After what was a windy, wet and spooky night, and with the rain continuing to fall, I listened to the highlights from John Laws’ radio programme of last week. From 10.00 a.m., it was the turn of “American Top Forty”, compered by Casey Kasem, to occupy my attention. This week it is counting down “The Top 40 American Hits Of The Beatles’ Era”.
In the period from 1964 to 1970 the top three selling singles were: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” (B.J. Thomas; 1969) at No.3; “Sugar, Sugar” (The Archies: 1969) at No.2; with “Hey Jude” (The Beatles; 1968) atop the list.
At one o’clock, on television, Australia’s renowned underwater cameraman Ben Cropp — who for a year or two in the early sixties taught at the high school I attended — appears in his documentary, “Who Did Discover Australia?”, which is followed, at two, by another of his, in the form of “Voyage To The Coral Sea”.
The surf movie, “Beach Blanket Bingo”, from 1965, screens from half past three and features Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello and comedian, Paul Lynde, who really doesn’t even have to open his mouth to make one smile.
It continues to teem outside as the wind continues to whistle.
From half past six there is a replay of last year’s grand final, in the rugby league, as today’s full round of matches was washed out. Manly-Warringah defeated Parramatta by thirteen points to ten after the teams had been locked at seven all at half-time.
The police series, “Hawaii Five-O”, is screened from half past seven and, an hour later, James Coburn and Lee Remick appear in “Hard Contract”, a film that bears the copyright of 1969.
Cliff Richard has arrived in Sydney, from New Zealand.