1979

I'm going to start a thread devoted to working out the hosts for shows from 1979. 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.

18/02/79 – Molly Meldrum (Source: Rage)
25/02/79 –

04/03/79 – Plastic Bertrand (Source: Advertised on Countdown 18/02/79)
10/03/79 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Rage)
16/03/79 –
23/03/79 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Rage)

01/04/79 –
08/04/79 – Bob Welch (Source: Rage)
15/04/79 –
22/04/79 –
29/04/79 –

06/05/79 - Smokie (Source: Rage)
13/05/79 –
20/05/79 –
27/05/79 –

03/06/79 –
10/06/79 –
17/06/79 – Eric Oldfield (Source: Rage)
24/06/79 – Russell Morris (Source: Rage)

01/07/79 – Marc Hunter (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
08/07/79 – Glen Shorrock (Source: Rage)
15/07/79 – Dolly Parton (Source: Rage)
22/07/79 – Darryl Cotton (Source: Rage)
29/07/79 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Rage)

05/08/79 – Split Enz (Source: Rage)
12/08/79 – The Highway (Source: Rage)
19/08/79 – Roger Voudouris (Source: Rage)
26/08/79 – Peter Mochrie (Source: Rage)

02/09/79 –
09/09/79 –
16/09/79 – John Paul Young (Source: Rage)
23/09/79 – John St Peeters (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
30/09/79 –

07/10/79 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Rage)
14/10/79 –
21/10/79 – James Reyne (Source: Rage)
28/10/79 – Steve Gilpin (Source: Rage)

04/11/79 – Russell Hitchcock (Source: Rage)
11/11/79 – Graham Parker (Source: Rage)
18/11/79 – Molly Meldrum/Boomtown Rats (Source: Rage)
25/11/79 – Marc Hunter (Source: Rage)

02/12/79 – Elton John (Source: Rage)
09/12/79 –
16/12/79 – Molly Meldrum (Source: Rage)

Another one from ...

1979

20/05/1979 - John St Peeters (Source: The Melbourne Age, 17th May, 1979)

"6.00PM - COUNTDOWN - ABC pop series, with Ian Meldrum, Inc. pop stars from Australia and overseas, film clips. Countdown chartbusters, predictions, Australian National Top Ten, also The Countdown Dancers, John St. Peeters pres. Skyhooks, Wings, Dragon, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Robinson, Roger Voudouris." (The Melbourne Age, 17th May, 1979)

June 10 was Chris Rea according to The Herald 9/6/79

Thanks Armin. In another guide, it had that one recorded as 'Stars include Chris Rea' and he''s first on the list. I wasn't 100% sure if he hosted, so I didn't assume that it is so. Nice to have that one confirmed, much appreciated.

Here's an interesting one ...

1979

22/04/79 - Mother Goose (Source: The Melbourne Age, April 19, 1979 - TV Guide)

APRIL 22, 1979 - COUNTDOWN ABC pop series: Pres. Ian Mcldrum. Inc. pop stars from Australia and overseas, film clips. Countdown chartbusters, predictions, Australian National Top Ten also The Countdown Dancers. Mother Goose pres. Air Supply, Doble Gray. (The Melbourne Age, April 19, 1979)

Never heard of Mother Goose. Interesting read, after I googled them.

Updated list ...

1979

18/02/79 – Molly Meldrum (Source: Rage)
25/02/79 –

04/03/79 – Plastic Bertrand (Source: Advertised on Countdown 18/02/79)
10/03/79 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Rage) Aired Saturday due to Australian Grand Prix on Sunday
18/03/79 –
25/03/79 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Rage)

01/04/79 –
08/04/79 – Bob Welch (Source: Rage)
15/04/79 –
22/04/79 – Mother Goose (Source: The Melbourne Age, April 19, 1979 - TV Guide)
29/04/79 –

06/05/79 - Smokie (Source: Rage)
13/05/79 –
20/05/79 – John St Peeters (Source: The Melbourne Age, 17th May, 1979 - TV Guide)
27/05/79 –

03/06/79 –
10/06/79 – Chris Rea according to The Herald 9/6/79
17/06/79 – Eric Oldfield (Source: Rage)
24/06/79 – Russell Morris (Source: Rage)

01/07/79 – Marc Hunter (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
08/07/79 – Glen Shorrock (Source: Rage)
15/07/79 – Dolly Parton (Source: Rage)
22/07/79 – Darryl Cotton (Source: Rage)
29/07/79 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Rage)

05/08/79 – Split Enz (Source: Rage)
12/08/79 – The Highway (Source: Rage)
19/08/79 – Roger Voudouris (Source: Rage)
26/08/79 – Peter Mochrie (Source: Rage)

02/09/79 –
09/09/79 –
16/09/79 – John Paul Young (Source: Rage)
23/09/79 – John St Peeters (Source: Melbourne Age TV Guide)
30/09/79 –

07/10/79 – Shirley Strachan (Source: Rage)
14/10/79 –
21/10/79 – James Reyne (Source: Rage)
28/10/79 – Steve Gilpin (Source: Rage)

04/11/79 – Russell Hitchcock (Source: Rage)
11/11/79 – Graham Parker (Source: Rage)
18/11/79 – Molly Meldrum/Boomtown Rats (Source: Rage)
25/11/79 – Marc Hunter (Source: Rage)

02/12/79 – Elton John (Source: Rage)
09/12/79 –
16/12/79 – Molly Meldrum (Source: Rage)

March 4, 1979 - hosted by Plastic Bertrand

February 18th, 1979 - 1st Show for 1979, hosted by Molly Meldrum.

25th February, 1979 - it's possible that Beeb Birtles or Molly hosted, but can't be entirely sure.

10th March, 1979 - hosted by Shirley Strachan (This was aired on Saturday, due to Grand Prix on Sunday)

March 18, 1979 - no guest host information.

8th April, 1979 - hosted by Bob Welch.

15th April, 1979 - host unknown.

6th May, 1979 - Host Smokie (Source: Rage)

13th May, 1979

27th May, 1979 - host unknown

3rd June, 1979 - host unknown

10th June, 1979 - Chris Rea according to the Melbourne Herald (thanks Armin), which I don't have.



This clipping is from the Sydney Sun Herald (Sunday's Sydney Morning Herald). Unfortunately, the SMH provides very little information compared to Melbourne papers.

17th June, 1979 - Eric Oldfield (Source: Rage)



... again, I don't have The Age clipping.

8th July, 1979 - Hosted by Glen Shorrock (Source: Rage)

15th July, 1979 - hosted by Dolly Parton



(Source: The Age)

29th July, 1979 - hosted by Shirley Strachan & Claude The Crow



(Source: The Age)

19th August, 1979 - hosted by Roger Voudouris



(Source: The Age)

26th August, 1979 - hosted by Peter Mochrie (Source: Rage)

23rd September, 1979



(Source: The Age)

30th September, 1979 - host unknown



(Source: The Age)

7th October, 1979 - hosted by Shirley Strachan (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)



14th October, 1979 - host unknown


(Source: The Age)



21st October, 1979 - hosted by James Reyne (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)



28th October, 1979 - hosted by Steve Gilpin (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)

4th November, 1979 - hosted by Russell Hitchcock (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)



11th November, 1979 - hosted by Graham Parker (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)



18th November, 1979 - hosted by Molly Meldrum (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)



25th November, 1979 - hosted by Marc Hunter (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)

2nd December, 1979 - hosted by Elton John (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)



9th December, 1979 - host unknown


(Source: The Age)



16th December, 1979 - hosted by Molly Meldrum (Source: Rage, ABC)


(Source: The Age)

Well, that's it ... January through to December of TV listings for Countdown in 1979. 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.