In Melbourne Tonight
Encyclopedia
In Melbourne Tonight, also known as "IMT", was a highly popular nightly variety
television show produced at GTV-9
Melbourne
from 6 May 1957 to 1970.
Graham Kennedy
was the show's main host and star attraction but other presenters were often called on to present the show on certain nights. IMT had as many as 50 different presenters over its 13 years on air. The format of the show was inspired by the American Tonight Show on NBC
, but Graham's charisma was the key to the success of IMT.
IMT originally had its own self-titled theme song, but for most of the run of the show it adopted the tune of Gee, But You're Swell
, written by Abel Baer and Thomas Tobias in 1936.
Geoff Corke was Kennedy's offsider until 1959 when Bert Newton
joined GTV-9
from HSV-7
to become Kennedy's straight-man. This began a professional partnership that continued for many years and a friendship that continued until Kennedy's death in 2005.
Other IMT identities included Joff Ellen
, Val Ruff, Panda Lisner, Mary Hardy, Rosie Sturgess, Patti McGrath (later Patti Newton), Toni Lamond
, Philip Brady
, Johnny Ladd, Noel Ferrier
, Elaine McKenna, Bill McCormick, Ted Hamilton, The Tune Twisters and the Channel 9 Ballet.
From 1960, packaged highlights of IMT would be screened on television stations across Australia
with the title The Graham Kennedy Channel Nine Show.
On 7 July 1965, IMT featured a then-innovative interstate live split-screen link with Sydney Tonight on TCN-9
Sydney
via the recently completed co-axial cable linking Melbourne and Sydney.
In 1970, after Kennedy had resigned from GTV-9
, IMT continued with four hosts, each on a different night of the week: Jimmy Hannan
, Ugly Dave Gray
, Bert Newton
and Stuart Wagstaff
. The program ended shortly after, but IMT created a long-standing legacy of live variety programs for several decades from GTV-9
.
Most of the videotapes were erased and reused after broadcast and consequently less than 100 episodes survive today out of the thousands made.
When Kennedy returned to GTV-9 in the early 1970s, the program used the title "The Graham Kennedy Show". It did not recapture the success of the original version. The successor programs were The Ernie Sigley Show
and The Don Lane Show
.
, as well as Ann-Maree Biggar
and Julia Morris
, who was best known for presenting "The Morris Report", a comedic take on the news events of the previous week. The show ran until 1999.
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
television show produced at GTV-9
GTV-9
GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at a new high-tech, purpose-built studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands.-History:...
Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
from 6 May 1957 to 1970.
Graham Kennedy
Graham Kennedy
Graham Cyril Kennedy, AO was an Australian radio, television and film performer, often called Gra Gra and The King of Australian television.-Childhood:...
was the show's main host and star attraction but other presenters were often called on to present the show on certain nights. IMT had as many as 50 different presenters over its 13 years on air. The format of the show was inspired by the American Tonight Show on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, but Graham's charisma was the key to the success of IMT.
IMT originally had its own self-titled theme song, but for most of the run of the show it adopted the tune of Gee, But You're Swell
Gee, But You're Swell
Gee, But You're Swell was written by Abel Baer and Charles Tobias in 1936, and published by Remick Music Corp. in the same year.One of the first recordings was in 1937, by Chick Webb and his Orchestra with vocal by Louis Jordan...
, written by Abel Baer and Thomas Tobias in 1936.
Geoff Corke was Kennedy's offsider until 1959 when Bert Newton
Bert Newton
Albert Watson "Bert" Newton, AM, MBE is an Australian television personality, known for hosting television series such as In Melbourne Tonight, Good Morning Australia and 20 to 1. Newton has also hosted the Logie Awards on numerous occasions through his career.-Early life:Newton was born in...
joined GTV-9
GTV-9
GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at a new high-tech, purpose-built studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands.-History:...
from HSV-7
HSV-7
HSV is a television station in Melbourne. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, and its first and oldest station, having been launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne....
to become Kennedy's straight-man. This began a professional partnership that continued for many years and a friendship that continued until Kennedy's death in 2005.
Other IMT identities included Joff Ellen
Joff Ellen
Joff Ellen was an Australian entertainer, actor and comedian.During World War II he performed vaudeville acts to the troops and after the war did comedy shows on Melbourne radio station 3XY...
, Val Ruff, Panda Lisner, Mary Hardy, Rosie Sturgess, Patti McGrath (later Patti Newton), Toni Lamond
Toni Lamond
Toni Lamond AM is an Australian cabaret singer, stage actor, dancer and comedienne...
, Philip Brady
Philip Brady (broadcaster)
Philip Brady is an Australian media personality.Born in Melbourne, Brady was involved in the early days of television. He left school at the age of 18 and started working as a booth announcer at Channel Nine in 1958....
, Johnny Ladd, Noel Ferrier
Noel Ferrier
Noel Ferrier AM was an Australian television personality, stage and film actor, raconteur and theatrical producer. He had an extensive theatre career which spanned over fifty years.-Biography:...
, Elaine McKenna, Bill McCormick, Ted Hamilton, The Tune Twisters and the Channel 9 Ballet.
From 1960, packaged highlights of IMT would be screened on television stations across Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with the title The Graham Kennedy Channel Nine Show.
On 7 July 1965, IMT featured a then-innovative interstate live split-screen link with Sydney Tonight on TCN-9
TCN-9
TCN is the Sydney flagship television station of the Nine Network in Australia and is located at Willoughby. The licence, issued to a company named Television Corporation Ltd headed by Frank Packer, was one of the first four licences to be issued for commercial television stations in...
Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
via the recently completed co-axial cable linking Melbourne and Sydney.
In 1970, after Kennedy had resigned from GTV-9
GTV-9
GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at a new high-tech, purpose-built studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands.-History:...
, IMT continued with four hosts, each on a different night of the week: Jimmy Hannan
Jimmy Hannan
Jimmy Hannan is a retired Australian variety show host, singer and entertainer. Hannan won the 1965 Gold Logie award.One of his daughters is Melissa Hannan who won the Miss Australia title in 1981 and was also in the Miss World competition held in London.-Filmography:*The Sentimental Bloke *Jimmy...
, Ugly Dave Gray
Ugly Dave Gray
Ugly Dave Gray is an Australian television personality.-Career:Gray was a regular panellist on Graham Kennedy's Blankety Blanks in 1977-1978. He had earlier taken a straight dramatic role as publican Bunny Howard in the early episodes of soap opera The Young Doctors in 1976...
, Bert Newton
Bert Newton
Albert Watson "Bert" Newton, AM, MBE is an Australian television personality, known for hosting television series such as In Melbourne Tonight, Good Morning Australia and 20 to 1. Newton has also hosted the Logie Awards on numerous occasions through his career.-Early life:Newton was born in...
and Stuart Wagstaff
Stuart Wagstaff
Stuart Wagstaff AM is an Australian television and stage entertainer.- Early life :Wagstaff was born in Great Durnford, Wiltshire, England, and grew up on a farm with his parents and two older sisters. His father was very strict and emotionally abusive, and he received little affection from his...
. The program ended shortly after, but IMT created a long-standing legacy of live variety programs for several decades from GTV-9
GTV-9
GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at a new high-tech, purpose-built studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands.-History:...
.
Most of the videotapes were erased and reused after broadcast and consequently less than 100 episodes survive today out of the thousands made.
When Kennedy returned to GTV-9 in the early 1970s, the program used the title "The Graham Kennedy Show". It did not recapture the success of the original version. The successor programs were The Ernie Sigley Show
Ernie Sigley
Ernest William "Ernie" Sigley is an enduring Australian entertainment personality known for his square-rimmed spectacles, the gap between his front teeth and his slapstick approach to comedy.-Radio career:...
and The Don Lane Show
Don Lane
Don Lane , born Morton Donald Isaacson, was an American-born talk show host and singer. Don Lane is best known for hosting The Don Lane Show, which was aired on The Nine Network in Australia from 1975 to 1983....
.
Late 90s version
In 1996, the format was revived under the title IMT, hosted by Frankie J. Holden and screened as a Monday night variety show. Featured on the show were the comedic stylings of Steven JacobsSteven Jacobs
Steven Jacobs is an Australian television presenter and actor.Jacobs is currently weather presenter on the Nine Network's breakfast program Today.-Career:...
, as well as Ann-Maree Biggar
Ann-Maree Biggar
-Career:In 1989, Biggar began hosting the children's morning program Agro's Cartoon Connection. She remained on the show for a number of years, finishing up at the end of the 1995 season....
and Julia Morris
Julia Morris
Julia Morris is an Australian writer, comedian, actress, television presenter and television producer who has worked extensively in Australian and British television and radio. She has toured widely with her solo stand-up comedy shows. In Australia, she is best known as one of the stars of the...
, who was best known for presenting "The Morris Report", a comedic take on the news events of the previous week. The show ran until 1999.