Drama examining the lives of residents of a Sydney apartment block. Initial storyline focused on adultery, drug use, frigidity, rape, gossip, homosexuality, marriage problems, racism. The building’s ground floor delicatessen run by Hungarian Jew Aldo Godolfus and the nearby launderette provided central meeting places for characters. Original residents included busty blonde virgin Bev Houghton who fell in love with her neighbor, homosexual lawyer Don Finlayson.
Don’s flatmate lover was Bruce Taylor, a photographer who was secretly being kept financially by his employer, the bitchy and sardonic Maggie Cameron. Friendly Vera Collins read tarot cards for a living; her husband had deserted her and she would be perpetually unlucky in love.
In flat 8 lived immigrants from Lancashire, whining Alf Sutcliffe and his salt of the earth wife Lucy, who worked in the launderette. Interfering, malaproping… Don Finlayson has gone down in history as the first man portrayed on television as homosexual in 1972, 20 years before Melrose Place. Don is also the most centred character in Number 96. Here he breaks Bev’s heart in telling her that he is a “homosexual”.
Number 96 (Don & Bev) World’s 1st Gay Man Portrayed on TV, Courtesy of SilentNumber96. Thank you