What happened on the ABCs first television broadcast?
Terry, Vic As one of ABC TVs original recruits, Beverley Gledhill remembers what the audience sat down to watch during that first broadcast back on the 5th November 1956. [Bev Gledhill] Michael Charlton was the front man, he had the beautiful voice, the good looks and he said welcome to ABC Television. [Michael Charlton archive footage] First of all were going to take you to our central studio and there the Prime Minister Mr Menzies is waiting to open the ABCs national television service. [Bev] Thank goodness people watched anything because basically I suspect that it was very, very boring. The entertainment didnt really start until Michael Charlton crossed to long time radio broadcaster John West in the Telecini room – in this case film of a Russian violinist. Unfortunately, it wasnt quite the entertainment anyone had in mind. [Bev] Unfortunately there was no sound. John wasnt phased, hed been broadcasting for so long that he knew he just had to keep talking which is what he was most
