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Post by Kieran Seymour on Jul 23, 2014 11:13:35 GMT
I spent yesterday evening writing up a few notes about books based on Australian sci-fi series, and one of those was a 1978 novelisation based on the 1964/5 series The Stranger. One thing led to another and I started having a dig around to see exactly what the archive status was for the series. Wikipedia has a brief unattributed mention of two episodes at ABC in Australia which have been transferred from film, and a bit more digging unearthed a comment by Paul Vanezis on this very board in which he said that he had two episodes on 16mm film - I assume it's the same ones. So, does anyone know if the series was originally produced on film, or are they telerecordings? I'm guessing the latter, but there's nothing I can find online which says either way. One other thing, and I haven't seen this mentioned before, is that the inner flap of the book's dust jacket claims that the BBC adapted The Stranger for radio. It doesn't mention when, who starred in it, or how many episodes it was, but it does beg the question, is the radio version still around? If it is, it makes it the only existing full performance of the story. Anyone got any ideas? And a potential clue for any potential episode hunters - the book also claims that the series was broadcast in Scandinavian countries ! |
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Post by timothyk on Jul 23, 2014 13:11:04 GMT
Several clips from this series were used in the documentary 'The ABC of Our Lives' in 2006 I think - I recorded it at the time but the tape is still in my parent's house so I can't check it. I think it made reference to clips being from the first & last episodes.
Also the final episode used to be on youtube but has since been taken down. Would be interesting to see if the clips used in the doco were from the final episode, but without having either of them available to view I'm unable to tell!
I'd love to actually watch the series as I've been interested in it ever since I first heard about it! But it's very difficult to get information about it, and indeed about 1950s/60s Australian TV in general
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Post by Kieran Seymour on Jul 24, 2014 10:10:16 GMT
Several clips from this series were used in the documentary 'The ABC of Our Lives' in 2006 I think - I recorded it at the time but the tape is still in my parent's house so I can't check it. I think it made reference to clips being from the first & last episodes. I managed find a reference in ABC's online sales database to a clip in a current affairs programme called This Day Tonight as well, in a feature about UFOs. I suspect that'll be another from the opening episode. Can't disagree there. Even just finding the most basic info about Aussie series, like broadcast dates, is a complete nightmare - The Girl from Tomorrow is another classic case. Episode guides online have Nine Network airdates for 1992, but catalogue records for the book and the National Film & Sound Archive have it down for starting in October 1990. I suspect we're totally spoiled over here in the UK for the number of sources we have available to check things. |
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Post by Paul Vanezis on Jul 24, 2014 23:50:14 GMT
I spent yesterday evening writing up a few notes about books based on Australian sci-fi series, and one of those was a 1978 novelisation based on the 1964/5 series The Stranger. One thing led to another and I started having a dig around to see exactly what the archive status was for the series. Wikipedia has a brief unattributed mention of two episodes at ABC in Australia which have been transferred from film, and a bit more digging unearthed a comment by Paul Vanezis on this very board in which he said that he had two episodes on 16mm film - I assume it's the same ones. So, does anyone know if the series was originally produced on film, or are they telerecordings? I'm guessing the latter, but there's nothing I can find online which says either way. One other thing, and I haven't seen this mentioned before, is that the inner flap of the book's dust jacket claims that the BBC adapted The Stranger for radio. It doesn't mention when, who starred in it, or how many episodes it was, but it does beg the question, is the radio version still around? If it is, it makes it the only existing full performance of the story. Anyone got any ideas? And a potential clue for any potential episode hunters - the book also claims that the series was broadcast in Scandinavian countries ! Hi, I offered these two 16mm prints to the ABC, but they didn't want them as they said they had a complete run of the series. The episodes I had were one from each season and they had BBC leaders on the front, so in all likelihood the BBC's old TX prints. Regards, Paul |
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Post by Kieran Seymour on Jul 25, 2014 9:30:06 GMT
I offered these two 16mm prints to the ABC, but they didn't want them as they said they had a complete run of the series. The episodes I had were one from each season and they had BBC leaders on the front, so in all likelihood the BBC's old TX prints. Well, that's some unexpected but welcome information. From mostly lost to complete in the archives inside three days! Thanks, Paul. |
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Post by Paul Vanezis on Jul 25, 2014 12:28:02 GMT
I offered these two 16mm prints to the ABC, but they didn't want them as they said they had a complete run of the series. The episodes I had were one from each season and they had BBC leaders on the front, so in all likelihood the BBC's old TX prints. Well, that's some unexpected but welcome information. From mostly lost to complete in the archives inside three days! Thanks, Paul. Yes. Any material I thought missing which I have acquired have always offered back to respective rights holders for nothing. This includes the two 'Stranger' episodes, 'The Scrumpy and Western Show' a reel of Light Entertainment auditions etc... The only condition I apply is that if in the future they elect to dispose of the actual film, they must then return it to me. Regards, Paul |
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