The Sundowner (radio series)
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| Genre | drama |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 mins (8:30 pm – 9:30 pm) |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Home station | 2UE (Australia) |
| Syndicates | Tower Productions |
| Hosted by | Shell (Australia) |
| Starring | Chips Rafferty |
| Written by | Peter Finch John Wiltshire |
| Directed by | Peter Finch John Wiltshire |
| Produced by | Harry Alan Towers |
| Narrated by | Wilfrid Thomas |
| Recording studio | Sydney |
| Original release | 3 February 1950[1] |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Opening theme | Sydney John Kay[2] |
| Other themes | Sydney John Kay |
The Sundowner is an Australian radio series produced by Harry Alan Towers starring Chips Rafferty as a swagman.[3]
Raffery later played "The Sundowner" in The Phantom Stockman although that does not appear to be an adaptation of the radio series.[4]
The series originated in 1947 as a vehicle for Chips Rafferty after his success with The Overlanders. It was devised by Peter Finch who wrote a pilot script in conjunction with Harry Alan Towers, who was visiting Australia at the time. The pilot was recorded in Sydney around August 1947, after which Towers took it back with him to London where he sold the series overseas in 1948 and ordered a batch of episodes.[5][6][7] Finch also directed the pilot.[8] When Finch went to London, John Wiltshire took over as director although Finch continued to contribute episodes as writer.
The series debuted in Australia in 1950. It was made by Towers of London.[9] Reviews were mixed.
The show was heard in Australia on a network of 60 stations, including 2UE, every Friday at 8.30 p.m., and on Mondays from SAD at 8.00 p.m., from 3DB, 4BK, and 7HT at 8.30 p.m.[10][11] According to one listener, "The sponsors are also to be congratulated on the acquisition of the really fine script. Chips Rafferty's voice has rare qualities, being melodious, quiet, beautifully distinct, unhurried, unaffected, and utterly uncorrupted by any accent (“drawl” or “twang”). In short, Chips speaks good, unadulterated, pure Australian-English."[12]
The show was sponsored in Australia by Shell.[13]
It is not to be confused with another radio series starring Rafferty, Chips.
Premise
The Sundowner travels the Australian outback having adventures.