1978

I'm going to start a thread devoted to working out the hosts for shows from 1978. I've found information from researching old Melbourne Age newspapers. The Melbourne Age was pretty good, in the early days, of naming the hosts/guest acts of upcoming shows for the weekend. Toward the end of the decade however, there was much less information about each show. They just had a generic comment for Countdown virtually every week.

Anyway, I was hoping that, together, we could all research what we can to help fill in the gaps. I know university libraries, state libraries and other institutes around the country have extensive collections (mainly electronic) of newspapers going back to the 70s. Perhaps there is information in newspapers other than the Melbourne Age that contain the information we need.

Worth a try, don't you think? I welcome any additions or corrections.

19/02/78 –
26/02/78 – Marcia Hines (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)

05/03/78 –
12/03/78 –
19/03/78 –
26/03/78 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)

02/04/78 –
09/04/78 – Gary Twinn (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
16/04/78 –
23/04/78 – Leo Sayer (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
30/04/78 – John Paul Young (Source: Rage)

07/05/78 – Samantha Sang (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
14/05/78 – Dr. Hook (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
21/05/78 – John Paul Young (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
28/05/78 –

04/06/78 –
11/06/78 –
18/06/78 –
25/06/78 – Meatloaf (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)

02/07/78 – John Paul Young (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
09/07/78 –
16/07/78 – Jon English (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
23/07/78 – Dame Edna Everidge (Source: Rage)
30/07/78 – Marc Hunter & Marcia Hines (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)

06/08/78 – Johnny Cougar (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
13/08/78 – Albie Donnelly & Angry (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
20/08/78 –
27/08/78 –

03/09/78 –
10/09/78 –
17/09/78 – Graham Parker (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
24/09/78 – Marc Hunter (Source: Rage)

01/10/78 – Six Rocktober DJs (Source: Rage)
08/10/78 – Darryl Cotton (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
15/10/78 – Kate Bush & Leif Garrett (Source: Rage)
22/10/78 –
29/10/78 –

05/11/78 – Peter Frampton (Source: Rage)
12/11/78 –
19/11/78 – Jon English (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
26/11/78 –

03/12/78 - Test Cricket – First Test from Gabba
10/12/78 – Elton John (Source: Rage)

More researching has unearthed another piece of information to help work out hosts for shows from the 70s.

1978

12/02/1978 - Bonnie Tyler (Melbourne Age, Thursday February 9, 1978 - article)

"Bonnie's First In Line On Countdown - BONNIE TYLER, currently charting with It's a Heartache, will assist Ian Meldrum in presenting the first edition of Countdown for 1978 from ABV-2, at 6 pm, Sunday. February 12. The singer, a favourite with Countdown's young audiences, was last seen in the programme with Lost in France. Countdown will continue to present local and overseas acts, report the latest pop news and give a rundown of the week's ten best-selling records. Programmes will be produced in either Melbourne or Sydney, with an occasional edition from other centres. First of these will be a programme to be recorded next month at the Adelaide Festival of Arts. Producer of Countdown is Ted Emery." (Melbourne Age, Thursday 9th February, 1978)

It's just so fantastic to come across articles, TV guides and stories that offer up information to help fill in the gaps. I'll keep looking ...

Wow, two in one night ... I'm on a roll.

1978

19/02/1978 - Leif Garrett (Melbourne Age, Thursday February 16, 1978 - TV Guide)

"6pm COUNTDOWN - ABC pop series, with new releases from Australia and overseas, pop news and this week's Top Ten, hosted by Ian Meidrum and guest compere Leif Garrett sings two numbers and pres. In the studio, Rose Tattoo." (Melbourne Age, 16th February, 1978)

Another one from The Melbourne Age ...

1978

09/07/1978 - Errol Brown (Source: Melbourne Age, 6th July, 1978 - TV Guide)

6.00PM - COUNTDOWN - ABC pop series, with new releases from Australia and overseas, pop news and this week's Top 10: Errol from Hot Chocolate pres. Dragon, Stylus, Jon English. With lan Meldrum. (Melbourne Age, 6th July, 1978)

We'll fill in all the gaps eventually.

... and another ...

1978

11/06/1978 - Shirley Strachan (Source: Melbourne Age, June 8th, 1978 - TV Guide)

COUNTDOWN ABC pop series, with new releases from Australia and overseas, pop news and this week's Top Ten: Shirley of Skyhooks pres. DeWaii, Skyhooks and two Melbourne groups appearing for the first time, Cold Chisel and Beathoven. With Ian Meldrum.

I like what you are putting together here, it's interesting reading even if we never get to see any of the wiped episodes.

March 5 was Skyhooks - The Herald 4/3/78
March 19 was hosted by Molly at the Adelaide Festival
July 3 Marc Hunter - The Herald 2/7/78
Oct 22 1978 Graham Bonnett - The Herald 21/10/78

Thanks Armin. I know, it's such a shame we will most likely never get to see these shows, but it's valuable television history to, at least, record the hosts of every show possible.

Speaking of which, here's another ...

29/10/1978 - Bette Midler (Sydney Morning Herald, "Today's Programmes", 29th October, 1978, p. 80)

6.00: Countdown — With Bette Midler.

One by one, we will get there.

Updated list ...

1978

12/02/78 - Bonnie Tyler (Melbourne Age, Thursday February 9, 1978 - article)
19/02/78 – Leif Garrett (Melbourne Age, Thursday February 16, 1978 - TV Guide)
26/02/78 – Marcia Hines (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)

05/03/78 – Skyhooks - The Herald 4/3/78
12/03/78 –
19/03/78 – Molly Meldrum at the Adelaide Festival
26/03/78 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)

02/04/78 –
09/04/78 – Gary Twinn (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
16/04/78 –
23/04/78 – Leo Sayer (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
30/04/78 – John Paul Young (Source: Rage)

07/05/78 – Samantha Sang (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
14/05/78 – Dr. Hook (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
21/05/78 – John Paul Young (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
28/05/78 –

04/06/78 –
11/06/78 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Melbourne Age, June 8th, 1978 - TV Guide)
18/06/78 –
25/06/78 – Meatloaf (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)

02/07/78 – John Paul Young (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
09/07/78 – Errol Brown (Source: Melbourne Age, 6th July, 1978 - TV Guide)
16/07/78 – Jon English (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
23/07/78 – Dame Edna Everidge (Source: Rage)
30/07/78 – Marc Hunter & Marcia Hines (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)

06/08/78 – Johnny Cougar (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
13/08/78 – Albie Donnelly & Angry (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
20/08/78 –
27/08/78 –

03/09/78 –
10/09/78 –
17/09/78 – Graham Parker (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
24/09/78 – Marc Hunter (Source: Rage)

01/10/78 – Six Rocktober DJs (Source: Rage)
08/10/78 – Darryl Cotton (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
15/10/78 – Kate Bush & Leif Garrett (Source: Rage)
22/10/78 – Graham Bonnett - The Herald 21/10/78
29/10/78 – Bette Midler (Sydney Morning Herald, "Today's Programmes", 29th October, 1978, p. 80)

05/11/78 – Peter Frampton (Source: Rage)
12/11/78 –
19/11/78 – Jon English (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
26/11/78 –

03/12/78 - Test Cricket – First Test from Gabba
10/12/78 – Elton John (Source: Rage)

Thought I'd post the article which shows that Bonnie Tyler comperes the first show for 1978:

This is awesome Retrotragic, thank you for your insight and efforts!

No worries, Matt. I love it, and I hope it interests everyone out there.

26th February, 1978 - hosted by Marcia Hines

19th March, 1978 - Adelaide Festival of Arts - hosted by Molly Meldrum


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March 5th, 1978 - hosted by Skyhooks


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March 26, 1978 - host Shirley Strachan

2nd April, 1978

April 9th, 1978 - Gary Twinn as host.

16th April, 1978 - host unknown.



The Age often printed that Ian Meldrum presented, but this was mostly a generic comment for many episodes when, in fact, there was a guest host, and it just wasn't stated. So, it's hard to say, if you haven't seen the actual episode, whether Molly or a guest hosted.

23rd April, 1978 - Host Leo Sayer

7th May, 1978 - hosted by Samantha Sang

14th May, 1978 - compered by Dr. Hook.

21st May, 1978 - John Paul Young hosts

28th May, 1978 - host unknown

4th June, 1978 - host unknown.



(Source: The Age)

25th June, 1978 - hosted by Meatloaf



(Source: The Age)

2nd July, 1978 - hosted by John Paul Young



(Source: The Age)

16th July, 1978 - hosted by Jon English



(Source: The Age)

23rd July, 1978 - hosted by Dame Edna Everidge



(Source: The Age)

30th July, 1978 - hosted by Marc Hunter & Marcia Hines



(Source: The Age)

6th August, 1978 - hosted by Johnny Cougar



(Source: The Age)

13th August, 1978 - hosted by Albie Donnelley & Angry Anderson



(Source: The Age)

20th August, 1978 - host unknown



(Source: The Age)

27th August, 1978 - host unknown



(Source: The Age)

3rd September, 1978 - host unknown



(Source: The Age)

10th September, 1978 - host unknown



(Source: The Age)

24th September, 1978 - Marc Hunter



(Source: The Age)

1st October, 1978 - hosted by Six Rocktober DJs (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)



8th October, 1978 - hosted by Darryl Cotton


(Source: The Age)



15th October, 1978 - hosted by Leif Garret & Kate Bush (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)



22nd October, 1978 - hosted by Graham Bonnet (Source: The Herald 21st October)


(Source: The Age)

5th November, 1978 - hosted by Peter Frampton


(Source: The Age)



12th November, 1978 - host unknown


(Source: The Age)



19th November, 1978 - hosted by Jon English


(Source: The Age)



26th November, 1978 - host unknown


(Source: The Age)

9th December, 1978 - host unknown (This was only aired as a repeat on Saturday, as the cricket was on the Sunday 3rd December)


(Source: The Age)



10th December, 1978 - host Elton John


(Source: The Age)

Well, that's it ... January through to December of TV listings for Countdown in 1978. I'll keep looking, and I hope you guys can help fill some gaps. The Age was obviously my main source of information for two reasons. It provides excellent detail much of the time, which other papers don't seem to do as well. Secondly, it is easily found online, as opposed to physically attending state libraries. That may be my next port of call. Anyway, I look forward to any further contributions you guys might have to help out. Cheers.