Adventure Island (TV series) facts for kids

Adventure Island was a popular Australian television series made especially for children. It aired on the ABC network from September 11, 1967, until December 22, 1972. The show was created by Godfrey Philipp and John-Michael Howson. It was known for its fun, theatrical style, set in the magical kingdom of Diddley-Dum-Diddley. Each story unfolded over five weekdays, with a new adventure reaching its exciting conclusion every Friday.

Discovering Adventure Island: A Classic Kids' TV Show

The Creative Minds Behind the Show

Adventure Island was a special project from Godfrey Philipp Productions and the ABC. It was filmed in Melbourne at the ABC's studios. This show was one of the first times the ABC worked with an outside company to create a program.

The idea for Adventure Island came about after another popular children's show, The Magic Circle Club, was ending. The creators, Godfrey Philipp and John-Michael Howson, wanted to make a new show that children would love just as much. John-Michael Howson is remembered for coming up with many of the show's ideas, including the setting and character names.

Meet the Cast of Characters

Many talented actors brought the world of Diddley-Dum-Diddley to life. They played both human characters and the voices of puppets.

Main Performers

• Nancy Cato (Actress) as Host (1967–68)
• Sue Donovan as Host (1968–72)
• Liz Harris as Liza / Princess
• John-Michael Howson as Clown / Golden Harp
• Brian Crossley as Mrs Flower Potts & Gracie Galah
• Jack Manuel as Percy Panda
• Carole Walker as Betty Bruin
• Ernie Bourne as Fester Fumble, Crispian Cockatoo, Captain Crook, Samson (cat), Maxie Mouse & Mister House / Serendipity House
• Colin McEwan as Miser Meanie & Gussie Galah
• Robert Essex
• Peter Homewood as Giggles Goblin
• Burt Cooper as Squire Squeezum

Special Guest Stars

Over the years, many other actors visited Adventure Island for special episodes.

• Angela O'Toole
• Brian Hannan
• Frank Rich
• James Smillie as Smiling Jim / Prince Charming
• Lindsay Edwards
• Marion Edward as Dodo Panda & Matilda Mouse
• Mary Hardy
• Patsy King as Miss Behaviour
• Vivean Gray as Mother Sparkle / Mother Tinkle
• Wynn Roberts as Captain James Cook

Crafting the Stories

John-Michael Howson wrote most of the scripts for Adventure Island. Other stories were written by Peter Homewood. Howson also wrote four special storybooks based on the show. These books are now very rare and can be found in the National Library of Australia.

Hosts of Adventure Island

The show had two wonderful hosts who guided viewers through the adventures.

Nancy Cato's Time on the Island

Nancy Cato was the first host of Adventure Island from 1967 to 1968. She had to leave her previous show after an accident during filming. Nancy would start each show in an enchanted wood. She would sit behind a tree stump, open a magic book, and begin to read the day's story. The stories were always about the town of Diddley-Dum-Diddley and its residents.

In later episodes with Nancy, she would chat with puppets like Gussie Galah, Crispian Cockatoo, and Matilda Mouse. After each part of the story, Nancy would talk to a cat puppet named Samson. Samson got his name from a viewer competition!

Sue Donovan Takes the Helm

Sue Donovan became the host in 1969 after Nancy Cato left. The show's structure stayed mostly the same. Sue would begin by talking to a friendly talking house named Mister House (later called Serendipity House). Then, she would go inside the house and chat with puppets like Crispian Cockatoo and Gracie Galah. A special chime would signal it was time for Sue to read from the magic book.

At the end of each show, Sue would talk to Samson the cat. On Fridays, she would magically click her fingers and transport herself to Diddley-Dum-Diddley. There, she would have a friendly chat and a cup of tea with all the characters.

The World of Diddley-Dum-Diddley

Adventure Island always taught good lessons. It showed that good triumphs over evil in every story.

The main part of the show was a story that lasted all week, from Monday to Friday. It usually involved the people of Diddley-Dum-Diddley facing challenges from "baddies." Often, the kind-hearted Clown, who sometimes forgot things, would save the day. He had a special talent for seeing through disguises that others missed.

Sometimes, there were no baddies at all. Instead, the stories focused on a visitor to Diddley-Dum-Diddley. This visitor might be a relative or someone with a new business idea. To make sure children weren't too worried by the exciting drama, a cast member would often remind everyone, "it always turns out all right on Fridays!"

The show had a very fun and theatrical style, like a pantomime. Children loved its simple humor, and adults enjoyed its clever jokes and escape from everyday life.

Music and Melodies

Music was a very important part of Adventure Island. Almost every moment had background music. Each episode also featured two original songs that fit the story. The words for these songs were written by the scriptwriters, and the music was composed by Bruce Rowland. Bruce Rowland later became famous for his movie music. When he left in 1971, Alan Teak took over.

The songs were usually recorded beforehand. Actors would then learn them to sing along during filming. A special moment was when John-Michael Howson sang "A Clown Without A Smile" live in one of the last episodes.

Our Puppet Friends

The hosts often talked with puppet characters in parts of the show that weren't scripted. This was when viewer contributions, like drawings and jokes, were shared.

Here are some of the puppets from Adventure Island:

• Gussie Galah, operated by Colin McEwan (1967–68)
• Crispian Cockatoo, operated by Ernie Bourne (1967–72)
• Matilda Mouse, operated by Marion Edward (1967–68)
• Samson (cat), operated by Ernie Bourne (1967–72)
• Gracie Galah, operated by Brian Crossley (1969–72)
• Maxie Mouse, operated by Ernie Bourne (1969–72)

Gussie Galah was known for his loud voice and playful teasing. When Colin McEwan left the show, Gracie Galah, a calmer and taller galah, took his place. Samson the cat was a large hand puppet, similar to a muppet. Other puppets were mechanical. Axel Axelrad, known as "Axel," built all the show's puppets.

The Magic of Adventure Island

Just like in The Magic Circle Club, all the characters on Adventure Island, including the hosts, had special magic powers. They used these powers only when truly needed.

Each Friday, the host would visit Adventure Island. She would click her fingers to magically transport herself there. Then, she would sit with the characters to talk about the week's adventure.

Samson the cat was also a magic cat! He was invisible until Monday afternoon's episode. To make him appear, the host had to answer a question he asked. He would then disappear again on Friday afternoons with a sneeze.

Why Black and White?

Adventure Island was filmed in black and white. This was because Australian television broadcast in black and white at the time. There were no plans to sell the show to other countries. Many viewers remember the show fondly, partly because of its bright and colorful sets, designed by Paul Cleveland.

In 1971, an American TV network was interested in the show. However, they were hesitant because it was in black and white. John-Michael Howson suggested filming the show in colour on Tuesdays, after the black and white version was made. But the ABC was not interested in this idea.

A short clip of the show in colour, from a 1972 ABC program about the show ending, was shown in 1996.

Awards and Recognition

Adventure Island and its stars received several awards for their work.

The Show's Farewell

The decision to end Adventure Island in mid-1972 was a big surprise to many. It was replaced by the American program Sesame Street. Many people were sad to see it go, and a group of politicians even tried to save the show. However, their efforts were not successful. The final episode, number 1175, aired on December 22, 1972.

Preserving Adventure Island's History

Sadly, many of the early episodes of Adventure Island no longer exist. In the late 1970s, the ABC decided to reuse videotapes to save money. This meant many older black and white programs from the 1960s and early 1970s were erased.

However, a search of the National Archives of Australia shows that at least 955 episodes still exist, mostly from later years. The National Film & Sound Archive also has six episodes preserved. When the Gore Hill studios closed in 2002–03, more lost footage from various shows was found. This gives hope that more Adventure Island material might still be discovered.

The Performing Arts Collection at the Arts Centre Melbourne keeps many costumes, props, and photos from the show. The original Adventure Island storybook, used by the hosts, is now part of the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. It was saved from being thrown away by a props staffer in 1988.

Remembering the Cast

We remember the talented cast members of Adventure Island who are no longer with us.

• Colin McEwan – passed away on August 22, 2005, at age 64.
• Marion Edward – passed away.
• Peter Homewood – passed away on December 22, 2008, at age 79.
• Ernie Bourne – passed away on January 21, 2009, at age 82.
• Brian Crossley – passed away on September 8, 2012, at age 85.

After Ernie Bourne passed away, a special message appeared in a Melbourne newspaper. It remembered him as a "dear, lovable and funny man who brightened the lives of children around Australia."