ADS-10 - Program Production

Program Production

Early days at ADS - Live Shows & News with a very dedicated staff as history has shown. Opening Night Variety Show was hosted by Sydney TV identity Bobby Limb, his wife Dawn Lake and comedian Buster Fiddes. Produced by Fred Maxiam and directed by Geoff Grant. the show introduced the station's lineup of hosts for News, Children's and Daytime shows, Marie Tomasetti, Ian Cochous, Blair Schwartz, Angela Stacey, Bob Moore, Peter Cellier, Ian Boyce and Mary Mc Mahon.

The early schedule included a talent show Stairway to the Stars, a weekly variety Monday night spectacular The Light Show could afford interstate talent such as the schoolboy group the Bee Gees. Like all good TV variety shows of the day, a full studio orchestra and dancers backed Kamal, Little Pattie, Michael Cole, and a long list of overseas artists including Tommy Steele who toured Australia.

Equipped with a new 3 camera Outside Broadcast van imported from the German manufacturer Fernseh, the station covered live such events as the John Martin's Christmas Pageant, Glenelg Beach Concerts, special events such as the arrival of the Mickey Mouse Club talent team, the Beatles visit to Adelaide as well as all the major sports events. The station was owned by the Advertiser Newspapers and the local office of the Phillips electronics group delivered top technical fit out at the North Adelaide station and the Mt. Lofty transmitter. Many of the original staff came from 5AD, and the Adelaide theatre scene. Production experience was imported from GTV9, 3DB and ABV2 in Melbourne.

Under the leadership of General Manager Keith McDonald and Program Manager Neville Thomson the station built a national reputation for production values with strong Art Direction under Trevor Ling and Brian Thompson. Studio directors, John Adey, Lynton Taylor, Graeme Blair, Ted Craig and Steve Bowman, Tony Roberts and Ian Ridley turned out hours of live content each week including Sports panels, daytime game shows, cooking and lifestyle segment, religious program, and a bright bouncy "Funfair" hosted by Angela Stacy, Rick Patterson with Chris and Terry, lit up Adelaide afternoons. Chief engineer, Norm Sawyer, Financial director, Brian Sallis and head of staging John Blain, technical director John Harvey, film manager Bronte Hall, Telecine Manager Trevor Tipplow, Musical Director John Drake and News Editor Don Riddell. were supported by a technical team many drawn from local radio and theatre who learnt television on the job. Cora Dove handled the make-up department. The station was self contained with film processing, technical maintenance, set construction and even a gardener to keep the imposing heritage house neat and tidy.

Highlight for the station were visits from national shows to record South Australian episodes. Coles Quiz, The Mobil Limb Show, Bandstand all visited Adelaide. The stations national export program was Playroom produced by Heather Gell a pioneer in pre school radio and television in Australia. The News division led by Don Riddell produced early documentaries on the building of the Berlin Wall, Kenya and the formation of the Malaysian states. Film of interstate and overseas events such as the Assassination of JFK, the Moon landing all arrived by air and were rushed to North Adelaide for transmission. The news camera van could be spotted all over the state as cameramen Wally Herzfeld and Brian Taylor filmed everything from road accidents, political interviews, the arrival of VIPs at the airport, local sport and the every day events that made news. Donald Campbells land speed record attempts on Lake Eyre, ship wrecks on the Coorong, the disappearance of the Beumont children where syndicated globally.

In Studio & OB situation Mal Boxer & Brian Thomas were the audio directors who assisted either in News Assignments – Studio mix – or out in the field with audio equipment to complete the final product to air.

Popular television shows made during the ADS-7 era include children's shows Cartoon Connection, SPECCO (SPace ECho COmpany) (with Pam Tamlyn & Steve Curtis), KO (Kids Only), and later, as ADS-10, the national pre-school program Mulligrubs. Music programming from ADS included Music Express (1975–1986), hosted by Steve Curtis then Greg Clark and Nightshift hosted by David Day. Popular variety shows included On The Sunnyside, The Penthouse Club and the weekday morning show, Lionel William's Woman's World.

The local current affairs show State Affair, hosted by Guy Blackmore, aired weeknights at 6:30 following Seven National News and featured stories about South Australia and its people. From 1967 to 1986, the Easter Appeal telethon was held each year to raise money for the Adelaide Children's Hospital. ADS 7 also broadcast the SANFL local football matches for many years.

The Strangways Terrace site contained two studios. Studio 1 was the largest and home to productions such as the Channel Seven Easter Appeal, Wheel of Fortune, It's Academic, SPECCO and KO while Studio 2 was host to smaller-scale entertainment programmes such as The Super Fun Show "Music Express" and news & current affairs, including Seven National News and State Affair. Permanent studio seating was provided in Studio One, with portable seating provided in Studio Two for The Super Fun Show- audio operators Mal Boxer and Brian Thomas were two of the longest service operators in the proud history ADS Adelaide television.

The popular television game show Wheel of Fortune originally commenced recording in studio 1 at ADS-7 in July 1981 with Ernie Sigley (later John Burgess from 1984), Adriana Xenides and Steve Curtis (later John Deeks from 1984) then after the changeover to SAS-7 in December 1987 moved to their studios where it remained until July 1996 when the show moved to ATN-7 Sydney.