Season 6 • Episode 110
LatestNumber 96 was a popular Australian soap opera set in a Sydney apartment block. Don Cash and Bill Harmon of the Cash Harmon Television production company, produced the series for Network Ten, which requested a Coronation Street-type serial, and specifically one that explored adult subjects. The premise, original story outlines, and the original characters were devised by David Sale who also wrote the scripts for the first episodes and continued as script editor for much of the show's run. The series proved to be a huge success, running from 1972 until 1977. Number 96 was so popular it spawned a feature film version, filmed in December 1973. Number 96 was known for its sex scenes and nudity, somewhat risque at the time, and for its comedy characters. The series was the first Australian soap opera to feature an openly gay character.
Writing
David Sale's scripts balanced genuine social issues with pure camp.
Production
Groundbreaking 1970s Australian TV that shocked polite society weekly.
Acting
Ray Meagher before Alf Stewart—unrecognizable and unhinged.
Creator
David Sale
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Number 96 predated the UK's Queer as Folk by decades as LGBTQ+ television milestone, though modern viewers may wince at execution.
The 1974 feature film was shot in two weeks during the cast's Christmas break and hit theaters before the TV storyline had even caught up.
AU
