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I cannot pretend serious programmes are my favourite aspect of Vintage Television.
I'm afraid the good old BBC Reithian charter to educate largely passed me by, and perhaps I was not the only one.
Nevertheless here are details of a few documentaries and historic broadcasts, many of which have something fascinating to teach us today about Television History.
Picture- About Religion, the Easter Sunday programme shown on April 17th 1960 with Dr Geoffrey Fisher. More on this series in the Religious section ITV Schools broadcasts began on May 13th 1957 to a rather muted fanfare. It was reported that less than 100 schools watched the first lesson in the London and Midlands regions, and at this stage Granada did not even take these schools programmes.
A-R produced these first programmes for schools from Studio 9 in Television House. The first programme, Looking and Seeing, was introduced by Redvers Kyle, himself an ex-teacher.
Details of the schools' series Your World (BBC, 1961) A mixture of drama and follow up discussions on young people's problems. Programme 1 on April 24th 1961 dealt with Work. There was an interesting cast for the third topic At Home, the play being entitled, A Question of Balance (May 29th 1961, 2.05-2.25pm, repeated the following day) Script: John Wiles. Producer: Peter Dunkley. Cast in order of appearance: Clifford Cox (Mr Blake), Anna Turner (Mrs Blake), Julia Foster (May Blake), Anthony Ashdown (Fred Stevens), Maris Tant (Denyse), James Belchamber (Mr Crayne), Daphne Foreman (Janice), Jenny Jones (Mary), Pamela Sholto (Miss Iddon). To Main TV Menu |
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. . . . . Picasso (1960) -Sir Kenneth Clark at the Tate Exhibition of "one of the most incomprehnsible artists-" his words. Sir Ken openly admits he is one who doesn't always understand either but he makes a good stab at enthusing us, yet though his critical erudition is to be admired, for me Picasso cannot be labelled "an entertainer," as Ken says, since "when he is being funny" I never laughed once. But Picasso's "added power by abstraction" can at least now be admired, thanks to honest Ken. The Dream Machine (transmitted Wednesday 11th November 1964 at 9.10pm ) - ATV documentary with some fascinating glimpses behind the scenes as producer Francis Essex attempts to assemble his variety show 'Six Wonderful Girls.' Clips are juxtaposed with a lecturer teaching his students about the new medium of television. He raises the issue of TV's need to be more self-critical and of the more obvious need to appreciate the impact the box makes on everyday life. Whilst he pontificates, Essex is trying to juggle his finances, arguing with executive Bill Ward over having to reduce his budget by a massive £1,000. The Daily Telegraph critic asks him if he's bothered about the emphemeral nature of television. Essex's reply: TV is a transient medium. "I am a person who becomes bored with long runs." There speaks the first channel hopper! We see Honor Blackman and Millicent Martin rehearsing with ATV's top scriptwriters Sid and Dick in attendance. Finally the tension of the taping! In the final analysis this is an historically important documentary, but director Denis Mitchell fails to provide any analysis of his own on the impact The Dream Machine makes. True, he allows the cameras to show us much, but since his aim is to examine the role of telly, he's no better, no worse than the medium he's seeking to criticise. Crisis on Wheels (29th June 1966) - directed by Kevin Brownlow. For those who have experienced the tragedy of death on the roads, this jokey analogy with war might well be anathema. There's a potted history of automobiles leading to the modern phenomenon of the car "being the object of veneration in suburban avenues on Sunday morning" before a rude awakening as the science of road accidents is analysed. But does the director see this as the crisis, or is it traffic wardens (more jibes)? But in fact it seems to be congestion that is the real enemy as the prescient fast forward to the year 2000 shows "the suburbs were overwhelmed... this jam started three weeks ago and it still hasn't moved an inch." People even take the law into their own hands to ease congestion, so the solution is simple- scrap the car! EVR in Education (1968) - Kenneth Kendall introduces this ATV film which showcases some of the ITV Schools programmes of the era, including Primary French (unintentionally hilarious), and Conflict (clip from Othello). . . . . Sea War -In association with Rank, Southern TV produced an interesting account of the Royal Navy during World War II. Life Line - The Navy's Atlantic battle with the U-boats. Some authentic archive footage plus some interesting studio reconstruction, these scenes directed by Lawrence Huntington The Full Man (1964) - Tragedy. Two clips from Macbeth with George Baker in the title role and Rosalie Crutchley as Lady M, plus a scene from Adventure Story by Terence Rattigan with George Baker as Alexander the Great and Francis Rowe as the Queen Mother. Baker then has a fascinating little discussion with presenter David Daiches about the demerits of this play. A final scene is enacted to illustrate the "inconsequential dialogue" of much modern tv drama. Obviously someone watched this and understood this sort of thing was being praised! First In Last Out (25th June 1968)- Documentary on training commandos, narrated by Christopher Wain School At Sea - 50 minute Southern TV documentary narrated by Richard Davies, written and directed by Cyril Doncaster . . . . . . . . . Around the World (Associated-Rediffusion)Orson Welles introduces: London- A more unlikely mismatch you're unlikely to see as Welles coaxes information from some venerable London East End ladies. Basque- Orson warms to the region "not French or Spanish." He finds one local who compares life with that in the good old USA, then a longer deeper discussion with an author, including contrasts with US and Basque education. Perhaps it's all too tongue in cheek: "smuggling is the biggest industry in these parts." Out of Step (Associated-Rediffusion, 1957) Nudism- In his best suit, Daniel Farson interviews nudists in their Sunday best. Today this looks like a parody, but he is fairly deadly serious which makes it all the more entertaining, specially the two gentlemen vehemently opposed to such exhibitionism. This Week (A-R) The company's flagship serious programme. Accidents- 1967 investigation, on film starts with flashing scenes as an accident victim is rushed to hospital. We are shown the work of the Birmingham Accident Hospital. By following one baby's graphic tragedy, the documentary becomes intensely emotional. Too many other sad cases follow: "medical science has triumphed, but there just isn't any use in society for him." We really need something other than moving stories, the only conclusion reached is that most accidents are the result of impatience Return to the Rhondda (TWW) This has been reissued on dvd. An optimistic and affectionate tribute introduced by Donald Houston: "the few shall not for ever sway." Also with Stanley Baker, who describes the valley as "my idea of hell." Boxer Tommy Farr tells of his career and Gwyn Thomas recounts the 1926 General Strike, puzzled indeed over his own conclusion that "the poverty was marvellous." My Welsh dad enjoyed singing along with the choirs too. Pontcanna (TWW) - A 1965 publicity film of how TWW took over the WWN franchise having to upgrade their studios to provide this new dual service. Rather tough on the company, that they then lost their remit, this film obviously failed to win over the doubters. Survival (Anglia) - Trailers for b/w editions, one with Rolf Harris, another with voiceover by the ubiquitous Patrick Allen The Lonely Man (Channel TV, 1964) - In 1960 at lonely Les Ecrehou, hides a fugitive from justice, wrongly accused of rape. Predictably amateurish production with an interesting interview, much in need of editing News (ITN) Review of 1955/6- one year on, ITN shows some stories covered in Sport, Home and International news. News Headlines- A news summary from back in 1964. Documentary Menu . . . . . . . . . . Independent Television Opening NightsLondon ITV (Thursday September 22nd 1955) Scottish Television (Saturday August 31st 1957) Anglia Television (Tuesday October 27th 1959) Each of the original 14 ITV companies had its own opening show starting with the first station in London in 1955.
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Opening Night of Independent Television London Area Thursday September 22nd 1955 This was a joint programme by Associated Rediffusion (with the Associated Broadcasting Company- later ATV- producing the Opening Night Show at 8.00-8.40pm, which had the rather unimaginative title 'Variety.') 7.15pm The guests arrive, (this preserved without the commentary). More interesting is the grandiose introduction giving glimpses of London landmarks and a potted history of the city. We are solemnly told the television act insists on a service "of high quality." It was- to start with!
Then we have are all the trailers for Channel 9's programmes, serious first, of course, then popular shows, then imports, with a long clip from Dragnet.
Gordon Butler, a tv engineer, writing in 1965, recalled how the Opening Night was nearly a calamity.
"Leslie Randall came on and began talking. At least his lips moved. No sound emitted!
Cyril Francis sat with perspiration running down his face. He prepared to give the
order to switch to the We Apologise for the Breakdown slide.
At that moment Leslie Randall stopped moving his mouth, looked a bit puzzled at the audience,
pulled a tin whistle out of his pocket, played a few notes and said Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen.
To Opening Nights . . . Documentary Menu . . . . . . . . . . This is Scotland (August 31st 1957, 6.30pm)Hosted by James Robertson Justice, who after an uncertain start infuses a pride into his homeland, as he shows during the hour long programme, the beauty of the countryside, with all its many rivers, the glories of its history and the great Scotsmen of the day, including messages of congratulation from some eminent men from across the world. The singing of Scottish songs is in the capable hands of Kenneth McKellar, with such standards as Come Along, and Over the Sea to Skye. On film, Alastair Sim reads the poem In the Highlands, whilst more light heartedly Archie McCulloch interviews Deborah Kerr who is filming in the South of France with David Niven. The latter gives the game away when he admits, what would be dear to many a Scottish heart, that "television is something for nothing." A more ambitious interview is a live link with the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh to speak to a rather off-the-cuff Moira Shearer. There's a split screen as we see James chatting happily with Moira like two old friends. Inevitably Jimmy Logan is on hand, appearing with Stanley Baxter in excerpts from Five Past Eight, the show currently at The Theatre Royal Glasgow. They sing and act a feeble sketch as two grown-up toddlers. Most poignant appearance is by the great showman Jack Buchanan, only two months before his death. He rambles on and, a little ignominiously, gets the hurry up call from the wings before singing with audience participation the immortal I Belong to Glasgow. He had been introduced by ITN newscaster Ludovic Kennedy, who was later to read the ITN News that night from the Scottish studios. The Clyde Valley Stompers provide some more lively music, accompanied by "The Rock and Roll Sinners," at least that's how the opening credits describe 'em. One of the few gaffes in a generally very impressive debut for the station. There is some background noise, as scenery is shifted, perhaps unavoidable in a live performance, but this doesn't detract from the overwhelming sense of national achievement that this opening night happily conveys. Aye, it was only a pity that after this blossoming, for 10 years the company was very much in the wings of the ITV network. In STV's 50th anniversary celebration, Jimmy Nairn, the announcer whose voice was the first heard on the 1957 programme agreed the opening night "went well." This 2007 tribute had a nice touch, in that one of the 1957 stars, Stanley Baxter, narrated the programme However a contemporary account of the show was less than favourable. Derek Hoddinott complained about the poor quality of the filmed sequences (true), and picked on James Robertson Justice who "looked as fed up as I was," and he took exception to the host "reading poetry in the background... extremely boring and slowed down the pace to that of a tortoise." This critic got "a nasty taste in the mouth" from a rough individual who told of the bad old days, and even "welcome sight" Jack Buchanan was "unfunny." All in all he described the show as "a great disappointment. I expected something a lot better," though he does concede the camerawork was an exception, the dancing and costumes were "gay," and the singing "very good." Perhaps this Sassenach should have stayed down south? In the audience for this show were 'rival' tv bosses Lew Grade, Val Parnell, and Sidney Bernstein while from the ITA were Sir Kenneth Clark and Sir Robert Fraser, and from ITN Chris Chattaway. The on screen audience was estimated at around two and a half million viewers, though Nielsen's more accurate measurement gave 150,000 homes watching. To Opening Nights . . . Scottish TV page . . . Documentary Menu . . . . . . . . . . Anglia TV Opening(October 27th 1959) At the ungoldly hour of 4.14pm (maybe Anglia had learned from other opening night bores)
a clock started ticking as a voice announced "one Minute to Zero. This is Anglia Television."
To Opening Nights
. . . . . . . . . . . . BBC serious programmesMen Women and Clothes (1957) -
Experimental BBC colour film
On the Opening Night of the BBC Television Centre, transmitted at 7.30pm was Richard Cawston's self-portrait of the BBC. It got the thumbs up from this critic who wrote "Cawston should have subtitled it This is How a Documentary Should Be Made." It showed 24 hours in the life of the BBC, compressed into 65 minutes. Indeed it won the British Film Academy's 1959 Award for Best Specialised Film. For me what comes over is the chumminess of the chaps in charge. What the programme sadly lacks is any captioning, though I did not at all mind missing today's disease, the deadpan narrator. Some of those in the film are: Richard Murdoch (Housewives Choice), Dimbleby's team preparing Panorama, Kenneth Horne at rehearsals, John Gregson in make-up, Roy Plomley (Desert Island Discs rehearsal), Muir and Norden preparing a Whacko script, Jennings on radio, Eamonn Andrews with a quiz (Crackerjack?), Richard Baker (6 O'Clock News), Tonight with Cliff Michelmore, and Janie Marden in a late night experimental tv show. Face to Face John Freeman's probing discussion with Tony Hancock Man Alive - television's equivalent of cine verite, this is kitchen sink cum pseudo documentary, observation rather than depth. Love Me and Leave Me (Dec 1965) - "It's my fault," an accident. Various single women talk freely about their babies. The father of Pat's boy is alleged to be one of the Rolling Stones, you feel there is a whole programme here. Instead we switch restlessly to Caroline with two kids ("I have them all to myself") a white girl who has had relationships with black men, again you sense a programme's worth of material has been missed. Then a contrast with a Scotsman living with, but not married to a French girl, for they reject the concept of marriage. Then back to another single woman, this one a professional girl, making the point that the law is weighted towards men. Four lives superficially covered, issues raised in no depth, opportunities wasted What is Happening? (May 1967) - "A new era... reaction," quotes from the flower people, "beautiful people... it's in the air." An all night rave in Ally Pally. Dry narration by Desmond Wilcox allows the pictures to be their own comment. "Children again," perhaps this sums it up, as various dropouts give boring utterance, full of their own importance. I was with one observer who commented, "they don't know what they're looking for," and indeed after a while this programme becomes itself "aimless," but worse, often gratuitous. As for the rave, "I think it was marvellous specially as I was on a trip." A more down to earth observer notes, "they need a blinkin' good bath" The Ravers (June 1967) - A study of young girls following their pop idols, in particular Simon Dupree. Apparently his group is quite "restrained" in allowing fans access to them, "a great outlet for them." The pop star fields his questions rather neatly though the girls' shallowness is exposed when they are interviewed. Finally one groupie admits what was pretty obvious, "the band is here to project sex." Admits Dupree's promoter, "it's there to be exploited." His assessment is honest, though BBC reporter John Percival's questions revolve a lot round the theme of parental responsibility. "It must be normal," Dupree concludes Leeds Piano Competition 1966 Showing the drama behind the scenes, and clips of some stunning pianists, today this would surely be done as an elimination by phone voting. What is however seriously missing, what would be an essential in a modern programme, is an insight into the judges' deliberations on why they have selected the winner who receives a measly first prize of £750. Women Alone directed by Charles Denton. A chirpy 22 year old from Barnes, plus her 33 year old rather dowdy older friend, both single mothers. She's frank, an early example of that odd desire to bare one's feelings to the camera. Most fascinating quote: "Men have a much more interesting life than women." There's also a clip of Dusty Springfield singing, though no Swinging Sixties in sight at all here Elgar Ken Russell's celebrated drama documentary The Brains Trust with Malcolm Sargent and Yehudi Menuhin, discussion on music was always bound to predominate. London to Brighton in four minutes. This was a classic of speeded up filmwork, with the Brighton Belle leaving Victoria at 3pm, arriving in Brighton amazingly at 3.04pm. The fact that the filmmakers show a different train at Brighton is a slight error, but otherwise it's wonderful, with, in the other direction, nostalgic steam trains flashing past. With scary tunnels, the impressive Ouse Viaduct and a jolly soundtrack, this is tremendously enjoyable. I assume that one could rerecord it at the correct speed these days to show the whole one hour trip, though I suppose it would come out rather jerky! Documentary Menu . . . . . |