Looking Back

From the Sunday Times 50 years ago

THE Rhodesian Prime Minister, Mr Ian Smith, triumphant after his election victory, calmly took the heat out of the emotional campaign that secured his massive White majority.

When the final result was announced on Saturday — a victory for Mr CM Chipunza (Rhodesia Party) in the Bindura electoral district — the state of the parties became: Rhodesia Front 50 (all the “A” roll seats), Rhodesia Party 10, Independents five.

At his international press conference yesterday morning . . . Mr Smith calmly indicated that he was not going to be hurried over a unilateral declaration of independence. — May 9 1965

From the Sunday Times 25 years ago

THE end of Dallas, announced this week, marks the end of a 13-year orgy of dirty deals, depravity and willing women which, at its peak, held the world enthralled.

Fittingly, it was good ol’ JR Ewing — the villainous tomcat of the Texan oil business — who gave the news of the demise of the soap series.

Actor Larry Hagman dropped the bombshell at the Montreux TV Festival in Switzerland. “I’m sad to see it go, but 13 years is quite enough,” he said.

But Dallas will always be remembered as the first South African TV sensation, the first to shut down restaurants, close cinemas and to glue two million fans to their sets. — May 13 1990