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Cultural highlights of 1958
Television: Australia
New shows
• Bandstand (TCN-9). Music. Runs until 1972.
• Swallow Juniors (HSV-7). Children's drama. Runs until 1971.
Television: UK
New shows
• Blue Peter (BBC from 27 October). Children's magazine. (Still running.)
• Grandstand (BBC, Saturday afternoons from 11 October). Sports. (Series
to be phased out by 2009.)
• Monitor (BBC from 2 February). Arts, introduced by Huw Wheldon.
• Oh Boy! (ABC for the ITV Network, from 13 September). Fast-paced pop
music show, starring Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, the Dallas Boys, Harry Robinson
Sound (aka Lord Rockingham's XI), etc; compered by Jimmy Henney, produced by Jack Good.
• Quatermass and the Pit (BBC from 22 December). Six-part science-fiction drama, later filmed.
Top-rated programmes in ITV-receiving homes only
1 Dotto (ATV for ITV Network). Join-the-dots quiz show from a US
format (axed in US on August 15 amid quiz show scandals). Runs until 1960.
2 Wagon Train (ITV network). US filmed western.
3 Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV for ITV network). Variety.
4 The Army Game (Granada for ITV network). Military service sitcom.
5 Television Playhouse (various for ITV network). One-off dramas.
6 Twenty-One (Granada for ITV network). Quiz show based on the
soon-to-be-infamous US version. Ran for only one season because of unproven
corruption claims.
7 Spot the Tune (Granada for ITV network). Musical quiz show in its third
year. Runs until 1962.
8 Take Your Pick (Associated-Rediffusion for ITV network). Quiz show
produced by independent Arlington Television & Radio, runs from 1955 until 1968
(and revived 1992-1998).
9 Double Your Money (Associated-Rediffusion for ITV network). Quiz show
produced by independent Arlington Television & Radio, runs from 1955 until 1968.
10 Murder Bag (Associated-Rediffusion for ITV network). Crime series in
its second year.
Radio: UK
Single productions
• The Ballad of John Axon by Ewan MacColl and Charles Parker (BBC Third Programme, 2 July).
A 'radio ballad', blending actuality recordings with folk music. Seven more
radio ballads are produced by Parker and MacColl between 1959 and 1964.
• Unman, Wittering and Zigo by Giles Cooper (BBC Third Programme, 23
November). Black comedy.
Television: US
New shows
• 77 Sunset Strip (Warner). Private eye series.
• The Andy Williams Show (ABC). Music. Later transfers to CBS and then NBC
Chronomedia 1958
