Reminiscing with highly valued TV Producer/Director Marion Leyer

Marion Leyer (nee Greiling) was for many years a key person in the production field at both TVW Channel 7 and NEW Channel 10 in Perth.
TVW’s Brian Treasure employed Marion for secretarial work in 1960. Gordon McColl fondly remembers Marion walking down Cobham Avenue on that day towards her interview, for he was going the same way and gave her a lift to the studios. Marion’s highly regarded work ethic soon launched a career in television production, where she produced and directed the live ‘Children’s Channel 7′. This involved talent quests, quizzes, hobbies, nature studies, games etc. Marion was also busy producing the weekly quiz programs ‘Post Office’ and ‘It’s Academic’.
From 1971 to 1975 Marion directed the national half hour children’s variety program ‘Stars of the Future’, which received Logie Awards in 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1976. Brian Smith helped produce the award winning show.
The inaugural Channel Seven Christmas Pageant was launched in 1972. Richard Ashton points out that it was the company owned by Marion’s husband John, that built nearly all the Christmas Pageant float bases for TVW, including the large multi-trailer Father Christmas one. This event was a great credit to Marion and all those dedicated people who worked on it, particularly the special projects unit headed by Max Bostock. Max pointed out that Police figures, show that crowds increased rapidly from 100,000 in 1972 to 350,000 in 1977.
This event was a great credit to Marion and all those dedicated people who worked on it, particularly the special projects unit headed by Max Bostock. Max pointed out that Police figures, show that crowds increased rapidly from 100,000 in 1972 to 350,000 in 1977.
From 1976 to 1979 Marion produced the 24 hour ‘Telethon’ programs and ‘Christmas Pageants’ plus the weekly teenage program called ‘Hey Jude’ and various specials.
The TVW special projects unit was engaged in many programs and promotions, including the introduction of colour TV and produced the opening of the Perth Entertainment Centre, the 1978 American TV special ‘Bob Hope Down Under’, then a historic climax in 1979 with the 150th Anniversary of Western Australia and the ‘Miss Universe Pageant’, for which Marion played a very important role. Among other matters, Marion had responsibility for the 74 delegates and 42 chaperones (who also acted as interpreters) and arranged their itineraries, hotel bookings etc.
When TVW purchased Fernseh cameras, all the manuals came in the German language. It was Marion who translated the text to English, for the engineering department. The cameras were mostly used for single camera outside broadcasts.
Marion was also the producer of ‘Celebrity Challenges’. Marion’s tremendous efforts over the years culminated in her appointment as TVW Production Manager in October 1979.
Marion’s career spanned 25 years at Seven, before moving onto consultancy work with the Australian Olympic Federation, which in association with Network Ten, produced Australia’s Olympathon to raise money for the Australian team to go to the Seoul Olympics in 1988. This was then followed by her appointment as Director of Production with the newly established NEW Channel 10 in Perth.
A remarkable career for a well liked and extremely hard working lady.