| Genre | drama serial | 
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 mins (8:30 pm – 9:00 pm) | 
| Country of origin | Australia | 
| Language(s) | English | 
| Home station | 2FC | 
| Syndicates | ABC | 
| Written by | Henry and Beatrice Howlett | 
| Directed by | Max Afford[1] | 
| Recording studio | Sydney | 
| Original release | 7 February 1954[2] – April 4, 1954  | 
| No. of series | 1 | 
| No. of episodes | 9 | 
The Mary Jane is a 1954 Australian radio serial by Henry and Beatrice Howlett. It was directed by Max Afford.[3]
The Howletts were farmers with extensive experience in radio. They researched the scripts by travelling in a truck along the Murray River interviewing people.[4]
Premise
Life on the Murray River in the 1880s.[5] According to ABC Weekly "he Mary Jane is owned by old Brummy, an easy-going Cockney, who is happy to make a reason-able living from carrying freight up and down the river. He has a daughter, Belle, who is engaged to a member of his crew, Jami£ Burns, an ambitious young man who hopes to own a whole fleet of ships. A rival paddle steamer is run by the Stever family. In' a race an engine explodes, and one of the Stever sons is killed. Old. man Stever viciously blames Brummy, and determines to run him off the river. "[6]
Cast
- Henry Howlett as Bummy
 - John Tate as Stever
 - Rod Taylor as Jamie
 - Wendy Playfair as Belle
 - Roger Climpson as Phil
 - Ray Harley as Willie
 - Walter Sullivan as Dick
 - June Salter as Elizabeth
 - Rupert Chance as Murph
 - Alan Herbert as Deadeye
 - Queenie Asheton as Mrs May
 - Ethel Gabriel as Mrs. Jones
 
Episodes
- Ep 1 - 7 Feb
 - Ep 2 - 14 Feb
 - Ep 3 - 21 Feb
 - Ep 4 - 28 Feb
 - Ep 5 - 7 March
 - Ep 6 - 14 March
 - Ep 7 - 21 March
 - Ep 8 - 28 March
 - Ep 9 - 4 April[7]
 
References
- ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "PROGRAMME SECTION", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 16 No. 6 (6 February 1954)), nla.obj-1667162782, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove
 - ↑ "Story of the Mary Jane". The Age. No. 30, 815. Victoria, Australia. 4 February 1954. p. 1 ("THE AGE" RADIO SUPPLEMENT). Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
 - ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "RIVER MURRAY SERIAL", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 16 No. 9 (27 February 1954)), nla.obj-1668787078, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove
 - ↑ "Women's Interests On The Air Farmers Tura Playwrights". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 36, 249. New South Wales, Australia. 25 February 1954. p. 7 (Women's Section). Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
 - ↑ "Plays and Players". The Sun. No. 13725. New South Wales, Australia. 5 February 1954. p. 13 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
 - ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "NEW SUNDAY SERIAL", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 16 No. 6 (6 February 1954)), nla.obj-1667161723, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove
 - ↑ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "SUNDAY, April 4 A.B.C.", ABC weekly, Sydney: ABC (Vol. 16 No. 14 (3 April 1954)), nla.obj-1672945995, retrieved 20 November 2023 – via Trove