Deadly Earnest

Ian Bannerman as the cadaverous host of Deadly Earnest's Aweful Movie (TEN-10 Sydney, circa 1967).

Deadly Earnest was a late-night horror host active on Australian television between 1961-1978. Originated as a live (pre-video machine) host of a horror film package for Perth's TVW-7 by 1961, the character was most active between 1966-1972 when adopted by the 0-10 Network. Broadcast weekly, Deadly Earnest's Aweful Movies^[1] featured mainly b-grade horror movies introduced by local actors with a tongue-in-cheek characterization. The program was notorious for showing the absolute dross of supernaturally themed cinema, even going so far as to present the Worst Movie of the Year on at least one occasion.^[2]

History

While the character was originated by TVW-7 musical director Max Bostock, it is not known how long this version continued. Revived in Sydney by Ian Bannerman in 1966, the idea was evidently so successful that local variants soon turned up in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.^[3] Varying widely in appearance and personality, each version took a vaguely sardonic approach to the subject matter, frequently ridiculing whatever film he happened to be hosting. The show was popular with student audiences, who apparently tuned in more for the commentaries than for the actual movies (which according to at least one observer were little short of atrocious).^[4]

Character style

Ian Bannerman in particular was notable for his dry wit, withering ad-libs and black humour parodies of contemporary advertisements.^[5] Billed as a 'Dead-Pan Ghoul', Bannerman's Earnest resembled an undead 1960s 'mod' complete with sideburns and horn-rimmed glasses. In addition to Bannerman's solo appearances, Deadly Earnest was sometimes accompanied by two 'ghoulish assistants' during commercial breaks — possibly members of Bannerman's sideline band, The Grave Situation.^[6] Although the character's occupation was never specified, the show's opening sequence suggested he was some kind of 'zombified' undertaker (as suggested by his wheeling a casket across the rooftop of the then newly constructed Channel 10 Television Centre at North Ryde and through the studio's darkened corridors).

Featured films

While the majority of films featured on Deadly Earnest's Aweful Movies were stereotypical American 'schlock', a smattering of British, European and Japanese productions were thrown in every so often for good measure. Genre was not restricted exclusively to horror, but included sci-fi, suspense, mystery and even the odd matinee serial dredged up from the 1940s. The chief unifying element was the consistently poor quality of the material - the term "Aweful Movie" could often be applied in more than one sense - which was, evidently, part of the show's appeal.

Actors portraying Deadly Earnest

• Ralph Baker (ATV-0 Melbourne)
• Ian Bannerman (TEN-10 Sydney)
• Max Bostock (TVW-7 Perth 1961)
• Hedley Cullen (SAS-10 Adelaide 1967-1974, 1975, 1978; TVW-7 Perth 1975) ^[7]
• Shane Porteous (TVQ-0 Brisbane)

Max Bostock was appointed CEO of TVW-7 in 1977, received an MBE in 1980 and became Executive Director of Network 10 before retiring in 1986. Little else is known of Bannerman, who is believed to be dead. Hedley Cullen died in 1994 and no footage was known to exist of him as Deadly Earnest until SAS-7 (formerly SAS-10) celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2005 when three clips were discovered while researching a television special.^[8] One clip of Baker introducing a movie exists, and in mid-2010 footage of him in character was recovered from a current affairs show held by the National Film and Sound Archive.^[9] A Facebook group has been set up devoted to the hosts, and is associated with some new research.

External links

• Deadly Earnest at the Internet Movie Database
• Deadly Earnest Index
• Awful Movie with Deadly Earnest
• Hideously Yours: Deadly Earnest
• Retroperspective: Deadly Earnest
• 'Deadly Earnest/Aweful Movies'
• Deadly Earnest Facebook group

Notes

1. ^ Aka Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest. Spelling and title fluctuated from state to state.
2. ^ Born in Coventry, England, Ian Bannerman was the first actor to adopt the Deadly Earnest persona and probably the first late-night horror host to appear on commercial Australian TV. See 'Deadly Earnest/Aweful Movies' 13 November 2007.
3. ^ Deadly Earnest was simultaneously portrayed by Ralph Baker in Victoria, Shane Porteous in Queensland, and Hedley Cullen in South Australia. Each differed widely from Bostock's original character, leading to some confusion amongst fans as to who was the 'real' Earnest in later years. See 'Deadly Earnest/Aweful Movies' 13 November 2007
4. ^ "Way, way, back in the 1960s, way before Elvira, a favourite amongst Australian students was Deadly Earnest, the TV schlock horror host. Late on Friday nights, the atrocious old sci-fi and horror films became compulsory viewing, solely because of the gothic master of ceremonies." Deadly Earnest Index.
5. ^ Bannerman was also known to 'plug' local Sydney businesses on air, including Ces Cook's Magic Shop and The East India Curry Restaurant. See 'Deadly Earnest/Aweful Movies' 13 November 2007
6. ^ Bannerman's sole known LP was titled Rave in Peace-Deadly Earnest & the Grave Situation. According to one source, Bannerman hawked the record to several Sydney AM stations in a horse-drawn hearse, accompanied by a retinue of student "mourners". See 'Deadly Earnest/Aweful Movies' 13 November 2007
7. ^ Martin Dunne 'Deadly Earnest' in SFSA # 14, (SFSA/SADWFC, 2004)
8. ^ Martin Dunne 'Deadly Earnest Lives Again' in The Wall of Lies # 96, (SFSA/SADWFC, 2005)
9. ^ The footage was identified on 13 May 2010 and verified on 1 September. Martin Dunne 'Deadly discovery by Preservation column' in The Wall of Lies # 126, (SFSA/SADWFC, 2010)