Number 96 is an Australian television
soap opera/serial that broadcast from March 1972 to August 1977. It screened week nights in the
prime time 8.30 pm slot and was one of the most popular Australian TV series of the 1970s.
Storylines explored the lives and relationships of the residents of a four-storey block of
flats at 96 Lindsay Street,
Paddington. The building has eight apartments, a ground floor delicatessen and a chemist shop. The chemist soon became a wine bar, which finally became a disco shortly before the series ended.
Number 96 became famous for its adult storylines, nude glimpses, and comedy characters, as well as its
Agatha Christie-style whodunnit story arcs.
[1] There were many controversial storylines and firsts, including the world's first gay character, an interracial romance, and other taboo subjects that were not being addressed at that time in America.
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Creators Don Cash and Bill Harmon of
Cash Harmon Television produced the series for the
0–10 Network, which was in third place in the ratings behind the
Nine Network and
Seven Network. The 0-10 network had requested a series similar to the British soap opera
Coronation Street, and specifically one that explored adult subjects.
Number 96 was later likened to US series
Peyton Place.
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