is doing in the following months. The museum association is still looking for a permanent home and is in constant need for additional storage space as their vast collection of equipment and memorabilia grows.

Western Region April Meeting

After an unfortunate hiatus to the regular monthly events, the first for 2012 was held at the RSL hall on April 18th. The Committee was pleased to see the very large number of members who responded. There was also a few new members, some whom fortunately brought a camera to record the event.

The main attraction was our speaker for the evening, AMMPT film librarian Keith Rutherford. Keith explained the progress being made with culling and cataloguing items in the film collection, as well as highlighting the need to digitise this and other material. The various forms of digitisation were covered, from the very basic videoing of a projected image on a screen, the multiplexer, and to the more sophisticated methods available today.

AMMPT intends to establish a team drawn from expertise available in all branches and formulate a project to explore the concept of providing professional digitisation services, not only a means of contributing to preserving our visual heritage, but also as an income stream for regional branches. Members who would like to be involved are asked to contact Keith on 08 9446 1627 or krut@bigpond.net.au

Following the presentation, members inspected a range of early 16mm projectors drawn from AMMPT’s collection and also from its members, Brian Lyons, Richard Rennie and Ian Stimson. The programme for the rest of the year’s events was explained. (Please see below)

AMMPT Western region events

Meetings are held at our regular venue, the East Vic Park RSL Hall, Fred Bell Parade, Bentley on the third Wednesday of each month from February to November between 7:30pm and 10pm.

.

May

Wed. 16th

Preventative Conservation

Presented by Dr. Ian Godfrey, Also video of Mawson’s Hut project.

June

Wed. 20th

Before the Pathe cinematograph

Presented by Steve Austin, including vintage equipment display

July

Wed. 18th

From 6WF to the ABC

Richard Rennie traces the history of the West Australian Farmers Cooperative radio station 6WF till it was taken over by the ABC

August

Sat. 4th

Visit to RAAFA Museum- Contact D. Binning 9310 3377 for details

Wed. 15th

Screenwest presentation- Learn of the many facets of our Corporate member’s operations and how it assists our local moving image industry

September

Wed. 12th - 1.30 pm

SAS Museum visit – Special entry conditions apply. Contact D. Binning

Wed. 19th

Vizcom presentation – See and learn of the latest electronic equipment available to our industry which was displayed at the recent NAB show.

October

Wed. 17th

Importance of community museums

Presentation by Alec Coles, Director WA Museum

Annual general meeting

It has been usual to hold the AGM in October. However there is a possibility this may be changed to early in the New Year.

November

Wed. 21st

End of year Social event. Details to be advised.

Please Note:

When time permits, selected titles from our 16mm film library will conclude each event held at the RSL hall.

Tea & coffee provided.

Please wear your AMMPT name badge/membership card to these events. It will assist members to get to know each other

.

And don’t forget;

CLASSICS OF THE SILVER SCREEN

Our regular public fund raising event at the Cygnet Cinema on the third Sunday morning of each month.

If you cant make it, please encourage others to attend.

Tribute to Gerry Bahen (1929 – 2012)

Jocelyn and Bret Treasure advised us of some very sad news last week, but also recounted some wonderful memories.

It was a week in which the ANZAC Day Derby Cup football match between the South Fremantle Bulldogs and East Fremantle Sharks proved a real dampener, when play was firstly hampered by an hour of torrential rain, secondly the Sharks claimed the Sir Hughie Edwards Cup in an 85-point victory, and most solemn of all the Bulldogs were mourning the passing of their triple premiership defender Gerry Bahen, at the age of eighty three. The South Fremantle team all wore black armbands and there was an oral tribute to Gerry at half-time.

Jocelyn points out that the Bahen’s are a unique and very close family with a wonderful individual sense of humour.

Gerry’s wife Adrian is known by the name ‘Jimmie’ which of course used to confuse everyone when they were introduced, and Gerry used to say “I’m the flat-chested one”.

Jimmie is also my dear and very special friend. After Brian died she and Gerry used to take me down to their holiday house on Molloy Island (where Blackwood River meets the Scott River and flows into the Hardy Inlet near Augusta). I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much as I used to during those times. Wonderful people.

TVW staff will remember Gerry as the Film Manager from 1961 to 1966, then as the Concessions and Bar Manager at the Perth Entertainment Centre from 1974 to 1977.

The sad news was first brought to our attention by Bret Treasure, who said:

Just had a call from Joc who is a close friend of the Bahens; Gerry just passed away, surrounded by family. A man of great courage; endured health issues without complaint for almost all of his life. Just a wonderful family man, a close friend to many and a highly regarded member of the Fremantle and sporting communities for (I’d reckon) nearly seventy years. Survived by his wife Jimmie and four adult children.

Gerry was born into a business and sporting family. In the sporting arena, he achieved the rare feat of playing league football in the VFL before debuting in his home State. He learned his football at Aquinas College, being in a number of unbeaten sides in the early post-war years. Gerry was the Head Prefect. At school he was also prominent in tennis and boxing. Following this he played nine reserves games at South Fremantle in 1949 before his job took him to Melbourne, where he joined the Mentone Football Club in the Federal League, which was unaffiliated with the Victorian Football League (VFL). Mentone was a successful feeder club with a number of footballers then going on to play higher-level football, at different clubs. Games held under the auspices of the Federal League were perceived to be rougher and more colourful, and the footballers were usually well known to spectators. The six foot and thirteen stone Gerry was well suited to playing a defensive position, where his reliable marking and long clearing kicks proved a feature of his game. The next season, Gerry was approached by North Melbourne and joined the line up with the Kangaroos for eight games, before returning to Western Australia in 1952.

Gerry soon became a reliable half-back playing with South Fremantle where he participated in the WAFL premierships of 1952 (Vs West Perth), 1953 (Vs West Perth) and 1954 (Vs East Fremantle) to make it three wins in a row. Gerry also finished fifth in the 1954 Sandover Medal count with 12 votes, being the highest scoring South player, and represented Western Australia against Victoria. Meanwhile when not training or playing, Gerry was managing his father’s P&O Hotel in Fremantle.

The Bahen family had run the P&O Hotel in Fremantle for many years where Gerry’s father Clem was the publican from 1934.

Clement Michael (Clem) Bahen was a highly regarded football player too, playing 158 games for Subiaco between 1917 and 1928, where he was one of the club’s finest wingmen, and equally damaging on the half-forward line. His blistering pace and freakish leap made him a star in the 1920s, and he was a regular State representative. Clem Bahen was also a champion foot runner and one of the State’s best known and most popular citizens. For some 10 years prior to his interest in the hotel business Clem was managing director of C. M. Bahen Ltd., a linotyping business supplying the printing industry with typesetting slugs. Earlier he gained four years of business experience in the Commercial and Commonwealth banks.

Following the 1955 season, at the age of twenty six, and after eighty games, Gerry Bahen decided to quit the game in favour of his family and business commitments. Then in 1961, Gerry joined TVW as the Film Manager, where he was highly regarded.

Gerry’s father Clem passed away in 1966, at 65 years of age. Once again Gerry answered the call in favour of his family and business commitments, until his friend Brian Treasure enticed him back into the fold as the Concessions and Bar Manager at the Perth Entertainment Centre from 1974. A Channel Seven subsidiary which Treasure had championed from its inception.

The Fremantle Campus of the University of Notre Dame Australia now holds the lease for the P&O Hotel where students live in dorm-like accommodations located in the heart of downtown Fremantle, close to the academic buildings of UNDA. The refurbished P&O Hotel now includes student rooms (double occupancy), shared bathrooms, living areas, and cooking facilities. As part of UNDA, it is now designated as Building ND5 (former P&O Hotel), Lecture Rooms 113 & 106, Student Residence and Staff Flat.

Gerry maintained his close association with South Fremantle Football Club, serving as a committeeman, vice president, bar manager and was made an Honorary Member. He was a patron of the club, and organised the annual “Gerry Bahen Classic”, an athletic event.

Gerry maintained that Steve Marsh was the best he played with.

“Marshy reckoned I never had enough mongrel,” he laughed. “He always threatened to give me a backhander as I ran onto the ground to stir me up.”

Gerry was a life member and a popular figure at the Bulldogs, and will certainly be missed at the club on a Friday night.

Former TVW News Editor Darcy Farrell reminds us that:

Gerry was a wonderful human being; kind and personable, staunch and loyal; a person whose company everyone enjoyed. He generated so much camaraderie among so many people.

Former TVW Sales Manager and National Sales Manager Stan Fildes reports that:

Lois and I are very sad about Gerry’s passing; we were good friends of the Bahen’s in the early days. The whole Bahen family in fact, were very kind and hospitable people, and we spent many happy hours with Gerry and Jimmy in particular.

Gerry was the quintessential gentle giant and (as Bret said) was a man of great courage and fortitude in that he never gave anyone the slightest clue that he had constant, nagging discomfort (to say the least) with his health problems—that lasted a lifetime.

Thank you again for letting us know of Gerry’s passing, he was an inspiration to all of us who think we are doing it tough with our aches and pains—as well as being a real man amongst lesser mortals!

Former TVW General Manager Bill McKenzie points out that Gerry was:

An absolute champion bloke who will be sorely missed. Leaves a big hole in our lives.

Audrey Long (former Barnaby) was also touched by his passing.

I’m so sad to hear about Gerry. I met his wife Jimmie, her maiden name was the same as mine, Burgess.

Keith Bales passed on the following sentiment:

Sorry to hear this sad news. Sincere condolences to Gerry’s Family.

Former TVW Managing Director Kevin Campbell echoed these feelings:

Very sad, Gerry was a very nice fella.

Published in The West Australian

Gerry Bahen (1929 – 2012)
Gerry passed away 24.4.2012. Much loved husband of Jim for 58 years and father to Peter, Tracey, Kelly and Cathryn. Beautiful Grandfather to 9. My friend, confidante and gentle man. You have created a lifetime of stories and precious memories to cherish forever. Love, your James.

Published in The West Australian on April 26, 2012

BAHEN (Gerald Edmund):
Wonderful memories of a kind, thoughtful and loyal friend. A champion in every respect.
Deepest sympathy to Jimmy, Tracey, Peter, Kelly, Catherine and all the grandchildren. Gerry will be fondly remembered and sorely missed.
Judi and Bill.

BAHEN (Gerry): Deepest sympathy to Jimmy and family. Cousin to Jennifer, Wendy and Mervyn.

BAHEN (Gerald): Deepest sympathy to Jimmy and family on the passing of Gerry, a very loyal and much loved friend of Stan and Ida Robinson (both dec). A great friend to the Robinson and Chadwick families, he will be sadly missed. Rest in peace.

BAHEN (Gerald):
Deepest sympathy to Jimmy and the Bahen family. We have lost a loving and true friend. Anne and Peter Hickey and family.

Published in: The West Australian Friday, 27 April 2012

BAHEN (Gerald):
Loved and loving brother of Geraldine and Neil. Loved and admired uncle of Genevieve, Andrew, David and Jeremy and families. You’ll be sadly missed Geraldo, our hero.
Loved you so much – Bub

BAHEN (Gerry):
Loving son-in-law and brother-in-law to Grandy (dec) and Sybil, good mates with Don and Bruce, a friend to Lee, Grace, Jen and Nic.
You lived a life many would envy. Rest in peace mate.

BAHEN (Gerry):
Great memories of my good mate and dear friend Gerry. Deepest sympathy to Jimmy and family.
Joan and Norm Smith.

BAHEN (Gerry):
Great memories of a champion SFFC player and a champion bloke.
Sincere sympathy to Jimmy and family.
Ric Gloede

BAHEN (Gerry):
Sincere sympathy to Jimmy and family. A great bloke. Mal and Kay Brown

BAHEN (Gerald):
Deepest sympathy to Jimmie and family. Will have happy memories of a true friend and gentleman. Archie and Irene MacLeod and family.

BAHEN (Gerald):
Deepest sympathy to Peter and family. Dennis and Noreen O’Rourke.

BAHEN (G):
Happy memories of a true and loyal friend. Love to Jimmy and family.
Pud, Eunice and Rhonda

BAHEN (Gerald):
Loving steadfast stout- hearted and wise.
An incomparable and irreplaceable gentle giant of a friend. Our hearts go out to our darling Jim and to Tracey, Peter, Kelly, Cath and their families.
Precious memories of Gerry will stay alive in our hearts forever. Jocelyn, Brian (dec), Brett Pollock and all the Treasure family.

BAHEN (Gerald):
The South Fremantle Football Club is saddened to hear of the passing of one of the great players of our golden era. Gerry, a triple premiership player and highly esteemed life member, will be sorely missed but not forgotten. Deepest sympathy to Jimmie and family on your sad loss. From the President, Board of Directors, Staff, Players and Members of the South Fremantle Football Club.

BAHEN (Gerry):
Forever in our hearts. Deepest sympathy to Jimmy and family.
Love Leeanne and Geoff Beard and family.

BAHEN (Gerald):
In memory of our dear friend Gerry.
He was involved in the South Fremantle Football Club for a long time.
Deepest sympathy to Jimmy and family.
He is now resting in peace.
Des and Marlene Kelly.

BAHEN (Gerry):
Heartfelt sympathy to Jimmy, Pete, Tracey, Kelly, Cathy and family on the loss of a wonderful man. Our love and thoughts are with you. All our love Rob, Chrissie, Allira and Tanika.

Published in: The West Australian Saturday, 28 April 2012

BAHEN (Gerry):
A friend from childhood who will always be remembered for his good humour, loyalty, integrity and determination. One of life’s characters. He was the flag bearer for a special family.
Peter and Marie Smith.

BAHEN (Gerry):
Fremantle has lost a special identity and I lost my best friend. My heartfelt thoughts are with Jimmy and family.
Alec Smith.

BAHEN (Gerry):
Deepest sympathy to Jimmy and family. From the old Saturday morning group, Mick, Dudley, Bill, Freddie, Laurie and Ron.

BAHEN (Gerry): Great memories of Gerry, who played a big part in Freo town. Deepest sympathy to Jimmy and family. Brian and Coralie Anderson.

BAHEN (Gerry):
Dear Gerry, friend of many years. God bless. Deepest sympathy to Jimmy and all the Bahen families.
Sheila M

BAHEN (Gerry):
Deepest sympathy to Jimmy, Pete, Tracey, Kelly, Cathy and families. Gerry was a true gentleman, a good listener and a great friend. Alf and Lorraine.

BAHEN (Gerry):
To dear Jimmy and family our heartfelt sympathy to all of you.
Gerry, a “true blue” Fremantle man of a wonderful family.
A Mighty Bulldog Love Rikki and Des Dans and family. Bill and Liz (dec) Brennan.

BAHEN (Gerry):
Heartfelt sympathy to Jimmy, Peter, Tracey, Kelly and Cath and families.
RIP dear friend.
Dulcie Seinor and family.

BAHEN (Gerald):
Loving sympathy to dear Jimmy and family on the sad loss of your beloved Gerry. Our friendship was over many years and we will miss you especially at our Friday lunches.
Avis and Fred, Norma, Geoff and families.

BAHEN (Gerry):
Farewell to a special man with special qualities. Sympathy to Jimmi and family. Darcy Farrell.

BAHEN (Gerald):
Generous Gerald, recently known as the rooster. A great mate, special family friend and fellow Bali traveller.
He will be greatly missed and always remembered.
With love Yvonne, Alan, Alex, Tom, Brian and Carole

Published in: The West Australian Monday, 30 April 2012

BAHEN (Gerald):
It is with great sadness we say goodbye to our lifelong friend Gerry of over 50 years, leaving us with cherished memories that will remain with us all forever. Heartfelt sympathy to dear Jimmy and all the Bahen families. Gerry was a helping hand always ready to lend, nice to everyone, nasty to none, to all of us you were number one. Rest in peace. Brian and Kay.

BAHEN (Gerry):
Dear Jimmy, Peter, Tracey, Kelly, Cath and families warm and special thoughts are with you all at this sad time. Barry, Lynn and family.

BAHEN (Gerald):
My deepest sympathy to Jimmie and family on the passing of Gerry.
Jim Browne.

BAHEN (Gerry):
To Jimmy and family, our sincere sympathy on the passing of dear Gerry. A lovely friend and beautiful Dad. Thinking of you all, the Byers family

BAHEN (Gerry):
Dear Gerry, you were the epitomy of a true gentle man. Heartfelt sympathy to you Jimmy and family. Lots of love Patricia Giudice and family.

BAHEN (Gerry): Deepest sympathy to Jimmy and family. We have been left with some fun memories of our days at the P&O Hotel and Park Tavern. Will always be remembered. Tom G, Chookie K, Ray Mc and Phil J. Rest in peace.

BAHEN (Gerry):
To Jimmy, Peter, Tracy, Kelly and Catherine and families our prayers and thoughts are with you. In memory of a fine gentleman, a true friend and a wonderful neighbour. Our Perth home will never be the same without you and your cheeky smile. Rest in peace dear Gerry. Forever in God’s loving arms. Mark, Gay, Ross, Terry, Teresa, Maria and families.

Gerald BAHEN (Funeral notice)

A Requiem Mass for the late Gerald Edmund Bahen of Fremantle will be held at the Basilica of St Patrick 47 Adelaide St, Fremantle at 10.15am on WEDNESDAY (2.5.2012).
At the conclusion of the Service the Cortege will proceed to FREMANTLE Cemetery for a Cremation Service commencing at 12.00 noon.
No flowers by request. Donations in lieu to Silver Chain would be appreciated.

Prosser Scott FREMANTLE 9335-2682

Tribute to Garry Meadows who passed away on Thursday, July 22nd, 1982.

Garry had an early involvement with the stage appearing at the Patch, Repertory and Playhouse Theatres. One occasion was in 1957 when Sol Sainken produced a play titled ‘Small Hotel’ by Rex Frost, which starred Garry Meadows and Frank Baden-Powell at the Playhouse. The Playhouse had only been recently built and was opened the year before on 22 August 1956.

Two years earlier, the Repertory Club lighting electrician Ian Stimson first met Garry when he was in the cast of “The Importance of being Ernest”.

I did the lighting for that show and we both bumped out a lot of the furnishings after that theatre closed up and truck loads of props went to the Playhouse.

I worked the first show there when the theatre opened and Garry Meadows was in the cast of “Tea House of the August Moon”.

Garry then went on to become a well known radio and television presenter both in Perth and in the eastern states, before his untimely death at 43.

Garry joined radio station 6IX as a breakfast announcer in 1959.

In 1960, he moved into television with TVW Channel Seven as a newsreader and host of the teenage music program Teenbeat, but departed Seven at the end of 1961.

Tribute to Garry Meadows (1939 – 1982)

WA TV History
Garry was known not only as a great entertainer but also as an interesting character, a bit of a wild one in the early years before he mellowed.

After a job with a Newcastle, NSW, radio station, Garry returned to Perth in 1967 to host TVW’s Spellbound and take over In Perth Tonight from his friend Gary Carvolth.

1968 was a busy time for Garry, who also hosted Perth’s New Faces and was the front man for Bairds department store commercials, compering at the Nan King restaurant, whilst Martin St James performed his hypnotism cabaret act, and being a top radio personality with 6PR.

Garry Meadows, was one of the first disc jockeys to incorporate talkback radio into his morning program when it was considered so revolutionary. When he and on-air partner, actress Joan Bruce, made personal appearances, thousands of people turned out.

In 1968, Garry was one of the principal hosts for TVW’s first Telethon, appearing alongside Graham Kennedy, Bobby Limb, Stuart Wagstaff and Johnny O’Keefe.

In 1970 and 1971, Garry represented Western Australia at the Logie Awards, winning the Best Male Personality category (for TVW-7).

In 1973 he went back to Melbourne to host a national games quiz show The Price is Right (1973-1974) on the 0-10 Network, he also briefly hosted The Newlyweds Game for the 0-10 Network, returning again to 6PR in 1977, but left the station in 1978.

In the excellent book on Australian radio titled ‘Don’t Touch That Dial’ by Wayne Mac, the page devoted to 6PR mentions that Garry Meadows was at the station between 1967 to 1973, and then returned in 1977.

Darcy Farrell kindly points out that Garry made a brief appearance in the 1976 Australian movie Mad Dog Morgan starring Dennis Hopper.

Also that year, Garry appeared in the comedy TV series The Bluestone Boys, then in 1977 he was in Bluey, followed by Bobby Dazzler in 1978 and Prisoner in 1980. Garry also hosted the 1980 Christmas Appeal (on TEN).

Garrett Seaton (Garry) Meadows passed away on Thursday, July 22nd, 1982. Garry died of a heart attack as he arrived at the 3DB studios in Melbourne for his evening radio program. He collapsed in the walkway at the Herald Building and ambulance-men worked for more than an hour to try to revive him. He had been found lying on his back by a member of the 3DB staff at about 7pm. Garry was due to go on-air at 8pm.

Garry was survived by his wife Rhonda and four children, Blake, Kelly, Tonya and Lee.