TV We Loved - Number 96
August 11th 2011 23:43
Featuring larger-than-life high-camp characters, large doses of comedy and - most famously - sex - the show was built around the comings and goings of the the residents of six flats sat above a ground floor delicatessen and a chemist shop.
First screened way back in March 1972, anything that was considered too hot, or taboo, up until then was suddenly thrust onto Australia's black and white TV screens - sexual relations, infidelity, nudity, racism, homosexuality, drugs - it was all there, five nights a week at 8.30pm.
The series also created Australia's first 'sex symbol' with the character Bev Houghton, initially played by the actress known simply as Abigail, yet in spite of its its largely 'adult' content, at one point the series was the number 1 rated show with children aged 5 to 12.
The first major soap entirely produced here in Australia, Number 96 was an instant success with the shows characters becoming almost cult heroes including the the gossiping Dorrie Evans (Pat McDonald) and hen-pecked husband Herbert (Ron Shand) and their flatmate Flo Patterson (Bunney Brooke).
There was bumbling Arnold Feather (Jeff Kevin) lawyer Don Finlayson (Joe Hasham) and of course the buxom Abigail.
The series celebrated 1000 episodes in 1976 with a compilation special.
However, despite the continued efforts to revamp Number 96, in late April 1977 declining ratings finally resulted in the cancellation of the series.
Number 96 was rated number 9 in the 2005 television special 50 Years 50 Shows which counted-down Australia's greatest television programs.
| 30 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
