I recently viewed an episode of this series at the Australian Mediatheque in Melbourne, along with 4 episodes of "Autumn Affair" (1958-1959 series that was Australia's first regular TV drama) and a 1959 episode of "The Bobby Limb Show" (a variety series).
Newspaper accounts from the 1950s confirm that Jack Davey, popular radio personality, was not a hit on TV. Why? Based on the episode I viewed he was a very good TV host, bringing considerable humor into this game show.
The episode I viewed (episode #7) began with the celebrities being introduced. After this begins the game itself. The celebrities, through a series of yes-or-no questions, have to determine a phrase. These are often quite humorous, such as "Jack Davey's Dimple", "A Vegetarian Beef-Eater", "The Second Hand of a Second Hand Watch". Later in the episode, a contestant plays the game though with somewhat different rules.
The show is, in some ways, similar to the kind of shows that Goodson-Todman were doing in the USA such as "What's My Line", which itself saw an Australian version.
"The Pressure Pak Show" was fast-paced and lively, though the set design is very, VERY basic, consisting of a curtain and a couple desks.
Another thing I found interesting, was that the commercials were still intact in the episode I viewed, and were performed as part of the show (not uncommon in those days). The first ad was for Mortein fly-spray, the second was (I might be wrong) for Smoothex shaving cream, and the third was for Gossamer hair-spray (FYI: the "Pressure Pak" of the title refers to the commercials all being for products that were sold in a particular kind of spray can). The commercial for Smoothex was very strange, probably meant to be comical, and involved giving a guy a shave with an axe. Um....
Overall I would not complain if they ever put this series on DVD...at least 10 episodes still exist. It's surprised how entertaining a very modest 1950s game show can be, thanks to a solid host and a fun format.
Newspaper accounts from the 1950s confirm that Jack Davey, popular radio personality, was not a hit on TV. Why? Based on the episode I viewed he was a very good TV host, bringing considerable humor into this game show.
The episode I viewed (episode #7) began with the celebrities being introduced. After this begins the game itself. The celebrities, through a series of yes-or-no questions, have to determine a phrase. These are often quite humorous, such as "Jack Davey's Dimple", "A Vegetarian Beef-Eater", "The Second Hand of a Second Hand Watch". Later in the episode, a contestant plays the game though with somewhat different rules.
The show is, in some ways, similar to the kind of shows that Goodson-Todman were doing in the USA such as "What's My Line", which itself saw an Australian version.
"The Pressure Pak Show" was fast-paced and lively, though the set design is very, VERY basic, consisting of a curtain and a couple desks.
Another thing I found interesting, was that the commercials were still intact in the episode I viewed, and were performed as part of the show (not uncommon in those days). The first ad was for Mortein fly-spray, the second was (I might be wrong) for Smoothex shaving cream, and the third was for Gossamer hair-spray (FYI: the "Pressure Pak" of the title refers to the commercials all being for products that were sold in a particular kind of spray can). The commercial for Smoothex was very strange, probably meant to be comical, and involved giving a guy a shave with an axe. Um....
Overall I would not complain if they ever put this series on DVD...at least 10 episodes still exist. It's surprised how entertaining a very modest 1950s game show can be, thanks to a solid host and a fun format.