Entertainment: Number 96
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| Name |
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| Birthname | Australian TV series | ||||
| born on | 13 March 1972 at 20:30 (= 8:30 PM ) | ||||
| Place | Sydney, Australia, 33s52, 151e13 | ||||
| Timezone | AEST h10e (is standard time) | ||||
| Data source |
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| Astrology data |   22°57'   25°09 Asc. 13°18'
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Biography
Australian television soap opera serial that screened week nights in the prime time 8.30 pm slot and was one of the most popular Australian TV series of the 1970s. Storylines explored the lives and relationships of the residents of a four-storey block of flats at 96 Lindsay Street, Paddington, Sydney. The building has eight apartments, a ground floor delicatessen and a chemist shop. The chemist soon became a wine bar, which finally became a disco shortly before the series ended.
Number 96 became famous for its adult storylines, nude glimpses, and comedy characters, as well as its Agatha Christie-style whodunnit story arcs. There were many controversial storylines and firsts, including the world's first gay character, an interracial romance, and other taboo subjects that were not being addressed at that time in America.
Creators Don Cash and Bill Harmon of Cash Harmon Television produced the series for the 0–10 Network, which was in third place in the ratings behind the Nine Network and Seven Network. The 0-10 network had requested a series similar to the British soap opera Coronation Street, and specifically one that explored adult subjects.
Number 96 was the first Australian soap opera/serial to gain a significant cult following, prior to the network's internationally successful series Prisoner. It led to tie-in books and novels, merchandising, a 1974 feature film also called Number 96, and a short-lived 1980 American remake.
When the series started its cast was one of the largest ever assembled for a local production. When it ended after 1218 episodes it was the longest running soap opera produced in Australia, having surpassed the ABC series Bellbird. Number 96 was surpassed by The Young Doctors in 1982.
At the series' height New York newspaper The Times stated it was one of the highest rating programs of its kind in the world.
When the stars travelled from Sydney to Melbourne via train to attend the Logie Awards ceremony they were mobbed at stations during whistle stops. Crowds in Melbourne were greater in number than those that met The Beatles during their only Australian tour in 1964.
Whilst the program was extremely popular in Australia, and made for the Australian market, because of its risqué subject matter and storylines, highly controversial for its time, it did not sell in many overseas markets including the United Kingdom and the United States.
The series based at the time during mass-emigration to Australia, featured a multicultural cast primarily of British extraction, as well as many well known veteran actors in Australia, mainly from the early days of radio and stage.
Aside from the four Logies won by cast member Pat McDonald during her run with the show, Number 96 won the "Best Drama" Logie in 1974, 1975 and 1976. Actor Bunney Brooke won the "Best Actress" Logie Award for her work as Flo in 1975.
Relationships
- associate relationship with Duncan, Paula (born 15 September 1952). Notes: Played Carol Finlayson, 1974-1975
- associate relationship with English, Jon (born 26 March 1949). Notes: Played "The Master", 1976
- associate relationship with Hasham, Joe (born 1 December 1948). Notes: Played Don Finlayson, 1972-1977
- associate relationship with Wallace, Rowena (born 23 August 1947). Notes: Played Muriel Thompson, 1975-1976
- associate relationship with Yemm, Norman (born 23 March 1933). Notes: Played Harry Collins, 1972-1974
- compare to chart of Entertainment: Prisoner (born 27 February 1979). Notes: Australian cult soap operas
- compare to chart of Entertainment: The Box (born 11 February 1974). Notes: Rival TV series
- compare to chart of Entertainment: The Young Doctors (born 8 November 1976). Notes: Long-running Australian soap operas
Source Notes
Sy Scholfield quotes TV guide, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 March 1972.
Categories
- Notable : Awards : Vocational award (3x "Best Drama" Logies)
- Mundane : Misc. Mundane : Release dates (TV series)
