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Deadline For Danger

5/13/2017

2 Comments

 
PictureYou can see the S.W.Caldwell Stick, which indicates Harry S. Goodman also sold the series into Canada
Several weeks ago, I picked up four episodes of an Australian series 'Deadline For Danger' from the U.S.

I didn't know the series but my database listed it as being broadcast at 3XY in 1954.  Last week I was working in 1954 on 'Address Unknown' so I thought I would see what I could find on ARC Production 'Deadline For Danger'.  The answer was, nothing.  The database also showed another ARC series 'Deadline' at the same time and days on 3XY so I had a look at that.


Deadline had a very limited run.  I only found it broadcast on 3XY Melbourne and 2HD Newcastle 1954-1955.

I also asked collectors Craig Nugent and Jamie Kelly if they had any record of ARC 'Deadline For Danger' but they didn't, however both had some U.S. labelled Harry S. Goodman discs of that name as well as ARC discs of 'Deadline'

It was obvious we were dealing with the same series and a name change, but we didn't know why.  All searches had come up empty.  Jamie suggested that it was probably the same as 'Thirty Minutes to go' but I didn't understand the comment.



Picture
What you can't see with these discs is that the Australian ARC disc has Matrix information engraved on the disc outside the label.  That information allows us to date the manufacture.

The Harry S. Goodman U.S. discs do not have that information which supported our belief they had been dubbed from the ARC discs.

Also Some of the Harry S. Goodman discs were labelled Series 1 and some Series 2.

With no newspaper or radio magazine program listings for 'Deadline For Danger' we knew it had never been broadcast in Australia.

I mentioned to Craig that it was unfortunate that I didn't have any issues of B&T (Broadcasting & Television) around that time, as it lists sales of series/serials to Radio Stations and overseas, then I finished for the night. 

Craig however, kept worrying at the problem and eventually found that he had the necessary issue and solved the mystery.  I woke the next morning to find an email from Craig with the following explanation.


Picture





This article from Broadcasting and Television confirms that 'Deadline' was sold to 3XY, 2HD and also to Harry S. Goodman for distribution in the U.S.

It also mentions an earlier ARC series 'Thirty Minutes To Go' which had a much wider distribution in Australia on 5KA Adelaide, 3UZ Melbourne, 2UE Sydney and 4BC Brisbane commencing 1953.

As a result of this article and putting the call out, I have been sent a couple of episodes of 'Thirty Minutes To Go' by Jerry Haendiges in the U.S.  I then researched and logged the series

Thirty Minutes To Go - Log
It is unusual to change the name of Series sold to the U.S. or even Series bought from the U.S., but it does happen.  The U.S. series 'Let George Do It' was changed to 'Danger is my Business' in Australia.  I can think of other U.S. to Australia changes, but this is the first time I have noticed it going the other way.

'Deadline For Danger' (Deadline) and 'Thirty Minutes To Go' aren't the polished performances and scriptwriting we are used to from the likes of Grace Gibson Productions in the 1950's, however I am sure both of these ARC series contain some gems.

Before I forget, a thank you to Craig for not giving up on Deadline for Danger and for supplying the Label images and B&TV Article.

Ian Grieve

Deadline For Danger - Log
2 Comments
Trevor Young
11/12/2017 05:40:25 am

Hi Ian. I worked at 2PK/ROKFM at Parkes for 18 years, and prior to that, at 2BS Bathurst for 16 years. I've had an interest in old Australian Radio Shows, and while at 2PK, i managed to get hold of copies of Jack Davey's Ampol Show (numbers please) that were recorded at the Century Theatre in Parkes in February 1957, and at the Coronet Theatre in Orange. There's also an episode recorded at Condobolin, which i'm trying to find at the moment.

Would you like a copy of what i have? I so i can email you mp3 copies. I also have episodes of Afloat With Henry Morgan, several episodes of Caltex Theatre and D24, produced in the 50's by Crawfords.

Congratulations on a great site.

Reply
Jennifer
6/5/2021 10:53:37 am

Hi! I came across your website in searching for the Ampol Show with Jack Davey. My Dad was interviewed by him, and he sang “Take me out to the Ballgame”. I have the 33rpm record that they sent to him, but unfortunately in the last few years it has come apart. It is marked as episode 281. They sent him a copy, written as “Australia 1957”. Would you happen to be aware of this episode? My Dad’s name was Lou Brissie, he was a Pro baseball player, and went on to teach baseball to the youth in Australia.
Any information you could give me, I would be so grateful for! Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,
Jennifer

Reply



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    Author

    Ian Grieve has been Collecting, Researching and Documenting Australian Old Time Radio since about 1998.  He enjoys the thrill of finding and identifying shows thought to have been lost and then researching their history as well as the people involved in their production.

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