Random thoughts - 1964 the year of pushback

 History rarely walks in a straight line. In the first few years of Australian television there was barely any local drama - by the early 1970s it was a deluge. The latter came about due to increased quotas but also a change in culture. But the years 1956-1970 weren't a steady expansion of Australian content.

The first boom in Australian drama came in 1960. The ABC finally recognised maybe it should be doing more than Patrick Hamilton adaptations and went on a "local stories" drive. You had Stormy Petrel a big historical mini series but also ten local stories from Australian writers including The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day.

The shows were a mixed bag but some very successful - Stormy Petrel had two sequels, plus some unofficial follow ups. Some of the TV plays received excellent reviews.

There was a slight bump in Australian stories over the next few years.

But then, in 1964, push back. Massively so. The ABC made 20 plays, of which three were Australian. Not only that, the plays which were made were really esoteric. Not all, but more than usual. Try this for a sample size: The Road by Nigel Kneale; A Provincial Lady from a play by Ivan Turgenev; The Sponge Room by Wallis and Hall; The Physicists by Durrenmatt; Six Characters in Search of an Author by Pirandello; Luther by John Osborne; Everyman, the medieval play; Corruption in the Palace of Justice by Betti; Betrand by Romily Cavan.

Pardon my French but what the f*ck was the ABC doing putting all these on? 

They had nothing to do with Australia. They were niche, off-off Broadway shows.

This was eight years into TV in this country. Eight. And they were still playing the "no writers" card.

Even bad Aussie drama would have had more point than Everyman. As if to prove a point, 1964 saw the debut of Homicide.

There must have been a reaction to all this art house stuff because 1965 saw a lot more local stories on the ABC, then in 1966 saw the broadcast of Australian Playhouse, which was pillored, but 1967 saw Bellbird which was a ten year hit.

The ABC is a precious institution which should be defended,  but sometimes they go wonky and 1964 is one of those times.