With the 50th anniversary of television in WA fast approaching. Not only are former staff of TVW Channel 7 busy organizing a reunion for Sunday 18th of October, 2009, but another committee of industry pioneers and memorabilia collectors is planning a museum exhibit to commemorate the occasion. This exhibit will cover the last 50 years of television broadcasting from the viewpoint of all stations.

Sadie Purser, the Seven 50th Anniversary program producer, also attends the TVW reunion planning meetings, along with Jill Glass of Seven Promotions. The event is being organized by former staff, for the benefit of past and present staff. The function will not be an official Channel Seven corporate event. It is anticipated that Seven will announce the official events in the near future.

Sadie Purser and Bret Treasure in the TVW board room for one of the monthly reunion planning meetings.

TVW has kindly assisted in making the reunion possible by allowing the studios to be used as a venue and providing catering. The generosity of a number of sponsors will cover all other expenses. The reunion will therefore be free to all who attend.

It needs to be emphasized that all staff, both past and present, are invited to the TVW reunion. Anyone wishing to attend will need to register. The planning committee needs to know how many are coming, and Seven needs to know the number of people to cater for. Attendees also need to abide by various common sense procedures to cover the station regarding occupational health and safety issues. Hence the simple registration formalities.

TVW pioneers remember the family atmosphere in the early days at Seven. Workers would mingle with management in the canteen, and lines of communications were good. Everyone was enthused by the new medium, and keen to explore the many opportunities, as fresh ideas and developments unfolded. The TVW reunion wishes not only to celebrate the many achievements over the decades, but also the team spirit that made this all happen. What better way to commemorate the occasion than in a social atmosphere, sharing a drink and reminiscing with old colleagues, within the former work environment, responsible for so many fond memories. Formalities will be kept to a minimum and Gary Carvolth will be the master of ceremonies.

The reunion is a rank and file affair, where all retirees are treated as equal. Not only have many former management registered, but so have many production, program, news, technical, operational, clerical, sales and support staff. Word is gradually getting out through the media, but word of mouth is important too, as not all veterans have the internet, and can easily miss a published article or radio interview. Your valued help is most appreciated in getting the message out.

AMMPT President Daryl Binning reports that, “AMMPT is seeking assistance of those attending the TVW reunion and others who may be interested in preserving the history of our industry in a tangible form that can be appreciated by future generations. Our exhibition 50 Years of WA TV which will run from October to December needs volunteers who can spend a few hours interacting with the public and meeting with old colleagues at the Fremantle display. Membership is also available to those who have a deeper committment to preserving the heritage of our industry. If you would like to be involved on a casual or more long term basis, please contact our Membership Secretary. Eddie Mills on 9447 4531 or by email edmills@optusnet.net.au Our objectives and newsletters can be found on our web page www.ammpt.asn.au“

Between 1970 and 1973 Hilary Everard was the Secretray to David Farr Station Manager, 6IX, Acting Secretary to Brian Treasure and Assistant Secretary to Jim Cruthers.

Hilary said that she has many fond memories of the station and working for TVW and 6IX executives shaped her for future employment.

Here is Hilary’s account of those happy days…

My very first encounter with 7 was singing on a show called In Perth Tonight hosted by Garry Meadows. Not ever imagining that I would one day work there.

I took over from the retiring Secretary at Radio 6IX in 1970 which was located in Mounts Bay Road . TVW bought Radio 6IX. and staff who wanted to come across did. I was one of the lucky ones

I was then absorbed into TVW and worked with Mignon McCurry who was Jim Cruthers Personal Secretary, Frank Moss and Alf Binks. During this time I was asked to relieve Gwen Andrews, Brian Treasure’s Secretary. I must say I was very nervous when asked. I am glad to say that Brian (RIP) was a marvellous Manager and told me not to be scared, I can still picture him telling me that with a smile on his face.

I was later promoted as Personal Secretary to David Farr Radio 6IX’s Manager. I also assisted the Sales Manager and his team and met the great Barry Cable. He was such a gentleman.

During this time, I took part in Telethons and as you can see an Hawaiin girl in one of the Miss West Coasts with Garry Meadows (RIP). I am also featured after leaving TVW7 singing on a couple of the Telethons in the mid 80s.

Hilary is to the left of Premier John Tonkin, Garry Meadows and the Miss West Coast winner and place getters.

My fun times also was when some of us girls took up some after hours work ushering at those wrestling matches at Perry Lakes; weekend work in the Newsroom. We would be out there on those hot balmy nights, I must say wrestling was not my cup of tea.

My best training and working years were at 7 and I am so proud to have been part of this great heritage.

I hope my contribution adds to the many happy memories at Seven.

Thank you Hilary, your account of events is most appreciated and we would like to receive more stories about staff experiences, during the golden era of TVW Channel Seven.

Nigel Felangue was a still photographer with TVW from 1959 to 1961.

It is most fortunate that Nigel collected much paraphernalia in those early days, otherwise the slides, photos and artwork presented on this page, and the image gallery that follows, would not exist. Much old material found its way into the rubbish bins, some discarded when no longer needed while other items were disposed of. Thankfully a number of caring staff kept souvenirs. At one sad point there was a misguided attempt to recover the silver content from old black and white film footage. Fortunately others scrambled to hide important reels of film before being destroyed in this way. Even videotaped material seems to have been discarded indiscriminately at various times. An effort was made in the late 1960’s to archive videotape excerpts from key programs and important events. Some of this has not survived. Luckily, many staff kept examples of their work, either on videotape, film or photographic forms, and scrap books containing newspaper clippings, memos, cards, etc. Thanks to the many people involved, these items are now finding their way onto our website, and may one day find a home in a permanent museum.

Now is the time to collect, catalogue, prioritize, and preserve not only the oral history and photographs, but also the memorabilia, vintage equipment and in particular important videotape and film records, which will otherwise deteriorate with time.

Fortunately people are aware of this, and we are hopeful that strategies will be put in place so that key material will be kept as a legacy for future generations.

The following slides are an example of material preserved by Nigel Felangue.

Disneyland

Revue 61

Meet Tom Lehrer

Tom Lehrer is an American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician. Lehrer’s style consists of parodying various forms of popular song. Lehrer went on a tour of Australia in 1960. Though he was liked by some, including the press, and Princess Margaret, he was thought of as a highly offensive person. Following the tour, he released the album Tom Lehrer Discovers Australia (And Vice Versa).

If I Had a Million

If I Had a Million was a 1932 comedy/drama movie about a wealthy Tycoon John Glidden (Richard Bennett), who is so dissatisfied with his relatives and associates that, rather than will his money to any of them, he decides to give it away in million-dollar amounts to strangers picked from the city directory. First, he gives the money to Henry Peabody (Charlie Ruggles), a henpecked husband who is always having his salary deducted when he accidentally breaks china at the china shop that he works at. His nagging wife won’t let him be. So, to get revenge, he takes his million to the store and breaks every piece of china in the place. Violet Smith (Wynne Gibson) is the next to get her million. She is a prostitute at a local bar, and she takes her money to rent a private hotel room for the night, to sleep alone. Gangster Eddie Jackson (George Raft) is unable to cash the cheque because he’s been arrested for forgery. Next, three marines believe the check to be a fake and give it to a friend, who finds its true worth and spends it on himself. Convict John Wallace (Gene Raymond) learns of his new-found fortune as he is being led to the electric chair. Office clerk Phineas V. Lambert (Charles Laughton) takes his money and tells off his boss. Kindly old Mrs. Mary Walker (May Robson) uses the money to spruce up the old ladies home, Idyllwood. Steven Gallagher (Gary Cooper), a boisterous U.S. Marine in the brig, gets his check on April Fool’s Day, and upon his release, decides to give it away to pay a back debt to a lunch stand owner. Then Emily LaRue (Alison Skipworth), and Rollo (WC Fields), a vaudevillian and juggler, are owners of a boardinghouse. They acquire a brand new car, and after a drive, they return with a wrecked car, caused by a “road hog”, so they purchase a fleet of cars and get even with the “road hogs,” about town by having a car smashing day.

The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater

Eddie Cantor was an American comedian, singer, actor, and songwriter. Familiar to Broadway and radio, he was one of the first major stars to agree to appear on television. The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater is a nostalgic look back, featuring old masters like hollywood gangster movie star George Raft dancing, silent movie star Buster Keaton, Billie Burke, The Three Stooges or other vaudeville or legit theater trained stars. It’s an early television time-capsule of the old vaudeville and musical comedy era.

World of Giants

Mel Hunter (Marshal Thompson) is a six-inch-tall American a secret agent. He is carried around from one mission to another in a briefcase strapped to a small chair inside, that resembles a jet fighter seat. Mel then hops out of the briefcase to do his espionage work and hops back in before agent Bill Winters (Arthur Franz) returns to pick up the briefcase. If anyone questioned his partner on why there was this seat in the briefcase, the cover story was that he was a military contractor and this seat was a sample display of his company’s product.

Leave It To Beaver

Leave It to Beaver was a 1950s and 1960s family-oriented American television situation comedy about an inquisitive but often naive boy named Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver and his adventures at home, in school, and around his suburban neighborhood.

Sea Hunt

The adventures that Mike Nelson (Lloyd Bridges), a professional underwater underwater scuba diver.

Nigel Felangue Image Gallery

Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr with Jeff Newman

In the year TVW Channel Seven celebrates it’s 50th anniversary, veteran presenter Jeff Newman announced his retirement, after giving the matter a lot of thought.

Jeff started with TVW in 1967, after a brief stint at STW Channel 9, and before that working in radio. Max Bostock kept Jeff on ice, until the public recollection of him being a Channel Nine face cooled. He then launched into prominence on Seven presenting the popular school quiz program, “It’s Academic”, which ran for ten years from 1969 to 1979, and then revived in 2001 for another four years, once again with Jeff as Executive Producer and compere, until the show was taken east, where it is now presented by Simon Reeve. He also hosted and produced Perth’s New Faces, a series of Letterbox, Reach for the Stars and many national beauty pageant shows, and over the past four decades has been the face of TVW’s annual 24-hour fundraising event, earning him the title of “Mr. Telethon”. Jeff will return to host Telethon 2009, which is expected to take place on the 3rd and 4th of October. This year the busy Telethon period will not clash with TVW’s 50th anniversary on Friday 16th of October, and the staff reunion on Sunday 18th of October, in the grounds of TVW at Tuart Hill.

Jeff has been the Logie recipient for Most Popular Male presenter on five occassions, and was awarded the Order of Australia in 1994 for his services to Telethon and the Variety Club of WA, which he founded. He was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2002 and was made a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary.

Jeff has presented the weather on Channel Seven since 1991.

Kerry Stokes, the chairman of the Seven Network offered Jeff special praise…

“If anybody in television in Australia, let alone at Channel Seven in Perth, has ever earned the right to a happy retirement, Jeff Newman has.”

“He has given our state, our television station and the people of WA, his heart, his soul and it has reflected in all the great things he has achieved through Telethon, and though the activities he’s had with Channel Seven”, Mr Stokes said.

The origins of the TVW Channel 7 Newsroom

with Darcy Farrell – TVW’s first News Editor

Let’s start by referring to the technology. Ken has just given me this microphone to clip on, and if we go back to the use of the Auricon 16mm camera, in the first days at Channel Seven, you had a hand-held mic, with a wind sock which probably distorted more than helped, and you had to hold the microphone close to your lips as you asked the question; then poke it right under the nose of the person being interviewed. If there was any wind blowing, it became outrageous distortion, so it was very difficult. As a comparison, and I’ve used this before, that in the days of 1959 and before that, in the 1956 Olympics, when the eastern states channels started, the difference between then and now is like flying a Tiger Moth compared to an F18 Hornet, or a space shuttle.

Now my introduction to television started when I was working in newspaper journalism. Prior to 1959 I had been in England working for a couple of years, and I used to be amazed at the performances of newsreaders like Ludovic Kennedy, or Ludo as he was known, and people of that class. I also saw a lot of the Ed Murrow interviews in programs like Small World and so forth; and Walter Cronkite and several of the other American broadcasters.

When I came back to Perth and rejoined The West Australian, television was very much in my mind, and as the WA Newspapers application, for the television license started to unfold I went to Jim Cruthers, who had been installed as the first General Manager, leading the application. I said to him: “I would really love to have this job, I’ll do anything for the job”. It was a I’ll work for nothing approach. At that stage Jim Cruthers, and two or three others, were in the WA Newspapers building . They were virtually in the cellar down in the old Cadbury Chocolate offices, under WA Newspapers at 125 Saint George’s Terrace. Now Jim Cruthers was interested and said: “Well write me an application”, and I did that, and Jim told me: “Well you’ve got terrific competition because Lloyd Marshall, an outstanding journalist on the Daily News, has just been to the States on a Nieman Fellowship and he has been studying television because he recognised it was the thing of the future. Lloyd was an outstanding man, an outstanding journalist, and had been a great wartime RAAF and RAF officer. He submitted a wonderful TV report to J.E. Macartney, who really was the driving force behind the application. Macartney, of course, gave it to Cruthers, and that’s when Cruthers said to me he thought Marshall would be in line for the job. However, I persisted and I got the job, and at the same time got a shellacking from the editor of the West Australian W.G.T. Richards. Mr Richards said I had gone behind his back to get this job, and he had done a great deal to help me, and was very disappointed in me. So I left under a cloud, to rejoin the other branch, the new branch of WA Newspapers which was TVW Limited. From there, we set about the News and how we were going to do it.

The Birth of Television News in WA

Darcy Farrell directs the soundtrack recording for an early film production, assisted by Keith ‘Digby’ Milner (cine cameraman) operating the film projector, David Farr (announcer) providing the narration, Jim Healy (film editor) playing the gramophone records, while Tom Hall (cine cameraman) records the content on a quarter inch Byer tape recorder, for later synchronizing with the 16mm film. This early activity was taking place before the TVW studios at Tuart Hill were completed.

The still photograph which shows a number of us doing a recording at WA Newspapers in the photographic section, at the back of Newspaper House, is what I describe as, “The birth of television news in Western Australia”. We had a projector, and we had Byer wild tape, and we had literally a gramophone and several discs. We had David Farr doing a recording and there was no sound proofing. We just asked everyone in the building to keep quiet. We had Jim Healy, Dig Milner and Tom Hall and myself and I would cue David Farr when to start his commentary.

Keith ‘Digby’ Milner with two Arriflex cameras and Tom Hall with the Auricon

Having recorded the newsreel, which was a combination of some material being shot locally, and processed in a very crude, but brilliant way by Tom Hall, and we had other newsreel material we received from various other organisations. We would record it on the wild tape and take it up to the transmitter at Bickley, and then we would play it. Now this worked effectively two or three times. They were the first newsreels ever shown live on television during the trade transmissions in WA, and as we were progressing towards October the 16th, we got a little bit more ambitious. Jim Cruthers and Brian Treasure said maybe you could do a longer version of this, and we’ll show it about a month before we officially go to air. So we did another one and we took it up there to Bickley and we were quite chuffed about what outstanding ‘ television geniuses ‘ we thought we had done all of ‘this marvelous work ‘. We rolled the telecine and off the program went, and suddenly everything went wrong. What we had not thought about, no one had, was this unlocked Byer tape, and the weather had become warmer. It was very warm in the transmitter, and the tape stretched and got out of sync. By the end of the program we would have been about seven or eight minutes out of synchronization. You can imagine what a really great gaffe that was – to the guffaws of the public and people who knew anything about TV. As you can imagine, we quickly realised we had a lot to learn, but it was start.

TVW Board members Mr Geoffry Friend and Mr Mel Fry view first TV images at the transmitter while Phil Salinger threads the 16mm telecine projector

When we moved out to the studios at Tuart Hill, we were able to get into it in a proper way. We were using the Auricon sound on film track, and we had Arriflex cameras (these were straight newsreel silent cameras) and two or three smaller cameras like the Paillard Bolex and the Bell and Howell. With these we were in full flight. Most of us went over to the eastern states and had a look at the Seven network and the Nines as well, to learn more about it and see news in action, and what happened behind the scenes. One thing we were very particular about was making sure we wrote the copy for the spoken word. This is the one thing I learnt in London; the difference between the spoken word and the written word. Now two or three of our newsreaders were wonderful radio announcers and wonderful presenters, but were pretty ordinary television newsreaders, who never really caught on to news reading as the way it should have been. Some of them used the excuse that we were writing for the written word and not for the spoken word. It’s totally untrue, and we had a few verbal brawls over these matters.

In the months leading up to the official opening of the station, we started auditioning for newsreaders, and for other personnel as well, and we ultimately selected Geoff Walker, from the ABC, and David Farr, who was a commercial announcer in Perth. I personally had a preference for Keith Flanagan, who was not only an outstanding journalist but he was a very good theatrical actor with a wonderful voice, but he didn’t do well in the auditions, whereas Geoff and David were excellent. I also had a preference for Garry Meadows, but at that stage it was considered Garry’s off camera, or out of studio, lifestyle might be difficult to contend with. So we’ll revisit Garry as he ultimately became an outstanding newsreader.

Newsreaders David Farr and Geoff Walker

So we got to the opening night after days and days of rehearsing. We had been shooting film around Perth and processing it, we started to receive our overseas footage from ITN in Britain, which covered Europe, and CBS which covered the Americas, and when we went to air on opening night we ran three programs. We ran a newsreel type of program, which was a combination of material that had been shot in Western Australia by Cinesound and Movietone, and other newsreel companies over the previous few years, and material we had shot ourselves, including some terrific pre-opening stuff of the famous aviator Jimmy Woods at Perth Airport shot by Tom Hall and Dig Milner. On opening night we also presented two live news programs, the first ever live news in WA. It was read by Geoff Walker.

The cockpit of Captain Jimmy Woods Avro Anson VH WAC – The “Islander” now on display at the RAAFA Aircraft Museum at Bullcreek in WA

The first night went like a dream, and every program went well, even though behind the scenes there were problems . But the next night… that was the tricky one. After the opening, by the way, there was an official party. It was a black tie event, but it was decided that the staff should be able to hold a party and join in the festivities, and after three months of constant work, seven days a week, it was justified that they should be able to celebrate. Some of them had to work the next day, including our news cameramen and our news staff. I was in at the office very early the next morning, probably about eight o’clock waiting for people. Ross Cusack was also in early and a couple more turned up by ten a.m. We got a couple of stories shot, and then by about one o’clock Dig Milner, Tom Hall, Jim Healy and Jan Vermazen, the film processor who used to operate a processing machine called the Houston Fearless, went up to the Charles Hotel to have a quick drink… a heart starter was more likely because they had had a very late night, the night before. There was only one problem with this… they didn’t come back.

Ross Cusak and Darcy Farrell in Studio 2 Control Room

Jim Healy & Jan Vermazen in the News film processing lab

We had a news bulletin to put to air and we had an American director, named John D. Brown, who said, “Well the News starts at 6 and I’ll be rolling the opening of the News at six.” By five o’clock when the guys still hadn’t shown up from the Charles, I said, “John you do not roll the opening, there will be no news unless I tell you so.” So eventually they got back and Jim Healy furiously tried to edit a roll of newsfilm. There was film glue flying around the room, and there were mistakes being made. Eventually we got a few items on a reel, but at six o’clock John D. Brown hit the button and rolled the opening, and then dissolved through from the opening to the camera which showed that no one was sitting at the news desk. Of course, John quickly went to black and then to the clock.

John D. Brown awaiting the arrival of the News team in Studio 2
The original TVW clock
The small PYE caption scanner first used to generate the clock image

In those days, if there was a problem you would go to the clock, and, of course, this just illustrated to the people that something was wrong. The clock ticked on and on and on. I think it got to about seven minutes past the official start time of the program. By then Jim Cruthers and Brian Treasure, and others were starting to phone in, “What’s going on?” We eventually got a program to air but never again did we have anyone who took for granted the ease with which you could put programs together. Having experienced the first night, a number of people thought it was all pretty easy. But that first Saturday was a great lesson to everyone.

Under the leadership of Jim Cruthers and entrepreneurial skills of Brian Treasure, TVW became not only a highly successful company but also exceeded in fostering local community activities and endeavors. Not only did the company keep a high profile, but so to did the station personalities, who were treated as stars as they ventured out of the studios for publicity opportunities.

It was natural therefore for advertisers to want an association with Seven’s popular on-camera personnel.

In the 1960’s, a youthful Carolyn Noble was used to launch the re-labelling of Golden West soft drinks as the more catchy Gest!. Carolyn appeared in commercials on television and posters around Perth too, with the beverage becoming very popular. Carolyn points out that she didn’t get one cent for doing these commercials, “That’s how it was then. We didn’t get paid. We didn’t get any extra… not that I cared in the least, because the job (with Channel Seven) was fantastic.”

Coca-Cola and Gest also sponsored Johnny Young’s Club 7 Teen, with John promoting the products both on television and in slick 35mm colour cinema motion picture advertisements.

In that sense, TVW Channel 7 personalities were pivotal to the promotion of these products during the 1960’s.

The black and white photographs of Carolyn shown here were preserved by former TVW still photographer Nigel Felangue, who has been responsible for much early Channel Seven memorabilia surviving.

The over the shoulder colour photo of the Gest newspaper advertisement is courtesy of Carolyn Tannock (nee Noble), who like many TVW veterans, has a good collection of newspaper clippings and photographs from the pioneering days, which now are proving most valuable in enabling us to illustrate the history of TVW Channel 7.

Now you can keep up to date with the latest TVW Reunion news and the WA TV History team’s efforts on Twitter

twitter.com/tvwreunion

and

twitter.com/watvhistory

If you’re new to Twitter it’s a free conversation network that enables its users to send and read each others’ brief message updates, known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters, displayed on the author’s profile page and delivered to other users – known as followers – who have subscribed to them.

The TVW Reunion news can be viewed at… twitter.com/tvwreunion

Whilst the latest WA TV History team happenings are at… twitter.com/watvhistory

Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. The service is free over the Internet, but using SMS may incur phone service provider fees.

Since starting the WA TV History web site, we have found one of richest sources of photos and information to be that held by former TVW staff members. Much unique material and memories that only they possess. It’s not just management, producers, directors and personalities who are in the know, as often the rank and file support staff were the ones who carried out directions and decisions to make things happen. Whether that be a set designer and builder, electrician, technician, studio floor crew member, news team, sales staff, secretary or production assistant. Often they have intimate knowledge of how things happened.

There were also the pranksters, mostly in the form of good natured jokes and mischief. We’re keen to document the many amusing anecdotes before memories fade. There were a number of colourful characters, some were even fired to be later reinstated after misdemeanors. Such was the case when Bob Cribb recorded the news four hours before it was due to go to air and sent the staff home. Bob himself had gone off to a party. This and many more tales are told in Darcy Farrell’s tribute to Bob at… http://watvhistory.com/2009/03/bob-cribb-tribute/

We have also received much correspondence either by email or submitted as comments on the web site. A lot of valuable information has come to us in this form, much has been acted upon, with some yet to be followed up. There’s an enormous volume of data to process and people we have yet to interview between now and the TVW anniversary and reunion.

The following gives a glimpse of some of the valued TVW related feedback we are receiving…

Peter Goodall

Cameraman/Production 1959-1967 & 1979-1985

Dear Ken…….

(Further to Nigel Felangue’s report on Keith (Dig) Milner, which can be found at… http://watvhistory.com/2009/06/nigel-felangue-correspondence-photos/ )

Thanks so much for the images of Dig and that terrible day back in 1960…..

God … nearly 49 years ago !

I can remember vividly being in the newsroom at 7 on the Monday when news came in saying that there had been a crash……First report said all were OK but there were some injuries….Then we heard that two had died …but didn’t know which !

Reports later from observers on the beach said that the circling aircraft was lower than the top of the mast of the wrecked boat….and that it had stalled into the water.

Both Dig and Owen were on the same side of the aircraft getting their pix…..and were the ones who didn’t survive.

From memory I think the pilot was a “Comp” (compositor) from the West, who had a private licence …but didn’t have enough experience for low level flying and stall-turned it into the water.

This incident was to change for ever, throughout Australia, the way chartering of aircraft would always be piloted by an experienced commercial pilot.

Also TVW didn’t have insurance for crews flying on assignment like that and that situation very quickly changed throughout Australia.

When Dig died….he left a young wife and two children.

TVW7 set up a trust fund for the children’s education and made a large payout to Dig’s wife to help overcome the lack of insurance.

It is something I’ll never forget.

Thanks……Peter G.

(Peter’s web page: http://watvhistory.com/2009/04/peter-goodall-demonstates-news-film-equipment/ )

Darcy Farrell

Darcy Farrell

TVW’s First News Editor 1959-1976

Ken,

Bill Mather Brown, the Paraplegic Olympian, was our first switchboard operator. I don’t think I saw his name on the roll call.

John D. Brown was an early Channel Seven program director and presentation coordinator

George Baker shown here on the boom and Colin Gorey were hired in 1959 by West Coast Electrical for electrical installation work, then in August 1959 both joined TVW to work with Alex Stewart in Audio

John D. Brown, Alan Bateman and George Baker were all originals. George and Colin Gorey were electricians wiring the new studios and switched over to become TVW employees.

David Low, former TCN 9 and famous Movietone voice over, replaced Eric Walters reading our news.

Bruce Buchanan, senior journo and ultimately eminent ABC current affairs producer.

Roger Dowling (news cameraman at TVW7; now feature film cinematographer including plenty of major work with the South Australian Film Corp).

Steve Thompson, junior news camera assistant and ultimately news cameraman; now runs his own film company in Melbourne.

Jon Noble……early cameraman with our news and went on to run Jon R Noble Film company in South East Asia and still operating in the ES.

Steve Robertson, Vietnam vet with US forces, came to Perth and worked as a journo in our Newsroom.

Don’t forget some of the board members.

J.E.Macartney, managing director of WA Newspapers, instigated the move to set up TVW.

Geoffrey Friend, former Postmaster General State manager was first chairman. Others were Mel Fry and Roy McCarter (deputy Tax Commissioner).

I didn’t notice Perry Moss in your list.

She replaced Judy Copley (McColl) as Jim Cruthers’ secretary in the early days.

I saw Dorothy Whitely up in Mundaring the other day…is she on the list?

The late Frank Bird was co-compere of Sport at Seven and other sporting programs… and when he left Ted Edwards replaced him.

Well, at least Aggro doesn’t smoke anymore…..right now he’s working in the office next to me …. and he’s thought up a few other names such as Greg Milner and Mike Van Rens.

And Harvey Deegan is in the other office….you’d better include Harve as well. he read the news headlines quite a lot in those days, in between his IX stuff.

Don Hanran Smith

Have you got Don Hanran Smith, the news cameraman on the list?

Just a couple more:

Patricia Naismith (nee Bolt) was newsroom sec/assistant No 2

Des O’Dwyer was our first fulltime sales rep in Sydney (before Stan Fildes went over there).

Frank Benedetto is an American who worked in telecine/videotape etc. He lives in Florida and we exchange emails occasionally. He’s coming to Perth next year and his trip may coincide with the anniversary..

Photo of Frank Benedetto taken in 2008…. Email Message… Hi Ken   Great to hear from you…..sounds like you are a very busy guy and things have changed a bunch at TVW 7 in the past years. I am retired now and have been for a while. I keep busy have a lot of hobby’s, soaring, mountain biking, kayaking and lots of other stuff. I will be a grandfather in about three weeks….. first grandchild….. very excited. I am in the planing stages of a trip down under some time in August or September of 09. Hope to start in Perth and drive across the top through Darwin and around to Brisbane. I hope to call in on Bruce Sutherland in NZ. I have included a few recent picks of my self and girlfriend. Ken can you drive across the top now?   Regards Frank

(Cafeteria manager) George Briggs’ wife also worked in the cafeteria. (Foly) She was the main cook in the first days.

Rob Garnaut is, in fact, Rod Garnaut and his wife Peta (can’t remember her maiden name) worked in graphics

Ken Kemp was Supply Manager.

Steve Jeffrey’s father Stan was 2 i-c to Ken Alexander in Film Editing.

There was another long-time film editor who went to live and work in TV in Texas and his name was Brian Hooper.

Brian died in the ‘states not so long ago.

The Davies twins had a sister, Jean, who was also winding film in the very first days; Jean is Jean Dwyer and lives in Mandurah.

The above is off the top of my head so over the holiday period I’ll try to find some old files which may be of help.

Kind regards

Darcy Farrell

Stuart Joynt

Journalist 1970-1983 (with gaps)

Keith Flanagan (beautiful voice, one of Weary Dunlop’s mates on the Burma railway)

Terry Spence (6ix) (when TVW took over 6IX)

David Dallimore (6ix)

Dick Tombs (went on to front Today Tonight in Perth and Queensland)

Ian Cook (went on to vice president of news, Nine News in Sydney, then Skynews in Britain and back to Seven network news boss, then back to Nine recently)

Eoin Cameron (6IX, then newsreader on TVW)

John K Watts (sport and comedy)

Frank Sparrow, Percy Johnson, Jack Sheedy, Steve Marsh and Marty McDonnell

Marty McDonnell, Steve March, Mick Cronin and Jack Sheedy

Harry Kelly addresses the World of Football panel

(Darcy will remember more of sporting guys)

Gary Davey (became Rupert’s number one TV news man in the world, setting up Sky in London, Star in Hong Kong with expansion into China and India and currently in Spain)

Mike Edmonds (6ix news editor)

Jo Ledger (publicity/promotion, marketing)

All of MAB’s female acquaintances (big, tall and taller)

Tom Blackburn (newsreader, transferred across from SAS and now Sydney’s leading Queen’s Counsel)

Sue Contos (ask Jeff Newman)

Garry Meadows

His red-haired mate (Skinner I think)

Peter Meakin (now head of news of Seven Network, long-time head of Ten and Nine news on east coast)

Paul Fay

Tim O’Dea

Joe Danko Human Resources

Bill McKenzie (programming, general manager, then managing director of ATV for Rupert in Melbourne and finally managing director of Perth’s New Ten when it opened – has a lot of historical fact at his fingertips)

Sir James Cruthers

Clyde Palmer (first publicist along with Athol Thomas)

Ron Christie (In Perth Tonight) producer

Ron Christie was the former producer director of Ernie Sigley’s Adelaide Tonight Show

Danny Mackay (In Perth Tonight and entertainment centre)

Noel O’Connor (Newsreader, publicity, entertainment centre, pageant) from SAS

Rhonda Fletcher (sister-in-law of David Mott (assitant Prog Manager) and now hoodoo guru of publicity for major shopping centres and a cuppla Sheiks in Dubai) Telethon Manager

Personal notes:

Stuart Joynt holds the record of news director at most capital city TV stations (TVW7, SAS10, ADS7 and founding news director at NEW10).

Hartley Joynt went on to become editor-in-chief of Community Newspapers

An incredible number of Darcy Farrell trained journalists went on to dominate Australian TV news (eg Ian Cook, Peter Meakin, little Stuie, Vaughan Gentle on 60 Minutes (reminds me, Sharon Baron-Sullivan married Richard Carlton).

Hope this helps.

Don’t forget the amazing live crosses from Eucla to both Adelaide and Perth for In Eucla Tonight, with Stuart Wagstaff, put on to celebrate sealing of the Eyre Highway (Keith Spice will recall the astonishing achievement). Lots of good stories about the broadband going only one way at a time, cutting off most of WA to get pictures in from Carnarvon for one of the Ali fights, the Rome Olympics, the Empire Games in Perth, the Westgate bridge collapse, the Gough Whitlam sacking, booking the bearer years in advance for Wimbledon, Test cricket, the Melbourne Cup, sending youngsters all round the world to come up with new ideas etc etc. Tell Ken or Pockets to give us a ring if they’re interested in more background.

Cheers

Stuie Joynt

Keith Spice

Engineering & Operations 1970-1989

Hi Ken,

Preceding the telecast of “In Eucla Tonight” was a doco I think was made by Keith McKenzie and Bill Meacham called “No More Bulldust”. It was the history of the Eyre Highway up to the day of the sealing of the road. The actual sealing ceremony was recorded earlier in the day (around midday) and the tape sent back from our Eucla base (where we had microwave comms to the Telstra broadband tower) for Tx that evening. Let me go through my pictures and old files and things and see what I can find and remember.

Cheers

Keith.

Richard Ashton

Camera, program director, special events, promotion, publicty, film processing, stills photography. 1959-1999

Ken,

Thinking of the treck to geraldton it reminded me of the Bomb tests. It might be fun to get Doug Burton’s album of pictures of the A Bomb tests. It shows the elaborate prep and establishing of the camp up north Jim Cruthers, Doug and others to get the first pics of the Atom Bomb going off and sending them round the world.

If you have a mind to look at… http://montebello.com.au/atomic_tests.html

The second pic is the one Doug Burton took. The first pic is the one the bomb was set of from Inside the ship HMS Plym. Peter Dean was up there in HMAS Junee when it went off as part of his Nasho’s. When asked about it, he used to say…”nothing the matter with me…burble burble burble”

(Endurance walk to Geraldton… http://watvhistory.com/2009/04/endurance-walk-to-geraldton/ )

Greg Byrne

Sales Manager and Managing Director 1960-1992

I have been in contact with Sadie Purser and given her quite a bit of interesting history.

My wife and I created Fat Cat and that in itself is quite a story and we feel happy that we have given so much pleasure to so many children over the past 30 years. We have the thank you letter from Jim Cruthers and I have a lovely poster “…to Fat Cat’s Dad ! “

I have many anecdotes about the early days of live commercials before the introduction of videotape but I am not sure how to pass them on if any one is interested in some very funny occurrences.

Re the Baird commercials – do you remember the crane camera being unmanned on a Sunday night and taking off and heading straight at Gary Meadows who hurried the 30 second live commercial at break neck speed and jumped out of the way as it came at him !!

I have so many stories of the early days but not sure what do with them.

My wife Judy Oxer was a freestyle champion who held every title in W.A. 100, 200, 400 and 800.

She swam in the era of Dawn Fraser and was selected for Commonwealth and Olympic teams but due to budget restrictions they took swimmers in those days who could double up on backstroke or breast stroke

You may like to let me know how best to be part of your 50th anniversary collection.

Regards

Greg Byrne

William Drewe

National Sales 1972-1983

Your TVW Roll Call omits the many staff who were involved in national sales from about 1969 to about 1985 located in Sydney and Melbourne.

I was employed as a sales representative in the Sydney office in 1972, became Sydney Sales Manager of TVW7 in 1976 and Sydney Sales Manager of both TVW7 and SAS10 Adelaide in 1978. In January 1980 I established the Melbourne sales office with the title of Melbourne Manager TVW Group, with the responsibilities for TVW7, SAS10, 6IX Radio Network and The Western Mail newspaper. I left the company in September 1983.

Martin Trevor

Set Designer & Workshop Manager 1979-1988

Ken,

I was a Set Designer with TVW 7 from 1979 to 1988.

I have the following which may be of interest.

- Concept sketches for the Miss Universe 1979 set designs

- some drawings & photos of other TVW 7 production set designs

- Various news paper articles

- Sketches & plans of Disney/TVW 7 co-produced stage productions, such as ‘Snow White’

- Original Christmas pagent sketches & construction drawings

- Lots of other stuff which I’m sure will come up if I hunt around.

Regards

Martin Trevor

Jan Maher (nee Swift)

Graphics 1983-1989

There is one video clip on “you tube” of the studio camera guys & floor manager (Donny) doing a “mock-up” punk band called the “Glasgow Enemas”…….It was done for a christmas tape (I think) & probably not suitable for your project……but have a look anyway.

-it’s a bit full on & was done as a joke of punk rock music. Shane Street (director at 9, melb now) is the young guy with the chain from ear to nose. the vision belongs to him. Might be fun at the reunion ball though.

Will also have a look for anything from 7 as we are actually cleaning out the garage at the moment…….I might have some old artwork (hand done) -then later we were using computer graphics..

I can’t think of anything we have…….but will defiantly have a search for you. Marty might have some of his show-reel from promos…….will send it over if I find anything. And will look for some photos……

I will also pass this email on to a few people I keep in contact with…….you never know what might turn up!

cheers Jan

Jan Maher

Sharon Schoonraad

Accounts/Publicity

Hi, do you have contact email addresses for everyone? Have just moved back to Perth after being overseas for 10 years and would like to get in touch with a few people, if possible. Thanks, Sharon (now Singleton).

Phil Booth

Phillip Booth

Cameraperson TV Director 1963-66 & 1972-1994

It will be nice to see old friends….what ever condition they are in…..

Steve Marvin

City Theatres – Disney – NBC – Disney – PEC – City Theatres 1968-1990

Hi there love the site. It ws good to read the section on Disney too. I was a spot operator and projectionist at Perry Lakes for 1971 tour, and again in 1974(?) for the next Disney at the PEC when I was the Audio chief, which included projection in my department. For the 1975 Peter Pan tour for NBC/TVW/Disney I was the Audio chief again, and for the SE Asia tour as well. Please can you keep me informed about the reunion dates etc as I will fly in from Scotland to catch up with all the old comrades. Thank you for the great site.

Tom Creamer

Tom Creamer

Operations/Technical Director 1965-1996

I’ve been looking through the wahistory.com website and have noticed a couple of anomalies :- In a couple of photos of floor crew the same person appears as Trevor Eastlake and Trevor Kerslow. His name is actually Trevor Kerslake. There is also a photo of the Family Feud crew listing Garry Meadows as presenter. Tony Barber was the presenter, Garry was producer.

It’s a great site, keep up the good work!

Tom.

Anthony Reynolds

Technician July 69 to Jan 70

I was employed as a junior tech, I used to work with Hymie Miller, John Quick was cheif engineer who employed me and Geoff Mortlock was deputy (I think). I later went on to run two AMIC TV stations at Newman and later Leinster. Also helped establish MCTV in Mandurah. Now engineer at 45 South TV Oamaru. New Zealand.

Great times at Channel 7. Tony Reynolds.

Gayle Adams

Camerawoman, Today Tonight 1998 – Present

Hello there!

Only just came across your site….very interesting reading for us industry insiders! Found out a whole lot of new stuff.

Being a TV employee of 25 years, and three networks, I’d be really chuffed to be included on the TV Station Roll Calls. Here’s the relevant info:

1983-1989 ABW 2 Production Ops Trainee/Camerawoman

1989-1998 NEW 10 News Camerawoman

1998- Present Day – TVW 7 Today Tonight Camerawoman

Cheers and thanks…look forward to seeing the exhibition!

Regards,

Gayle

John Katavatis

Engineering 1989-1997

My name is John Katavatis. I commenced as a trainee in 1989 and worked in Engineering until 1997 under Geoff Mortlock and Tim Odea. Initially I was involved in installations then moved onto Studios, News, OB’s and Master Control until being recruited by Sony Australa and moving to Sydney.

Jacqueline Lang

Seven News reporter 1989-1990

Hi I noticed I wasn’t on your list! Somebody forwarded me some pics today. I was at Seven as an on-camera journo in 1989 and the first half of 1990, before I moved to Sydney. David Christison was the news ed who employed me and I walked alongside Alan Carpenter, Neil Poh, Ali Fan etc etc.

Please keep me in the loop as though I’m based in Sydney I’ll try to get back for your reunion.

Regards

Jacqui Lang

Sharon Dale

Sharon Dale

Presenter 1987 to now

Hi …Just wanted to add my name to the very long list of people who have and still do work for Channel 7 Perth ! Kind Regards Sharon Dale

Patti Brook

Newsroom Directors Assistant 1985-1990

Hi,

I would love you to add me to the roll call! I loved my days at TVW 7 in the 80s.

I have quite a few photo from when I worked in the TVW 7 newsroom from 1985 to 1990 – so I will dig around and have a look for them.

Patti Brook

Gary O’Keeffe

Cameraman/Producer/Director 1986 – 2001

Hi Ken,

Gary O’Keeffe is my name and I recently saw this e-mail.

I worked at TVW as a Production Cameraman and then Producer/Director from 1986-2001. My father (Kevin O’Keeffe) was in the Sales department from 1976-1982.

All the best for the celebrations

Kind regards,

Gary

Gary O’Keeffe

Senior Director – AFL

Ian Teasdale

Journalist and Children’s Host 1972-1978

Dear Ken…

Lesley Bradford referred me to your site and I notice some missing names…

Russell Perry (Management/News)

Greg Parker (Production/Percy Penguin)

Reg Whiteman (Fat Cat for many, many years)

Marie van Maaren Presenter – children’s host – I don’t know where Marie is.

Ann Sanders Presenter – She reads news with Channel 7 Sydney.

and Sandy Baker (nee Palmer).

Radio station 6PR presents classic interviews with TVW Pioneers

Highlights from The Sunday Cafe with Brendan Weselman

Now for your listening pleasure at tvwreunion.com

Or listen to them  HERE!

Over the past few weeks 6PR’s Brendon Weselman has interviewed the following stars of local television…

- Bill Gill & Janet Prance

- Colm O’Doherty

- Sandy Baker

- Keith Geary

- Darcy Farrell

Stars then…

You are now able to hear these interviews at the official TVW Reunion web site tvwreunion.com

Or listen to them  HERE!

Stars now…

Darcy Farrell (TVW’s first News Editor)

6PR’s listener feedback has been fantastic!