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.Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p221 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). It was advertised in newspapers of the time as 'A story of belonging'. 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.
The Fryer Library at the University of Queensland holds the show's manuscripts in the Hanger Collection of Australian Playscripts.
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 +ActorCharacterHenri SzepsMick MendelMichael O'NeillTom RaynorDeidre RubensteinChana MendelLinda CropperMiriam MendelSusie LindemanRuth MendelDurand SinclairJoseph Mendel John Walton Charlie
Episode writers +#Time periodWriters1February - March 1931Ian David and Denny Lawrence2April - May 1931John Upton3May - June 1931John Misto4July - August 1931Ian David5September - October 1931John Upton6November 1931Debra Oswald7December 1931Debra Oswald8December 1931 - January 1932Marc Rosenberg9February - March 1932Marc Rosenberg10March - May 1932John Misto
Awards and nominations In 1985, the show was a winner in the annual Television Society of Australia Penguin awards. In 1986, Deirdre Rubenstein won best actress for her role in the show.
References
External links Palace of Dreams at IMDb Palace of Dreams at Australian Screen Online