Spoiler :
The most popular of all Australian radio serials, Dad and Dave from Snake Gully first went to air in 1937 and ran for an amazing 16 years. It was created by George Edwards, a radio actor and producer famous for being able to play numerous characters. He was popularly known as The Man with a Thousand Voices. He played Dad until he died in 1953.
Spoiler :
The serial was based on Steele Rudd's book, first published in 1899. The dramatic rights were purchased in 1912 by actor and enterpreneur Bert Bailey who played Dad on stage for almost 20 years, as well as in four films directed by Ken G. Hall in the 1930s.
Spoiler :
Australian radio audiences took to the serial with enthusiasm. It achieved extremely high audience ratings, made the mythical Snake Gully a much-discussed place, and had Australians of all ages whistling its theme song, On the Road to Gundagai.
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George Edwards and Nell Stirling, who played Mabel, had been married since 1934. They had previously worked together in series such as Darby and Joan, David and Dawn, Westward Ho, Inspector Scott of Scotland Yard and Notable British Trials.
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Dave was played by John Saul and the series was written by Maurice Francis up to 1940 when he left to join the army. Lorna Bingham, the daughter of Loris Bingham who played Mum, continued writing the scripts until the series ended in 1953.
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