Palace of Dreams

This article is about the Australian television show. For the novel by Ismail Kadare, see The Palace of Dreams.

Palace of Dreams
Based on	idea by Sandra Levy
Written by	Denny Lawrence John Misto John Upton Ian David Deb Oswald Marc Rosenberg
Directed by	Denny Lawrence Geoffrey Nottage Graham Thorburn David Goldie Riccardo Pellizzeri
Starring	Henri Szeps Linda Cropper
Theme music composer	Chris Neal
Country of origin	Australia
Original language	English
No. of episodes	10 x 1 hour
Production
Producer	Sandra Levy
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	6 June (1985-06-06) – 8 August 1985 (1985-08-08)

Palace of Dreams is a 1985 Australian fictional mini series about a Jewish family running a hotel in working class inner city of Sydney in the 1930s.[1] Sandra Levy conceived and produced the series, based on her experience of living in a similar hotel run by her Russian Jewish mother during the Great Depression. The main set of the series is Dundee Palace (formerly the Olympic Hotel), on the corner of Regent Street and Moore Park Road, Paddington).[2] It was advertised in newspapers of the time as 'A story of belonging'.[3] It included historical events such as the popularity of Donald Bradman and aviation achievements of Bert Hinkler and Charles Kingsford Smith. It also showed archival footage of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.[4]

The Fryer Library at the University of Queensland holds the show's manuscripts in the Hanger Collection of Australian Playscripts.[5]

Premise

The series is based on a hotel owned by the Russian Jewish emigrant family, the Mendels. Parents Chana and Mick Mendel live at the hotel with grandfather, and children Joseph, Ruth and Miriam. Writer Tom Raynor (Michael O'Neill) moves from the family farm and grows close to the Mendel family.

Cast and crew

Actor	Character
Henri Szeps	Mick Mendel
Michael O'Neill	Tom Raynor
Deidre Rubenstein	Chana Mendel
Linda Cropper	Miriam Mendel
Susie Lindeman	Ruth Mendel
Durand Sinclair	Joseph Mendel
John Walton	Charlie

Episode writers

#	Time period	Writers
1	February - March 1931	Ian David and Denny Lawrence
2	April - May 1931	John Upton
3	May - June 1931	John Misto
4	July - August 1931	Ian David
5	September - October 1931	John Upton
6	November 1931	Debra Oswald
7	December 1931	Debra Oswald
8	December 1931 - January 1932	Marc Rosenberg
9	February - March 1932	Marc Rosenberg
10	March - May 1932	John Misto[5]

Awards and nominations

In 1985, the show was a winner in the annual Television Society of Australia Penguin awards.[6] In 1986, Deirdre Rubenstein won best actress for her role in the show.[7]

References

1. Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p221
2. "The best weekend". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 16 June 1985. p. 102. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
3. "Advertising". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 4 June 1985. p. 5. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
4. Ferrington, Andrew (3 June 1985). "Palace of DREAMS". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). p. 23. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
5. "Palace of dreams - Fryer Manuscripts". manuscripts.library.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
6. "Gillies the leading Penguin winner". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 16 November 1985. p. 3. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
7. "From the cutting room floor: November 1986 Filmnews". Filmnews (Sydney, NSW : 1975 - 1995). 1 November 1986. p. 4. Retrieved 30 December 2020.

External links

• Palace of Dreams at IMDb
• Palace of Dreams at Australian Screen Online