Ian Collis - Retro Television

Before streaming, before binge-watching and before smartphones, television brought Australians together like no other medium. New book Retro Television, by acclaimed Australian author Ian Collis, celebrates the first 25 years of television and explores how the small screen transformed Australian households and popular culture forever.

Hitting bookstores this August, this richly illustrated pictorial history takes readers back to television's formative years, from the arrival of the "new medium" through to the shows and moments that captivated a generation. Featuring iconic programmes including I Love Lucy, The Brady Bunch, Little House on the Prairie and coverage of the 1969 Moon Landing, the book explores how television became the centrepiece of family life and one of the defining cultural forces of the 20th century.

Packed with archival television photography, rare behind-the-scenes images and meticulously researched stories, Retro Television also uncovers fascinating lesser-known facts from television history. Among them is the memorable moment when Countdown host Molly Meldrum told Prince Charles he had seen "your mum" while in London, prompting the future King to politely reply, "Are you referring to Her Majesty, The Queen?"

Ian Collis is an Australian rugby league historian, vintage photograph collector and the author of more than 30 books, including Retro Sydney. He is available for interview to discuss television's golden era, the programmes that shaped a generation and what the early years of TV can still teach us about today's media landscape.

Before streaming, before binge-watching and before smartphones, television brought Australians together like no other medium. New book Retro Television, by acclaimed Australian author Ian Collis, celebrates the first 25 years of television and explores how the small screen transformed Australian households and popular culture forever.

Hitting bookstores this August, this richly illustrated pictorial history takes readers back to television's formative years, from the arrival of the "new medium" through to the shows and moments that captivated a generation. Featuring iconic programmes including I Love Lucy, The Brady Bunch, Little House on the Prairie and coverage of the 1969 Moon Landing, the book explores how television became the centrepiece of family life and one of the defining cultural forces of the 20th century.

Packed with archival television photography, rare behind-the-scenes images and meticulously researched stories, Retro Television also uncovers fascinating lesser-known facts from television history. Among them is the memorable moment when Countdown host Molly Meldrum told Prince Charles he had seen "your mum" while in London, prompting the future King to politely reply, "Are you referring to Her Majesty, The Queen?"

Ian Collis is an Australian rugby league historian, vintage photograph collector and the author of more than 30 books, including Retro Sydney. He is available for interview to discuss television's golden era, the programmes that shaped a generation and what the early years of TV can still teach us about today's media landscape.