Compiled By Andrew Bayley, Sofcom
The seventies saw a sexual revolution going on, but not just in the
bedroom, it was also happening on our TV screens. The cash-strapped 0-10
Network took the lead with its first nightly soap opera - the racy
Number 96 - and instantly the nation was captivated.
The success of 96 led the way for a string of successful
soaps in years to come.
Number 96 (0-10, 1972-1977)
The mother of all soaps. The nightly goings on in a fictional Sydney
apartment block both shocked and captivated viewers across the country
for five years. Constantly criticised by the press, it was a hit with
viewers with its mix of sex, comedy and drama. The series won a number
of awards, and sparked a movie spin-off. The Number 96 Home
Page has all there is to know about Australia's most infamous
neighbourhood.
Class Of '74/'75 (Seven, 1974-1975)
Seven's move into the schoolroom was the first soap to come from
producer Reg Grundy. Featuring a mix of young talent and veteran
performers.
Until Tomorrow (Seven, 1975)
Another daytime soap from Seven, produced at BTQ7 Brisbane and
screening weekdays.
The Box (0-10, 1974-1977)
The success of Number 96 led to this nightly series
from Crawford Productions. Produced in Melbourne and just as racy as its
Sydney counterpart, it was set in a fictional television station, Channel
12. Both shows ran back-to-back five nights a week and dominated prime
time ratings in the mid-seventies.
The Sullivans
(Nine, 1976-1983)
Another hit from the Crawford Production stable. Set in Melbourne
during World War II, the series was often acclaimed for its accurate
portrayal of life in the forties.
The Young Doctors (Nine, 1976-1983)
Grundy's nightly look at life around fictional Alfred Memorial
Hospital was a huge early-evening hit for Nine and sold well overseas.
Hotel Story (0-10, 1977)
Crawfords' proposed replacement to The Box was axed
after six weeks in production, having never gone to air.
The Restless Years (0-10, 1977-1981)
The lives of a group of teenagers coming to terms with the big
grown-up world. Grundy's are now producing a European version of this
same program.
Cop Shop (Seven, 1977-1984)
Combining police drama with the popular soap element. The criminal
goings on in suburban Riverside were mixed with a look at the lives of
the people around the local police station.
Glenview High (Seven, 1977-1978)
Seven went back to the schoolroom for this soap attempt. Screened
mostly out of ratings, class was soon dismissed.
Prisoner (0-10, 1979-1986)
Life inside a womens prison was a huge success in Australia, the UK,
and in the US where NBC screened it in prime time.
Skyways (Seven, 1979-1981)
The goings on around an international airport provided a somewhat
bumpy ride for Seven. Screening back-to-back with Cop
Shop two nights a week, it was axed after two years. Trivia:
One episode features a very young Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue as
brother and sister.
Australian soaps were certainly in full swing by the late seventies,
and were increasingly popular overseas. The trend continues into the
eighties.....
