THE MAGIC
BOOMERANG
ARTICLE
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GUIDE TERMS
|
EPISODES:
45
(39 series 1, 6 series
2).
LENGTH:
30
mins.
FORMAT:
Mono, Film (series 1); Colour, Film (series 2).
PRODUCTION:
1964 - 1965 (series 1),
1966 (series 2) Pacific Films Production in association with the ABC and
Fremantle International.
ORIGINAL SCREENING:
1965 (series 1), 1966 (series 2).
RUNNING ORDER:
Airdate.
NETWORK:
ABC.
Series 1
CAST:
Tom Thumbleton.......DAVID
MORGAN
Dan Thumbleton.......TELFORD JACKSON
Gwen Thumbleton.......PENNY SHELTON
'Wombat'.......RODNEY PEARLMAN (eps 1 - 28)
Support:
Penny.......SUSAN HAWORTH
Philip.......GARY GRAY
CREW:
Producer.......ROGER MIRAMS
Series 2
CAST:
Nugget Morris.......ROBERT BROCKMAN
Charles Swinbourne.......William Hodge
Bluey.......Chris Christensen
‘Tiger’ Martin.......Peter Aanensen
Joe Manelli.......Kurt Beimel
Nugget's mate.......gavan
ellis
CREW:
Director.......DAVID BAKER
Producer.......ROGER MIRAMS
Associate Producer.......CHRIS
STEWART
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EPISODE TITLES
Series 1
1. The Discovery
2. Christmas Cracker
3. A Visit From Grandma
4. Wombat Finds A Friend
5. The Hunter
6. No Mail Today
7. A Matter Of Survival
8. The Bushranger
9. Ill Wind
10. The Thief Who Believed In Magic
11. Fire Trap
12. The Hypnotist
13. The Uncatchables
14. North To Warralinga
15. The Big Catch
16. Moonlight Reef
17. Aunt Matilda
18. The Cattle Duffers
19. The Saucer From Venus
20. The Masked Man From Manangatang
21. Moomba
22. Gentleman Jackaroo
23. Head Of The River
24. The Vanishing Spell
25. The Stand-In
26. Race Against Time
27. The Auction
28. A Lesson For Wombat
29. Friend Or Foe
30. The Good Turn
31. Pony Express
32. The Last Lap
33. Salt 'n' Pepper
34. Mother's Day
35. A Night At The Thumbleton's
36. My Friend Higgins
37. Stranger In Town
38. Mr. Santa Claus
39. The Messenger
Series 2
40. Bushranger’s Gold
41. Buried Treasure
42. Luck of The Game
43. Boys Camp
44. Double Trouble
45. Hollermakers
Bargain
|
SERIES 1
1. The Discovery
Harvey Jackley.......Fred Parslow
Milloo.......Bindi Williams
Smedley.......Charles Haggith
Script.......John Sherman
Director.......Roger Mirams
Production Manager.......Chris Stewart
Synopsis: Tom Thumbleton, who lives with his parents on a sheep farm,
finds some Aboriginal relics his great-great-grandfather left in the
attic. Among them is a boomerang, and Tom finds that while it is in flight
everything living stands still, and when he catches it again all goes back
to normal. When Tom's cousin Harvey and an unscrupulous solicitor try to
take over the Thumbleton homestead, Tom uses the magic boomerang to foil
the attempt.
Airdate:
Melbourne 2/5/65,
Adelaide 27/6/65
2. Christmas Cracker
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: A jockey friend of the Thumbleton's has been forced into the
position of choosing between deliberately losing a race or possibly
endangering his family. Tom and Wombat go along to the Picnic races with
the magic boomerang to try and help their friend.
Airdate:
Melbourne 9/5/65
3. A Visit From Grandma
Grandma.......Agnes Dobson
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: Tom's grandmother comes to the farm determined to help with the
work, causing one disaster after another and creating tension within the
family. When a newly hired, but lazy, hand steals the farm cash box,
Grandma gives chase on a horse and, with the aid of the magic boomerang,
captures the villain and restores the peace.
Airdate:
Melbourne 16/5/65,
Adelaide 12/7/65
4. Wombat Finds A Friend
Synopsis: When Wombat meets a strange little elf-like Irishman, Michael,
who has come to mend fences on the Thumbleton property, the two become
firm friends. Michael is accused of stealing after a series of sheep
thefts.
Airdate:
Melbourne 23/5/65
5. The Hunter
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: Tom is perturbed by the arrival of a hunter who intends to shoot
kangaroos on the Thumbleton property. He and Wombat make a plan to outwit
him with the aid of the magic boomerang.
Airdate:
Melbourne 30/5/65
6. No Mail Today
Whitey.......Paul Karo
Milloo.......Bindi Williams
Script.......John Sherman
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: Whitey the postman is ambushed and kidnapped by two men, and
his registered mail is stolen. Tom and Milloo, an Aboriginal boy, track
him to the crook's hideout where Tom makes use of the magic boomerang.
Airdate:
Melbourne 6/6/65
7. A Matter Of Survival
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: On a sheep station near his family's property, Tom is watching
the loading of a small plane belonging to the owner of the property, Frank
Ford. An employee of Ford's with a grievance against his boss suddenly
pushes Tom into the plane and takes off, holding Tom hostage, and
threatens to drop explosives on the property. When the plane lands, Tom
uses the magic boomerang to outsmart and capture the man.
Airdate: Melbourne
13/6/65
|
David Morgan and Rodney Pearlman
|
8. The Bushranger
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: Tom and Wombat climb to a bushranger’s cave to investigate
stories of an alleged ghost. They find the pistols and chains of a
long-ago bushranger, and as they are about to leave the cave their way is
barred by a strange figure. They are caught by a modern-day bushranger
using the cave as a hide-out.
Notes: Some program guides list this episode as ‘The Ghost Of Ned
Kelly’.
Airdate:
Melbourne 20/6/65,
Adelaide 16/8/65
9. Ill Wind
Script.......Chris Dale
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: A woman is driving her sick child to the doctor when her car
becomes bogged in a creek during a bad storm. She goes to the nearby
Thumbleton farm for help, and, as the storm has knocked the phone out, Tom
rides into town for the doctor. An escaped criminal who has been shot is
holding the doctor captive in order to get treatment. He then ties up the
doctor and steals his car, but Tom uses the magic boomerang to stop time
and free the doctor and hide in the car. The doctor uses Tom’s horse to
get to the farm to treat the baby, while Tom takes the car keys when the
criminal stops for fuel, delaying him long enough for the police to
arrive.
Airdate: Melbourne
27/6/65, Adelaide 23/8/65
10. The Thief Who Believed In
Magic
.......Kit Taylor
.......Allan Bickford
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: A young escapee from a prison farm sees Tom throwing the magic
boomerang and realises its potential. At night he breaks into Tom's
bedroom and steals it.
Airdate:
Melbourne 5/7/65,
Adelaide 30/8/65
11. Fire Trap
.......Bob Hornery
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: An irresponsible farmhand at the Thumbleton's property lights
fires for his own amusement and laughs at the trouble he causes. When the
firebug gets caught in a bushfire he lit, Tom, using the magic boomerang,
is able to save him and also teach him a lesson.
Airdate:
Melbourne 12/7/65,
Adelaide 6/9/65
12. The Hypnotist
Synopsis: 'Marvo The Mystic', an evil hypnotist, befriends Wombat and
places him under hypnosis to compel him to steal the magic boomerang from
Tom.
Airdate:
Melbourne 19/7/65,
Sydney 6/6/65, Adelaide 13/9/65
13. The Uncatchables
Synopsis: Two Italian Mafia-type crooks plan to kidnap Tom and steal the
magic boomerang.
Airdate:
Melbourne 26/7/65
14. North To Warralinga
Script.......John Abbott
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: Invited to North Queensland by an American friend, Tom finds
that the valuable documents in his possession regarding ownership of the
station land have been switched for worthless forgeries during a 2000 mile
plane trip, by a stranger on the flight who befriended Tom at Sydney
airport. Upon arrival at Cairns, Tom is met by his friend and they fly to
Warralinga Station. When they discover the deception, Tom and his adult
friend return to Cairns where Tom uses the magic boomerang to get the
papers back.
Airdate:
Melbourne 2/8/65,
Adelaide 27/9/65
15. The Big Catch
Synopsis: Tom arrives at a tropical island resort to holiday with a young
lad, Pip, whose father runs a motel. Duffy, the motel bookkeeper, knocks
out the owner, steals the cash box and attempts to make his getaway during
a fishing trip with Tom and Pip.
Airdate:
Melbourne 9/8/65,
Adelaide 4/10/65
16. Moonlight Reef
Synopsis: Tom, still on holiday in Queensland with his American
'uncle' Joe, sees a plane drop
an object into the sea. A mysterious stranger suggests he is 'seeing
things' and tries to scare him off, and Tom and his American ‘uncle’ Joe
become involved with a gang of smugglers.
Airdate: Melbourne
16/8/65
|
David Morgan |
17. Aunt Matilda
Synopsis: Tom and Wombat become involved with an eccentric lady named
Matilda who is running a one-woman detective agency.
Airdate:
Melbourne 23/8/65,
Adelaide 18/10/65
18. The Cattle Duffers
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: When some of the Thumbleton's cattle is stolen by duffers, Tom
and his drover friend Wally Johnson ride out to investigate. The magic
boomerang plays a big part in getting the cattle back to the Thumbleton
station.
Airdate:
Melbourne 30/8/65,
Adelaide 25/10/65
19. The Saucer From Venus
.......Marcella Burgoyne
Synopsis: An air of mystery surrounds the Jackson family, who have come to
live in Tom's district and have built a strange object. It transpires the
object is a machine disguised as a flying saucer by the Jackson's in an
attempt to save their failing circus.
Airdate: Melbourne
6/9/65, Adelaide 1/11/65
20. The Masked Man From
Manangatang
.......Peter Aanensen
.......William Hodge
.......Kevin Colson
.......Kenneth Burgess
Script.......John Abbott
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: The success of two rival timber merchants may be affected by the
result of the forthcoming log-chopping championships. A challenger is run
down before the event by the champion's father. He is taken in by the
Thumbleton's to recuperate, and they help him train for the event. So his
identity is not discovered by the villains he wears a mask. Tom foils the
villain's plans by using the magic boomerang.
Airdate:
Melbourne 13/9/65,
Adelaide 8/11/65
21. Moomba
Synopsis: Guisseppe, an Italian boy living in Australia, cannot make
friends and longs to go back to Italy. He runs away from home and goes to
the docks.
Airdate:
Melbourne 20/9/65,
Sydney 11/8/65, Adelaide 15/11/65
22. Gentleman Jackaroo
Oswald Proudlock III.......Paul Karo
Synopsis: Oswald Proudlock III comes to the Thumbleton farm to learn to be
a 'gentleman farmer'. Despite warnings from Tom, Oswald attempts to climb
treacherous Dreamtime Gorge Mountain.
Airdate:
Melbourne 27/9/65,
Adelaide 22/11/65, Perth 6/12/65
23. Head Of The River
.......Jennifer Claire
Synopsis: When Tom narrowly defeats his rival, Kevin Willis, for the
position of coxswain in the school rowing team, Kevin becomes
jealous. Kevin resorts to trickery to try to prevent Tom from reaching the
place where the boat race is to be held.
Airdate: Melbourne
4/10/65
|
David Morgan and Rodney Pearlman |
24. The Vanishing Spell
Philip.......Gary Gray
Synopsis: Wombat 'borrows' the magic boomerang to convince
Philip, Tom's cousin
from Queensland who has found an old book of magic spells, that magic
really works.
Airdate:
Melbourne 11/10/65,
Adelaide 6/12/65
25. The Stand-In
Philip.......Gary Gray
.......Ian Turpie
.......John Derum
.......Sheila Florance
Script.......John Sherman
Synopsis: Two young louts cheat Wombat and Tom out of a couple of
milkshakes.
Airdate:
Melbourne 18/10/65
26. Race Against Time
Philip.......Gary Gray
Synopsis: Tom and Philip
find themselves aboard a ketch in which there is a time bomb set to
explode.
Airdate:
Melbourne 25/10/65
27. The Auction
Synopsis: A mysterious gang are overheard by Tom as they plan to rig an
auction by keeping down the bidding on Mr. Frost's farm.
Airdate:
Melbourne & VIC
regional 1/11/65,
Adelaide 27/12/65
28. A Lesson For Wombat
Synopsis: Wombat is lonely and wants to borrow the magic boomerang from
Tom so that he can impress some new friends.
Notes: Final episode with Rodney Pearlman
as Wombat.
Airdate:
Melbourne 8/11/65
29. Friend Or Foe
.......Don McManus
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: Tom forms a friendship with a visiting artist who has a penchant
for quoting Shakespeare. He learns the sad lesson that his trust was
misplaced.
Airdate: Melbourne
15/11/65
30. The Good Turn
Penny.......Susan Haworth
Philip.......Gary Gray
Miss Farrell.......Louise Homfrey
Script.......Mary Wilton
Director.......David Baker
Synopsis: Mrs. Thumbleton and her niece Penny, who is on holiday with her
brother Philip from Brisbane, are puzzled by the independent attitude of the local battleaxe, Miss
Farrell. When Miss Farrell
is driving Mrs. Thumbleton along a deserted country road she blacks out
and crashes the car, and Tom, Penny and Philip render assistance.
Airdate:
Melbourne 22/11/65
31. Pony Express
Bob Grantley.......Mark Albiston
Philip.......Gary Gray
Jim Wallace.......Edward Howell
Randall.......George Fox
Script.......John Sherman
Director.......David Baker
Synopsis: Tom has to deliver £200 in payment for cattle purchased by his
father from a neighbour. Two dishonest farmhands plan to steal the money.
Notes: Also referred to (erroneously) as
'The Case Of The Missing Money'.
Airdate: Melbourne
29/11/65
|
David Morgan |
32. The Last Lap
Penny.......Susan Haworth
Philip.......Gary Gray
Blunt.......Keith Lee
Charlie Dawson.......Ron Pinnell
Johnson.......Paul Karo
Script.......Tranter & Macainsh
Director.......David Baker
Synopsis: While Tom is away, car racing comes to Gunnaganoo, and Philip becomes a last-minute
replacement for one of the drivers. Penny discovers the secret of the
magic boomerang, and uses it to thwart the nefarious intentions of the two
race organisers.
Airdate:
Melbourne 6/12/65,
Sydney 27/10/65
33. Salt 'n' Pepper
.......John Gray
.......Edward Howell
.......William Hodge
Script.......Jeff Underhill
Director.......Joe McCormick
Synopsis: Two tramps, who have seen better days, arrive in Gunnaganoo bent
on making a fortune by swindling the townsfolk.
Airdate:
Melbourne 13/12/65,
Sydney, Canberra, Orange NSW & Wagga Wagga NSW 3/11/65
34. Mother's Day
.......Kurt Beimel
.......Simon Chilvers
.......Frank Taylor
Script.......John Sherman
Director.......Joe McCormick
Airdate:
Melbourne 20/12/65
35. A Night At The Thumbleton's
Philip.......Gary Gray
Lady Agatha.......Barbara Brandon
Sir Penrod.......Geoffrey King
Script.......Jeff Underhill
Synopsis: An eccentric old couple, Sir Penrod and Lady Agatha, descend on
the Thumbleton's in a mini-car, and announce that they are long-lost
relatives from Britain. They are tolerated until the old couple state their intention
to make a prolonged visit and that they wish to take up land nearby.
Airdate:
Melbourne 27/12/65,
Adelaide 21/2/66
36. My Friend Higgins
Philip.......Gary Gray
Billy Watson.......Robert Brockman
Watson Snr.......Roly Barlee
Saleyard worker.......Michael Boddy
Script.......Lyle Martin
Director.......David Baker
Synopsis: A boy called Billy runs away from home because his father
lacked understanding and showed him little affection. Tom and his father
find him hiding in the back of the sheep truck, but matters become
complicated when he takes the magic boomerang.
Airdate:
Melbourne 3/1/66
37. Stranger In Town
Synopsis: Believed to be a witch by the townspeople, an eccentric old woman is
held in awe by the local children, and in particular by Tom's friend
Janie.
Airdate:
Melbourne 10/1/66,
Adelaide 7/3/66
38. Mr. Santa Claus
Synopsis: A little girl, Janie, a friend of Tom Thumbleton's, comes across
an old bearded man camped by the side of the river. She thinks him to be
Father Christmas, and he, a retired actor, decides to go along with her
childish fantasy and remain in town until Christmas Eve.
Airdate:
Melbourne 17/1/66
39. The Messenger
.......Joe McCormick
Script.......John Sherman
Synopsis: A surprise party is planned for Tom's birthday. A middle-aged Aboriginal, describing himself as a messenger,
startles Mrs. Thumbleton in the kitchen. He announces he is looking for
Tom, then disappears as if by magic.
Airdate: Melbourne
24/1/66, Adelaide 14/3/66
|
Ep. 32: Susan Haworth |
SERIES 2
40. Bushranger’s Gold
41. Buried Treasure
42. Luck of The Game
43. Boys Camp
44. Double Trouble
Ollie Gubble.......William Hodge
Script.......Lyle Martin
Synopsis: A swagman visiting town is the spitting image of local eccentric
Charles Swinbourne. The two resident rogues, 'Tiger' Martin and Joe Manelli, enlist the aid
of the swagman to impersonate Swinbourne in order to swindle him out of
the rights to his property ‘Rainbows End’. A comedy of mistaken identity
results until Nugget can fix the situation with the aid of the magic
boomerang.
45. Hollermakers
Bargain
Hiram T. Hollermaker.......Chuck
Keogh
Script.......John Abbott
Synopsis: A rich American car enthusiast is visiting town, and the local
radio reports that he will pay up to $15,000 for a vintage car. Charles
Swinbourne and Bluey come up with the idea of assembling a car from all
the junk lying around 'Rainbows End', helped by Nugget. 'Tiger' Martin and
Joe Manelli hatch a scheme to steal the car, but are thwarted by Nugget
and the magic boomerang.
|
Chris Christensen, William Hodge and Robert
Brockman
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