Grace Gibson

Grace Isabel Gibson (17 June 1905 – 10 July 1989), also known as Grace Atchison and Grace Parr, was an American Australian radio entrepreneur, executive and producer. She was best known for her long-running serials Dr. Paul and the local version of NBC hit Portia Faces Life.

Early life Gibson was born in El Paso, Texas, USA, in 1905 to Calvin Newton Gibson and Mexican Margaret Escobara (Schultz) and finished her schooling in California.

Career She started her career in her native US working for the Radio Transcription Company of America, as a distributor of radio programs, when recruited by Alfred Bennett, general manager of Sydney radio station 2GB, who was visiting the United States. Together they set up American Radio Transcription Agencies (later Artransa Pty Ltd), which sold American recorded radio programs throughout Australia, and Gibson moved to Sydney, Australia in 1934.

Gibson was on a buying trip in the US in 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and as a result she was prevented from returning to Australia for several years. Whilst stranded, she became manager of her former company, Radio Transcription Company of America.

In 1944 she set up her own company, Grace Gibson Radio Productions Pty. Ltd., based in Savoy House, Bligh Street, Sydney. The company would become one of the biggest producers of radio drama with broadcast productions that would air in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong and Canada. Her company produced over 30,000 programs for Australian radio.

The company's first show was the documentary series Here are the Facts. That was followed by a number of popular daytime soap operas and other shows such as Doctor Paul, Portia Faces Life, Night Beat, Dossier on Dumetrius, Cattleman, I Christopher Macauley, Chickenman, Captain Kremmen, and Mr. and Mrs. North.

She retired in 1978 and sold Grace Gibson Radio Productions Pty. Ltd. in the same year.

Personal life Gibson was three times married and died in 1989 in North Buena Vista aged 68.

Production credits

Select radio series / plays Year Title Notes 1944 Here are the Facts 1956 A Stranger in Paradise Radio play 1956 Voice of Destiny Radio series 1966– Chickenman Radio series 1972 I Christopher Macauley Radio series 1973 Clayton Place Radio series 1973 For Infamous Conduct Radio series 1975– Chuck Chunder Radio series 1976 Captain Kremmen Radio series 1982–present The Castlereagh Line Radio series 1986 How Green Was My Cactus Radio series The House of Gold Radio series

Music shows from overseas syndicators Year Title Notes Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 – The 70s and The 80s Dick Clark's Rock, Roll & Remember The Classics American Country Country Countdown with Kix Brooks Legends of Jazz Backtrax 80s (& Backtrax 90s) House of Blues Country Giants Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 New Zealand and South Pacific Islands only) Ryan Seacrest’s American Top 40 New Zealand and South Pacific Islands only)