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Clyde Packer had been seconded by Kerry was a very different kettle of As Sir Reg. ushered us into his
his father to manage the network fish; however his handshake was office he instructed his secretary to hold
stations in Sydney and Melbourne. I always good too, and I believe I am one all calls, but soon the phone rang.
knew both Clyde and Kerry from earlier of the few people in the world he ever Scowling, Sir Reg. repeated his
times, when Bruce Gyngell used to be apologized to. instruction, but his attitude changed
told by Frank to look after them for the I had gone to Melbourne to see Len when told that it was the industrial
day. Bruce would phone me to see if we Mauger and Norm Carlyon in the mediator on the line.
had a day’s worth of westerns to screen Ansett Swanston Street building just A short conversation followed
for them in the Fox Theatrette. before Channel 0 (now Channel 10) concluding with “Well, give it to them”.
Clyde had regular Thursday lunches opened, to interest them in the He hung up, turned to us and said
at his home to which I was invited; Melbourne-only rights I had available “Gentlemen, the Melbourne Cup will
other guests might include Paul Hogan for two western series. run on schedule.” He was Vice-
and ‘Strop’ Cornell. One time, after a Pressed for time, my clients Chairman of the VRC.
hectic eight-day visit by Alan suggested lunch in the Ansett canteen. At this time Perth and Hobart
Silverbach (I had hardly been home for Sir Reginald was at a nearby table, and bought TV programs jointly, so I had
a week) Clyde and I wheeled Alan to Len introduced me to him. We all left many a wild visit to Perth. Once I won
the check-in in a Qantas wheel chair. together and caught the lift. a deal with a hand of poker in the
After Alan had boarded the plane, Sir Reg. asked what I was trying to boardroom after lunch.
Clyde asked me to go home with him sell. I knew he loved westerns. Leaving The country stations employed Ron
for a steak. I wouldn’t leave until the the elevator he turned and said, “Mr Marshall (an unlikely dedicated
plane took off, whereupon I had to Mauger, I think you should buy them”. socialist) and Bill Montier to set up the
phone my wife and tell her I would not Having laboured all morning for my Australian Television Federation, but
be home for yet another night. At his deal, I now had it in five minutes. individual stations often did direct deals
table Clyde talked freely about the Promotion for the theatrical release as well, so calls had to be made to the
problems of running a TV station. He of Those Magnificent Men In Their thirteen centres in the ‘provinces’.
was much easier to get on with than his Flying Machines (1965) included the The main competition were the
younger brother. possibility of securing a little French Seven and Nine Networks whose
By co-incidence I was at a publicity bi-plane, if Fox could get it to salesmen offered ‘quantity’ discounts
meeting at Channel Nine the afternoon Australia. for their Australian Rights product. Not
in May when the ratings were I had Len Mauger get Sir Reg. to being in favour of that approach, I
announced. Nine had lost to Seven for come to a private screening in a Hoyt’s suggested ten percent discount for cash
the first time since 1956. I phoned to Melbourne theatre one morning. He instead of the usual quarterly
see if Clyde was available and his loved the wry humour, and asked me installments, and they all fell for it.
secretary said he was very busy. what he could do to help. I needed the Fox were receiving a mix of US and
I suggested she ask him, “Did he plane air-freighted from England to Australian currencies, since some
want to win the next survey”? The Australia, then transported from city to clients insisted on paying in local
phone soon rang, and I was asked to city for promotions in theatre lobbies. money, and I started to take a daily
come straight over. “Consider it done” he said - and met all interest in exchange rates to maximise
“How”? was Clyde’s immediate the costs. benefits for the company. We were at
question. “With The Longest Day for For one of Alan Silverbach’s visits I constant risk of either a re-valuation or
the 6th of June”. arranged for us to meet Sir Reg. in de-valuation, and my Bank of NSW
Clyde ended up buying it for a Melbourne. It was the week before the friend Jim Prentice kept me in touch
record price, plus everything else Melbourne Cup and industrial action by with any impending change. I have
unsold, including some ‘dogs’. course employees at Flemington retained that interest ever since. ★
Returning to the office I telexed Alan threatened disruption or postponement. To Be Continued
with details, next morning receiving the
one and only congratulatory telex in my
Fox history.
At 10am the phone rang and a
secretary said that Mr. Packer was
calling. “Clyde Baby…”, I started…
“Frank Packer here” was the reply.
“This heap of garbage you’ve sold
Clyde - how do you expect me to pay
for it?”
The ‘old man’ rang me six more
times before lunch, while I wistfully
held my congratulatory telex in the
other hand, fully expecting him to pull
the plug on the deal. But a Packer
handshake was as good as a signature.
Sarah Miles and Stuart Whitman: Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (1965).

26 2007 CINEMARECORD