Just stumbled onto this terrific collection of warm and appreciative notes on the long ago MAVIS and felt I should join the conversation. The Mavis days were among the happiest of my long career and I still think of them with inordinate fondness.
The initial six shows which went to air beginning November 11, 1964 were groundbreaking and skewered the sacred cows of the time with wit and good humor. These and the first few episodes of 1965 were the best we did thanks to the genius of producer Michael Plant whose sudden death in early '65 changed the rather impish slant of the show to something more like a variety format - but still outrageous enough to offend church and state and give the public a belly laugh.
Gordon, Carol, June all became family to me; Gordon like a father, June a dear, warm friend - both now sadly gone. I'm in touch with Carol frequently, and of course Noeline Brown's and my friendship and our professional association date back to 1962 when we appeared together in a Phillip Street revue. She is, and always has been one of my closest and dearest friends. Quite apart from the affection still felt for the show, these few exceptional people I mention are enough to make me forever grateful to MAVIS.
Satirical shows come and go these days, but I take pride in the fact that we were the first in Australia.
BARRY CREYTON
