Mister Brisbane: Blasts from the past
Beat the blues with a new beer, a new brekkie show, a borrowed book and some golden memories.
As part of my research for this InQueensland article, I had the pleasure of looking through some old photos and videos from a time when Brisbane had some serious television production and its own roster of celebrities. So, this week’s game is: can you name the stars of yore in the picture below?
Answers next time, and on social media.
BREEN ON BC
News-talk radio station 4BC has announced that former Daily Sun and Courier-Mail journalist Neil Breen (pictured below) will replace Alan Jones in the breakfast shift at the end of this month. It’ll be a local show, with Breenie as he’s known, returning from a long spell in Sydney, most recently at Channel 9. The appointment puts to rest a short-lived online guessing game as to who would get the gig. Names put forward included Nine newsreader Andrew Lofthouse, who moved to TV from ABC radio many years ago, as well as former 4BC identities Pat Condren, Anthony Frangi, Garry Hardgraves and Peter Dick, and people such as Ash Bradnam and Loretta Ryan who have jobs at other stations. Former top-rating breakfast announcer Spencer Howson had a fair share of fans, with one of them putting up a website, Is Spencer Howson on 4BC Yet?, which now redirects to this page. Breen acknowledged Howson’s congratulations on Twitter, saying “Thanks Spencer - how much do you charge for consultancy? Haha fun times ahead”. Other early well-wishers included ABC-TV’s Lisa Millar, who was a cadet at the Sun with Breen; former 4BC morning announcer and program director Greg Cary; and Ipswich city councillor Paul Tully.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT ...
... got the T-shirt. Well, actually, I haven’t got the T-shirt yet, but I have ordered it. As part of its fundraising effort to help those who have lost work due to the coronavirus, the Actors’ and Entertainers’ Benevolent Fund is selling T-shirts with the slogan “The curtain will rise again”. They cost $30 and can be ordered here.
SHOP, DON’T DROP
I experienced the outside world very briefly on Friday when I went out to buy a new computer. I didn’t have much option because the other one was falling apart. I can’t complain; it’d been around the world with me and lasted more than four years — which, I believe, is twice as long as I should expect from any technology these days. I was going to buy online, but I got into the ridiculous situation where stock availability could not be guaranteed, nor could a delivery time. Even when I did get to [insert name of well-known retailer here], I couldn’t get my first choice of laptop. The store’s computer insisted that there was one in stock, but the assistant couldn’t find it. I’m happy enough with the one I’ve got, but it sucks that an almost-$1,000 device doesn’t some with a specific set-up instruction sheet. The included flyer begins with the phrase “Depending on your product …” and then explains what to do if it has a touch screen (which it does not). These companies spend millions on research and development, on parts and labour, and on marketing, but can’t compose and issue a separate sheet of paper for each model.
One byproduct of going shopping was to find how or whether social-distancing is working. The checkout operator told me that most people “get it” but some just don’t or won’t comply with the 1.5-metre rule. She also told me about an elderly relative who simply won’t follow any of the guidelines that are designed to keep us all safe at this time. It’d be a worry if it was only her life that was at risk. Given that we all need to comply to keep each other as safe as possible, it’s scary.
NO DRY ARGUMENT
The Fourex Brewery has not only stated sending kegs out west to reopened pubs, it’s produced a new brew, XXXX Dry. Brewed at Milton using Nelson Sauvin hops, it’s 4.2 per cent alcohol by volume and has 99 calories per 375ml serving. I’ve not had the pleasure of sampling it yet, so I would appreciate readers’ views.
SHOW STOPPERS
Opera Queensland has just announced the cancellation of its 2020 season of the wonderful Australian musical Bran Nue Dae. Artistic director and CEO Patrick Nolan said in a media statement: “While this is immensely disappointing for us and the artists involved, your health and wellbeing and that of our artists, our staff and their families remains our priority.” At the time of writing. QPAC has cancelled the July season by the Paris Ballet Opera and several shows in August and September, but is still promoting a July 29 concert by Human Nature, and is (perhaps more confidently) selling tickets for a few shows scheduled for November and beyond. QPAC also has put up this page of links to streamed arts events to tide us over. As much as I am hoping to get out and about again, and as much as I care about people in the arts and hospitality industries who’ve lost work, I don’t envy those who have to decide when to make the big call to reopen large venues.
MEANWHILE …
Paniyiri, Brisbane’s Greek Festival, was one of the early casualties of the shutdown, but its spirit live on on Facebook Live. On Saturday night, May 23, there’ll be a music session with DJ Jordy Gee, and on Sunday from 2pm there’ll be Greek cooking demonstrations, live bouzouki sessions and Zorba dance lessons. Details here.
Good news for book worms: Council libraries in Brisbane and surrounding local-government areas have opened again, but Covid-19 precautions are in place.
Work will begin soon on the new 1,500-seat theatre at QPAC, with construction expected to be finished by the end of next year. The theatre is expected to be a boon to the performing arts in Queensland, adding greater scheduling flexibility and the ability for Brisbane to compete with Sydney and Melbourne to host Australian premieres of major shows.
Looking a little further ahead, here’s an update on an idea I floated recently: will cinemas, and perhaps eventually live theatres, become obsolete? Dan Barrett takes a dive here into the world of virtual cinema in your own home.
Question of the week: has your favourite cafe or restaurant reopened for sitdown customers yet? I’d love to hear your experiences.