The Toppanos (also known as Meet the Toppanos) is a 15-minute Australian television series which aired from 1958 to 1959 on Sydney station ATN-7. It starred Enzo and Peggy Toppano, and combined music with ab-libbed comedy, along with a dog puppet named Jazza.[1]
| The Toppanos | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Meet the Toppanos |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ATN-7 |
| Release | 20 October 1958 – 1959 |
Though short-lived, the program is notable as an early example of a morning television series produced in Australia. The series debuted on 20 October 1958. It aired at 8:30AM each weekday, and followed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8:45AM by Autumn Affair, which was Australia's first television soap opera, and followed on Thursdays and Fridays by U.S. series Dr. Christian. Also on the ATN-7 morning schedule during the period were cartoons, music segments from taped editions of Sydney Tonight, news, and weather forecasts.[2]
A contemporary review of the debut of ATN-7's morning schedule in The Australian Women's Weekly said the Toppanos "provide some pleasant music and painless chatter".[3]
Information on the archival status of the series is not available. The National Film and Sound Archive lists an item consisting of Enzo Toppano and Peggy Mortimer (Toppano) performing a song and comedy sketch on early television,[4] which may possibly be footage from The Toppanos, though this is not confirmed.
References edit
- ^ "Meet the Toppanos". TV Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 January 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "Breakfast Television Session". TV Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald (Advertisement). 20 October 1958. p. 1. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ Musgrove, Nan (5 November 1958). "Television Parade". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 26, no. 22. p. 66. Retrieved 12 June 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "ENZO TOPPANO AND PEGGY MORTIMER PERFORM SONG AND COMEDY SKETCH". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
External links edit
- The Toppanos at IMDb
