Godfrey Philipp
Encyclopedia
Godfrey Pettersson Philipp (19372011) was a pioneering producer/director of Australian children's television during the 1960s and 1970s.
Born in England in 1937, Philipp had been a child actor before emigrating to Australia. In 1959 he worked at GTV9 Melbourne as assistant floor manager, before becoming assistant producer of In Melbourne Tonight and later producer-director of The Breakfast Show.
After a stint working at NBN3 in Newcastle, Philipp joined the fledging ATV0 in Melbourne (later to become part of Network Ten Australia) producing The Children’s Show. In 1965, he teamed with writer John Michael Howson to create The Magic Circle Club, which took The Children’s Show’s timeslot. Philipp served as the program’s executive producer/director.
When The Magic Circle Club was cancelled in 1967, Philipp worked as producer/director on sitcom Hey You for ATV0 before joining again with Howson to create Adventure Island
for ABC National Television, which shared a similar premise and format with The Magic Circle Club, along with much of the same cast and crew. Again Philipp was the executive producer/director of each episode. The program was notable for being the ABC’s first co-production with an outside production company (Godfrey Philipp Productions).
On both The Magic Circle Club and Adventure Island, Philipp made innovative use of the opportunities afforded by the televisual technology of the day to create previously unseen (on Australian TV productions) special effects to realise the programs’ fantasy aspects.
When Adventure Island was cancelled in 1972, Philipp worked as a freelance producer/director. He directed an episode of Skyways for Channel Seven in 1979.
Working for Reg Grundy Productions
, Philipp was the second executive producer of Prisoner
for Network Ten in 1979 and also directed episodes of the series.
Philipp received a special Logie award
in 1973 for his contribution to Australian children’s television. In 1979, he worked at Northern Rivers Television to create a new children’s program called Rainbow, which was not picked up by any of Australia’s national television networks. However his work on this program was recognised with another Logie award.
After leaving the television industry in the 1980s, Philipp worked voluntarily for The Salvation Army. In later life he suffered from osteoporosis.
He died on April 21, 2011. His final years were spent in the aged care residence of Sumner House, Brotherhood of St Lawrence in Fitzroy, Victoria.
Born in England in 1937, Philipp had been a child actor before emigrating to Australia. In 1959 he worked at GTV9 Melbourne as assistant floor manager, before becoming assistant producer of In Melbourne Tonight and later producer-director of The Breakfast Show.
After a stint working at NBN3 in Newcastle, Philipp joined the fledging ATV0 in Melbourne (later to become part of Network Ten Australia) producing The Children’s Show. In 1965, he teamed with writer John Michael Howson to create The Magic Circle Club, which took The Children’s Show’s timeslot. Philipp served as the program’s executive producer/director.
When The Magic Circle Club was cancelled in 1967, Philipp worked as producer/director on sitcom Hey You for ATV0 before joining again with Howson to create Adventure Island
Adventure Island (TV series)
Adventure Island is an Australian television series for children which screened on the ABC from 11 September 1967 to 22 December 1972 . It was jointly created by Godfrey Philipp, who produced the series, and actor-writer John Michael Howson, who also co-starred in the show...
for ABC National Television, which shared a similar premise and format with The Magic Circle Club, along with much of the same cast and crew. Again Philipp was the executive producer/director of each episode. The program was notable for being the ABC’s first co-production with an outside production company (Godfrey Philipp Productions).
On both The Magic Circle Club and Adventure Island, Philipp made innovative use of the opportunities afforded by the televisual technology of the day to create previously unseen (on Australian TV productions) special effects to realise the programs’ fantasy aspects.
When Adventure Island was cancelled in 1972, Philipp worked as a freelance producer/director. He directed an episode of Skyways for Channel Seven in 1979.
Working for Reg Grundy Productions
Reg Grundy Productions
Reg Grundy Productions was the American wing of the worldwide television production company Grundy Worldwide, which was founded by Australian television producer Reg Grundy. Reg Grundy Productions was responsible for the production of two highly-successful daytime game shows on NBC during the...
, Philipp was the second executive producer of Prisoner
Prisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
for Network Ten in 1979 and also directed episodes of the series.
Philipp received a special Logie award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
in 1973 for his contribution to Australian children’s television. In 1979, he worked at Northern Rivers Television to create a new children’s program called Rainbow, which was not picked up by any of Australia’s national television networks. However his work on this program was recognised with another Logie award.
After leaving the television industry in the 1980s, Philipp worked voluntarily for The Salvation Army. In later life he suffered from osteoporosis.
He died on April 21, 2011. His final years were spent in the aged care residence of Sumner House, Brotherhood of St Lawrence in Fitzroy, Victoria.
External links
- Obituary notice in The Age newspaper website http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/tv-visionary-remembered-20110623-1ghs0.html
- Youtube clip of Philipp receiving Logie Award in 1979 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPtx9T4hYFc
- IMDB entry http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1001664/
- Memorial page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Godfrey-Philipp-Memorial-Page/106727856086541