Celebrating an Australian TV icon
A$10,375
of $10,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 14th Mar 2016 at 12:00AM.
It was hailed in newspapers as the night Television lost its virginity! On March 13 1972 the adults-only TV series, Number 96, made its debut on our screens and soon became the most talked about show on the box.
I was just a kid when I started watching, back when television was broadcast in black & white, and it didn't take long for Number 96 to become my favourite show. Monday to Friday from 8.30 - 9pm I tuned in with thousands of other viewers to catch up with the shocking shenanigans of the occupants of a Sydney apartment block.
Number 96 was controversial, ahead of its time, naughty, sexy, funny and daring. And with its trailblazing depiction of taboo subjects there's no denying the cultural impact the show made on Australian society. Number 96 had the lot: sex, nudity, murder, gay boys, interracial relationships, pensioners, Jews, Poms, drug addicts, backyard abortionists, fortune tellers and a whole lot more. It was truly revolutionary and as it raced to the top of the ratings its cast - and the characters they played - became household names.
My book, Spirit of 96, tells the tale of life behind the scenes at Number 96 and sets the record straight on a number of myths and misconceptions. We hear the recollections of more than 60 people who were there at the heart of the show, from the creator and writers to the cast, production crew and others. You'll meet all the memorable characters and relive all the infamous moments from Australian TV's most notorious address.
I believe Number 96 and its remarkable achievements deserve to be recognised and celebrated. I've spent countless hours tracking down actors, writers and others to record their stories of Number 96 and with your support I can bring the story to life and make my book a reality. So, please, tell your family, friends and colleagues and help spread the word and if you're able to do so, please make a pledge to support me (you'll be rewarded) and join me on the next part of this journey...
I was just a kid when I started watching, back when television was broadcast in black & white, and it didn't take long for Number 96 to become my favourite show. Monday to Friday from 8.30 - 9pm I tuned in with thousands of other viewers to catch up with the shocking shenanigans of the occupants of a Sydney apartment block.
Number 96 was controversial, ahead of its time, naughty, sexy, funny and daring. And with its trailblazing depiction of taboo subjects there's no denying the cultural impact the show made on Australian society. Number 96 had the lot: sex, nudity, murder, gay boys, interracial relationships, pensioners, Jews, Poms, drug addicts, backyard abortionists, fortune tellers and a whole lot more. It was truly revolutionary and as it raced to the top of the ratings its cast - and the characters they played - became household names.
My book, Spirit of 96, tells the tale of life behind the scenes at Number 96 and sets the record straight on a number of myths and misconceptions. We hear the recollections of more than 60 people who were there at the heart of the show, from the creator and writers to the cast, production crew and others. You'll meet all the memorable characters and relive all the infamous moments from Australian TV's most notorious address.
I believe Number 96 and its remarkable achievements deserve to be recognised and celebrated. I've spent countless hours tracking down actors, writers and others to record their stories of Number 96 and with your support I can bring the story to life and make my book a reality. So, please, tell your family, friends and colleagues and help spread the word and if you're able to do so, please make a pledge to support me (you'll be rewarded) and join me on the next part of this journey...
Why the title, Spirit of 96?
The title comes from the annual train trips the cast used to make each year from Sydney to Melbourne for the Logie Awards. As they travelled aboard the Spirit of 96 they were greeted by thousands of fans on train station platforms at all hours of the day and night.
List of contributors
Spirit of 96 features exclusive pictures and documentation throughout, together with personal recollections from interviews I've conducted with the following:
Bob Huber (producer)
Brian Phillis (director)
Candy Raymond ('Jill Sheridan')
Carlotta ('Robyn Ross')
Carol Raye ('Amanda von Pappenburg')
Chantal Contouri ('Tracey Wilson')
Chard Hayward ('Dudley Butterfield')
David Sale (series creator & writer)
Deborah Gray ('Miss Hemingway')
Dina Mann ('Debbie Chester')
Elaine Elliott (wife of actor James Elliott)
Elaine Lee ('Vera Collins')
Eleanor Witcombe (writer)
Elisabeth Kirkby ('Lucy Sutcliffe')
Harry Michaels ('Giovanni Lenzi')
Ian McLean (historian)
James Elliott ('Alf Sutcliffe')
Jeff Kevin ('Arnold Feather')
Jill Forster ('Helen Sheridan')
Joe Hasham ('Don Finlayson')
Joe James ('Gordon Vansard')
John Orcsik ('Simon Carr')
Johnny Lockwood ('Aldo Godolfus')
Josefine Knur ('Lorelei Wilkinson')
Karen Petersen ('Christina Vettare')
Ken Shadie (writer)
Lynn Rainbow ('Sonia Vansard')
Mark Lee ('Robin Dunmore')
Mary Ann Severne ('Laura Trent')
Michael Ferguson ('Gary Whittaker')
Mike Dorsey ('Reg "Daddy" McDonald')
Nancy Cash (wife of producer Don Cash)
Norman Yemm ('Harry Collins')
Owen Weingott ('Adrian')
Pamela Garrick ('Patti Feather')
Patrick Ward ('Tony Brent')
Paul Weingott ('Bruce Taylor')
Peter Benardos (director)
Peter Whitford ('Guy Sutton')
Philippa Baker ('Roma Godolfus')
Rita James (wife of actor Joe James)
Robyn Weingott (competition winner)
Roger Ward ("Weppo")
Ronne Arnold ('Chad Farrell')
Sheila Kennelly ('Norma Whittaker')
Suzanne Church ('Jane Chester')
Suzy Hasham (wife of actor Joe Hasham)
Ted Jobbins (floor manager/producer)
Thelma Scott ('Claire Houghton')
Tom Greer (publicist)
Tom Oliver ('Jack Sellars')
Victoria Raymond ('Bev Houghton')
Vivienne Garrett ('Rose Godolfus')
&
Wendy Blacklock ('Edie "Mummy" McDonald')
Also included, with comments from other sources, are:
Abigail ('Bev Houghton')
Bettina Welch ('Maggie Cameron')
Bill Harmon (producer)
Bunney Brooke ('Flo Patterson')
David Phillips (writer)
Frances Hargreaves ('Marilyn McDonald')
Gordon McDougall ('Les Whittaker')
Justine Saunders ('Rhonda Jackson')
Pat McDonald ('Dorrie Evans')
Ron Shand ('Herb Evans')
Bob Huber (producer)
Brian Phillis (director)
Candy Raymond ('Jill Sheridan')
Carlotta ('Robyn Ross')
Carol Raye ('Amanda von Pappenburg')
Chantal Contouri ('Tracey Wilson')
Chard Hayward ('Dudley Butterfield')
David Sale (series creator & writer)
Deborah Gray ('Miss Hemingway')
Dina Mann ('Debbie Chester')
Elaine Elliott (wife of actor James Elliott)
Elaine Lee ('Vera Collins')
Eleanor Witcombe (writer)
Elisabeth Kirkby ('Lucy Sutcliffe')
Harry Michaels ('Giovanni Lenzi')
Ian McLean (historian)
James Elliott ('Alf Sutcliffe')
Jeff Kevin ('Arnold Feather')
Jill Forster ('Helen Sheridan')
Joe Hasham ('Don Finlayson')
Joe James ('Gordon Vansard')
John Orcsik ('Simon Carr')
Johnny Lockwood ('Aldo Godolfus')
Josefine Knur ('Lorelei Wilkinson')
Karen Petersen ('Christina Vettare')
Ken Shadie (writer)
Lynn Rainbow ('Sonia Vansard')
Mark Lee ('Robin Dunmore')
Mary Ann Severne ('Laura Trent')
Michael Ferguson ('Gary Whittaker')
Mike Dorsey ('Reg "Daddy" McDonald')
Nancy Cash (wife of producer Don Cash)
Norman Yemm ('Harry Collins')
Owen Weingott ('Adrian')
Pamela Garrick ('Patti Feather')
Patrick Ward ('Tony Brent')
Paul Weingott ('Bruce Taylor')
Peter Benardos (director)
Peter Whitford ('Guy Sutton')
Philippa Baker ('Roma Godolfus')
Rita James (wife of actor Joe James)
Robyn Weingott (competition winner)
Roger Ward ("Weppo")
Ronne Arnold ('Chad Farrell')
Sheila Kennelly ('Norma Whittaker')
Suzanne Church ('Jane Chester')
Suzy Hasham (wife of actor Joe Hasham)
Ted Jobbins (floor manager/producer)
Thelma Scott ('Claire Houghton')
Tom Greer (publicist)
Tom Oliver ('Jack Sellars')
Victoria Raymond ('Bev Houghton')
Vivienne Garrett ('Rose Godolfus')
&
Wendy Blacklock ('Edie "Mummy" McDonald')
Also included, with comments from other sources, are:
Abigail ('Bev Houghton')
Bettina Welch ('Maggie Cameron')
Bill Harmon (producer)
Bunney Brooke ('Flo Patterson')
David Phillips (writer)
Frances Hargreaves ('Marilyn McDonald')
Gordon McDougall ('Les Whittaker')
Justine Saunders ('Rhonda Jackson')
Pat McDonald ('Dorrie Evans')
Ron Shand ('Herb Evans')
How The Funds Will Be Used
Money is being raised to cover all publishing and printing costs of the book including layout and design and shipping as well as distribution. Included will be many colour and black & white images, some never seen before. I'm looking at a print run of 500 copies and holding launches in both Melbourne and Sydney.
Hello Ducky
For those who pledge $20 I'm offering a personal thank you on social media plus an invitation to the book launch (to be held in Melbourne and Sydney)
4 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 16
Ooh, it was ever so good!
For this reward I'm offering a signed (by me) copy of Spirit of 96 (incl. postage) plus the previous rewards.
26 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 16
Why wasn't I told?
Those who pledge this amount will receive all previous rewards being offered plus a signed copy of Number 96 creator David Sale's autobiography 'Number 96, Mavis Bramston & Me'
2 chosen / 18 available
Est. delivery is Oct 16
Completely beresk
A generous pledge of $100 will bring you all the previous rewards plus a minimum of four autographs from cast and crew members (you get to nominate from a list). You'll also get a written acknowledgement in the book.
42 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 16