List of 1950s Australian television one-offs (incomplete list)
The following is an incomplete list of Australian-produced television one-offs of the 1950s. These range from variety specials, to music recitals, to local drama and comedy, to adaptations of foreign plays, and other stuff.
The list is incomplete because some one-offs of the period currently do not have pages on IMDb. The list will be expanded as more of these one-offs are listed on IMDb.
Most of what is on the list was broadcast by non-commercial ABC.
Many of the one-offs on this list were kinescoped. "Kinescope recording" was an early method to record live television. However, in many cases it is unknown if the kinescope still exists.
The list is incomplete because some one-offs of the period currently do not have pages on IMDb. The list will be expanded as more of these one-offs are listed on IMDb.
Most of what is on the list was broadcast by non-commercial ABC.
Many of the one-offs on this list were kinescoped. "Kinescope recording" was an early method to record live television. However, in many cases it is unknown if the kinescope still exists.
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- DirectorPaul O'LoughlinStarsMargo LeeAlexander ArchdaleJoan LordA wealthy man who is about to be knighted hires a typist to help him write responses to letters of congratulation. She turns out to be his first wife, who left him years ago.This was the very first example of drama produced for Australian television. It was an adaptation of an old British play.
- StarsBill EldridgeJames StuckeyIn this 20-minute live presentation, different ways of celebrating Christmas were looked at, including interviews with people of other countries.
- StarsW.L. CarringtonZelman CowenEric WestbrookA discussion between Professor Zelman Cowan, Dr. W.L. Carrington and Eric Westbrook, which was broadcast live.
- StarsPeggy BrooksJoe CarrKenrick HudsonDescribed as a live variety TV broadcast, including radio personalities Peggy Brooks and Kenrick Hudson, as well as visiting US pianist Joe "Fingers" Carr.
- StarsKevin MillsMarie TysoeA live television opera.
- StarsDiana LangleyMarianne LiedloffJoan MelwitA fashion parade with models.
- StarsGeorge AssangGraeme BellJohnny EdgecombeA music presentation with Graeme Bell's skiffle group which aired in a 20-minute time-slot.
- StarsGeoff CorkeIf contestants guessed wrong, they could find themselves having a can of water poured on them.
- DirectorRaymond MenmuirStarsQueenie AshtonBernard BarberLola BrooksComedy play set in a police state.
- DirectorWilliam SterlingStarsBruce BeebyRoger ClimpsonJune CollisTwo young men strangle their "inferior" classmate, hide his body in their apartment, and invite his friends and family to a dinner party as a means to challenge the "perfection" of their crime.
- StarsLeontyne PriceA live recital by soprano Leontyne Price which aired in a 35-minute time-slot, televised direct from Sydney Town Hall.
- DirectorWilliam SterlingStarsBruce BeebyMadi HeddKeith Alexander
- DirectorChristopher MuirStarsWalter BrownAgnes DobsonLaura JamesA woman suspects her husband intends to kill her.
- DirectorPaul O'LoughlinStarsDinah ShearingJames CondonAudrey TeesdaleA grieving widow in Ancient Greece gradually finds the attractions of a young soldier outweighs her determination to join her husband in the underworld.
- DirectorBill EldridgeStarsMoira CarletonSyd ConabereBeverley DunnA woman suspects her husband of having an affair with another woman.
- StarsPeter CampbellAnita KellyMax OldingA presentation of music composed by Schubert, performed by baritone Peter Campbell, pianist Max Olding, and soprano Anita Kelly.
- StarsColin CraneJudy HansenMyrtle RobertsA live variety show special.
- DirectorPaul O'LoughlinStarsMargo LeeJames CondonOn the Duke of Mall's yacht, Lenora, the Duke's wife, leaves her philandering husband. The Duke seeks solace in Lenora's identical twin sister in Paris. This turns out to be Lenora in disguise. The Duke falls in love with his wife again.
- StarsOrmonde DouglasArthur YoungA live music presentation with singer Ormonde Douglas, who was accompanied by pianist Arthur Young.
- StarsRicardo OdnoposoffA live 20-minute recital (broadcast from 8:30PM to 8:50PM), featuring violinist Ricardo Odnoposoff.
- StarsMichael CharltonJoe MartinRed MooreA live presentation from the now-defunct Chequers Nightclub.
- DirectorEric McCleeryStarsPeter O'ShaughnessyMoira CarletonNeil FitzpatrickA French stationmaster wants to spend a holiday at Biarritz.
- DirectorPaul O'LoughlinStarsJoan LandorGuy Le ClaireBrenda SendersA comedy set in a town in northern Mexico.
- DirectorBill EldridgeStarsPhilip StaintonNicolette BernardBeverley DunnA drama of mixed romances.
- DirectorEric McCleeryStarsCarl BleazbyNorman GriffithsLaura James
- StarsWilliam ClausonA live 40-minute Sydney-aired recital by American folk singer William Clauson. It aired on non-commercial television.
- StarsWilliam ClausonA live recital by American folk-singer William Clauson.
- StarsWilliam ClausonAmerican folk singer William Clauson sings songs in a live program from Melbourne Town Hall.
- DirectorPaul O'LoughlinStarsIvor BromleyEdward HowellMarion JohnsThe story of a teenage pianist who prefers football to practicing.
- DirectorWilliam SterlingStarsEdward BrayshawJudith GoddenRobert PeachA drama set in Italy during Allied advance of 1944.
- StarsGeoff BrookeMartin ClarkePam CorriganA special featuring unpublished Australian songs.
- StarsKeith AlexanderLola BrooksBetty BucknelleA live variety show, featuring songs and sketches.
- StarsLarry AdlerArthur YoungA 45-minute live presentation of music from Melbourne Town Hall, with Larry Adler, Arthur Young, and the ABC Dance Band.
- DirectorChristopher MuirStarsBrian JamesSyd ConabereWalter BrownA live television play set in 16th century France. A duke imprisoned for 15 years in a castle in France feigns blindness for five years to lull the suspicions of his captors in order to plan his escape.
- StarsMarisa BertoldiniGeoff BrookeIrene HewittA variety special broadcast in a 45-minute time-slot, broadcast direct from the Royal Ballroom.
- DirectorPaul O'LoughlinStarsJames CondonMargo LeeNeva Carr-GlynnIn 1890s London rakish Algy runs into friend Jack who's in town to propose to Algy's cousin Gwendolen. Algy discovers Jack has a brother 'Ernest' and a ward called Cecily. While Jack deals with Gwendolen's mother, Algy tries to meet Cecily. Hilarity ensues when both arrive in the country posing as 'Ernest'!
- StarsRichard LewisA live television recital by tenor Richard Lewis.
- DirectorChristopher MuirStarsNeil EastonVictor FranklinTony MonopolyIn this live television opera, A crippled boy is visited by the three wise men.
- StarsJohn McMahonRev. Fr. John McMahon and the Cecilian singers explain how people of the medieval era learned about Christmas.
- DirectorRaymond MenmuirStarsDon CrosbyBruce BeebyWinifred GreenA live television play, a suspense drama concerning an English physicist.
- StarsValda AvelingA live television recital by harpsichordist Valda Aveling.
- StarsKeith SmithA live television presentation, about two small boys looking for a dog. They find one at King Edward VII Dogs Home.
- StarsDick HaleySome of Sydney's best known boxers were shown training.
- A look into operations at Mascot control tower.
- StarsAdrienne ErdofNancy HallamFelix KasparThis live television program was an ice show, featuring ice skaters.
- StarsJoe LovesA presentation of dancing.
- StarsJohn WestA presentation of dancing from Sydney Town Hall.
- StarsSelwyn PorterA live telecast from Police Headquarters, Russell Street.
- Aired in a 45-minute time-slot, this was an ABC broadcast showing the Sydney Motor Show, including the latest models, racing cars, and "Genevieve".
- StarsThomas L. ThomasBroadcast in a 20-minute time-slot (9:00PM to 9:20PM), this was a live television recital by singer Thomas L. Thomas, a baritone.
- Broadcast live from a bank, this was a documentary which showed methods used to detect forged banknotes, as well as the storing of money, and the destruction of damaged banknotes.
- StarsClaudio ArrauNicolai MalkoA televised concert by visiting Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau, who performs Beethoven's Concerto No. 5 in E Flat.
- StarsJack AllenHayes GordonAlec KellawayA live variety show special.
- StarsHal MissinghamA live broadcast from the National Art Gallery in Sydney, showing the men who "keep the art treasures in order".
- DirectorWilliam SterlingStarsLeonard BullenNorman CullJoan LordA comedy about a mysterious burglar.
- StarsAlfred HillA programme featuring the famous composer Alfred Hill.
- StarsJohn AshcroftA programme of Australian songs.
- StarsLyndon DadswellMungo MacCallumMungo McCallum interviews sculptor Lyndon Dadswell.
- A live telecast from a pottery in Ryde, Sydney.
- DirectorAlan BurkeStarsHanns EislerAl GarciaNigel LovellA live television play about p.o.w.s during WW2.
- StarsClive AmadioHeath BurdockPeter DawsonA live broadcast in a 45-minute time-slot. The program was created to celebrate ABC's 25th anniversary. Features a re-creation of the 1932 ABC radio studio.
- StarsR.W. LivermoreA live telecast from police barracks in Redfern.
- Live telecast from Australian National Museum, showing taxidermists preparing animals, etc.
- StarsHarry WareLive telecast about the work of the New South Wales police rescue squad.
- A modern school is shown in this programme.
- StarsAlan WatsonLive broadcast with Dr. Alan Watson and the Westminster Madrigal Singers.
- StarsBob CornishGeoff CowardBeverley HayA live variety show special.
- A look at a mobile TV unit.
- Live telecast from Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park, Sydney.
- A live Sydney-aired telecast (kinescoped for Melbourne telecast), featuring a visit to the Technological Museum. Aired in a 45-minute time-slot.
- StarsPetre MunteanuHenri PennA 45-minute recital given by Romanian tenor Petre Munteanu, accompanied by pianist Henri Penn.
- StarsBrenda MarshallHighlights from the "Gown of the Year" parade.
- StarsRon BlaskettAccording to a TV listing, this was a variety special featuring ventriloquists and their dolls.
- StarsJohn CassonEric PearceReadings by Pearce and Casson.
- DirectorBill EldridgeStarsWyn RobertsMaree TomasettiBeryl MarshallTragedy results when a pastor falls in love with a blind orphan.
- StarsBob HorsfallA live broadcast, featuring circus acts.
- DirectorRaymond MenmuirStarsJohn AldenDon CrosbyDeryck BarnesLast fortnight in the life of a youth who was sentenced to death for the killing of a police constable.
- DirectorRobert Raymond
- StarsNancy HallamTim SpencerBroadcast live from St. Moritz, St Kilda, this special was an ice show.
- DirectorWilliam SterlingStarsBeverley DunnJudith GoddenBrian JamesYears after her aunt was murdered in her home, a young woman moves back into the house with her new husband. However, he has a secret that he will do anything to protect, even if means driving his wife insane.
- StarsMax BondNorma ConnollyMarita LowdenA presentation of dancing. Dance styles shown include ballroom dancing, square dancing, apache, and classical ballet.
- StarsBob CornishBob WaltersA live, 45-minute presentation from the Rainbow Room at the Savoy Plaza Hotel, including a floor show.
- StarsMurray GordonReg NealA live presentation from the Royal Mint, Melbourne, showing how coins are made.
- StarsGeoffrey ChardBernard HeinzeLeonard TealeA 45-minute live presentation of classical music. Additionally, the poem "Green Water" was narrated by actor Leonard Teale.
- A live ballet, about a goose who loses use of wings after being shot by a hunter.
- DirectorRoyston MorleyStarsBert BertramJacqueline KottMoray PowellA thriller set in an American penthouse during a New Years Eve party.
- StarsDaphne BarkerJack BarkerBabs MacKinnonA live presentation from the now-defunct "Romano's" restaurant in Sydney. Includes a floor show.
- DirectorWilliam SterlingStarsBrian JamesBeverley DunnJohn Morgan
- DirectorRaymond MenmuirStarsAnnette AndreEthel LangDon PascoeAnna is being courted by Mario.
- StarsGaynor BunningAlan EddyJennifer EddyA live, 45-minute presentation of well-known songs.
- StarsPatrick O'HaganA 40-minute recital from Sydney Town Hall by singer Patrick O'Hagan.
- DirectorPaul O'LoughlinStarsMinnie LoveWalter PymCharles Tasman
- StarsErnest MarsausPaul PavlovA live presentation of music, including the Melbourne Balalaika Orchestra conducted by Paul Pavlov, tenor Ernest Marsaus, and Russian folks dances by The Four Cossacks.
- StarsJoan MelwitFashions for winter, modeled by leading Melbourne models.
- DirectorWilliam SterlingStarsNeil FitzpatrickMary WardSyd ConabereThe captain and his batman hope for amorous adventures, but find themselves facing death.
- StarsLaurel MartynA presentation of excerpts from various ballets.
- DirectorRaymond MenmuirStarsGeorgie SterlingPat BinsteadJohn BluthalA woman overhears a telephone call, and thinks she is hearing her own murder being planned.