Adventure Island (ABC-TV Australia) - Friday closer

[AussieGeoffA]

Wow, I can still sing this song after 40-odd years. I even still remember the violin sign-off at the end.

[aussietv2]

That's Jason Donovan's mum I think. Would have been fantastic to have seen this in colour. In my young mind it was colour anyway.

[TheGrunge619]

I havent see this for forty years and can still sing the song.Loved Miser meanie and fester fumble and chime.

[Bindush]

What a great memory! Brought a tear to the eye of this 48 year old guy.

I've always had such fond memories of this show, and to see this a again was a real buz. Thankyou

[hairyeahyeah]

AWWW... what a wonderful childhood memory this is. I shall be showing MY children this clip so they can see a magical show i grew up with. Thanks

[LiteracyLabyrinth]

Oh dear, I remember seeing that when I was only 5. That made me cry as all the memories came back so powerfully! I want to see the opening theme now.

[Rogokofats]

I am still upset all these years latter ABC .I just turned 48

[lutetiaconcorde]

Thank you for sharing this auspete. What an absolutely delicious closing theme (seriously!) and such sharp production values. As you know, AI was a touch before my time but this beautiful song brought some tears to these dry old eyes. Thanks for sharing - somedays I wish I had my own Adventure Island to escape too...

[KateMagnay56]

Aahh the memories

[brontewcat]

Thank you for posting this - this waqs my favourite show when I was growing up. All the little things they did in the goodbye sequence came flooding back. I was always so disappointed when the song came on. What beautiful memories

[123westcoaster]

oh the memories a few clips can bring....  racing home after schol to watch the show... wish there were some more clips to view

[lake40]

now this is what i call a blast from the past

[sirgarence]

How strange - I remember that I watched this show obsessively when I was a kid, but all I can remember is that there was a panda on the show (probably because I had a stuffed panda instead of a teddy bear). Watching this though, none of it rings a bell.

[MissCOnAir]

THANKYOU SO MUCH!

[Squawkingalah]

This is beautiful, thank you. I, too, still remember all the words. My sister and I used to post things in to Sue! I found this link after watching a few Tiny Tim clips ... tulips... Flower Pots.... YouTube is great for freewheeling associations. I had no idea as a child that Flower Pots was played by a man.

[spinynorman84]

Adventure Island was my all-time favourite childhood TV show! I remember this song making me cry, hiding behind the couch because Miser Meanie was so scary and wanting so much to be Liza because she was so girly and pretty. It was a special memory from my childhood, I loved seeing it again, thanks.

[francis1971]

I wish I could see more Friday closers.

[frankscan65]

This clip still makes this 44 yr old turn to a blubbering mess - Bruce Rowland and John Michael Howson have created a song which tugs at the heart strings and it still does since it was written in 1867 - and not many TV themes can do that.

BTW both John Michael and Bruce have created a new touring version of the show called Adventure Island - The Next Generation and as they couldn't use the original characters and songs as they are owned by Godfrey Philip and it isn't a patch on the original.

[auspete]

I think (from memory) that the show is called "The New Adventure Island". As I understand it, some years ago Godfrey signed the rights to the concept of Adventure Island over to John Howson and the Rowlands, wanting nothing further to do with it. This was primarily done in the event that they wished to take the show to the stage (which they have). There is a fair bit of conjecture and confusion as to exactly what aspects of the concept the ABC owns, hence the change in characters and setting.

[kitwalker2006]

Not bad for a song written 143 years ago.

[EdieSaidSo]

@frankscan65 Same for this 44 year old! Where did it all go? I forgot about this song but have always remembered the opening theme.

[nurtsurt]

fantastic

[HalloBuddi]

My earliest tv memory

[ANDREWMUZAK]

the best show on tv. bring out the DVD so we cab buy the whole series

[wme79736]

I haven't heard this for 37 years and I remembered every word. Wha a brilliant programme it was. I don't think I ever missed it (and I watched it until ended when I was 16!)..

[mturkic]

This was a terrific childhood memory..and may I say a terrific song! WHo wrote it?

[auspete]

John Michael Howson wrote the words. Bruce Rowland then wrote the music to them. The song was written in 1967 and closed every Friday episode of Adventure Island (or weekly closing episode in rare cases where the Friday fell on Christmas Day) apart from the very last episode which aired on December 22, 1972 and contained its own farewell song.

[exCroweater]

Wow, I had forgotten about this show. This Friday song is the most vivid memory I have (probably coz it was re-enacted/repeated each week). Wonderful stuff.

[candytotty]

if this is in 1970, how come it's NOT in Color? I'm from Canada and was born in 1987. I'm curious. I KNOW from some book that television got to Australia a year or two AFTER it made it's rounds in at least the United States, I don't know about Canada AND the rest of the world. But, yes, back to my first question, how come this isn't in color? Color TV roughly began in mid 1965, I believe, AROUND the world..

[auspete]

Colour TV began full time in Australia on March 1, 1975. It was tested for around 6 months prior with stations limited to the number of colour programming hours they could show. Although most of the commercial stations had colour equipment since about 1971, they were then only allowed to broadcast in colour if a crucial carrier in the signal was removed so anyone with an imported set could not view colour programming. Blame the clueless Liberal government (1949-1972). The ABC lagged well behind.

[SenhorBundy]

Adoption of colour sets, once colour broadcasting commenced however, was very rapid - by 1978 64% of Melbourne and 70% of Sydney households had a colour set!

[zapkvr]

@auspete I know this was the case but some people still nevertheless managed to have color television. Why, they even broadcast it at the Royal Melbourne show and I think that might have been in 1971 or possibly 1972.

[auspete]

@zapkvr Those "some people" included my own family, due to my father's involvement in the electronics industry. We viewed a number of British videotaped programs, mainly through Channel 7, such as Father Dear Father, On The Buses, and Doctor In The House from 1971 on a borrowed adapted German TV set. We also saw the 1972 Munich Olympics in colour. Apart from these odd morsels, hardly anything was in colour, it was restricted to imported videotaped shows. No locally produced shows or films.

[123westcoaster]

@candytotty some of us didnt even get colour tv till 1976 and when we did it was only the ads that were colour!!!!

[candytotty]

@123westcoaster well thanks 123westcoaster, but I'm just from the suburbs with mild autism in Ontario, Canada. I thought the WHOLE world would have colour TV by 1966. I don't know if your response is to be superior or it's anger, I can't know all these things, I'm not an Encyclopedia Britannica. you don't have to be upset, I'm not Australian. there's a culture gap between me from Canada & Australia. :( Well, I'm visiting in January '11, can't wait to see aussies galore. luv Australia bye

[123westcoaster]

@candytotty response wasnt to be superior or in anger just only to inform you that some of us didnt even get colour tv till 1976 enjoy your visit

[brontewcat]

@candytotty You must also understand that Australia has always traditionally been behind in everything TV and it irks us a bit. Most of us got colour TV just in time for the Montreal Olympics and it was very exciting for us:-). However last night we actually saw this year's Dr Who Christmas special on Boxing Day instead of May or July or such - this must be a first. Hooray! (At least I hope it was this year's). We must be finally catching up with the rest of the world.

[brontewcat]

@candytotty BTW - Welcome for January - but be warned we are having a very wet summer (except Perth) courtsey of La Nina. So bring some wet weather gear as well as summer clothes. It may be also cooler than usual so you will need a warm jumper/jacket as well as tee shirts and swimmers as the weather is very changeable at the moment. We seem to be getting about 2 hot sunny days and 5 mild overcast/rainy days each week. Maybe you will bring the sun:-)

[yrmaher]

I was going to start a group on Facebook - bring back Adventure Island but when I googled it - it's already back. This is just the saddest song from my childhood. I was so sad at the end of the week when they sang it. How do you get to see a whole episode? Anyone know?

[broni777]

yrmaher why dont you start a facebook group about adventure island.. id join it

[johnmhynds]

what a fantastic blasf from my childhood. Always loved Adventure Island - Sesame Street reminded me too much of school. Great stories, actors, sets, costumes orchestration - we were so lucky, thank you John Michael

[avidutubewatcher]

This was a great programme. It was clever and imaginative... I was very fortunate to be a child in Australia during this era. Adventure Island, Mr Squiggle, Skippy great Australian programmes that highlighted a unque "Australian Childhood" - thanks Philip Godfrey, the ABC and the other actors

[johni0666]

I use to cry every Friday when they played this and damn it I teared up when i watched this 30 Yrs later!!!

[39RatRodCoupe]

Lisa oh what a babe.

[purepils]

Sue Donovan was very cute!

(Now that im 40)

[roughnut1963]

thanks for the trip down memory lane..i wish it would air again so my kids could appreciate it....much better than some that are shown on tv now!

[Serendi08]

I concur with zzzbbbooo's comment below - can't say it any better "Delightful childhood memories. Thank you!"

[ozoneflyertoo]

Google the Australian site '' Tape Trading ( rolgen ) '' and ask him about the DVD that has four episodes of Adventure Island .

[BlondeAussie007]

This was my favourite show. Can anyone tell me if Liz Harris is Jason Donovan's mum (and Terrance Donovan's wife).

[auspete]

You're almost right, Liz Harris (Liza) married another TV cop show actor, Leonard Teale in 1968. Terry's wife (and Jason's mum) was Sue Donovan (seen in this clip holding the book). They split around 1972 but it was a few years before Sue changed her professional name to McIntosh. More recently she known for her newsreading, at least in Melbourne (ABC Television). About 10 years ago I was lucky enough to get Sue to sign both names for a belated "Adventure Island" fan autograph!

[zzzbbbooo]

Just delightful childhood memories.  Thank you!

[nurtsurt]

Lisa (Liz Harris)is today the vice president of the Monash Country Club.

[auspete]

Nice piece of trivia! Miss Tinsley told me she is a mad keen golfer, something that was previously unknown to me.

[nurtsurt]

Your spot on pete.This shows main aim was to entertain children with what was approriate for their age and which can bring a grown adult to tears when remembering the show and especially the cast 40 yrs later.I doubt very much if my children will ever shed a tear for the simpsons,ninja turtles or the transformers.The only exception in our house was Play school and Thomas the tank engine.Thanks for the clip.

[missjeanbrody]

I was traumatised when this part came on. I wanted the show to keep going. It was my favourite show.

[francis1971]

This occured every Friday.

The thing that interested me about this was the different outfits Sue had on.

[missjeanbrody]

Yes your right. My young mind couldn't understand how that happened. But what a fashion plate she was!

[auspete]

In the US you had the Mickey Mouse Club, the format of which - part adlib, part scripted -inspired Godfrey Philipp to make Magic Circle Club & Adventure Island in a similar way. I think the main thing lacking on TV for young children now is anything with morals or a plot. It's all Wiggles, Teletubbies, High 5 and similar rubbish, supposedly educational and entertaining but actually patronising to them. All they really learn is the lyrics to some dumb songs and how to jump around like idiots.

[jpx08]

True there was the Mickey Mouse Club as well but I must admit that was before my time. I wonder if it would be possible to have such a show like Adventure Island on the TV now? Even the tastes of children in the target ages do change after 40 years.

[jpx08]

Shows like this just don't exist anymore. I did not see this when I was younger being in America. We had Captain Kangaroo. TV has come such a long way and sadly, it's mostly crap now! There's no soul. It's all mindless nonsense.

[MarkJSau]

"Be good, do all you can that's right...". The sort of message some of us were lucky enough, in our childhood, to receive from TV through this wonderful show. Here's hoping children continue to receive such messages through the magical medium of television....

[auspete]

If only. They're more likely to think that life is about 1880s-freak show style contestants sniping at each other in Big Brother. Oh how television has progressed.

[dsteamer100]

So true!

[rockychopper]

I was a kid too when ADVENTURE ISLAND was on! Weren't they innocent days back then!! Just fantastic. Mind you, even when I got a bit older and stopped watching it, you could always hear the theme-music playing in people's homes when my friends and I were outside on our bikes, etc. Thanks for the great memory boost! cheers!

[MarkJSau]

Hi Rockychopper... your profile says you are 26.. which has you born in 1981 or 1982... long after "Adventure Island" had ceased being broadcast. So which is true? Your age? Or your recollection of this programme?

[wme79736]

ouch! Gotcha Chooper!

[bunyipgirl]

I saw this so many times when tiny in the studio audience. :D

[RobertTheDodger654]

I love to see Liza skip and twirl around like that, and show off her nice shoes, eh?!

[monkeymummy1]

Thank you for this, it brought tears to my eyes. I remember Mum taking me to the studios to see it being filmed and I got to look at the set afterwards. I still remember the bitter childhood disappointment when I found that Liza's piano was only cardboard. Thanks again, some beautiful memories too.

[corgi37]

I loved this show as a kid. And aint it amazing. Sue Mcintosh is still hot!!

[sixtiesmaniac]

YES i loved this as a kid back in 1971 i was 5 wow time has flown!!

[jpx08]

I was 2 in '71. Scary how it goes by so fast, isn't it?

[misermeanies]

I have Four 30 min episodes on the one DVD . If anyone want a copy of the DVD then send your postal address with name and I should get the DVD to you in about a fortnight of receiving your request .

[btvgmv6]

Fantastic

[upweyguy]

Here I am a 42 year old man remembering when I watched this show. I was 5 years yound then. Thank you for posting a wonderful memory.

[auspete]

Here's some trivia for you... during this song Brian Crossley (Flower Potts) used to, as an "in" joke, say to the camera "bye bye you little bastards" or something similar, knowing he couldn't be heard. But then the show started getting letters of complaint from lipreaders! He apologised very smartly and never did it again. If you look closely, in this clip he says "goodbye dears".

[MarkJSau]

As another 1960s child, all I can say is, thank you, Auspete, for making this and other fragments of Adventure Island available for us to see... and to reconnect with that inner child... Hearing "We'll be thinking of you" again really took me back!

[auspete]

Yes, it's a beauty.

[misermeanies]

Hello people out there . I have four 30 minute episodes of Adventure Island , and one of them has Nancy Cato hosting in the very first week . If you send me your name and address details then i will send the four copies on one CD .

[wme79736]

Do you really mean this Mr Meanie? I would love to have a copy.

[anna8099]

I used to watch this show with my Mum way back in the last 1960's I guess; thank you SO much for posting this! Where on earth did you get it? So many happy memories! My Mum has since died; how I wish she could watch this with me; we both loved that show; there has never been another show quite like it!

[minestra77]

absolutely brilliant !!!!! a masterpiece !!! this would have to be a pure GEM !!! WE were so excited when we seen this !!! we loved this show !!

[TruTearsOfJoy]

You can't imagine the wonderful memories that have come flooding back from watching this ! Thank you !!

[Normkangaroo]

Watching that brought a tear to my eye. Poor old Studio 31's days are numbered by the bean conters. Every time I walk in the studio door I feel a sense of history that will soon be lost by the evil money men. Meiser Meaney eat your heart out...

[RobertTheDodger654]

Was there ever any Adventure Island merchandise available, other than the series of 4 books?

[auspete]

No. With both Adventure Island and The Magic Circle Club, even in those early TV days, a deliberate decision was made by the producers not to treat children as consumers. Consequently the only merchandise ever was the Adventure Island books and Fredd Bear and Fee Fee Bear dolls.

[sixtiesmaniac]

yes there were trading cards issued

[francis1971]

Not bad!

Have you got more of these?

[auspete]

Hi Francis,

Do you mean more classic television, or more Adventure Island? There is more Adventure Island but because it's a highly prized item for trading purposes I'm reluctant to share too much more on here for the time being.

Pete

[francis1971]

I was referring to Adventure Island.

Thanks.

[misstinsley]

Just superb!