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The Lawsons

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The Lawsons
GenreSerial drama
Running timeplayed twice daily
Country of originAustralia
Language(s)English
SyndicatesABC
StarringVivian Edwards, Ailsa Grahame, Jane Holland
Created byGwen Meredith
Written byGwen Meredith
Original release21 February 1944 (1944-02-21) –
25 February 1949 (1949-02-25)
No. of episodes1,299[1]

The Lawsons was an Australian radio serial broadcast by the ABC and created and written by Gwen Meredith that ran daily from 21 February 1944 to 25 February 1949. It was a forerunner to the better known Blue Hills.[2][3] The show began as a propaganda series to introduce modern farming methods.[4] Meredith researched it at a station near Gunnedah.[5] The serial was hugely popular immediately and ran for five years.[6] Meredith adapted the series into a play and a novel.[7]

Premise

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The adventures of the Lawson family who live on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, Sue and Jean and their four boys Wally, Chris, Ted and Brian. Described as the typical Australian country folk, they raise sheep and poultry and grow wheat and vegetables, but are not as burlesque as Dad and Dave or Doreen and Ginger Mick.[8]

Cast

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Character Actor
Narrator Alfred Bristowe
Mr. John Lawson Vivian Edwards
Mrs. Ellen Lawson Ailsa Grahame
Sue Lawson Jane Holland
Don McKenzie Jerry Wells
Chris Hal Lashwood
Ruth Marie Rosenfeld
Max Ralston George Randall
Joe Reg Collins

[8]

Stage play

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Meredith wrote a stage play version of the radio serial. It toured New South Wales regional areas in 1950 with a cast including Ed Devereaux.[9] The play was presented by J.C. Williamson's Ltd.[10]

Cast of 1950 Tour

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  • Pamela Bygrave as Sue
  • George Simpson Lyttle as Mr Lawson
  • Jean Blue as Mrs. Lawson
  • Billee Lockwood as Hilda
  • Dorothea Dunstan as Emmy
  • Edward Devereaux as Ted Lawson
  • Peter Morris as Brian
  • Mary Bartholomew as Jean Lawson
  • Pat Penny as Max Ralston
  • Edmund Allison as Joe
  • Ben Lewin as Archie.

References

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  1. ^ "End In Sight For "Lawsons"". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 650. New South Wales, Australia. 11 January 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 4 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "BLUE HILLS, NEW GWEN MEREDITH SERIAL TO FOLLOW THE LAWSONS", ABC weekly, Sydney, 15 January 1949, retrieved 4 February 2024 – via Trove
  3. ^ "LAWSONS RECORDS", ABC weekly, Sydney, 15 January 1949, retrieved 4 February 2024 – via Trove
  4. ^ ""Lawsons" Author Never Listens To Serials". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). No. 2. New South Wales, Australia. 30 January 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 4 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Farm and Home Hour", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC, 19 February 1944, retrieved 4 February 2024 – via Trove
  6. ^ "The Lawsons are real people to listeners", ABC weekly, Sydney, 25 November 1944, retrieved 4 February 2024 – via Trove
  7. ^ "GWEN MEREDITH IS WRITING LAWSONS NOVEL", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC, 8 June 1946, retrieved 4 February 2024 – via Trove
  8. ^ a b "MEET THE LAWSONS Down the farm!", ABC weekly, Sydney, 8 September 1945, retrieved 4 February 2024 – via Trove
  9. ^ ""The Lawsons" for Wagga". Daily Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 10 February 1950. p. 2. Retrieved 4 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "The Lawsons Has World Premiere As Stage Play", ABC weekly, Sydney, 28 January 1950, retrieved 4 February 2024 – via Trove