The Mary Jane is a 1954 Australian radio serial by Henry and Beatrice Howlett. It was directed by Max Afford.[3]
| Genre | drama serial |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 mins (8:30 pm – 9:00 pm) |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | 2FC |
| Syndicates | ABC |
| Written by | Henry and Beatrice Howlett |
| Directed by | Max Afford[1] |
| Recording studio | Sydney |
| Original release | 7 February 1954[2] – April 4, 1954 |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 9 |
The Howletts were farmers with extensive experience in radio. They researched the scripts by travelling in a truck along the Murray River interviewing people.[4]
Premise
editLife on the Murray River in the 1880s.[5] According to ABC Weekly "he Mary Jane is owned by old Brummy, an easy-going Cockney, who is happy to make a reason-able living from carrying freight up and down the river. He has a daughter, Belle, who is engaged to a member of his crew, Jami£ Burns, an ambitious young man who hopes to own a whole fleet of ships. A rival paddle steamer is run by the Stever family. In' a race an engine explodes, and one of the Stever sons is killed. Old. man Stever viciously blames Brummy, and determines to run him off the river. "[6]
Cast
edit- Henry Howlett as Bummy
- John Tate as Stever
- Rod Taylor as Jamie
- Wendy Playfair as Belle
- Roger Climpson as Phil
- Ray Harley as Willie
- Walter Sullivan as Dick
- June Salter as Elizabeth
- Rupert Chance as Murph
- Alan Herbert as Deadeye
- Queenie Asheton as Mrs May
- Ethel Gabriel as Mrs. Jones
Episodes
edit- Ep 1 - 7 Feb
- Ep 2 - 14 Feb
- Ep 3 - 21 Feb
- Ep 4 - 28 Feb
- Ep 5–7 March
- Ep 6–14 March
- Ep 7–21 March
- Ep 8–28 March
- Ep 9–4 April[7]
References
edit- ^ "Programme Section", ABC Weekly, 16 (6), Sydney, 6 February 1954, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove
- ^ "Story of the Mary Jane". The Age. No. 30, 815. Victoria, Australia. 4 February 1954. p. 1 ("THE AGE" RADIO SUPPLEMENT). Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "River Murray Serial", ABC Weekly, 16 (9), Sydney, 27 February 1954, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove
- ^ "Women's Interests On The Air Farmers Tura Playwrights". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 36, 249. New South Wales, Australia. 25 February 1954. p. 7 (Women's Section). Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Plays and Players". The Sun. No. 13725. New South Wales, Australia. 5 February 1954. p. 13 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "New Sunday Serial", ABC Weekly, 16 (6), Sydney, 6 February 1954, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove
- ^ "Sunday, April 4 A.B.C.", ABC Weekly, 16 (14), Sydney, 3 April 1954, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove