Angela Stacey leads the personalities challenge by ADS Channel 7 to Channel 9 in Adelaide with variety show start

Angela Stacey (pictured doing an AMSCOL icecream Berry Bar commercial) and Blair Schwartz were among the personalities introduced during the ADS Channel's 7 opening night variety spectacular (inset).
Image courtesy ADS Channel 10.

Angela Stacey was among the personalities – others including Blair Schwartz, Marie Tomasetti, Ian Cochius, Bob Moore, Peter Cellier, Ian Boyce and Mary McMahon – introduced on the opening night of Adelaide’s second television station, ADS Channel 7, on October 24, 1959.

Stacey, formerly working at the Public Library (later State Library of South Australia) had spent time in Melbourne learning television techniques before being picked by Channel 7 in Adelaide where she won the 1963 Logie award for most popular female TV personality in the state. Rumpus Room School with Angela was a segment within Funfair on five times a week (5.15-6pm) and she was hostess for Noughts and crosses on Sunday nights.

Seven’s first night on October 24 started with an official opening by South Australian governor Robert George at 7.30 followed by a short film, This Is TV, and previews of ADS7 programs. At 8.15pm, a one-hour variety spectacular, produced by Fred Maxiam and directed by Geoff Grant, featured Adelaide’s Bobby Limb, Buster Fiddess, Dawn Lake  and Heather Horwood with Adelaide performers Eric Smart and Murray McKechnie plus the Channel 7 Ballet and Channel 7 Orchestra.

Imported programs Deadline For Action and Bachelor Father were followed by news headlines and then the Reverend Erwin Vogt introduced ADS7’s religious programs before the channel shut for the night.

The next night’s lineup included local programs Stairway To The Stars, Meet The Press, quiz show Noughts And Crosses and religious discussion I challenge the minister. Films included the debut of Disneyland and Fred Astaire movie Top Hat. ADS Channel 7 didn’t became part of the Seven national network until 1963.

The Australian network structure was set off by TCN9 Sydney’s owner Frank Packer buying control of Melbourne’s GTV9. Before that, ATN7 Sydney was paired with GTV9.  From there, NWS9 Adelaide joined the National Television Network (later Nine Network) and ADS7 became part of the Australian Television Network (later Seven Network).