Arcade (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Soap opera |
Arcade was an Australian soap opera broadcast on Network Ten between 20 January and 29 February 1980. The series launched with a 76-minute pilot episode, followed by a 25-minute installment airing five nights weekly. Developed internally by Network Ten with an initial budget close to $1 million, the narrative unfolded within a fictional shopping centre located in Sydney's northern suburbs, centering on the personal and professional lives of store employees. It is often cited as one of the least successful drama productions in the history of Australian television.
Production
The extended pilot episode was produced by Bill Harmon and Peter Benardos, both previously involved with the hit soap Number 96. The creative team also included Number 96's creator David Sale and scriptwriter Johnny Whyte. Mirroring its predecessor, Arcade blended elements of drama and lighthearted comedy.
Following Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of the 0-10 Network (later rebranded as Network Ten) in 1979, Arcade was positioned as the network’s flagship series coinciding with the official launch of Network Ten on the pilot’s broadcast night. Although intended to build a viewer base prior to ratings season, the show failed to attract significant audiences and inadvertently boosted competing programs. Despite producing 50 episodes, only 30 were aired before the series was cancelled after six weeks on air.
Set designs
Network Ten and Rupert Murdoch invested nearly $1 million upgrading Studio A at Sydney Channel 10, installing new concrete flooring, advanced lighting rigs, updated editing suites, control rooms, and cameras. The set for Arcade was among the most intricate and authentic ever constructed for Australian television at that time.
Before cancellation occurred, there were plans to shift the show to a later time slot with a more provocative tone reminiscent of Number 96. A western-themed saloon bar set was constructed to provide more dynamic scenes and showcase cast members' cabaret and performance talents. However, these changes never came to fruition.
The initial retail settings featured:
- Kitty's Record Bar (music shop)
- Aristocrat (dry cleaning service)
- FlashBack Leisure Centre (pinball arcade)
- Toby's (dining establishment)
- Pendleton's Health Studio (fitness centre)
- The Bookworm (bookstore/newsagency)
- Magda's Gifts (gift shop)
- Surf 'n' Ski (water sports equipment retailer)
Subsequent episodes introduced an illicit casino located above the Arcade and a nightclub/bar named "The Sawmill."
Theme music
The theme song "(Walking Through an) Arcade," performed by Doug Parkinson and composed by Mike Perjanik in a disco style, accompanied aerial footage of an actual shopping arcade—the Strata Motor Hotel in Cremorne, NSW.
Cast
Lorrae Desmond starred as Molly Sparks, proprietor of the Bookworm News Agency, alongside her sister Miriam Buxton (played by Peggy Toppano) and her son Joey Fellows (Greg Bepper). Mike Dorsey portrayed Vic Marshall, owner of the pinball parlour, with his paraplegic daughter Tina played by newcomer Christine Harris.
The supporting cast included Aileen Britton as Joyce Blair from Aristocrat Dry Cleaning alongside her husband Walter (Syd Heylen), with their daughter Susie Blair portrayed by Tracy Mann. Joy Miller took on the role of Kitty Adams from Kitty's Record Bar; her estranged spouse Duncan Adams was played by Danny Adcock.
Maggie Stuart appeared as Iris Pendleton, co-owner of Pendleton’s Health Studio who schemed against her brother-in-law Norman (Garth Meade), aided by gym instructor Len Crosby (Bill Charlton). Coral Drouyn (credited as Coral Kelly) played Consuela McPhee, receptionist at the Health Studio.
Annie Semler portrayed Magda Yokochek, a Hungarian gift shop owner seeking residency through marriage. Lucy Taylor and Raymond Nock acted as Si Wan and Philip Soo from Toby’s restaurant; Sinan Leong appeared as Mee Ling Soo.
Patrick Ward played Craig Carmichael, owner of Surf 'n' Ski Sports and aspiring male model; Olga Tamara portrayed his girlfriend Di Smith. Jeremy Kewley appeared as Robbie Stewart, Craig’s younger brother connected to Di’s affluent family.
Reception
Arcade is widely recognized as one of Australia's most notable television failures. Robert Fidgeon of the Herald Sun ranked it among "Australia's All-time Top 50 TV Turkeys," remarking that it lasted only ten episodes despite its substantial production expenses. In 2020, Fiona Byrne described it as "one of Australian TV's greatest flops," emphasizing its inability to draw viewers away from competing programs such as The Sullivans and Willesee. After broadcasting just 30 episodes, it was replaced with reruns of M*A*S*H.