Revue ’61/Revue ’62

1 9 6 1 (Australia)
52 x 60 minute episodes
1 9 6 2 (Australia)
24 x 60 minute episodes

ATN-7 in Sydney produced this landmark Australian variety show in conjunction with American company MCA, bringing together the remarkable talents of innovative Canadian producer and director Peter MacFarlane, Musical Director Tommy Tycho and writers Digby Wolfe (who also hosted the show), Chris Beard, Alan Kitson and Ray Taylor.

Part of the success of Revue ’61 and Revue ’62 were the Revue 20, a group of singers and dancers, pictured below.

Viewers and critics were unanimous with their praise for the Sunday night show, which debuted on 8 January 1961.

There had never before been an Australian television production with a large orchestra, a twenty-voice choir, a distinguished host (English comedian and actor Digby Wolfe, pictured at right), and top local and overseas guest artists each week.

Amongst those guests were Harry Secombe, Neil Sedaka, Lonnie Donegan, Bob Newhart, Alma Cogan, Dickie Valentine, Winifred Atwell, Victor Borge, Lana Cantrell, Johnny O’Keefe, Dorothy Dandridge, June Bronhill, Col Joye, Rolf Harris, the Harlem Globetrotters, golfer Arnold Palmer, boxer Rocky Gattellari and the West Indies cricket team.

After 52 shows in 1961, Wolfe returned with Revue ’62 in February 1962, but by July, he needed a rest from television, and the show came to an end. The final show aired on Sunday 29 July 1962. Producer Peter Macfarlane returned to Canada.

Wolfe ultimately returned to his native England where he wrote for the seminal satirical review That Was the Week That Was, before moving to the US, where he wrote for Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In (for which he won an Emmy in 1968).

Wolfe died in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on 3 May 2012, after a short battle with cancer. He was 82.

Host
Digby Wolfe

Video