Grace Gibson

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Grace Gibson
OAM
Grace Gibson, c.1947
Born
Grace Isabel Gibson

(1905-06-17)17 June 1905
El Paso, Texas
Died10 July 1989(1989-07-10) (aged 84)
North Buena Vista, Iowa
Other namesGrace Atchison, Grace Parr
OccupationsRadio executive, producer, entrepreneur

Grace Isabel Gibson (17 June 1905 – 10 July 1989), also known as Grace Atchison and Grace Parr was an American Australian radio entrepreneur, executive and producer. She was best known for her long-running serials Dr. Paul and the local version of NBC hit Portia Faces Life.[1]

Early life

Gibson was born in El Paso, Texas, USA, in 1905 to Calvin Newton Gibson and Mexican Margaret Escobara (Schultz) and finished her schooling in California.

Career

She started her career in her native US working for the Radio Transcription Company of America, as a distributor of radio programs, when recruited by Alfred Bennett, general manager of Sydney radio station 2GB, who was visiting the United States. Together they set up American Radio Transcription Agencies (later Artransa Pty Ltd), which sold American recorded radio programs throughout Australia, and Gibson moved to Sydney, Australia in 1934.

Gibson was on a buying trip in the US in 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and as a result she was prevented from returning to Australia for several years. Whilst stranded, she became manager of her former company, Radio Transcription Company of America.[2]

In 1944 she set up her own company, Grace Gibson Radio Productions Pty. Ltd., based in Savoy House, Bligh Street, Sydney. The company would become one of the biggest producers of radio drama with broadcast productions that would air in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong and Canada.[3] Her company produced over 30,000 programs for Australian radio.[4]

The company's first show was the documentary series Here are the Facts. That was followed by a number of popular daytime soap operas and other shows such as Doctor Paul, Portia Faces Life, Night Beat, Dossier on Dumetrius, Cattleman, I Christopher Macauley, Chickenman, Captain Kremmen, and Mr. and Mrs. North.[1]

Gibson continued to produce radio dramas from her Australian headquarters for the South African market until as late as 1971, long after television had replaced radio as the main place to hear drama in the home in most countries. This was because South Africa was virtually the last place in the English-speaking world to introduce television.[5]

She retired in 1978 and sold Grace Gibson Radio Productions Pty. Ltd. in the same year.[1]

Gibson was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1987 in recognition of her services to radio in Australia.[6]

Personal life

Gibson was three times married and died in 1989 in North Buena Vista aged 68.

Production credits

Select radio series / plays

Year Title Notes
1944Here are the Facts[1]
1949Doctor PaulRadio series[7]
1949The Bishop's MantleRadio series[1]
1950sPepper Young's FamilyRadio series[1]
1950Fear Stalks BehindRadio play[1]
1950Rejection SlipRadio play[1]
1950John Barbey & SonRadio play[1]
1950One Way StreetRadio play[1]
1950Three Blind MiceRadio play[1]
1950Blind JusticeRadio play[1]
1950A Matter of TimeRadio play[1]
1950The Luck of the GameRadio play[1]
1950Two Lives for OneRadio play[1]
1950Power—Above AllRadio play[1]
1950Two Doors to DestinyRadio play[1]
1950The Last CheckRadio play[1]
1950The Kiss of SilenceRadio play[1]
1950Blue – For DangerRadio play[1]
1950Beyond the BorderRadio play[1]
1950Paid in FullRadio play[1]
1950Darkness of the MindRadio play[1]
1950Time ExposureRadio play[1]
1950The Man Who Lost His NameRadio play[1]
1950The VerdictRadio play[1]
1950The HunterRadio play[1]
1950Face to FaceRadio play[1]
1950Always Room at the TopRadio play[1]
1950End of the RoadRadio play[1]
1950Overture in Two KeysRadio play[1]
1950They Lied to Henry WilsonRadio play[1]
1950The House in Montbleu WoodsRadio play[1]
1950The Man Who Wouldn't ListenRadio play[1]
1950The HomecomingRadio play[1]
1950Ballistics Can LieRadio play[1]
1950Circumstantial EvidenceRadio play[1]
1950The Story of Mary LaneRadio series[1]
1950A Tale of Two SistersRadio play[1]
1950Escape Me NeverRadio series[1]
1950Frenchman's CreekRadio series[1]
1950Theatre of ThrillsRadio play[1]
1950–1952Night BeatRadio series[1]
1951Bird of Ill OmenRadio play[1]
1951Afraid of LifeRadio play[1]
1951ElmerRadio play[1]
1951The Perfect AlibiRadio play[1]
1951Dream GirlRadio play[1]
1951Auld AcquaintanceRadio play[1]
1951Long Shots Don't WinRadio play[1]
1951My Own SisterRadio play[1]
1951Accidents Do HappenRadio play[1]
1951It Pays to Be PoliteRadio play[1]
1951Strong HandsRadio play[1]
1951Blind Man's BuffRadio play[1]
1951Dossier On DumetriusRadio series[7]
1951Major KeenRadio series[1]
1951Dinner at Antoine'sRadio series[1]
1951I SpyRadio series[1]
1951The Strange Life of Deacon BrodieRadio series[1]
1952Mr. and Mrs. NorthRadio series[1]
1952View MatrimonyRadio play[1]
1952Skeleton of the PastRadio play[1]
1952Siesta in the SunRadio play[1]
1952The CowardRadio play[1]
1952Curtain CallRadio play[1]
1952Confession in ErrorRadio play[1]
1952The Semblance of DeathRadio play[1]
1952The Pathway of the SunRadio series[1]
1952Deadly NightshadeRadio play[1]
195226 HoursRadio play[1]
1952Danger in ParadiseRadio series[1]
1952Lady in DistressRadio series[1]
1952They Were ChampionsRadio series
1953Famous FortunesRadio series[1]
1953Philip Marlowe InvestigatesRadio series[1]
1954For the DefenceRadio series[1]
1954Life Can Be BeautifulRadio series[1]
1954The Book Club of the AirRadio series[1]
1954The Beckoning ShoreRadio series[1]
1954Portia Faces LifeRadio series[7]
1956A Stranger in ParadiseRadio play[8]
1956Voice of DestinyRadio series[1]
1957–1958A Mask for AlexisRadio play[1]
1958Knave of HeartsRadio play[1]
1959Nor the Moon by NightRadio series[1]
1959Two Roads to SamaraRadio play[1]
1959The Smell of TerrorRadio play[1]
1959The Guiding LightRadio series[1]
1962Sara DaneRadio series[1]
1963The Scarlet FrontierRadio series[1]
1961CattlemanRadio series[7]
c. 1966–The Passing ParadeRadio series[9]
1966–ChickenmanRadio series[7]
1972I Christopher MacauleyRadio series[7]
1973Clayton PlaceRadio series[1]
1973For Infamous ConductRadio series[1]
1975–Chuck ChunderRadio series[7]
1976Captain KremmenRadio series[7]
1982–presentThe Castlereagh LineRadio series[7]
1986How Green Was My CactusRadio series[7]
The House of GoldRadio series[1]

Music shows from overseas syndicators

Year Title Notes
Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 – The 70s and The 80s[7]
Dick Clark's Rock, Roll & Remember[7]
The Classics[7]
American Country Country Countdown with Kix Brooks[7]
Legends of Jazz[7]
Backtrax 80s (& Backtrax 90s)[7]
House of Blues[7]
Country Giants[7]
Rick Dees Weekly Top 40New Zealand and South Pacific Islands only)[7]
Ryan Seacrest’s American Top 40New Zealand and South Pacific Islands only)[7]

References

  1. Grace Gibson Productions, austlit.edu.au. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  2. Lane, Richard and National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, 1994, The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama 1923-1960: A History Through Biography, Melbourne University Press, Carlton South, Vic
  3. Murphy, Lynne, 'Gibson, Grace Isabel (1905–1989)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University accessed 5 February 2012
  4. "Yanks Down Under (film)". Australian Screen: An NFSA Website. 1983. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  5. "The history of television in SA". 4 December 2014.
  6. "Mrs Grace Gibson PARR". Australian Honours Search Facility. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  7. "About". Grace Gibson Radio Productions.
  8. "Grace Gibson Productions : Works by". AustLit. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  9. The Passing Parade (CD). Grace Gibson.

Further reading

  • Richard Lane, The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama 1923-1960 : A History through Biography, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: National Film and Sound Archive; and Carlton, Victoria: Melbourne University Press, 1994