From the New Zealand TV Weekly. March 13, 1967
Auckland
Producer Michael Devine busy with a new series for the small fry, titled The We Three Show. Auditions sifted out the trio of comperes from scores of applicants. Oddly enough, all three were born in England. They are Simon Bates, who is lined up for the lighter side of the shows; Rhys Jones, the leading roles; and Carol Hill, who has had a tiny bit of previous TV experience on the Dunedin Music Hall series. . . . . Scripts for the series are to be written by a consistent NZBC, contract contributor, Al Flett, who can claim the unique distinction of being the writer of the first TV play produced here. It was titled All Earth to Love. . . . . Flood of criticism which followed the first week or two of the more austere Town and Around evidently had its effect. There has been a swing back to a more relaxed and livelier format which has helped bring back the old Zing. . . . . Brian Elaste and Joyce Cronin gave AKTV2 strong representation on the judging panel for the Miss Auckland contest. . . . . The Maria Dallas Golden Girl shows have been so well received that other popsters are wondering whether they wouldn't be wise to drop a lot of their acrobatic gimmicks and way out clothing. . . . . Overseas TV teams continue to arrive just about every week and the New Zealand tourist image must be getting a big boost from their activities. Makes one wonder whether some of the local private producers could not do more in the way of selling to export markets . . . . Hunting-fishing-shooting buffs in the States should get an envious eyeful of our sports attractions through the coverage done by a Four Seasons telly team.
Wellington
Wellington continues to show its own distinctive individuality in its television viewing, preferences (on which we have commented before). Where other channel viewers rated Black and White Minstrel Show number two, Wellington put it only fourth. But the moslt interesting rating was for NZBC Reports, still number three in Wellington, number five in Auckland, Christchurch and ninth equal in Dunedin. One suspects that with head office in Wellington, the news service puts its best foot forward on the local channel. . . . . Some of the best local programmes seen in the week this is written were those on which Austin Mitchell and Bill Carter interviewed Herbert Bowden, touring British Cabinet minister, and the panel on the economic situation. . . . . Translators installed in some "blind spots" in the capital's suburbs appear to be giving viewers an excellent picture. The translators were installed in areas not reached by the powerful Mt. Kau Kau transmitter. One Karori resident found that he received a better picture with a one-prong indoor aerial on Channel 8 than with the outdoor antenna calling in the signal from the old Mt. Victoria transmitter. Still, it will be surprising if it is all compliments, no complaints. . . . . The series of Danger Man now screening (and top of the popularity list on all channels) will run through to the end of April. Meanwhile another series of Z Cars is due to start.
CHRISTCHURCH
After 19 years in broadcasting and TV, district announcer in charge at Christchurch, Roy Woodward, bowed out towards the end of last month to take up the managership of the Golden Central Tourist Hotel-Motel at Alexandra. Born and educated in Invercargill, Roy went into broadcasting as an announcer at 4YZ in 1948, soon after his return from service in the Middle East and Italy during World War II. In 1955, he became announcer-in-charge at Greymouth, and two years later took the same position at 3YA in Christchurch. In his final position, which he took up in 1958, he spent four months in Malaysia in 1965 training announcers. Apart from doing stints of continuity work on TV, Roy's voice became, very familier to listeners and viewers covering such grand occasions as Royal visits and so on. . . . . Brian Edwards and Julie Pointon, Town and Around's new full-time reporters, have settled in quickly, look as though they enjoy the work and are doing a good job. Brian's "with-it" suits add rather a suave touch. . . . . General feeling locally is that when permanent Town and Around producer Des Monaghan settles in this programme will be given a stiffer journalistic approach. . . . . The Canterbury Education Board has expressed concern at the failure of the Education Department to make an early announcement about TV in schools. At a recent meeting of the board, Mr S. W. Gower said that extension of TV to afternoon sessions would allow at least a trial and that there was a "golden opportunity" for TV to be used educationally.
DUNEDIN
Pam Mackinlay of TV Programmes has recently been off on an "archaeological dig" at Aviemore. Wonder if that's how NZBC finds some of its ancient movies! , . . . Neil Patterson of Programmes has just been involved in moving house, and this week producer Rod Cornelius is shifting too - with Helen, baby Timothy Charles and his enormous gramophone and record collection. Rod is delighted. Previously his 50-odd gramophones, 1,500 record cylinders and 1,000 flat discs were given begrudged housing in the hall of their flat. Now Rod has a special room for them all -detached from the main house. One of the cylinders goes back to the year after Edison first captured sound for replaying. . . . . Room for his collection is not all that pleases Rod about his new home. It was previous- ly owned by a Dutchman who was both artist and craftsman, and all the beams and doors, etc., are hand-carved, the beds are hand-made, as are the handsome wood and copper latches and light fittings. Rod has his fingers crossed he won't be transferred. . . . Most production effort at DNTV2 these days is going into Town and Around, with a couple of special documentaries on the side, and Town and Around because of limited facilities will probably go on the air "live" when the afternoon extended hours of transmission come along.
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