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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2013}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2013}}
{{infobox television {{Infobox television
| show_name = Wandjina! | image = Wandjina!_TV_show.png
| caption = Ad from ] 30 May 1966
| image =
| genre = ]
| caption =
| creator = ] | creator = ]
⚫ | country = Australia
| starring =
| language = English
⚫ | country = ]
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 7 | num_episodes = 7
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| runtime = 30 minutes | runtime = 30 minutes
| network = ]
| network = ]
| picture_format = ]
| first_aired = 1966 | first_aired = {{start date|1966}}
| last_aired = | last_aired =
}} }}
⚫ '''''Wandjina!''''' was an Australian ] ] television series produced by ] and first aired in 1966. Its story, inspired by ] mythology of the spirit ancestors of the ] region of north-West Australia, was about three teenagers caught up in an adventure linked to local sacred Aboriginal cave paintings of the ] — the "people from the sky" who visited long ago, in the ].<ref name="timeline">{{Cite web |title=Timeline - 50 Years of ABC Kid's TV |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rollercoaster/kidstv/50years/timeline.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417080553/http://www.abc.net.au/rollercoaster/kidstv/50years/timeline.htm |archive-date=2013-04-17 |access-date=2013-04-04 |website=Rollercoaster |publisher=]}}</ref>


⚫ ''Wandjina!'' was the first drama production by ABC in Sydney that combined film and videotape footage.<ref name="timeline" />
⚫ '''''Wandjina!''''' was an Australian ] ] television series produced by ] and first aired in 1966. The story was inspired by ] mythology of the spirit ancestors of the ] region of north-West Australia and is about three teenagers who become caught up in an adventure linked to local sacred Aboriginal cave paintings of the ] — the "people from the sky" who visited long ago, in the ].<ref name="timeline">{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/rollercoaster/kidstv/50years/timeline.htm | title=Timeline - 50 Years of ABC Kid's TV | publisher=ABC Television | accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref>

⚫ ''Wandjina!'' was the first integrated film and videotape drama production ever undertaken by the ABC in Sydney.<ref name="timeline" />


== Synopsis == == Synopsis ==
⚫ A team of scientists, including Miss Smith, venture into the Australian outback to investigate strange incidents. Donald MacPherson, a Scots-born anthropologist, discovers ] cave paintings depicting mythical alien beings—the ']', an extraterrestrial race that visited the ancient aborigines. Disturbing events suggest that not only are the beings real, they have not all left. Ann MacPherson, the anthropologist's daughter, and Linda, an aboriginal girl, explore the Wandjina caves near Booala Station and stumble upon a cave full of skeletons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Musgrove |first=Nan |date=1966-04-27 |title="WANDJINA" |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43200700 |access-date=2013-04-04 |work=] |location=Australia |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=33 |issue=48}}</ref> They see some strange things: In one scene a mysterious hooded figure hunts kangaroos with a rod that strikes them down silently from a distance. The Wandjina resemble hooded monks with what look like life-support backpacks, similar to those used by astronauts. Their power base is a lighthouse-style tower above the farmland.


⚫ In one episode, gale-force winds occur when an elongated skull, the Wandjina Skull, is dug up from the sands.
⚫ A team of scientists including ''Miss Smith'', venture into the Australian outback to investigate strange incidents. Donald MacPherson, a Scots-born anthropologist, discovers ] paintings found on cave walls depicting mythical alien beings — the ']', an extraterrestrial race that visited the ancient aborigines. Disturbing events indicate that not only are the beings real, they have not all left. The daughter of the anthropologist, ''Ann MacPherson'' and ''Linda'', an aboriginal girl, explore the Wandjina caves near "Booala" Station and stumble on to a cave full of skeletons.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/43200700 | title=Wandjina: Television | publisher=Australian Women's Weekly | date=27 April 1966 | accessdate=4 April 2013 | pages=21 | author=Nan Musgrove}}</ref> The teenagers see some strange things: in one scene a mysterious hooded figure hunts kangaroos with a rod that strikes them down silently at a distance. The Wandjina resemble hooded monks with what looks like life-support back packs (similar to those astronauts used on the moon). Their power base is in a lighthouse style tower at the top of farm land.


== Cast ==
⚫ In one of the episodes an elongated skull, "the Wandjina skull" is unearthed from sand causing gale-force winds.
{{cast listing|

== Cast and characters ==

* Julianna Allan as ''Linda'' (aboriginal girl)
* John Gregg * John Gregg
* Bob Haddow * Bob Haddow
* ] as ''Miss Smith'' (intelligence agent) * ] as Miss Smith, an intelligence agent
* ] * ]
* ] as ''Donald MacPherson'' (anthropologist) * ] as Donald MacPherson, an anthropologist
* Kit Taylor * ]
* ] * ]
* ] as ''Ann MacPherson'' * ] as Linda
* ] as Ann MacPherson
* Candy Williams as ''Charlie'' * ] as Charlie
* David Yorston * David Yorston
}}

==Production==
The series was based on a radio serial, ''Country of the Skull'', by ], who had also written ''The Stranger''.

White actor Julianna Allan was cast as an Aboriginal girl.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1966-05-09 |title=Untitled |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131771558 |access-date=2020-07-17 |work=] |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |page=17 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=40 |issue=11,463}}</ref>

Filming began in September 1965 on location in Western New South Wales including ] and ]. It was also shot at the ABC studios.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1966-04-25 |title=Untitled |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128655416 |access-date=2020-07-17 |work=] |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=40 |issue=11,451}}</ref>

==Reception==
The ''Canberra Times'' said, "It is hard to chase the spectre of '']'' out of the mind. Whether teenagers will fall for it is doubtful. It could be that the producers have underestimated their sophistication. Linda, the aboriginal playmate of the station owner's daughter, Anne, looks just like what she is — a white girl with obvious make-up, (the blurb says they had trouble with this owing to water colour difficulties, and it is apparent on the screen); when she opens her mouth she sounds like a graduate from a specially selected girls' school. These two points combined don't add to the authenticity."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hay |first=John |date=1966-05-03 |title= Adaptations are dubious value |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131770416 |access-date=2020-07-17 |work=] |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=40 |issue=11,458}}</ref>


== References == == References ==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


==External links==
⚫ ]
*{{IMDb title}}
* at ]

⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]




Latest revision as of 05:15, 8 March 2024

1966 Australian TV series or program
Wandjina!
Ad from The Age 30 May 1966
GenreChildren's television
Created byG. K. Saunders
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7
Production
CinematographyJohn Seale
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkABC Television
Release1966 (1966)

Wandjina! was an Australian children's science fantasy television series produced by ABC Television and first aired in 1966. Its story, inspired by Dreamtime mythology of the spirit ancestors of the Kimberley region of north-West Australia, was about three teenagers caught up in an adventure linked to local sacred Aboriginal cave paintings of the Wandjina — the "people from the sky" who visited long ago, in the Dreamtime.

Wandjina! was the first drama production by ABC in Sydney that combined film and videotape footage.

Synopsis

A team of scientists, including Miss Smith, venture into the Australian outback to investigate strange incidents. Donald MacPherson, a Scots-born anthropologist, discovers aboriginal cave paintings depicting mythical alien beings—the 'Wandjina', an extraterrestrial race that visited the ancient aborigines. Disturbing events suggest that not only are the beings real, they have not all left. Ann MacPherson, the anthropologist's daughter, and Linda, an aboriginal girl, explore the Wandjina caves near Booala Station and stumble upon a cave full of skeletons. They see some strange things: In one scene a mysterious hooded figure hunts kangaroos with a rod that strikes them down silently from a distance. The Wandjina resemble hooded monks with what look like life-support backpacks, similar to those used by astronauts. Their power base is a lighthouse-style tower above the farmland.

In one episode, gale-force winds occur when an elongated skull, the Wandjina Skull, is dug up from the sands.

Cast

Production

The series was based on a radio serial, Country of the Skull, by G. K. Saunders, who had also written The Stranger.

White actor Julianna Allan was cast as an Aboriginal girl.

Filming began in September 1965 on location in Western New South Wales including Cooper's Creek and Broken Hill. It was also shot at the ABC studios.

Reception

The Canberra Times said, "It is hard to chase the spectre of Blue Hills out of the mind. Whether teenagers will fall for it is doubtful. It could be that the producers have underestimated their sophistication. Linda, the aboriginal playmate of the station owner's daughter, Anne, looks just like what she is — a white girl with obvious make-up, (the blurb says they had trouble with this owing to water colour difficulties, and it is apparent on the screen); when she opens her mouth she sounds like a graduate from a specially selected girls' school. These two points combined don't add to the authenticity."

References

  1. ^ "Timeline - 50 Years of ABC Kid's TV". Rollercoaster. ABC Television. Archived from the original on 17 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  2. Musgrove, Nan (27 April 1966). ""WANDJINA"". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 33, no. 48. Australia. p. 21. Retrieved 4 April 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Untitled". The Canberra Times. Vol. 40, no. 11, 463. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 May 1966. p. 17. Retrieved 17 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Untitled". The Canberra Times. Vol. 40, no. 11, 451. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 April 1966. p. 13. Retrieved 17 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. Hay, John (3 May 1966). "Adaptations are dubious value". The Canberra Times. Vol. 40, no. 11, 458. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 15. Retrieved 17 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.

External links


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