The Penthouse Club

The Penthouse Club
Genre	Variety
Presented by	Michael Williamson,Mary Hardy
Country of origin	Australia
Original language	English
Production
Producer	Garry Stewart
Original release
Network	Seven Network
Release	10 October 1970(1970-10-10)– 1978(1978)

The Penthouse Clubwas an Australian weekly variety program produced live to air from the studios ofHSV-7Melbournefrom 10 October 1970. It was originally hosted byMichael Williamson(also a football commentator for HSV) and comedianMary Hardy.

Production ad synopsis

The program, screening each Saturday night from around 8.30 pm (the starting time varied over the years depending on HSV-7's Saturday nightVFLfootball commitments), was a mix of comedy, light entertainment and live coverage ofharness racingfrom the RAS Showgrounds and, later,Moonee Valleyracecourse. The weeklylotterydrawTattslottowas incorporated as a segment in the program from around 1972.The Penthouse Clubwas considered a welcome alternative on Saturday nights which is often regarded as a wasteland of reruns and low-grade movies on other channels. The long-time musical director for the program wasIvan Hutchinson.

In 1978, Williamson was replaced byErnie Sigleyand the program was retitledSaturday Night Live(with no relation to theNBC show) in 1979. Hardy left the program during 1978. The predecessor programs wereSunnyside UpandClub Seven.

Similar programs

Rival television networkNetwork TenstationATV-10attempted to resurrect the format in 1980 with little success.

Also during the 1970s, Network Ten'sAdelaidestationADS-7produced their own version ofThe Penthouse ClubwithBob Francis,Anne WillsandSandy Roberts- with the program and presenters winning a number ofLogie Awardsfor popularity inSouth Australia.

In 1979John Cooteswas appointed asJohn Singleton's replacement as host of Channel 10'sSaturday Night Liveprogram.