The Mary Jane is a 1954 Australian radio serial by Henry and Beatrice Howlett. It was directed by Max Afford.[3]

The Mary Jane
Genredrama serial
Running time30 mins (8:30 pm – 9:00 pm)
Country of originAustralia
Language(s)English
Home station2FC
SyndicatesABC
Written byHenry and Beatrice Howlett
Directed byMax Afford[1]
Recording studioSydney
Original release7 February 1954[2] –
April 4, 1954 (1954-04-04)
No. of series1
No. of episodes9

The Howletts were farmers with extensive experience in radio. They researched the scripts by travelling in a truck along the Murray River interviewing people.[4]

Premise

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Life on the Murray River in the 1880s.[5] According to ABC Weekly "he Mary Jane is owned by old Brummy, an easy-going Cockney, who is happy to make a reason-able living from carrying freight up and down the river. He has a daughter, Belle, who is engaged to a member of his crew, Jami£ Burns, an ambitious young man who hopes to own a whole fleet of ships. A rival paddle steamer is run by the Stever family. In' a race an engine explodes, and one of the Stever sons is killed. Old. man Stever viciously blames Brummy, and determines to run him off the river. "[6]

Cast

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  • Henry Howlett as Bummy
  • John Tate as Stever
  • Rod Taylor as Jamie
  • Wendy Playfair as Belle
  • Roger Climpson as Phil
  • Ray Harley as Willie
  • Walter Sullivan as Dick
  • June Salter as Elizabeth
  • Rupert Chance as Murph
  • Alan Herbert as Deadeye
  • Queenie Asheton as Mrs May
  • Ethel Gabriel as Mrs. Jones

Episodes

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  • Ep 1 - 7 Feb
  • Ep 2 - 14 Feb
  • Ep 3 - 21 Feb
  • Ep 4 - 28 Feb
  • Ep 5–7 March
  • Ep 6–14 March
  • Ep 7–21 March
  • Ep 8–28 March
  • Ep 9–4 April[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Programme Section", ABC Weekly, 16 (6), Sydney, 6 February 1954, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove
  2. ^ "Story of the Mary Jane". The Age. No. 30, 815. Victoria, Australia. 4 February 1954. p. 1 ("THE AGE" RADIO SUPPLEMENT). Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "River Murray Serial", ABC Weekly, 16 (9), Sydney, 27 February 1954, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove
  4. ^ "Women's Interests On The Air Farmers Tura Playwrights". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 36, 249. New South Wales, Australia. 25 February 1954. p. 7 (Women's Section). Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Plays and Players". The Sun. No. 13725. New South Wales, Australia. 5 February 1954. p. 13 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "New Sunday Serial", ABC Weekly, 16 (6), Sydney, 6 February 1954, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove
  7. ^ "Sunday, April 4 A.B.C.", ABC Weekly, 16 (14), Sydney, 3 April 1954, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove