Remember This? 2SM Newspaper Advertisement (1966)

In the last entry of our current run of Remember This? comprises of a 1966 newspaper advertisement for radio station 2SM. 

 

Source: 2SM. 1966. "2SM goes king" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, January 10: 12. 

The weekday schedule was as follows:

• Phil Haldeman (5 am to 9 am)
• John Mahon (9 am to 1 pm)
• "Big" Sam Kronia (1 pm to 4 pm)
• Tony Murphy (4 pm to 7 pm)
• Mike Walsh (7pm to 10 pm)
• Dal Myles (10 pm - Midnight)

Haldeman was in his role alongside that of narrating newsreels for Cinesound. 

The most notable name on the lineup is Mike Walsh, whom would go onto a successful TV career during the 1970s and 1980s as the host of the Mike Walsh Show which ran on Channel Nine from 1973 to 1985.

Dal Myles and Tony Murphy also would eventually find their way onto TV Screens. Older readers may remember that Myles presented Ten Eyewitness News Nightcast alongside evening news updates during the 1980s at channel ten. Tony Murphy would succeed Jimmy Hannan as host of Saturday Date on TCN9 and cohosted Good Morning Australia alongside Kerri-Anne Kennerely and Candid Camera Australia on Channel Ten at the end of the 1980s and early 1990s. 

Remember This? ATN7 Newspaper Advertisement (1968)

Below is a newspaper advertisement by ATN7 (Channel 7) to promote the programs to be featured on the TV channel on Wednesday, August 28 1968. This was sourced from The Sun newspaper on that same date.

At the time, Fairfax was the owner of ATN7, and its newspapers, including The Sun, could be used to cross-promote programming on Channel Seven. This is the same approach used by Nine Entertainment to promote the Nine Network and its newspapers, including The Sydney Morning Herald, in 2024. 

Source: ATN7. 1968 "Tonight on ATN 7" (Advertisement). The Sun, August 28: 9. 

Highlights included Roger Climpson (now 92 years of age and happily retired) reading the news at 6:30 pm, Coles $6 000 Question presented by Roland Strong at 7pm, along with The Mavis Bramston Show at 8:30pm followed by Motel at 9:30pm.

Every show on the lineup that evening was produced at the ATN7 studios at Epping, except for Coles $6 000 Question, which was produced in Melbourne at the HSV7 Studios.  

Remember This? Sydney Tower Spidermen (1987)

In 1997, Frenchman Alain Robert climbed up Sydney Tower. Robert is famous globally for climbing up skyscrapers or notable structures in cities without the aid of any climbing equipment. In addition to Sydney Tower, Robert scaled The Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2003, Aurora Place (2009) and the Lumiere Tower in Bathurst Street (2010). 

But did you know that a decade earlier (1987), there were two incidents that involved people climbing the tower

In February 1987, one individual managed to climb all the way to the top. The Daily Mirror referred to the person as a "human fly" and a "daredevil". They did use a rope to scale the tower. 

 

 

Source: Anon. 1987. "Centrepoint climb; Sydney's Human Fly". The Daily Mirror, February 2: 1 & 6. 

Five months later, three men decided to climb up Sydney Tower, not for the sake of climbing, but rather to protest against nuclear arms. The banner was unfurled around halfway up the tower. They were arrested. Greenpeace accepted responsibility for the incident. 

Source: Moor, M. & Crouch, B. 1987. "Centrepoint Spidermen: 3 climbers arrested after midnight stunt". The Daily Mirror, July 10: 1-2.

Remember This? Open House Family Restaurants Ad (1971)

January sees the return of Remember This?, where I dig up material of interest that may not meet the criteria for a regular post during the course of the year or simply an item that I wish to share with you that I have found while looking for other material.

Below is a 1971 newspaper advertisement for the defunct Open House family restaurant chain, which at the time had six stores in the Sydney region with a seventh store planned to open.

The advertisement contained the full menu, catering to a variety of tastes, including hamburgers, fried chicken and seafood.

Source: Open House Family Restaurant. 1971. "At Open House we don't only sell hamburgers...we sell variety" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, December 6: 26.

New Years Eve 25 Years Ago: 1998

Today is January 1 and Happy New Year to all our readers.

This post was published as the midnight fireworks went off on Sydney Harbour and makes perfect timing to post how Sydney marked the start of the New Year 25 years ago. 

1998 is our year in focus.

December 31 1998, was the second last New Year's Eve of the century (and millennium). Sydney had big plans for December 31 1999, and wanted to do a "rehearsal" of what would happen on that night

Organisers wanted to make the midnight fireworks the pinnacle event of the night, so on December 31 1998, they decided to do what is now regarded as the first major midnight fireworks spectacular, which would involve the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

In past years, there had been midnight fireworks on Sydney Harbour but they were either low-key or not on the scale that was planned. 

The 9pm fireworks show still remained as the main show but was shortened to twenty minutes, while the midnight show lasted ten minutes.

Kylie Minogue was invited to press the button to launch the 9pm show and was booked in as the surprise guest for the black tie ball that was hosted by Lord Mayor Frank Sartor.

Source: Nicholas, G. 1999. "Kylie plays the opera house at a black-tie millennium rehearsal". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 1: 4. 

For some watching on the North Shore, smoke from the fireworks hindered the view, leaving them disappointed. 

Source: Anon. 1999. "Boos as old year goes up in smoke". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 1: 1.

 

Source: Hilferty, T. 1999. "Smoke hazard: But fireworks lit up most of the 1.1 million fans". The Daily Telegraph, January 2: 4. 

Below is coverage from Pages 4 and 5 of The Daily Telegraph from January 1999. It includes a well-written appraisal of festivities by Ray Chesterton. 

The Sydney Morning Herald, in its coverage (January 1, 1999), looked at both the positive and negative.

 

Source: Dent, J. 1999. "Harbour fireworks light up the night". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 1: 4.

Facts of Interest

• Festivities cost an estimated $2 million.
• Channel Nine was the official TV broadcaster with 2UE providing a simulcast of the playlist for those listening on the radio.
• The main fireworks launching points were from The Sydney Harbour Bridge, and barges placed east of Cockatoo Island and east of Mrs Macquaries Point, compared to six barges and four pontoons for 2023. 
• An estimated 20 000 fireworks were released. For 2023, 75 000 fireworks are estimated to be released, nearly four times the number.
• Fireworks were released from the following city buildings. In 2023, Crown Sydney and Salesforce Tower are among five city towers to have fireworks released. 
• Attendance was estimated at 1.1 million.

Sourced from Page 17 of The Daily Telegraph, December 31 1998.

Transport Arrangements

Below are public transport arrangements for New Year's Eve. Like in 2023, major summer trackwork was suspended for the day to enable revellers to travel to and from the city. 

Source: Sydney Ferries, Sydney Buses & CityRail. 1998, "Don't get stuck when New Year's Eve turns into New Year's Day" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, December 30: 11.

Source: Sydney Ferries, Sydney Buses & CityRail. 1998, "How we'll get you there on New Year's Eve" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, December 31: page unknown. 

Christmas Snapshot: 1998

Merry Christmas, everyone.

For the first time since 2017, Christmas Day falls on a Monday and its perfect timing for our Christmas Snapshot, focusing on how Sydneysiders marked Christmas 25 years ago.

The year of focus is 1998.

Christmas Services

The Daily Telegraph provided its readers with an overview of what would open and what would be closed on Christmas Day, and generally, there has been little change over the past 25 years.

 

On December 26, The Daily Telegraph provided a summary of how the city marked Christmas Day. Ashfield Uniting Church hosted 2500 people for Christmas Lunch, led by Rev. Bill Crews. Sydney Lord Mayor Frank Sartor acted as Santa while former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and wife Blanche d'Alpuget waited on attendees

Their work has expanded over the years. Apart from Christmas Lunch at Ashfield, the Bill Crews Foundation will have delivered hampers to thousands of homes in the lead-up to today.

10,000 people, mainly backpackers, converged on Bondi Beach for their traditional Christmas Day gathering. The weather played its part, providing attendees with perfect skies. 

Carols in the Domain was on 19 December 1998 and was compered by Hugh Jackman.

Boxing Day Sales on Boxing Day

 

Source: Ryan, R. 1998. "City stores don Boxing Day gloves". The Daily Telegraph, December 26: 7.  

In 1998, Sydney CBD retailers traded on Boxing Day for the first time, which gave Sydneysiders an opportunity to obtain bargains on Boxing Day without having to leave the Sydney Metropolitan area. However, suburban retailers were still prohibited from trading. Under the legislation, the Sydney CBD was deemed to be a tourist area, alongside centres in NSW that were also designated as tourist centres for the purposes of retail trading on Boxing Day. This had been allowed for years, but retailers refused on their own accord to do so.

One retailer that did not participate in Boxing Day trading in central Sydney was David Jones. 

This arrangement continued until 2003. In 2004, Sydney CBD retailers were not permitted to trade on Boxing Day as it fell on a Sunday, and a public holiday in lieu was given (27 December 2004). 

Sydneysiders voted with their feet, with 100,000 shoppers travelling into the city to take advantage of the bargains on offer, led by department stores Grace Bros and David Jones. 

Source: McCabe, K. "Shoppers create a retail heaven". The Sunday Telegraph, December 27: 7. 

1999: Mark Latham and Badgerys Creek Airport - Feature

In 1999, the Federal Government announced that a second Sydney Airport would be located at Badgerys Creek. This did not imply that approval to build the airport was given. It gave certainty that if a second Sydney Airport was built, it would be at Badgerys Creek. It was not until 2014 that the Federal Government under Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that construction would go ahead, leading to the new airport due to open in 2026. 

Mark Latham (ALP, Werriwa) may have sat on opposition benches at the time but agreed that Sydney needed the second airport at Badgerys Creek, not to mention that those in his electorate of Werriwa were set to benefit. Latham was also mayor of Liverpool from 1991 to 1994 and identified the benefits that it would bring to it.

Source: Latham, L. 1999. "Get ready for take-off from Badgerys Creek". The Daily Telegraph, June 11: 11. 

1998: Variable Speed Limit Signs is introduced

This year is 25 years since Sydneysiders were introduced to variable speed signage signs. 

There were speed advisory signs on the F6 Motorway (now known as Princes Motorway) when it opened in 1975, but they were primarily used to alert drivers of hazardous road conditions and recommend that they slow down.

The variable speed limit signs, which are now standard on Sydney motorways, were introduced first on the M4 Motorway in 1998. Below is a newspaper advertisement that was used to educate drivers on the new signs. 

 

Source: Roads and Traffic Authority. 1998. "Coming to the M4". The Daily Telegraph, December 14:14.

Property Advert of the Week: Century Tower (1997)

This week is the last of our Property Advert of the Week entries for 2023. Below is a 1997 newspaper advertisement for Century Tower. Two bedroom apartments were on sale from $378 600.

Source: Sunlord. 1997. "Century Tower" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, July 5: 13RE (Real Estate Liftout).

Property Advert of the Week will return on the first Saturday in February 2024.

1965: Idle Peak Hour Trains

In 1965, The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader published a feature by Tom Mead rebutting claims by NSW Transport Minister John McMahon (ALP) that all available electric carriages were in service during peak hours. As evidence, a photograph of trains stationed on sidings at East Hills during the evening peak period. 

It is typical in Sydney to argue that trains are overcrowded, whether it was in the 1960s or now. The question the article raised was why couldn't additional services be provided to reduce the overcrowding. The East Hills Line was the focus, arguing that the idle trains could have made one return trip each from East Hills to the City. 

Mead would be elected as a State MP for Hurstville two months later, holding onto the seat until 1976. 

Source: Mead, T. 1965. "Electric trains idle as people fight for hold". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, March 3: 1.