LBW Smith is a 1958 Australian radio serial drama from the Australian Broadcasting Commission. It was produced to coincide with the 1958–59 Ashes cricket series between Australia and England, and it is notable for its innovative production which incorporated the results of games in the scripts at the last minute.[1][2]
 Sydney Morning Herald advertisement | |
| Genre | serial |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 mins |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | ABC |
| Written by | George F. Kerr |
| Directed by | Ivan Smith |
| Original release | November 29, 1958 – February 21, 1959 |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
The serial was written by George F. Kerr who was the ABC's most prolific writer at the time.[3]
Premise
editThe cricket-mad Duke of Bootle from England and Mrs Flinders from Australia bet on who will win the Ashes. Both travel around Australia following the Test matches. They discover a player, LBW Smith, who might be eligible for either country.
Cast
edit- Don Pascoe as the Duke of Bootle
- Lionel Stevens as Cavendish the valet
- Queenie Ashton as Mrs Kev Flinders
- Richard Meikle as LBW Smith
- Madi Hedd as Liz
- Ric Hutton
- June Salter
Production
editThe series incorporated elements of the real-life Ashes including up-to-date scores, crowd noises, and cameos from commentators such as Johnny Moyes, Alec Bedser and Alan McGilvray. The writing of the serial was adjusted at the last minute for what actually happened in the games.[1]
Richie Benaud appeared as himself in the final episode.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "L.B.W. Smith, cricket serial of glorious uncertainty", ABC Weekly, 20 (48), Sydney, 26 November 1958, retrieved 5 June 2023 – via Trove
- ^ "Comedy serial will "use" cricket tour incidents". The Age Radio and TV Supplement. 28 November 1958. p. 1.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (27 February 2022). "Forgotten Australian Television Plays: Four from George F. Kerr". Filmink. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Richie Benaud, actor", ABC Weekly, 21 (7), Sydney, 18 February 1959, retrieved 5 June 2023 – via Trove