"Thunder on Sycamore Street" is a 1960 Australian television play directed by David Cahill. It was based on a script by Reginald Rose. It aired on 23 July 1960 in Melbourne and Sydney.
It followed production of The Grey Nurse Said Nothing as part of General Motors Hour. Like that production it starred Frank Waters.
Plot The residents of Sycamore Street are upset when they discover a new neighbour has served a prison sentence.
Cast Frank Waters as Joseph Blake Joe McCormick Muriel Steinbeck John Brunskill Richard Davies as the man of conscience James Fallows Brett Hart Benita Harvey Mary Hoskin Therese Macrae Verity Marina Terry McDermott Ida Newton Moya O'Sullivan Max Osbiston Ivor Bromley
Production The drama was produced in ATN 7 Studio 'A' at its Television Centre in Epping. This studio is the largest production studio for TV in Australia. The major set, representing the exteriors of three homes, covered 2,000 square feet. It was the largest single set ever installed at the ATN studios, and ATN production executives said it was the biggest single set ever made for Australian live TV. A further 600 feet was allowed for the roadway and for camera movement. As all three houses in which the action of the play was set were identical, a second basic set was used, covering about 500 additional feet of studio space.
It was one of the last appearances of Muriel Steinbeck.
The play had been performed on Australian radio in 1959.
Reception The TV critic for The Sydney Morning Herald said the production "gave audiences something to think about" and was "careful enough, although evidences of pinch-pennyism were apparent... Frank Waters... stood head and shoulders over a comparatively indifferent cast."
See also List of television plays broadcast on ATN-7
References
External links
Thunder of Sycamore Street at National Film and Sound Archive