Nothing on TV

Nothing on TV


Latest Episodes

Mr Denning’s Umbrage
April 23, 2020

Wherein we consider what counts as an amusement... Argus (Melbourne), 22 September 1855, p. 8 ('Amusements' column) A dance manual by one of Mr Denning's teachers, Eugene Coulon. Find the full text of the second edition (c. 1852) here. -

A Pig in a Poke
October 08, 2019

Wherein we plunder suitcases full of mystery... Herald (Melbourne), 18 December 1893, p. 4, col. 5 - Here's a sample of the headlines that would follow railway lost property sales – And why not read on – here and here - Moreover,

What is Really Real?
September 03, 2019

Wherein we shed some light in the phonebox... Space travel in the Sun (Melbourne), July 1969. (Blame the tilt on a lack of gravity) 'The Pals' Corner' with 'Grandad', Advertiser, 23 June 1933, p. 5 -

A Bit of a Ventriloquist
August 09, 2019

Wherein voices are thrown and pigs educated. Age (Melbourne), 27 September 1884, p. 10, col. 6 Read it with the rest of the day's news here. from Ventriloquism: Ancient and Modern – Containing A Complete Explanation

Clean Hands
July 03, 2019

Wherein we consider propinquity of liberty, literacy and soap. Age (Melbourne), Monday, 17 August 1874, p. 2, col. 6 – read it on the newspaper page here - Joseph Juliff took a penknife to a copy of the Argus in the newspaper

Tin-kettling
June 09, 2019

Wherein tins and nerves are rattled. Geelong Advertiser, 12 January 1885, p. 3, cols. 4-5 See the rest of that day's news here -   A bawdy depiction of charivari by the French caricaturist J.J. Grandville.

Buried Treasure
May 01, 2019

Wherein we entertain tales of treasure and avarice. Men Dig in Richmond Yard And Carry Away – What? (the question-mark, perhaps) Sun News-Pictorial, 27 March 1936, p. 4 (copied from microfilm at State Library Victoria)

Agnes & Geraldine – Season 2: ep. 1
April 01, 2019

Wherein we drill down on a fin-de-siècle folly. - Welcome to Season Two of Nothing on TV. Here's how it begins... Herald (Melbourne), 19 February 1887, p. 2, col. 7 Read the article in situ here Argus (Melbourne), 3 February 1882, p. 8,

The Suburban Ghost – ep. 7 (season finale)
August 05, 2018

Wherein we encounter a ‘phosphorescent charmer’ in fin de siècle Melbourne . Herald (Melbourne), 8 August 1892, p. 2, col. 8 See it on the page, here. - Did you know that The day the ghost walks is slang for pay-day?

The Hatpin Menace – ep. 6
July 06, 2018

Wherein we consider the point of hatpins. Argus (Melbourne), 9 August 1911, p. 14, col. 4 Or read the whole pagehere A comic postcard from 1907. I found it at http://whatsinthetrench.weebly.com/blog/