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A big technical problem was to
integrate the studio with the Dorcas
Street operation where Master Control
and the direct link to the Mount
Dandenong transmitter were located.
Permanent microwave links were
installed to provide two-way video Quiz, Make Mine Music and Time for
paths between Fitzroy and Dorcas Terry. The Melbourne editions of
Street. A number of ‘tie lines’ were also Sydney-based shows taped there
needed for talk-back communication included Bandstand with Brian
and high quality, low noise audio lines Henderson, Johnny O'Keefe’s Sing Sing
fed in both directions. This meant that Sing, and Bob Dyer’s Pick-a-Box.
the director at Fitzroy could pull a talk- Music specials featuring American
back key and cue “Roll film”, with the artists Bob Crosby, Guy Mitchell and
operator (and the projector!) located at Bobby Vee were also produced.
Dorcas Street across town. The film This was the era before soap-operas
would be rolled and put to air by the like Neighbours. Much local production
vision switcher in Fitzroy. consisted of music shows usually ‘live-
Much of the original theatre décor to-air’. Because of the dubious
survived on the basis that if it wasn’t in acoustics at Fitzroy, and also the lack of
the way it didn’t get changed. This studio time available for recording
included the striking marble staircase sessions, Channel 7 began hiring the
leading to the upstairs foyer with huge Telefil studio on Acland Street in St
overlooking mirror. The balcony area Kilda. This was also a former Hoyts
was left deserted. The foyer was given suburban theatre - the Memorial. Clockwise from top: The author at the
over to dressing rooms and a makeup The stage and proscenium were still audio panel.
area. There was no space for the intact as I remember and the stalls area
scenery and set construction - minus the seats - became the studio Sunnyside Up goes to air.
departments, so all construction and floor. It was a good little set-up run by Ken Delo, Jonathon Daly and Vicki
painting was done at South Melbourne Bill Armstrong. I mixed sessions there Hammond of the Delo & Daly Show.
and transported across town. I did often during 1962 and 1963 for Sunnyside Up taped in front of an audience of
wonder if management ever had second and the Delo & Daly Show. The screaming teenagers, with the artists at
thoughts about the cost of maintaining downstairs men’s toilet became the disc the height of their popularity. It was my
their ‘remote’ studio, in terms of the cutting room with the Neumann lathe job to mix the sound, and up to that
money that must have been spent on the set on the concrete floor - very time, I had never heard music played at
PMG lines, links, transport (including practical! The ladies’ loo saw service as that level! There was so much sound
taxi vouchers for staff movements) and an echo chamber with the ‘reverb send’ that the acoustics of the theatre didn’t
the rest of it. I myself used to receive from the mixer going to a loudspeaker seem to matter. I am pleased to say that
an allowance for transporting and a microphone providing the ‘echo it all worked and the show was
microphones in the boot of my car! return’ - it actually worked very well syndicated around Australia to great
The HSV-7 Fitzroy Teletheatre negating the need for an expensive acclaim.
opened with great fanfare in April 1961 EMT reverberation plate. Alas, the teletheatre never lasted
with a live-to-air opening spectacular In April 1964 the Teletheatre was into the colour era. HSV retreated to
directed by Norman Spencer and the scene of the Liverpool Sound show Dorcas Street rather than outlay the
featuring among others British which featured Gerry & the money needed for color equipment in
comedian Jimmy Edwards. It became Pacemakers, Gene Pitney, Brian Poole the now ageing studio. Later on, two
the home of many successful shows & the Tremeloes, and the up and large colour studios were established at
including Sunnyside Up, The Delo & coming Dusty Springfield. Compered their Wells Street site in South
Daly Show, Video Village, Coles $6000 by Johnny O’Keefe, this show was Melbourne, just over the road from the

20 2007 CINEMARECORD