The National Film and Sound Archive includes a wonderful collection of Graham Kennedy images and video.
Graham Kennedy TV
Graham Kennedy was the ‘The King’ of Australian television, with a career that spanned four decades.
He emerged as a star during the early days of live variety television. His time on In Melbourne Tonight (1957-69) and The Graham Kennedy Show (1972-73, 1975) was characterised by riotous comedy sketches and live commercials, and an enduring partnership with Bert Newton.
In the 1970s and 80s he conquered game shows, with the top-rating Blankety Blanks (1977-78), then pursued a range of television character acting roles into the 1980s. Graham then made his mark on current affairs, guest hosting 11 AM (1984) before a successful return to the Nine Network with Graham Kennedy’s News Show (1988) and Graham Kennedy Coast to Coast (1989). His final regular TV hosting gig was Graham Kennedy’s Funniest Home Video Show (1990).
In this collection we explore the genius of Graham Kennedy through TV clips from across his career, many rare and unseen since their initial broadcast.
Highlights include a complete Wilsons sketch from a 1968 episode of In Melbourne Tonight, film of a 1961 trip overseas, the only surviving footage of Graham’s 11AM hosting stint in 1984 and advertisements promoting everything from the 1981 census to paper towels and men’s shoes.
This collection complements our online exhibition, Graham Kennedy: The King.
Video Collection
GRAHAM KENNEDY AND BERT NEWTON – LIVE AD FOR RAOUL MERTON SHOES
Bert Newton joins Graham Kennedy on the couch to sell the latest Raoul Merton designer men’s shoes, during a live advertisement on an episode of In Melbourne Tonight, circa 1962.
20 YEARS OF TV – THE EARLY DAYS OF IN MELBOURNE TONIGHT
In these clips from Nine’s TV anniversary special, host Bert Newton chats with former Nine Network personality and ‘King of Television’ Graham Kennedy about his start in television in 1957.
THE WILSONS – COMPLETE SKETCH
A complete sketch featuring ‘The Wilsons’, a regular In Melbourne Tonight (IMT) sitcom sketch featuring elderly married couple George (Graham Kennedy) and Joyce Wilson (Rosie Sturgess).
GRAHAM KENNEDY COAST TO COAST – HIGHLIGHTS
The clip includes highlights from Graham Kennedy’s popular five-night-a-week evening news show, Coast to Coast. Characterised by TV writer Barbara Hooks as ‘Kennedy offer[ing] news leavene
IN MELBOURNE TONIGHT – 500TH SHOW
Kennedy sings a self-penned ditty ‘500 Times, 5 Nights A Week’ commemorating the 500th edition of In Melbourne Tonight, which aired on GTV9 on 3 April 1959.
NINE NEWS – GRAHAM KENNEDY HAS DIED
Newsreader Mark Ferguson announces that Graham Kennedy has passed away in a nursing home, aged 71.
NINE NEWS – GRAHAM KENNEDY FUNERAL
A news report covering the funeral of Graham Kennedy, a celebration of the performer’s life attended by a who’s who of Australian past and present show business personalities.
GRAHAM KENNEDY SCOT TOWELS AD AND BLOOPERS
Graham Kennedy’s regular return to TV in 1970 was via a 30-second commercial for paper product manufacturer, Bowater Scott Australia Pty Ltd. The commercial premiered here on The Mike Walsh Sho
THE MIKE WALSH SHOW – LOGIE POLITICS
Mike Walsh interviews Graham Kennedy in 1970, his first appearance on TV since his departure from GTV9 and In Melbourne Tonight (IMT) on 23 December 1969.
LOGIE AWARDS 1983
The host of the 25th TV Week Logie Awards, news and current affairs journalist Mike Willesee, announces that the Gold Logie will be presented by ‘a name synonymous with gold Logies … The
LOGIE AWARDS 1974
Graham Kennedy wins the prestigious 1974 Gold Logie award for the most popular personality on Australian television, for his evening variety show, The Graham Kennedy Show (1972-1973).
KINGSWOOD COUNTRY – GRAHAM KENNEDY
Graham Kennedy appears as a special guest on the award-winning comedy series, Kingswood Country (1980-84).
GRAHAM KENNEDY IN EUROPE AND INDIA, 1961
Excerpts from film footage featuring Graham Kennedy enjoying a three-week overseas working holiday at the expense of Australian shirt-maker Glo-Weave.
INTERVIEW ABOUT 1961 EUROPE TRIP
TCN9 reporter John Godson interviews a relaxed Graham Kennedy on 9 August 1961. Graham has arrived in Sydney after a three-week overseas trip, sponsored by Australian shirt manufacturer Glo-Weave.
MIKE WILLESEE INTERVIEWS GRAHAM KENNEDY ABOUT IMT
During an interview with Mike Willesee about his recent return to radio with 2Day FM in Sydney, Graham Kennedy recalls some of his memories of working on In Melbourne Tonight (IMT). He dis
IN MELBOURNE TONIGHT – PANCAKE TOSSING
Graham Kennedy and assistant Miffy Marsh promote Nestlé Sunshine Milk Powder in this segment of In Melbourne Tonight from February 1965.
BLANKETY BLANKS – RARE CLIP
An excerpt from a rarely-seen episode of Blankety Blanks (episode 69, May 1977) with host Graham Kennedy asking his regular celebrity panel to supply the name of a TV show they would least
BLANKETY BLANKS – IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Graham Kennedy, talking into a cassette recorder, relays his suggestions for improving Blankety Blanks to select production personnel.
SEVEN NEWS – GRAHAM KENNEDY HOSTS 11AM
Two Seven News stories book-ending Graham Kennedy’s arrival and departure on the network’s daytime news program 11AM.
GRAHAM KENNEDY’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEO SHOW
The Grand Final winner of Graham Kennedy’s Funniest Home Video Show is announced, featuring a woman who removes a full set of false teeth.
AUSTRALIAN CENSUS ADVERTISEMENT, 1981
Graham Kennedy presents an advertisement on the benefits of completing the 1981 Australian Census, compulsory for all households.
THE DON LANE SHOW – GRAHAM KENNEDY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SKETCH
Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton perform ‘The Executive Producer’ sketch on The Don Lane Show, broadcast on the Nine Network on 27 October 1983.
GRAHAM KENNEDY – WHY I LEFT IN MELBOURNE TONIGHT
In this clip Graham Kennedy explains why he left In Melbourne Tonight (IMT) after twelve-and-a-half years as host.
GRAHAM KENNEDY NORMAN ROSS ADS
Two advertisements from a series that Graham Kennedy made to promote Norman Ross, a discount household goods chain that had recently taken over the Waltons department store in 1987.
GRAHAM KENNEDY ON IF VI HAD A HAMMER
Melbourne radio and TV personality Vi Greenhalf presents a promo for her women’s program, If Vi Had A Hammer on GTV9. Vi informs viewers that she has the answers to the burning questions i
THE GRAHAM KENNEDY SHOW – FINAL EPISODE
An excerpt from a colour episode of The Graham Kennedy Show, in which a 16-year-old suburban Melbourne school student presents the host with a topical illustration of Kennedy as a crow att
THE DON LANE SHOW – DISCUSSING THE ‘CROW CALL’
Graham Kennedy recounts to host Don Lane the infamous ‘crow call’ incident, which originally took place on the first colour episode of The Graham Kennedy Show, telecast on the Nine Network
ROSEMARY MARGAN – RECALLING THE ‘CROW CALL’ INCIDENT
GTV9 personality Rosemary Margan recalls the infamous ‘crow call’ incident on the 3 March 1975 episode of The Graham Kennedy Show, which landed its host in hot water with the television in
THIS IS YOUR LIFE – FRED PARSONS
Graham Kennedy makes a guest appearance on This Is Your Life, to help celebrate the life and career of scriptwriter Fred Parsons.
SILENT REACH
Graham Kennedy’s opening scene in the Australian mini-series Silent Reach, playing laconic, alcoholic bush pilot Chasser Fitzpatrick, waiting to greet American ex-secret service security a
FIVE MILE CREEK
Excerpts from Graham Kennedy’s guest role in an episode of the Australia-USA family period drama series Five Mile Creek, broadcast on HSV 7 Melbourne on 2 August 1984.
CELEBRITY TATTLETALES
An excerpt from Graham Kennedy’s guest appearance on Celebrity Tattletales, hosted by former Blankety Blanks regular panel member ‘Ugly’ Dave Gray.