Number 96 Home Page

NOVEL: The plotlines for this original paperback novel, "Number 96" (published by Stag, a division of Horwitz, North Sydney; released in early 1976), take place around the time of Episode #885 in late 1975. The title page is simply "96" . The two main story arcs feature Jaja Gibson and Grace "Prim" Primrose prominently, but no actors from the series appear on the book's cover. There is even a series of references to the ongoing garbage strike, aka The Dustbin Dispute , against Paddington Council happening in the aired series, in particular: Episode #885 (Weppo tells Reg about the proposed strike action); Episode #890 (Reg asks Weppo to resign); Episode #892 (TV journalist Brian Proud covers strike for Channel TEN); Episode #894 (Norma gets involved); Episode #896 (Network 0-10's The Mike Walsh Show interviews Dorrie and Weppo); and Episode #898 (Strike is over). Uncredited, this novel was apparently written by Carl Ruhen, who did the Neighbour...

Now that the early, surviving b/w episodes are available for streaming at "Brollie", here are some brief synopses that exist for Episodes #16 to #30: Episode 16. (30/03/1972) Mark is aghast that Helen must have total recall of losing her baby if she is ever to make a full recovery. Vera is perplexed by a sense of deja vu. Where has she seen Gordon, the new chemist, before? On Good Friday, 31st March, the show was pre-empted by "Telethon '72", in aid of the Royal New South Wales Institute for Deaf and Blind Children. However, as compensation, viewers were promised telethon appearances by celebrities Johnny Lockwood, Pat McDonald, Joe Hasham, Briony Behets and "the entire cast of 'Number 96'". Episode 17. (3/04) Gordon is worried that Vera has recognised him and knows him to be the disgraced, former Doctor Vansard, so he takes action. Episode 18. (4/04) Maggie discovers that Bruce is moonlighting again. This plotline was novelised for ...

The recurring character of Maggie Cameron (Bettina Welch) was quickly embroiled in an early dramatic arc in Season One of Number 96 : a romantic entanglement with the bisexual, fashion photographer, Bruce ; his homosexual, law student lover, Don ; their virginal, next door neighbour, Bev ; a shady biker, Cliff ; and Maggie's estranged husband, Victor . This plotline was novelised for a 1973 Arkon tie-in paperback, Bev & Bruce & Maggie & Don . Coincidentally, the actors who played her husband (Owen Weingott) and her lover, Bruce (Paul Weingott), were father and son. From Episode #60, Maggie began convincing Vera about starting a business venture with her: a Double Bay fashion salon, The Tapemeasure . With Victor now working overseas, the two woman became rivals for the affections of advertising guru, Simon (who would also return in the 1974 feature film version). She also briefly moved in with Vera. In a memo dated 11th December, 1972 , a think tank by the writ...