Comedy drama series The Box looked at life inside TV Station Channel 12 especially focusing on characters like ‘maverick cop’ Tony Wild and his show Manhunt, host Gary Burke and reporter Vicki Stafford.
The show made a habit of including characters based on well known TV people (both in front and behind the camera) of the time. Sir Henry Usher, head of Channel 12, was allegedly based on parts of Sir Reginald Ansett and Sir Frank Packer.
Other characters included station general manager Max Knight; Production Manager Paul Donovan (George Mallaby won a Logie for his role as Donovan); Secretary Kay Webster and compere Peter Regan.
A big screen version was made during the show’s run on the air (1975) with all of the regulars and featuring Cornelia Frances in a main role. The film had a budget of $300,000 and was filmed over four weeks.
production details
Australia / Channel 10 – Crawford / 335×60 minute episodes / Broadcast 1974-77
Creator: Tom Hegarty, Ian Jones / Producers: Don Battye, Jack Blair, John Dommett / One of the directors on the show was actor Charles Tingwell
cast
BARRY BARKLA as Max Knight
BRIONY BEHETS as Judy Donovan
FRED BETTS as Sir Henry Usher
BELINDA GIBLIN as Kay Webster (74-75)
KEN JAMES as Tony Wild (74-76)
PAUL KARO as Lee Whiteman (74-76)
GEORGE MALLABY as Paul Donovan (74-75)
TRACEY MANN as Tina
MONICA MAUGHAN as Jean Ford
JUDY NUNN as Vicki Stafford
LOIS RAMSEY as Mrs Hopkins
JILL FORSTER as Enid Parker
KEN SNODGRASS as Jack O’Brien
JOHN STANTON as Nick Manning
