Retro 'soaps' & dodgy TV!

Mrs. MacGyver

Didn't know what to call this thread, but i was in a shop in town yesterday and i saw a box set of Hart to Hart and it made me really nostalgic. I loved (pardon the pun) the activties of the Hartes.

On class retro soap was 'A country Practice' it was memorable as being on RTE 1 after i came in from school to my irish stew (meatless asthe mammy is a veggie!). Really wanted a pet wombat after it and had the family driven round the bend.

One really dodgy aussie soap that seemed to make WW2 go on for years was 'The Sullivans', I dont remember a whole lot about it or 'Sons & daughters' for that matter (just the annoying theme tune). Can anyone add to this list?

constitutionus

man i hated the sulivans, me ma was mad into sons and daughters too. the whole bloody thing lead eventually to prisoner cell block h. i think me ma was addicted to aussie soaps

on a weird tangent i used to love "soap" , it was an american comedy piss take on dynasty and dallas and their various clones such and another world (god help me i actually used to watch that on sky) and i think anoter one calle santa barbara. it was a great comedy but i havent heard anything about it in years (except for a nod of the head to in at the end of an episode of that 70's show, featuring one cast member and his puppet ! )

Ruu_Old

The love boat.:o

Mrs. MacGyver

Gosh i actually used to watch that on Sat afternoons (i cringe now at the thought) also Gilligan's island.

Ruu_Old

*snicker*

Jambo

Mrs. MacGyver wrote:

Didn't know what to call this thread, but i was in a shop in town yesterday and i saw a box set of Hart to Hart and it made me really nostalgic. I loved (pardon the pun) the activties of the Hartes.

On class retro soap was 'A country Practice' it was memorable as being on RTE 1 after i came in from school to my irish stew (meatless asthe mammy is a veggie!). Really wanted a pet wombat after it and had the family driven round the bend.

One really dodgy aussie soap that seemed to make WW2 go on for years was 'The Sullivans', I dont remember a whole lot about it or 'Sons & daughters' for that matter (just the annoying theme tune). Can anyone add to this list?

Oh i can just remember it all coming home from school and that;s all i could watch with the folks during dinner Esme and her dame edna glasses , cookie , dr terrence , matron sloan .. and so on .. makes me feel a lot older than my younigsh 27 !!!!!

Ruu_Old

Dempsey and Makepeace ftw! Pict0r!

Kojak

Ruu wrote:

The love boat.:o

*shudders* God, I hated that show. That theme tune is now stuck in my head. :mad:

county

Eldorado,anyone remember this muck

BobTheBeat

Eldorado, I do remember. It looked like it was filmed with a handycam or something. Complete pish posh.

My sister was obsessed with American Soaps. I remember during the summer when I was much younger,being forced to watch the likes of Santa Barbera, The Bold and The Beautiful, and The Young and The Restless.
When I look back on those shows now, they are all so samey. Cat acting along with cringing monologues really was the mainstay. I think some of the shows are still running. Plus they were always filmed with some form of light softening filter (particular in evening scenes) that was obviously intended to add to an air of romance where required. How F***** annoying is that!

Madge

Like you Bob, I watched 'Santa Barbara', used to be on ITV / UTV 10-15 yrs ago at about 10 in the mornings- watched it during school holidays..
I actually vaguely remember the theme music for 'sons and daughters'-
"sons and daughters, love and laughter.., tearrrrs and happinness..."
My dad used to watch 'Take the High Road', I think thats still going strong!

Madge

bobmeaney wrote:

My sister was obsessed with American Soaps. I remember during the summer when I was much younger,being forced to watch the likes of Santa Barbera, The Bold and The Beautiful, and The Young and The Restless.
When I look back on those shows now, they are all so samey. Cat acting along with cringing monologues really was the mainstay. I think some of the shows are still running. Plus they were always filmed with some form of light softening filter (particular in evening scenes) that was obviously intended to add to an air of romance where required. How F***** annoying is that!

They also had dramatic over the top music at certain moments, it's laughable

Ruu_Old

The Bold and The Beautiful and The Young and The Restless are still going afaik.:)

BobTheBeat

Madge wrote:

Like you Bob, I watched 'Santa Barbara', used to be on ITV / UTV 10-15 yrs ago at about 10 in the mornings- watched it during school holidays..
I actually vaguely remember the theme music for 'sons and daughters'-
"sons and daughters, love and laughter.., tearrrrs and happinness..."
My dad used to watch 'Take the High Road', I think thats still going strong!

Well Madge, here's a trip down memory lane for you. (needs sound!).

Fight the tears!

constitutionus

oh sweet jesus i actually found myself knowing the lyrics!! damn things bonded to my subconscious not as enjoyable as the alf one in one of the other threads.

by the way , anyone got a link to the theme of "take the high road" i fancy a bit of morag now !

Ruu_Old

bobmeaney wrote:

Well Madge, here's a trip down memory lane for you. (needs sound!).

Fight the tears!

Zomg! I just have..something in my eye *runs away like a blubbering fool*

SexeeAussie

Mrs. MacGyver wrote:

Didn't know what to call this thread, but i was in a shop in town yesterday and i saw a box set of Hart to Hart and it made me really nostalgic. I loved (pardon the pun) the activties of the Hartes.

On class retro soap was 'A country Practice' it was memorable as being on RTE 1 after i came in from school to my irish stew (meatless asthe mammy is a veggie!). Really wanted a pet wombat after it and had the family driven round the bend.

One really dodgy aussie soap that seemed to make WW2 go on for years was 'The Sullivans', I dont remember a whole lot about it or 'Sons & daughters' for that matter (just the annoying theme tune). Can anyone add to this list?

The Wombat's name was Fatso!!! And what about Doris the pig that Molly and Shane used to have?? The day that Molly died from cancer I cried and cried and cried..would have been 12 or so years of age, and it really upsest me!

I actually met some of the cast of ACP when I was on holiday in Perth in 1988 or so......Ben Green, Jo and another one of the nurses....can't remember the name.

Shirley Gilroy was my fave character...just loved her meditating under her yoga pyramid.....

I used to LOVE the Love Boat, Welcome Back Cotter, The Littlest Hobo, Prisoner.....but NOTHING beats Skippy!!!!!


:-)

spurious

The funniest thing in 'A Country Practice' was the ongoing joke about unseen taxi driver Bev, who previously worked as the telephone operator. She seemed to approach fares with a Michael Schumacher level of enthusiasm. You would never see Bev, just the effect her driving had on people, or squeals of tyres in the background. She barricaded herself in when they put in the automated telephone system as it deprived her of her source of information, listening in on people's calls.

I loved 'A Country Practice' - I have fond memories of ringing my grandmother each day after it (to check on her) for her to say things like 'Rita wasn't in it today' or 'Where's Mike Baldwin?'. She got a bit mixed up.

Queen of all the old soaps/dramas is 'Prisoner - Cell Block H'.

BobTheBeat

The littlest hobo:- Clicky

Jesus, suddenly im 6 again wiping snot on the curtains

JungleBunny

Magnum PI

Only started watching this recently again!

DéiseGirl

Sons and Daughters was utter tripe!!! :mad: I think it may have been a daily soap in Australia but RTE showed it once a week, so it took FOREVER for anything to happen. Didn't mind the Sullivans so much but again it did seem to go on forever, not sure if that was a daily soap originally as well? It definitely lasted a lot longer than WWII anyway

Speaking of the Sullivans, the lead actress in that was in a show called Carson's Law and that was absolutely addictive. I'd probably cringe if I saw it now.

Also, anyone remember The Cedar Tree...my brother and I used to watch that and look out for the wobbly sets.

And one last thing - Sapphire and Steel. Cheesey sci-fi tat.

DéiseGirl

Oh, oh, oh and the Brothers...that was pretty depressing.....some family running a haulage company I think?

constitutionus

you know the one thing i always remembered about the sullivans was the ol wan in it went on to be mrs mangle in neighbours. it about then i realised the acting pool in australia is about as shallow as here

Ruu_Old

Oi, no knocking Saphire and Steel, pure class!

Madge

bobmeaney wrote:

Well Madge, here's a trip down memory lane for you. (needs sound!).

Fight the tears!

Thanks for finding that! I was singing along

nlgbbbblth

D&#233 wrote: »

Didn't mind the Sullivans so much but again it did seem to go on forever, not sure if that was a daily soap originally as well? It definitely lasted a lot longer than WWII anyway

The Sullivans is possibly my favourite soap of all time.

The typical Irish attitude towards it is one of derision and hatred.

Yes it was meant to be shown five times a week [like it was broadcast in Australia] but instead RTE aired it just once a week. As a result the complete series took over 22 years to get through and naturally appears 'slow' and 'drawn out'.

Imagine Home and Away or Coronation Street getting one episode a week and people would soon dislike them.

A Country Practice - Series 1 and 2 - are out on DVD. Region 4.

Series 1.

Reliable website, have used them before.

D&#233 wrote: »

And one last thing - Sapphire and Steel. Cheesey sci-fi tat.

I love Sapphire and Steel. Am currently re-watching them on DVD.

Toolach

constitutionus wrote:

man i hated the sulivans, me ma was mad into sons and daughters too. the whole bloody thing lead eventually to prisoner cell block h. i think me ma was addicted to aussie soaps

i AM THE SAME.

The Sullivans was never ending.

RTE 2 had a soap of a Irish American family. It was dire. I forget the name but a lady was held captive in a basement for yonks.

nlgbbbblth

Toolach wrote:

i AM THE SAME.

The Sullivans was never ending.

see post #26 to find out why.

hater.

Ruu_Old

I remember coming home from school and Live at 3 being on. Derek Davis and that other whatshername. *cringe*:(

constitutionus

nlgbbbblth wrote:

see post #26 to find out why.

hater.

are you sure man? i seem to remember the sullivans being on every day circa 12.30. one of the reasons i hated it, it was always bloody on!

nlgbbbblth

Ruu wrote:

I remember coming home from school and Live at 3 being on. Derek Davis and that other whatshername. *cringe*:(

Thelma Mansfield.

I found her sexually attractive.

Huggles

What was that american soap opera based in a cul de sac, everyone seemed to be cheating on everyone else all the time?

Agggh cant remember.

nlgbbbblth

constitutionus wrote:

are you sure man? i seem to remember the sullivans being on every day circa 12.30. one of the reasons i hated it, it was always bloody on!

It was on in that timeslot on HTV / UTV. Tuesdays and Thursdays anyway.

As far back as I remember RTE showed it in late afternoon 4:30pm, later on was 5:30pm. Wednesdays initially then Fridays. But just once a week.

If there was snooker, athletics, showjumping etc taking place then The Sullivans was dropped. :mad: :mad:

There were 1,114 episodes and its original run in Australia was from 1976 to 1983. If it was shown daily on RTE then the whole lot would not have taken the 20+ years it did - from 1977 to 1997 approx.

Mrs. MacGyver

Madge wrote:

Like you Bob, I watched 'Santa Barbara', used to be on ITV / UTV 10-15 yrs ago at about 10 in the mornings- watched it during school holidays..
I actually vaguely remember the theme music for 'sons and daughters'-
"sons and daughters, love and laughter.., tearrrrs and happinness..."
My dad used to watch 'Take the High Road', I think thats still going strong!

I loved Santa Babara and Falcon Crest (especially Channing and the nasty Angela!!)

Mrs. MacGyver

nlgbbbblth wrote:

Thelma Mansfield.

I found her sexually attractive.

OH i won't ask!, I suppose you liked BIBI too?......

There was no one attractive on telly for girlies except for Dave Faning (had a signed pic)

Anyway, sorry for hopping off the point. is ther any chance the sullivans will be released on dvd (even series 1) as i buy my xmas pressies at this time of the year and i like to get the shopping done by Sept 30th!

Ruu_Old

nlgbbbblth wrote:

Thelma Mansfield.

I found her sexually attractive.

She was a bit of hot stuff alright.

Mrs. MacGyver

Seriously lads im beginning to wonder....

Lirange

bobmeaney wrote:

Eldorado, I do remember. It looked like it was filmed with a handycam or something. Complete pish posh.

My sister was obsessed with American Soaps. I remember during the summer when I was much younger,being forced to watch the likes of Santa Barbera, The Bold and The Beautiful, and The Young and The Restless.
When I look back on those shows now, they are all so samey. Cat acting along with cringing monologues really was the mainstay. I think some of the shows are still running. Plus they were always filmed with some form of light softening filter (particular in evening scenes) that was obviously intended to add to an air of romance where required. How F***** annoying is that!

Or how they always added globules of moisture to their eyes. They practically drowned their retinas.

Lamers.

nlgbbbblth

Mrs. MacGyver wrote:

OH i won't ask!, I suppose you liked BIBI too?......

Anyway, sorry for hopping off the point. is ther any chance the sullivans will be released on dvd (even series 1) as i buy my xmas pressies at this time of the year and i like to get the shopping done by Sept 30th!

Bibi was nice. Something wanton about her.

The Sullivans on DVD?

There was an Australian DVD release a couple of years ago. First four episodes plus four later ones with Mel Gibson. And a couple of interviews. It's pretty good. And plays all-region as far as I remember.

Available here

Reliable site - have used them before.
Future DVD releases are a possibility. But it would be a compilation of episodes on as opposed to a full release.

You can email Umbrella (Australian company who release archive television) and request it - they have specifically requested feedback on what Australian soaps / television series they should release.

Click!

DéiseGirl

TheGooner wrote:

What was that american soap opera based in a cul de sac, everyone seemed to be cheating on everyone else all the time?

Agggh cant remember.

Knots Landing!!! Absolutely brilliant stuff RTE did the opposite with this one - it was a once a week show in the States but RTE got hold of it several years after it started and showed it Monday-Friday for a good while....very addictive. We had a special "Knots Landing" videotape at home that was used to tape an episode for anyone who wasn't home at the time it was on..:o

DéiseGirl

nlgbbbblth wrote:

It was on in that timeslot on HTV / UTV. Tuesdays and Thursdays anyway.

As far back as I remember RTE showed it in late afternoon 4:30pm, later on was 5:30pm. Wednesdays initially then Fridays. But just once a week.

If there was snooker, athletics, showjumping etc taking place then The Sullivans was dropped. :mad: :mad:

There were 1,114 episodes and its original run in Australia was from 1976 to 1983. If it was shown daily on RTE then the whole lot would not have taken the 20+ years it did - from 1977 to 1997 approx.

God, no wonder it seemed to drag so much......

When I was younger I used to hate the way only "good" programmes got interrupted to show snooker, golf etc....God forbid they'd cut into 5 minutes of the news

Huggles

D&#233 wrote: »

Knots Landing!!! Absolutely brilliant stuff RTE did the opposite with this one - it was a once a week show in the States but RTE got hold of it several years after it started and showed it Monday-Friday for a good while....very addictive. We had a special "Knots Landing" videotape at home that was used to tape an episode for anyone who wasn't home at the time it was on..:o

ha Ha ha very good, thank you.

Kolodny

Weird! Was discussing old dodgy American soaps this morning in work and Knots Landing was mentioned. Wasn't it a Dallas spin off, in the sam sort of way that The Colbys was to Dynasty?

constitutionus

Kolodny wrote:

Weird! Was discussing old dodgy American soaps this morning in work and Knots Landing was mentioned. Wasn't it a Dallas spin off, in the sam sort of way that The Colbys was to Dynasty?

yup, if memory serves the only character from dallas was gary ewing who was married to joan van arcs character (god i can remember the actor but not the part!) she was always going off the deep end. guess that made her the sue ellen of knots landing. the whole premise of the connection? they just moved there

DéiseGirl

constitutionus wrote:

yup, if memory serves the only character from dallas was gary ewing who was married to joan van arcs character (god i can remember the actor but not the part!) she was always going off the deep end. guess that made her the sue ellen of knots landing. the whole premise of the connection? they just moved there

Gary was married to Valeeeeeeene. They were Lucy's parents in Dallas, but I don't remember if Lucy was ever in Knots Landing. They kept splitting up and getting back together and marrying other people in between. They had twins (although Valene was married to someone else at the time I believe )but then they were stolen from Valene at birth and everyone told her they'd died at birth but she was convinced they were still alive and everyone (including herself) thought she was going mad. She eventually got them back and oh how annoying were they, Bobby and Betsy, like two children from Village of the Damned :rolleyes: . Does anyone remember Alec Baldwin playing Valene's religious nutjob half brother...very funny

Oh the memories are coming flooding back.....

Ruu_Old

D&#233 wrote: »

Gary was married to Valeeeeeeene. They were Lucy's parents in Dallas, but I don't remember if Lucy was ever in Knots Landing. They kept splitting up and getting back together and marrying other people in between. They had twins (although Valene was married to someone else at the time I believe )but then they were stolen from Valene at birth and everyone told her they'd died at birth but she was convinced they were still alive and everyone (including herself) thought she was going mad. She eventually got them back and oh how annoying were they, Bobby and Betsy, like two children from Village of the Damned :rolleyes: . Does anyone remember Alec Baldwin playing Valene's religious nutjob half brother...very funny

Oh the memories are coming flooding back.....

Hey, hey spoiler tags!

constitutionus

VAL , lord i cant believe i forgot that! ya gotta admit, no matte how mad things were in knots landing nothing beats fallon (oh emma samms how i loved you:D ) being abducted by aliens at the end of dynasty! man thats writing

Mrs. MacGyver

Knots Landing was THE show to watch when i was in first yr of secondary school. Speaking of cool shows- what about Twin Peaks 'who killed laura palmer?'

gazzer

God.. this discussion is bringing back so many memories.

My primary school was literally round the corner for my house so me and my brother would go home for lunch and watch The Sullivans with my mum.. Also loved A country practice... when Molly died it was like somebody in my family had died...i was really really upset.

Loved, loved loved.. Sons and Daughters and Falcon Crest.. they were so camp... The storylines were so OTT.. my favourite storyline in Sons and Daughters was the exploding wheelchair.

When i was in secondary school i used to pop to my aunts at lunchtime (she was always in work).. my mate would come with me and we would watch Another World on Sky One.. that show was strangely addictive even though it would take about 10 episodes for one day in 'Another world land' to pass