LOST Dinosaur TV Programmes . . . . . . To our Main Dinosaur TV Menu
On this page are programmes we have either never seen, or never seen for over 40 years, but we'd love to hear if you know anything complete has survived....

Face the Music
Stryker of the Yard
The Railway Children (BBC)
Dick and the Duchess 		Jungle Boy
Rendezvous (A-R/CBS)
Our House (ABC)
All Aboard (ABC) 		Biggles (Granada)
Dial Rix (BBC)
Mr and Mrs (TWW)
Jezebel ex U.K. (ABC) 		Go! (Regional ITV)
Country Style (TTT)
A-R CHILDREN'S SERIALS
Mr Turnip 		Elephant Boy
The Locked Door
Dick Turpin (1959)
Rogue for Hire 		Calling All Lovers
Crime Club
Mr Riviera
King of Diamonds
RESEARCH PROJECTS: Boyd QC (A-R) . . . . Dickie Henderson Show (A-R) Abortive Series
ITV Saturday Night Variety
We focus here on ABC who were for ever trying to compete with ATV, whose Saturday Spectacular with top line stars was a hard act to follow. Perhaps it was with their teenage Saturday series, Oh Boy, Boy meets Girls and the long running Thank Your Lucky Stars that ABC scored greater success.

Holiday Town Parade (original title: Holiday Town Saturday Night)
was a regular summer attraction starting in ABC's first year of broadcasting in 1956, and was introduced from the outset by McDonald Hobley. It included, don't laugh, "the contest for Great Britain's Television Bathing Beauty Queen, Fashion Queen and Adonis." For the fourth series in 1959, a theme tune was specially composed called Coastride.
Winner of the 1956 series, with chief judge being Errol Flynn, was Marion Lewis who came from Douglas IOM, winner of the Llandudno heat. The 1957 winner became more famous and was Christine Gregg. The 1958 winner was Caroline Thomas. In 1959 Barbara Smith was crowned Queen, whilst Jean Barber was declared Fashion Queen and Earl Maynard was Adonis. At the 1960 finals the winners were Mary Birchall, Joan Boardman and Maureen Hayden.
Patrick MacNee was chief judge in the 1961 finals, the contenders for the main title included Joyce Kay, Jackie White, Dorothy Hazeldine, and Lynda Dickman (Llandudno winner). The overall winner was Sue Burgess.
The winning 1957 Beauty Queen won a Morris car, the Adonis an auto scooter and the Fashion Queen a holiday wardrobe from Dorville's. All three also received a return flight to Bermuda plus £100 spending money. The fifth series in 1960 boasted a prize fund of £5,160. However the top prize was actually the maximum £1,000 for the Beauty Queen with £250 each for the other prizes. In each heat, the three winners received a humble £25 each! Second got £20, third £15 and a consolation of £10 was handed to disappointed runners-up.
The 1962 prize fund was actually lowered to £4,000 and the Adonis section dropped. Keith Fordyce, fresh from Thank Your Lucky Stars, was the new compere, The 1962 final, the last ever, with 24 entrants on September 22nd was judged by Norman Hartnell and Richard Todd and came from The Norbreck Hydro Blackpool. If you can supply the name of the winner, or make any corrections, do please email me.

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Biggles -
In 1960 Granada produced a series of 30 minute stories of WE Johns' famous hero. Regulars in the cast were Nevil Whiting as Biggles, David Drummond as Bertie and John Leyton as Ginger, with Martin Boddey as Inspector Gaskin. Carl Duering played arch enemy Von Stalhein, with John Gabriel as his henchman Laxter.
Stories were produced by Harry Elton. First scripts were adapted for tv by HV Kershaw, with the programme directed by Stuart Latham. We give the 1960 dates of transmission. Granada also repeated the stories 9 to 29 in their own region the following year at 5.25pm.
Episode 1 on Friday April 1st 1960: Biggles goes into action against jewel thieves.
The second story on 8th April continued investigations into the £100,000 robbery, leading to an old country manor in Hertfordshire.
Episode 3- April 15th: Biggles comes face to face with Von Stalhein.
4- A new story began on April 22nd, directed by Christopher McMaster. Biggles Ginger and Bertie fly North to help an old friend.
5- April 29th: Biggles & Co walk into a trap and are wanted for murder.
6- May 6th: Ginger is sheltering in a trappers' hunt whilst Biggles and Bertie make a forced landing. Alick Hayes now writing the scripts.
7- May 13th: Angus shoots at a plane landing on Eskimo Island, not realising his daughter is on board.
8- May 20th: A showdown with McBain.
9- A new adventure began on May 27th written by HV Kershaw and directed by Stuart Latham. Wreckage of an aircraft is picked up in the North Sea.
10- June 3rd: a hard fought duel with Von Stalhein.
11- June 10th (repeated May 25th 1961): Von Stalhein is the mastermind behind an international plot.
12- June 17th (repeated May 26th 1961): Biggles & Co fly to Hamburg.
13- June 24th (repeated June 1st 1961): Police are led on a wild goose chase as Biggles comes face to face with Von Stalhein.
14- Wed June 29th (repeated June 2nd 1961): 2,000 miles up the Amazon our heroes stop Von Stalhein. Series now bi-weekly.
15- Fri July 1st (repeated June 8th 1961): Thomas Clarke now writing this new story, with Douglas Hurn producing. On holiday in Monte Carlo, Bertie and Ginger get involved in the disappearance of a Crown Prince.
16- July 6th (repeated June 9th 1961): Von Stalhein strikes a bargain with Count Prutski, the Moldavian Minister of the Interior.
17- July 8th (repeated June 15th 1961): Bertie and Ginger are still carrying on alone fighting Von Stalhein.
18- July 13th (repeated June 16th 1961): Biggles helps Count Prutski against Prince Boris and Prince Karl.
19- July 15th (repeated June 22nd 1961): Count Prutski is on the trail of the Moldavian bullion. Biggles is trapped on a yacht.
20- July 20th (repeated June 23rd 1961): final episode.
21- July 22nd (repeated June 29th 1961) A new story written by Tony Warren and directed by Eric Price.
22- July 27th (repeated June 30th 1961): The mystery of the island of Orotavia is discovered by our heroes as their retreat is cut off.
23- July 29th (rpt July 6th 1961): Prisoners on Mystery Island, our heroes are prevented from escaping by Hara's vicious dogs.
24- Aug 3rd (rpt July 7th 1961) : Now written by Harry Kershaw, this new adventure directed by Christopher McMaster. Biggles looks for the plans of a German anti-radar device.
25- Aug 5th (rpt July 13th 1961): Biggles gets an old friend to get Von Stalhein to lead them to the missing blueprints. With Alan Rolfe as Abel, Ian Colin as Rawlinson, Arthur Lovegrove as Pybus and Marianne Hesketh, Geoffrey Frederick.
26- Aug 10th (rpt July 14th 1961): A mysterious lady from America is the link to finding the top secret plans. With Alan Rolfe, Ian Colin, Steve Plytas as Keller, Arthur Lovegrove, and Philip Carr, Nancy Manningham, James Cheshire.
27 Aug 12th (rpt July 20th 1961): Von Stalhein races with Biggles to find the blueprints.
28- Aug 17th (rpt July 21st 1961)
29- Aug 19th: (rpt July 27th 1961) end of this adventure.
30 to 32- Aug 24th, 26th, 31st
33 to 35- Sept 2nd, 4th, 9th
36 to 38- Sept 14th, 16th, 21st
39 to 41- Sept 23rd, 28th 30th
42 to 44- Oct 5th, 7th, 12th (final story finishes)

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GO!

ATV's Seeing Sport enjoyed a regular spot on children's tv on Mondays from 1956 until 1965. But in this latter year, the regional companies took the unique step of rejecting the network en masse and producing their own regional alternative which was shown in all the regions except the Big Four.
The idea proved such a success that eventually, just for once, the Big Four actually had to capitulate and show it, starting in October 1965.
Was this the high spot of regional anarchy??
The weekly programmes contain a fascinating variety of regional enterprise, on a wide variety of children's activities.
Below is a sample selection to give you the flavour of the series, with all the eleven regional companies contributing, listed in brackets.


April 19th 1965- Gliding at Sutton Bank nr Thirsk (Tyne Tees TV)
May 3rd 1965- Fitness with Ron Pickering. Power in Sport with Tony Clemo and pupils of Waterhall School Cardiff (TWW)
May 31st 1965- Canoe Building with George Glasgow (Ulster TV)
June 28th 1965 - Sea-fishing with Major Moore, Christopher Glover and Richard Carter, introduced by Stuart Hutchison (Westward TV)
July 5th 1965 - Pony Trekking with Hugh MacGregor, introduced by David Webster (Border TV)
July 12th 1965 - Hydroplaning with Dick Graham at Oulton Broad (Anglia TV)
July 19th 1965 - Off-Shore Cruising with Jock Kerr-Hunter (Scottish TV)
Aug 9th/16th 1965 - Water Ski-ing with Bob Panton and Fred Dinenage (Southern TV)
Aug 30th/Sept 6th 1965 - Freshwater Fishing with Arthur Oglesby and James Lloyd at Pauperhaugh Bridge Rothbury (TTTV)
Sept 13th 1965 - Aeromodelling with James Spankie (Grampian TV)
Sept 20th 1965 - Archery with Hector Simpson and Kevin Flanagan (Ulster TV) 		One of the smaller company's
contributions- from Grampian TV,
children learn the art of making
model planes (Sept 13th 1965) 		Oct 11th 1965 - Surf Riding with Bob Armstrong (Channel TV)
Oct 18th 1965 - Shotgun Shooting with Percy Stanbury and Major Baillie, introduced by Jack Hargreaves (Southern TV)
Oct 25th 1965 - Diving with Norman Scarsfield and Brian Phelps, introduced by James Lloyd from Felling Baths (TTTV)
Nov 1st/8th 1965 - Golfing with Eric Brown and Bruce Forsyth and Ronnie Carroll at Gleneagles (Scottish TV)
Nov 22nd 1965 - Sand Yachting with Ted Benson, introduced by James Lloyd from Felling Baths (TTTV)
Dec 6th 1965 - Railway Modelling with Stuart Hutchison and Kenneth Macleod (Westward TV)
Dec 13th 1965 - Ski-ing with James Spankie (Grampian TV)
Dec 20th 1965 - Boat Building with Frank Dye and Chris Kelly (Anglia TV)
Dec 27th 1965 - Learning to Fish with Jack Hargreaves on the River Stour, and Fred Dinenage (Southern TV)

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Country Style

A 1966 Tyne Tees Television series broadcast on
Thursdays from 10.10 to 10.40pm.

Regulars at host Cy Grant's barbecue were Johnny Duncan, The Border Folk and Pete Sayers.
Special guests appeared each week including:
January 27th: Nadia Catousse
February 3rd: The Corrie Folk, Eleanor Keith and Martin Carthy
March 17th: Steve Benbow, Roger Chatelon and Ellis and Derek.
The series was produced each week by George Adams.

Cy Grant kindly replied to my email, but said he could hardly remember anything about the making of the series. ... Ah well, we are all getting older.

If you have any data on Tyne Tees TV, I'd be very pleased to hear from you, and if you have any surviving TTT programmes, even better!

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Stryker of The Yard
These were cinema second features made by Republic at Nettlefold Studios in 1953/4. The star was Clifford Evans who played Chief Inspector Robert Stryker, and his assistant was the genial George Woodbridge. Narrator was ex policeman Tom Fallon, who went on to be adviser on Dial 999.
The films were screened on British television in the 1960's.
The stories were, in no special order-
1 The Case of The Studio Payroll (Cinema release date, with #2, Jan 18th 1954)- with Jack Watling and Susan Stephen. An unpremeditated crime on the part of a young man who takes £10,000.
2 The Case of Uncle Henry- with Eliot Makeham. The story of an old man whose good heart leads him to steal cash to help others.
3 The Case of Canary Jones- A nightclub singer is found dead in her apartment.
4 The Case of Gracie Budd- The sad tale of Gracie whose parents were killed in the war.
5 The Case of Soho Red- with Sebastian Cabot and Esma Cannon. Stryker investigates The Kataro Marriage Bureau.
6 The Case of The Burnt Alibi- with Joss Ambler. An explosion in a deserted barn- and Stryker finds the charred remains of an unidentified man.
7 The Case of the Two Brothers- (Cinema release, 1954 with #8 as 'Companions in Crime.') with Maurice Kaufmann and Kenneth Haigh. Also in cast- Gaylord Cavallaro, Ian Fleming, Jack Lambert, Fred Griffiths, Russell Napier, Billie Whitelaw, Christine Silver, Patrick Jordan, Gillian Lutyens, Cyril Chamberlain. Arnold helps his young brother to find a job with a haulage company. But John soon realises the company is just a cover for a more sinister business.
8 The Case of The Black Falcon- with Tim Turner, Dorothy Alison, David Perrin, Guy Deghy, Eliot Makeham and Philo Hauser. A tale of smuggled diamonds.
9 The Case of the Bogus Count- with Anthony Newley as a singer, Gerry Barnes, who gets a job at a crooked night club.
10 The Case of The Express Delivery- with Sandra Dorne, a bad time girl who leads astray a once reliable mechanic Wally Ross.
11 The Case of Diamond Annie- with Hugh Moxey. Stryker smashes a stealing and receiving gang.
12 The Case of the Pearl Payroll- with Mary Merrall and Joan Newell. Stryker chases a gang of bank robbers- and the final showdown comes in a lonely warehouse....
13 The Case of the Second Shot- with Irene Handl. To pay for his wife's medical treatment, Joe turns to crime.
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King of Diamonds

Starring John Lupton
Director: Robert Lynn
Devised and produced by Harry Alan Towers.
A ZIV production. Date- 1960.
39 stories presold to A-R in London, ABC in the Midlands and Granada in the North.
A half hour series shot in Hollywood, but with location scenes in London and Europe.
Story 1 shot in early 1960 and finished by March, was Appointment in Pelikan Straat
Others in the cast: Audrey Dalton, Bill Owen, Douglas Wilmer, Claire Gordon, John van Eyssen, Jean Long.
Scenes were shot in the Criterion Restaurant and Festival Hall London as well as in Antwerp.

My guess is that this was an unused pilot for the American series which was to have as its star Broderick Crawford. I'd be pleased if you can add anything, about this particular story.

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Rendezvous
Executive producer Edwin Knops, a veteran movie man, was in charge of his first tv series, made by the Rapallo Pictures company. The series was jointly financed and distributed by CBS in America and A-R in Britain.
The host of the series, Charles Drake, also made the commercials for the American sponsor Rheingold- these were made at MGM Studios, the set consisting of a study, leading out on to a sunny patio.
In a report on the first day of 1959, it was stated that 12 of the series had already been completed in USA (however, it does seem that 13 were made in America), the remaining 27 to be filmed at Elstree, though it was claimed a few had been made in Germany. 4 British stories had already been completed by the end of 1958.
In production at the end of 1958 was Markheim, a reporter noting the shooting of an elaborate Mardi Gras scene.
Stray Cat starring Gladys Cooper was one story shot in January 1959, she shared top billing with a leopard! This was hired from the Farrar Zoo in Southport. At the start of February that year, the shooting of Two Per Cent Inspiration was completed, this starred Ian Bannen. Then followed Next Time We'll See Venice.

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The Locked Book (working title)
At the height of the 'pilot craze' in 1959, this pilot was made for a possible series of 13 half hour films based on the writings of Harry Price.
The Hon Derek E Winn and Bill Luckwell formed Winwell productions and made

"The Case of the Devil Girl" at St John's Wood Studios.
Ann Todd was linking narrator and the film starred Dennis Price as Harry Price.
Others in the cast included Ellen Pollock and Jean Dawnay. Co-producer and scriptwriter was Paul Tabori.

The plan was to make the remaining twelve films (The Locked Door was the finally agreed title for the series) at Walton Studios - directors Henry Katz and Laurence Huntingdon were named as probable directors.
So what happened to that filmed pilot? An American TV network is alleged to have bought the series for £130,000 in August 1959- was anything ever shown there?

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Our House
ABC produced a cast to die for in this 1960 comedy, including Hattie Jacques as Georgina Ruddy, Charles Hawtry as Simon Willow and Frederick Peisley as Herbert Keene. Ina de la Haye, Frank Pettingell, Norman Rossington and Joan Sims also starred in this first series which ran to 13 episodes. It must have been quite a success as a second series of 26 stories was shown on Saturday nights in 1961/2, and included Bernard Bresslaw as a struggling ham actor, veteran Northern comic Harry Korris as a retired ship's captain, and Hylda Baker as his sister.

The first ever story began on a nostalgic Sunday afternoon, 11th September 1960. Here's a contemporary review by James O'Toole - "We were introduced to a number of old gags and a number of people. There were: the newly weds who won't live with in-laws. A librarian and a bank clerk who are thrown out of their digs by the landlady for playing the wireless too loud. An elderly husband and wife. A young man studying law and an odd-job girl. They have something in common - nowhere to stay. Inevitably they buy a broken down house. The episode closes with the difficult local government man wanting to take a room. This part is played beautifully by Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques is the librarian and also her brilliant self. She has to make the laughs with her personality. Joan Sims is in the cast too, but after this showing she probably wishes she wasn't. Canned laughter doesn't make a show funny. And the director badly needed a less heavy hand."
Some of the visual gags in this episode included:
throwing a shoe at a chamber pot- ping!
a sneeze which blows off someone's headpiece,
ink spilled on a chair, which someone then sits in,
a foot stuck in a wastepaper basket, and
a character covered with plaster.
Note- Charles Hawtrey and Hylda Baker survived this verbal whiplashing to make Best of Friends for ABC in 1963
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Note- Just a few episodes survived the dreaded 'wiping', so they are presumably now in the custody of Canal Plus. Come on, dig em out for us, please!

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DICK TURPIN

I'd be very pleased to hear from anyone who has a print of this 1959 pilot film, or even remembers ever seeing it. The stars were Alan Browning (1926-1979) as the celebrated highwayman and Jane Hylton who played Lady Elizabeth. With a script by Alan Reeve-Jones, it was directed by Max Varnel. The theme music was written by Frank Cordell (1918-1980).
The producer was Bert Page an enterprising bookie (yes really), who was younger brother of the singer Jill Day (real name Yvonne Page). He was an amateur jockey, riding his sister's horse Christella for a while. With Denton de Gray as associate producer, Page formed Four Seasons Productions Ltd and splashed out £15,000 for this film, which was sent to America with six further scripts. However there do not seem to have been any takers.
Alan Browning "took over the lead at a day's notice" when an accident on the first day of shooting befell the original star David Davenport (1921-1995, best known perhaps for his role in Crossroads).... Alan had been due to play the second lead, Turpin's friend 'Tom King'.
Much of the filming was done in August 1959 with "the full cooperation of the Brighton Council". I doubt whether Brighton Studios were used at all, but certainly since Jill Day's horse was stabled near Lewes, this explains why much of the filming was done on location near here, in particular at East Chiltington. Perhaps it was Jill Day's horse that was used in the film?

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DIAL RIX -
Brian Rix was the master of farce in post war Britain. His contract with the BBC started in 1956, and classics such as Dry Rot were adapted from their Whitehall Theatre origins for showing on telly. Rix was a shrewd actor manager and he also arranged for the BBC to show one act of his latest play, which certainly sent me off to the Whitehall to see the rest! Perhaps the cream of the plays was the hilarious One for The Pot.
In his autobiography My Farce from My Elbow, Rix wrote (p139)- "Negotiating with the BBC for another TV excerpt.... once more the effect on the box office was electric and this started me thinking yet again about a regular series of full-length farces on television. On this occasion, though, my timing was spot-on for the spectre of ITV was haunting the BBC and they needed some popular old rubbish such as mine to put them on even terms."
In the early 60's Brian Rix appeared in a regular series Dial Rix, starring in some new farces for tv but still using his trusted team - who can forget Leo Franklyn often as the original grumpy old man, or chirpy little Larry Noble or indeed Rix's wife Elspet, who always seemed to be being pushed into some cranny or cupboard. In an interview, Rix once put his success down to the fact that "as a team we know each other and don't need to waste any time warming up." The climate for the farce has sadly gone, along with tv's innocence. But Brian Rix will be remembered for the sidesplitting pleasure he provided by the bucketful in his day.
Fortunately some of Rix's output was put on to feature film, the best being 'The Night He Got the Bird', but where have all his BBC plays gone?
Among the many plays specially made for tv were:
You Too Can Have a Body (March 3rd 1957) by FA Robinson. Two scriptwriters retire to the peace of Creekwood Castle to write a comedy thriller for the telly. The script starts to take on a life of its own, when a corpse materialises....
Jane Steps Out (April 28th 1957) by Kenneth Horne. Described as a modern Cinderella story of Jane (Ann Firbank) who, goaded by her lazy selfish sister, sets out to ensnare her sister's boy friend.
A Policeman's Lot (March 1959)
Nap Hand (May 17th 1959) by Vernon Sylvaine. "The cast, working beautifully as a team, showed many of the profession what perfect timing does to a play."
A Cup of Kindness (Dec 20th 1959) by Ben Travers
Doctor in the House (June 5th 1960) based on Richard Gordon's book, this story was adapted for TV by no less than Ted Willis. "A very jolly evening. Dickie Henderson was superb as Tony Grimsdyke. He took the limelight from Brian Rix's Simon Sparrow by sheer force of personality. Still, Rix being the unselfish actor that he is, must have expected it." Others in the cast included Liz Fraser, Fabia Drake, Sheila Hancock and Charles Cameron. Directed by Wallas Eaton.
Reluctant Heroes (September 11th 1960) - tv script by Colin Morris, celebrating 10 years of Whitehall farce

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All Aboard

The story of the Adriana cruise ship. During the run of 26 episodes there were several crossings of the Atlantic plus a tour of the Med- in the studio at least!

This series started on 6th December 1958 in the ABC region only, but was networked from 24th January 1959, replacing Southern TV's Mary Britten MD.
Amongst the stars in All Aboard were Avril Angers as Joan Harrison a stewardess, and the then little known Arthur Lowe as a steward, Sydney Barker. Included in familiar faces on the passenger list was Susannah Yorke (see picture) who falls in love with a violinist (seated next to her). Others on board for some stories were Gordon Jackson, Gerald Flood, Leslie Sands, Terence Alexander and Richard O'Sullivan.
The script was by Gerald Kelsey and Dick Sharples, and directors included ABC's regular, Guy Verney.

Also seen here is an ad in a trade paper by the producer- who applied, and who got the part?

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The Railway Children (1957)
The BBC produced several successful adaptations of this memorable E Nesbit novel, this 1957 version was given the honour of appearing on the cover of Radio Times at the beginning of March 1957.
Jean Anderson reprised her role of Mother from the earlier 1951 BBC version, whilst Norman Shelley made a fine Old Gentleman. The children, seen here, were: Anneke Willys as Bobbie, Cavan Kendall as Peter and Sandra Michaels as Phyl. The music perfectly fitted the mood of the story, Grieg's Norwegian Dance No.2.
Producer was Dorothea Brooking, who wrote in Radio Times about some of the production difficulties: "filming in 1957 for the period of 1906 means finding a station and a bit of line that is not electrified. After quite a long search.... we have found a country station and a line that winds through a tunnel between high wooded hills." In the tradition of the time, she does not of course reveal that location.
Part of the serial, if not all, has however survived and was repeated in living memory. It was indeed a treasured part of my childhood, better even than Lionel Jeffries' later fine film version.

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Face the Music (1953)
In 1953 Ronnie Waldman arranged for the veteran erstwhile conductor of the BBC Dance Orchestra, Henry Hall, to reinvent his immensely successful Guest Night for a new audience on television. Three shows were booked in early 1953, the first included Bernard Miles and Dickie Henderson. A clip from Henry Hall's pre-war musical film Music Hath Charms was also shown.
The second programme, illustrated here, included old pal Leslie Henson, as well as one of the newer comedians, Reg Dixon. Snooker legend Joe Davis "serenely potted" all seven coloured snooker balls, quite a feat for live tv!
After the success of the programmes, the BBC took up its option of three further shows, and the series was eventually extended throughout that year. Other stars in Henry Hall's line up were Max Miller, Elsie and Doris Waters, Larry Adler, his first ever tv appearance, and even the immortal Laurel and Hardy made a brief appearance, one, we are told, full of "knockabout comedy."
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Mr and Mrs
Roy Ward Dickson devised this popular quiz for TWW. It later was networked in Border TV's much better remembered version, hosted by Derek Batey.
However TWW's 1960's version introduced by Alan Taylor, left of picture, used the same format. As with all winning formulas, the idea was simple: "how much do husbands and wives really know about each other?" Thus ran the byline for Mr and Mrs, with the promise that (in 1965 at least) "if they know a lot they can win up to £200."
Also with Alan Taylor in this picture are contestants Mr and Mrs Fred Jarman of Blakes Road Wembdon; the other contestants in this edition were Mr and Mrs Bert Parker of Whitelands Road Cirencester, he is a head porter at a local hotel, and Mr and Mrs Joseph Brooksbank of Cumberland Road Swindon. Yes, where are they now? And what can they remember of the show? If you appeared on the TWW version, or can add anything about Mr and Mrs, please email me. I'd be very pleased to add your comments.

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Jezebel ex U.K.

The byline of this completely forgotten 1963 ABC series was: "A Ship- the Sea... and People." This followed a similar concept to ABC's earlier All Aboard.
It was only partially networked, but must have been quite a success as other regions showed recordings later in 1963.
Regulars in the series were
Ernest Hare as the ship's Captain,
Alan Browning the Chief Officer Steve Rettar,
Emrys Jones as the purser Lawton, with
Cavan Kendall his assistant Carr and
Patrick Bedford the barman Pomeroy.
Guy Verney was producer and directors included Jonathan Alwyn.
Theme music was by ABC's Robert Earley

First story was transmitted on Saturday 30th March 1963 at 6.30pm (ABC Midlands/ The North) and was Sea of Doubt starring Heather Sears and Pete Murray. The series started in Sydney with the Jezebel returning to England, with newlyweds Larry and Maxine (the two stars), others in this opening story being Mark Dignam, Patrick Holt and John Bonney. Problems arise when Larry starts to suspect his wife has murdered a child back in Australia.
Send a Telegram was story no 2, with Guy Doleman, Jennifer Wright, Mark Eden and Shirley Lawrence. An everyday story of a live nuclear warhead getting lost in the Pacific.
Story no 3 on April 13th was Sister Ship about ex- racing driver Robert Steele (Terence Alexander) and his wife (Miranda Connell). Also starring were John Turner and George Coulouris, with Garfield Morgan in a smaller role.
Next was The Forgotten Country.
The fifth story (27 April) was Slow Boat to Niniveh (sic) and starred George Pravda, Neil Hallett, Richard Carpenter, Margaretta Scott and Noel Howlett. By now the ship was entering the Atlantic but a mysterious Frenchman causes "strange things" to happen.
Sanderson and the Sea was probably the sixth story, and starred Maurice Good in the title role, with Hugh Paddick and Juliet Cooke. Amanda Barrie also appeared.
Story 7, now shown at 9.10pm on 11th May was Return to Look Behind, with Charles Hyatt as Gabriel Thompson, on his way home to Trinidad. However his warm overcoat hides something.... Also starring were Margaret Anderson and Jacqui Chan.
Ninth story, The Long Cool Drop, on 25th May, starred William Sylvester one of two Canadian Air Force Officers returning home on the Jezebel. However Don's friend falls mysteriously ill.
On June 1st the tenth story written by Hugh Leonard had a strong cast of Gwen Watford as Miss Beecher and Maurice Denham as a difficult passenger with a bulging briefcase in Bitter Lemon in Biscay.
Story No 11 on 8th June was Love and Let Love with Richard O'Sullican as Paul Brooks and Kika Markham as Ruth who fall in love on board. Ernest Clark and Georgina Cookson as Paul's parents are not too keen. Also in the cast were Lisa Daniely and Geoffrey Palmer. This was also scheduled for transmission on June 22nd, so it is probable it had to postponed on the first date.
On 15th June the final story was The Long Voyage, the ship now docking at Gibraltar where a high pressure businessman, Byrne (Brian Nissen), comes on board. He seems obsessed with retired architect George Gladstone (Kynaston Reeves). Other stars in this story are Joan Haythorne and Elizabeth Shepherd.
If you have any details of any missing stories in the series, please write!
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Dick and the Duchess (1957)
It's scarcely possible to imagine this filmed comedy series hasn't survived.
With Hazel Court as the star, here's one seriously neglected series. Admittedly, producer Sheldon Reynolds' main product was mediocrity, but with a supporting cast that included Richard Wattis, Michael Shepley and Beatrice Varley it must be worth another look! Another character who made occasional appearances was the police sergeant played by Peter Butterworth.
The star was more forgettable, Patrick O'Neal played an insurance agent, married to The Duchess of the title, but one feels that any series that could attract Margaret Rutherford as a guest star, must be due for resurrection. Margaret Rutherford appeared in The Kissing Bandit as a much married widow. Amongst others appearing in one of the stories were Sydney Tafler, William Mervyn, Irene Handl, Michael Medwin, Kenneth Williams and William Franklyn.
Also involved was the only rival to top female tv executive Hannah Fisher (nee Weinstein)- executive producer Nicole Milinaire
There were 26 twenty five minute films made.
Picture- On the left is Patrick O'Neal, with Hazel Court on the right, whilst caught in the middle is Richard Wattis
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Associated Rediffusion Children's Serials
A-R was perhaps the best of the ITV companies at producing children's serials in the early years of independent television. We are recording here details of some of their forgotten achievements- if you can add anything, we'd be very pleased to hear from you, especially if you appeared in any of their children's series, or worked behind the scenes.
Below are listed the A-R serials we are covering in a fair amount of detail. Click where highlighted for fuller information
THE LITTLE SHIP

FRANCIS STORM INVESTIGATES

THE ROVING REASONS

ROMANO THE PEASANT (1960)

THE SKEWBALD (1961)

THE HANDY GANG

SIERRA NINE

SMUGGLERS' CAVE (1963)

BADGER'S BEND (1963/4)

MIKE (1964)

OBJECT Z (1965)

ORLANDO (1965-8)

Some brief details of other A-R serials:
The Barnstormers
The first episode was screened March 3rd 1964, the tenth and final episode on May 12th. (Note- no story on April 14th due to Budget)
A finale titled Playmaking with the Barnstormers was shown on May 19th.
Cast: That most interesting child star Dennis Waterman appeared as Mike, Gerald Rowland as Rusty, Peter Hempson as Philip, Patricia Wilson as Sarah, John Pike (late of 'Ivanhoe') as Alan, Tina Martin as Miranda, Susan Purdie as Elizabeth and Jeffrey Shankley as Peter.
Joy Thwaites wrote the script.and the director was Marc Miller.
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THE LITTLE SHIP (1960)
The Little Ship is the name of a model made in 1600 by Giles Kendall (Jimmy Ray) of his dad's ship The Phoenix.
The serial is about this boy, who is searching in Southwark for news of his father when he meets the wily Dr Pietro, an alchemist (Peter Collingwood). Giles rescues the tough Sam Gilburne (Colin Wall) in a fight and Sam, a young actor, takes a liking for Giles, showing him round The Globe Theatre. There he meets actor Richard Burbage (Nicholas Brady), and Robin Goffe (John Forrest) a handsome actor in love with Pietro's stepdaughter Elizabeth (Shan Lawson). Stagekeeper Jenkin (Martin Wyldeck) engages the lad to help with the props.
Script: Joy Thwaytes, Director: John Rhodes.
Others in each week's cast: Kenneth Adams and Neville Jason.
1 The Alchemist, January 5th 1960 also with Steven Scott.
2 The Rivals, January 12th 1960.
3 Secret of the Phoenix, January 19th 1960, plus Eric Dodson as Master Will.
4 Conspiracy, Jan 26th 1960, plus Eric Dodson and Edward Harvey.
5 Trapped! Feb 2nd 1960.
6 The Phoenix, Feb 9th 1960, same cast plus Edward Rees and John Kidd.

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FRANCIS STORM INVESTIGATES
A-R Tuesdays 5.25pm (30 minutes)
starring Brian Worth as Francis Storm, a 'Professional Investigator of the Unusual.' His office is in a mews flat in cobbled Kensington Palace Close. He has three helpers- his personal assistant, 17 year old Robin (William Simons), 18 year old Penelope 'Penny' Worth (Sarah Long), and handyman 04129 Sgt Pilcher (Robin Wentworth).
Scripts were by Peter Elliott Hayes. The Director was Grahame Turner for all stories except for story 2, which was Jim Pople.

There were only six stories, which were:
1 The Black Mermaid, March 1st 1960. Cast also included: Robert Raglan, Richard Vernon, Bruce Seton.
2 The Clock That Struck Thirteen, March 8th 1960, with Bartlett Mullins, Peter Swanwick, Elsie Wagstaff, Carmel McSherry, Anthony Sagar.
3 The House in the Fog, March 15th 1960, with John Laurie as Colonel Monckton.
4 The Trail of the Spaniard, March 22nd 1960, with Charles Carson.
5 The Vengeance of Colonel Sartory, March 29th 1960, with Ian Fleming, Kynaston Reeves as Col Sartory.
6 The Sealed Room, April 5th 1960, with Ronald Ibbs.

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Adventures of a Jungle Boy
In 1957 Gross-Kasne filmed 13 adventures in this series made on location in Kenya. The theme was composed by Phil Green, and with scripts from the likes of Basil Dawson, this series deserves resurrecting!
The young star was Michael Carr-Hartley, in stories of an orphan boy whose home is a treetop, his friends the wild animals.
The cast was largely made up of British actors. These included
Ronald Adam, the only semi-regular in the series.
Others in one-off appearances include Gross-Kasne regulars:
Peter Dyneley in the first story, Meet Jungle Boy,
Conrad Phillips in Child By the River, and
Monica Stevenson in Young Love.
Others appearing include
Leonard Sachs in The Burial Ground,
Patrick Holt in Missing Son, and Child By the River, and
Eric Pohlmann and Andrew Faulds in Kidnapped.
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DICKIE HENDERSON SHOW
8 series were made by Associated Rediffusion between 1960 and 1965, a total of 103 shows, which are listed below. We believe these are all currently in existence in the Rediffusion archive.

The programmes we concentrate on here are Series 1 to 8 all of which starred Dickie Henderson with June Laverick and Lionel Murton. Also John Parsons (series 1-5) / Danny Grover (series 6-8).
All scripts written by Jimmy Grafton, with others helping him as stated.
All stories directed by Bill Hitchcock.

Series 1 1960/1 (26 shows)- Mondays 8.00pm

1:1 The Psychiatrist November 14th 1960

1:2 The Quiz November 21st 1960

1.3 The Song November 28th 1960 guest star Marty Wilde with Meier Tzelniker, Elfrida Eden, Rex Grey, Pamela Greer, Benice Swanson and Albert Barnett. "In the show Marty hopes to sing Little Girl"

1.4 The Dress December 5th 1960 guest star Eve Boswell with Geoffrey Hibbert, John Crocker, Lindsay Scott-Patton, Lisa Noble and Fiona Glenn (not Lionel Murton)

1.5 December 12th 1960

1.6 The Race December 19th 1960 guest star Richard Wattis with Robert Perceval, John Crocker, Hamlyn Benson, Ian Wilson, Beckett Bould and Stanley Vine

1.7 December 26th 1960

1.8 January 2nd 1961

1.9 January 9th 1961

1:10 The Music Lovers January 16th 1961

1:11 The Actor January 23rd 1961

1:12 January 30th 1961

1:13 February 6th 1961

1:14 February 13th 1961

1:15 February 20th 1961

1:16 The Violin February 27th 1961

1:17 The Move March 6th 1961

1.18 The Dancer March 13th 1961 guest star Lionel Blair with Diana French and Kenneth Nash

1:19 The Birthday Present March 20th 1961

1:20 March 27th 1961

1:21 The Burglars April 3rd 1961 (Easter Monday) Associate writer Stan Mars guest star Donald Gray with Ivor Salter, Eugenie Cavanagh, James McLoughlin and Henry Kay

1.22 April 10th 1961

1.23 The Patient April 17th 1961 Script: Jimmy Grafton, Jeremy Lloyd and Stan Mars guest star Alan Melville with Joyce Barbour, Barbara Robinson, John Crocker, Gordon Rollings and Vikki Harrington

1.24 April 24th 1961

1:25 The Butler May 1st 1961

1:26 The Exchange Visit May 8th 1961 Script: Jimmy Grafton, Jeremy Lloyd and Robert Gray guest stars: George Baker and Marie France with Edwina Mitchell, Rowena Torrance, Blanche Moore, Margaret Boyd, Benn Simons, Nicholas Roylands

Series 2 (7 shows)- Mondays 8.00pm

2:1 November 13th 1961

2:2 The Record November 20th 1961 Script: Jimmy Grafton, with Jeremy Lloyd and Robert Gray guest star David Jacobs with Alexander Dore and Billy Milton

2:3 The Plane November 27th 1961 Script: Jimmy Grafton, Jeremy Lloyd and Stan Mars guest star Hughie Green

2:4 The Camp December 4th 1961 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd guest star Richard Wattis with Berry Huntley-Wright, Robert Perceval and John Wentworth, Irene Richmond, Lindsay Scott-Paton, Robin Ford

2:5 The Paris Week-End December 11th 1961

2:6 The Racehorse December 18th 1961 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Alan Fell and Jeremy Lloyd guest stars: Bill Owen and John Rickman with Joe Ritchie, Charles Farrell, Hamlyn Benson, William Douglas

2:7 The Puppy Tues 26th December 1961 8pm Script: Jimmy Grafton with Jeremy Lloyd

Series 3 (7 shows)- Mondays 9.15pm

3:1 The Tramp May 7th 1962

3:2 The New TV May 14th 1962

3.3 The Necklace May 21st 1962 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Eric Newman guest star Dora Bryan with Ronnie Corbett, Gordon Rollings, Peter Welch On a visit to the jewellers to have June's watch repaired, Dickie and Jack unwittingly become involved with two expert jewel-thieves

3.4 The Cure May 28th 1962 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Jeremy Lloyd and Stan Mars guest star Eve Boswell Jack is feeling a little out of sorts, and Eve Boswell recommends a cure. The result is 'Super-Jack'

3.5 The Protest June 4th 1962 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Stanley Myers and Alan Fell guest star James Hayter with Brian Oulton and Pat Coombs, Joe Ritchie, Mollie Maureen, Frank Sieman Dickie has good reason to support Major Montmorency's campaign to save the local park gates, due to be pulled down by order of the Parks Committee. But his enthusiasm wavers when he becomes far more involved than he anticipated

3:6 The Gangster June 11th 1962 (Whit Monday) Script: Jimmy Grafton with Jeremy Lloyd and Stan Mars guest star Boris Karloff with Danny Green, John Croker, Fred McNaughton, John Barrard, Howard Knight On their way to give a performance for a police concert, Dickie and Co meet a gang of crooks. When they pretend to be gangsters things become very involved

3:7 The Voyage June 18th 1962 Dickie and family leave for the USA in a luxury liner. But smooth sailing is out of the question with a stowaway on board.

Series 4 (19 shows)- Wednesdays 9.15pm (some weeks there was no show as Party Political Broadcasts stupidly intruded on the schedule)

4.1 November 21st 1962

4.2 The Visit November 28th 1962 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Stanley Myers and Alan Fell guest star Beryl Reid with Tom Gill, Peter Elliott, William Dysart, Stanley Ayres

4:3 December 5th 1962

4:4 The Romance December 12th 1962 guest star Richard Wattis with Bob Todd, Elspeth Pirie, Alexandra Dane (no Lionel Murton)

4:5 December 19th 1962

4:6 Dickie Henderson Christmas Show December 25th 8-9pm (1 hour special) Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd guest stars: Bernard Bresslaw, Hughie Green, Alfred Marks, Richard Wattis, Rita Webb and Leslie Sarony with Joe Ritchie, William Douglas, Harry Littlewood, Helen Ford, Lindsay Scott-Patton, Susan George, David Palmer and The Ivor Raymonde Singers, The Pamela Devis Dancers

4:7

4:8

4:9?? The Stamp Collector January 16th1963

4.10

4:11?? The Legacy February 13th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Stanley Myers and Alan Fell guest star Naunton Wayne with Billy Danvers, John Crocker, John Cross, Paul Williamson, Arthur Blake

4:12?? The Racing Car February 20th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Eric Newman guest star Jack Brabham with John Bolster and Anthony Bygraves Dickie finds himself racing against Jack Brabham and Max Bygraves' son- but a mystery driver pips them all at the post

4:13

4:14?? The Hypnotist March 13th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Stan Mars and Peter Griffiths guest star Jon Pertwee with Tom Gill, Liza Page, Gwen Lewis, Eric Nicholson, Gordon Phillott, Margaret Boyd, Brenda Haydn

March 20th- no show

4:15?? The Housekeeper March 27th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Eric Newman guest star Irene Handl with Jerry Desmonde, and Paul Williamson, Blanche Moore June sprains her wrist and the Hendersons decide to engage somebody to help with the chores. Just Dickie's luck to choose a housekeeper with a passion for bingo

4:16

4:17 The Playwright April 10th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton, associates: Johnny Whyte and Eric Newman guest star: Dora Bryan with Michael Logan, Robert Cawdron (no John Parsons) A scream in the night from the flat next door sends Dickie and June investigating

4.18 April 17th 1963

4:19 The Stately Home April 1963 24th 8.45pm Script: Jimmy Grafton with Stanley Myers and Alan Fell guest star The Marquess of Bath with Andrew Bowen, Paul Williamson, Tom Gill

Series 5 (8 shows)- Fridays 7pm

5:1 June 14th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Stan Mars guest star: Raymond Francis with Paul Williamson, Arthur Gomez, Victor Charrington (no John Parsons)

5:2 The Guinea Pigs June 21st 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Jeremy Lloyd and Stan Mars guest star Alan Melville with Hamilton Dyce, Arthur Mullard and Jeremy Lloyd, Gwen Lewis and Paul Williamson Dickie and Jack visit a health clinic and reporter Alan Melville goes along to report Dickie's progress

5:3 The Country Cottage June 28th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Stanley Myers guest star James Hayter with Reginald Beckwith and Fank Sieman June persuades Dickie to buy a country cottage from an old friend Major Montmorency (JH), who sells them an Elizabethan 'wreck' then tries to get them out again to sell to an American

5:4 The Spy July 5th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Jeremy Lloyd and Stan Mars guest star Guy Doleman with Malcolm Webster, Rudolf Offenbach A mysterious phone call convinces Dickie that his life is in danger. James Bland- 009 of the Secret Service- is called in

5:5 The Painter July 12th 1963 (possibly postponed to 8th August 1963 6.15pm) Script: Jimmy Grafton with Stanley Myers and Alan Fell guest star Lance Percival with Peter Elliott and Imogen Hassall June breaks a mirror and decides to replace it with a painting. With Jack's help she engages the services of a beatnik artist (LP)

5:6 The Convict July 19th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Jeremy Lloyd and Stan Mars guest star George Coulouris with George Tovey and Raymond Hodge, Gabrielle Daye (no John Parsons) A friend of Jack's lends him a cottage on Dartmoor for the weekend and he persuades Dickie and June to share it. A radio announcement about an escaped convict makes their weekend less peaceful than they had hoped

5:7 The Wrestler July 26th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Eric Newman guest star Freddie Mills with Jackie Pallo and John Yearsley, Peter Szakaes, David Brown Dickie decides to include a wrestling skit in his TV show and friend Freddie Mills persuades him to seek expert advice from wrestling personality JP

5.8 The School Play August 2nd 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Stanley Myers and Alan Fell guest star Richard Wattis with Damaris Hayman, Howard Knight Richard's schoolmaster (RW) traps Dickie into agreeing to produce the school play

Series 6 (15 shows)- Thursdays 7.30pm Note- No official episode titles given in TV Times. The series again starred Dickie Henderson and June Laverick but this series with Danny Grover and Lionel Murton

6:1 (Parking Meter) September 19th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton with Jeremy Lloyd, Stanley Myers, Alan Fell When parking meters are introduced outside the Henderson's flat, a battle of wits develops between Dickie and the traffic warden

6.2 September 26th 1963

6.3 (The Home Doctor) October 3rd 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with Paul Williamson, June Elvin (no Danny Grover) When Dickie, anxious about the state of his health, consults June's Home Doctor he discovers that a little learning can be dangerous

6:4 October 10th 1963

6:5 (Learner Driver) October 17th 1963

6:6 (The Economy Drive) Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Dickie starts a drive for household economy, but when he insists on doing the shopping himself, June decides to teach him a lesson

6:7 October 31st 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with Eddie Byrne

6:8 (The Old Flame) November 7th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd June decides that Dickie is neglecting her, and she tries to make him jealous by inventing an old flame

6.9 November 14th 1963

6.10 November 21st 1963

6.11 November 28th 1963

6.12 (The Gambler) originally advertised to be shown November 14th 1963 but actually screened December 5th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd When Richard becomes interested in horse racing Dickie decides to teach him a sharp lesson about gambling- with anxious results for himself

6.13 December 12th 1963

6.14 (The Germ) December 19th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Dickie has arranged an important TV interview, so when his family start going down with flu, he decides to wage war against the germ

6.15 (The Insomniac) December 26th 1963 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd When Dickie is so excited about a film offer that he suffers from insomnia, his efforts to get to sleep produce some extraordinary results

Series 7 (26 shows)- Wednesdays 9.10pm (some weeks there was no show due to Party Political Broadcasts)

7.1 (The Boy Friend) April 29th 1964 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with William Franklyn and Anne Jameson, Geraldine Ward Dickie lectures Richard on the evils of jealousy, but when an old boy friend of June's come to call, he finds it difficult to practise what he has been preaching

7.2 May 6th 1964

No show May 13th

7.3 (The Job) May 20th 1964 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with Frank Thornton, Sheena Marshe and Rita Webb (no Danny Grover) June decides to show her independence by getting a job- but Dickie retaliates by engaging a beautiful housekeeper

7.4 (The Formation Dancing Team) May 27th 1964 Script: Jimmy Grafton, Jeremy Lloyd, Johnny Whyte, Stanley Myers Cast with Jeremy Lloyd, Rita Webb, Damaris Hayman, Anne Jameson, Norman Mitchell The Frank and Peggy Spencer Formation Team A surprise present for June leads to some unwelcome surprises for Dickie, including a mix-up with a formation dancing team

7.5 (The Bet) June 3rd 1964 Script: Jimmy Grafton, Jeremy Lloyd and Maurice Wiltshire Cast with Eleanor Summerfield and Arthur Mullard, Barney Gilbraith An argument about who needs who most in marriage leads Dickie and June into trying to live apart in the same flat for a bet. Guess who gives in first

7.6 June 10th 1964

7.7? (The Birthday) June 17th 1964 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with Eleanor Summerfield, David Langton and Lizabeth Webb Dickie forgets June's birthday, and a last minute attempt to put things right causes some unfortunate complications

June 24th- no show

7.8? (The Moustache) July 1st 1964 also August 5th 1964 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with Eleanor Summerfield, David Langton and Rudolf Offenbach, Shirley Cameron, Susanna Carroll, Cameron Hall, Rosemarie Frankland Dickie finds himself in conflict with June over a moustache he has grown while away on tour. June enlists Madge's help in trying to get rid of it and Dickie declares war

7.9? (The Courtship) July 8th 1964 with Eleanor Summerfield, guest Vic Oliver Dickie reminisces about his courtship days with June and, in a flashback, we see that the course of true love did not always run smooth

7.10 July 15th 1964

7.11 July 22nd 1964

July 29th - no show

(The Moustache) August 5th 1964 (see July 1st 1964- postponed?)

7.12 August 12th

Series 8 - one one-off episode in May 1965, then the series of 8 more shows ran from August on Mondays 9.10pm

8.1 (The Father) Thursday May 20th 1965 7pm Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with June Elvin, Arthur Blake, Robert Scott Webber (no Danny Grover) Dickie takes us back to the year his son Richard was born and shows us all the agonies of the expectant father

8.2 (The Row) August 16th 1965 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with Eleanor Summerfield, and Hugh Latimer, Robert Perceval and Lizabeth Webb June accuses Dickie of indifference and the resulting row becomes so big, their friends decide to intervene only to find their own marriages threatened

8.3 (The Pop Group) August 23rd 1965 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with Hugh Latimer, Peter Graves, Bertie Hare, Arthur Gross, Mark Gascoigne, Kevin Bennett, Peter Pike, Janette Sattler When Dickie tries to get rich quick by putting a new group under contract and launching them on his television show he finds out that fortunes aren't made all that easily

8.4 (The Cricket Match) August 30th 1965 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd guest: Freddie Trueman with Bertie Hare When Dickie is invited to play in a charity cricket match he finds himself up against one of the world's fastest bowlers

8.5 (The Shopper) September 6th 1965 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with Eleanor Summerfield, and Robert Perceval, Tom Gill, Felicity Gordon, Arthur Mullard, Blanche Moore, Claire Ruane Dickie sets out to prove to June that men are quicker shoppers than women and almost perishes in the attempt

8.6 (The Love Letter) September 13th 1965 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with Norma Foster (no Danny Grover) An old love letter leads June into accusing Dickie of being unsentimental. Dickie tries to prove the opposite with embarrassing results

8.7 (The Dogsbody) September 20th 1965 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd guest: Semprini (no Danny Grover) Dickie imagines that noone is indispensable, but when Jack complains he is being treated as a dogsbody and decides to leave, Dickie finds he cannot do without him

8.8 (The Dentist) September 27th 1965 Script: Jimmy Grafton and Jeremy Lloyd Cast with Hugh Latimer, Lizabeth Webb, George Coulouris, Guy Kingsley Poynter, Jane Murdoch, Frank Sieman Dickie tries to get out of a visit to a new dentist by substituting Jack

8.9 October 4th 1965 (final show)
To our reviews of a few of the Dickie Henderson Show .

A later quite different series of 12 further shows in 1968 gave Dickie a new wife, played by Isla Blair.

Dickie's earlier series on ITV was entitled: Dickie Henderson Half-Hour and it started on Fridays July 11th 1958 8.30pm. Here are details of a few of this series:
July 11th- with Anthea Askey, and Eve Lister, Bernard Hunter and Freddie Mills, Song Spot: Ilene Day.
Aug 15th- same cast plus Len Lowe.
Aug 22nd- same as July 11th except in the Song Spot was Diane Todd.

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Some Abortive Series - Some interesting projected series that never made it into production. Can you add any data?
A1 at Lloyds - This troubled project was first mooted in 1957 and finally scheduled for starting filming on 6th July 1959. But delays pushed this date back until September. Producer was James Swan, associate producer: Jesse Corallo, script editor: Doreen Montgomery, script for pilot by Leigh Vance, and it was to be made by Sydney Box Productions, part of the Rank Organisation. When Sydney Box suffered a stroke and had to retire from the business, the writing was on the wall for this projected series in October 1959. As far as I can ascertain, no complete episodes were ever finished.
The Lives of Frankenstein - This 39 part series was announced at the start of 1958, with Anton Diffring in the lead. The first episode was to have been made in Hollywood, the remainder in Bray Studios. Was anything ever made?
Trader Horn - was a proposed 1958 series from Gross-Kasne, that is mentioned in the 1959 Film Review Annual, but it seems not to have got beyond the planning stage.
Continental Patrol - Broderick Crawford, star of the long running and successful Highway Patrol, came to London in the summer of 1959 to drum up support for an international version of his popular American series. John Nasht, an experienced European Producer (Orient Express etc) was booked as the producer, and a provisional starting date for filming at Pinewood was scheduled for 16 November that year. As however this was to be another Sydney Box production, the plan collapsed when Mr Box fell ill.
A Man of the World - Ubangi Film Productions were formed by Dan Jackson and Russell Enoch (aka William Russell) and in January 1959 a report stated "the pilot is being made in Naples now. Balbina, Russell's pretty French actress wife, will be in it too."
It's not known if this pilot was ever completed. Russell stated his idea was to sell it to the BBC.
Women - was the title of a proposed series by Anna Neagle and Herbert Wilcox. They announced a series of six one hour dramas to be shot starting in February 1960. Based on classic women writers (Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Anne Bronte), Doreen Montgomery (again!) definitely wrote three of the proposed scripts, and in January that year, Wilcox claimed four had been written. Anna Neagle planned to read an introduction portraying the author of the story, and speaking as the author in the first person. Herbert Wilcox flew to America in February, when his American backers wanted to turn the stories into half hour ones. Probably an impasse was reached and I don't think the project ever got off the ground.
Soho - starring Richard Basehart. Following on from the success of his long running series, this was the proposed title for a new series from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. In an interview, he stated he was starting negotiations in January 1960. Unlike his earlier marathon series this never got going.
Hong Kong Harbour - (Cable Dragon-Fly had been the original proposed title for this series)- February 1960 was the starting date for production scheduled by producers Sam Bischoff and Dave Diamond. After planned location shooting in Hong Kong, the series of 13 hour long colour films was to have been made in Britain. Hammer Films' executive producer Michael Carreras announced "at least 12 scripts will be completely cut and dried before beginning production." He added that Gordon Wellesley had already completed the first. Another writer was said to be Joyce Bellack. Visa to Canton starring Richard Basehart and Lisa Gastoni was definitely made, but with the series aborted as early as June that year, it was turned into a 75 minute feature film. Shooting for this story was definitely done during June 1960 both at Bray Studios, and on Monkey Island in the Thames. This is the only physical relic of this aborted series, as I think the 1961 Hammer feature film Terror of the Tongs, was never intended to be part of this project.
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Crime Club
Essaying to repeat the success of their much earlier radio series of this name, in 1959 Towers of London announced work was starting at the end of June on this proposed series of one-off stories.
First in production was planned to be You'll Never See Me Again. This was the story of an American architect living in England, who is suspected of murdering the wife he says he loves. Her dying words had been 'You'll never see me again.'
The script was by Cornell Woolrich, adapted for TV by Joel Murcott. Director: Ted Post. The strong cast consisted of:
Ben Gazzara... Jim Mason
Leo Genn... Inspector Stillman
Brenda de Banzie... Mrs Alden
James Hayter... Joe Alden
Derek Aylward... Bob Roberts
Jacqueline Ellis... Myra
Ivor Salter... Sgt Mitchell
Betty McDowall... Anne Roberts

However, the first of the series to be made was definitely Invitation to Murder.
The director was Robert Lynn and the writer Joel Murdock (Murcott?).
Amongst the cast were Robert Beatty, with Lisa Daniely, Ernest Thesiger and Douglas Wilmer.
I do not know if any more than these two films were ever made. Missing Menu

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Calling All Lovers

Nicholas Parsons made a curious light situation comedy in 1959 in Antwerp, for the Belgian United Continents company.
Lana Morris was his leading lady in this pilot film completed in August that year.
Paul Tabori wrote the script, and also wrote two further stories for the proposed series of 39, which however seems to have not got off the ground. But this pilot was definitely completed, by producer Jacques Verdicjk, a Flemish tv producer.
Several of the technicians were British, including Eric Bast (lighting) and Peter Tabori (camera).
Does Mr Parsons himself recall anything of this abortive project?

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Rogue for Hire
was one of a number of projects by the company Gross-Kasne. In the 1950's Jack J Gross and Philip Kasne made some low budget feature films, and had a string of successful television series behind them, several starring Thomas Mitchell, another being The Lone Wolf with Louis Hayward. In 1957 they became more ambitious making Adventures of a Jungle Boy and African Patrol both on location in Africa, before a failed 1958 attempt to film a series Trader Horn at ABP Elstree Studios. (The 1959 Film Review Annual mentions this series was actually in production when it went to press.) Then further problems in 1959 with a series that was to have been titled Fate (the first idea had been to call it Destiny). Gross-Kasne planned to shoot at Elstree two of the planned 39 half hour films, "not bothering with the expensive and often disheartening custom of making pilots," though what else these films were to have been only JG and PK know. However that project also collapsed before this troubled series, Rogue for Hire, set them back still further. Despite this failure Jack Gross did manage to make one further series with Louis Hayward, The Pursuers.

Originally Rogue for Hire was to have been called by the imitative title Have Plane Will Travel. Filming began in 1959 with star Jerome Thor in Hollywood, the plan had been to make this one of those American/British co-productions, with ABP Elstree Studios being used by producer Donald Hyde.
However I do not believe any of the proposed films were ever made in the UK, though the schedule drawn up was to start in November that year.
As regards the American episodes of Rogue for Hire, movie stunt pilot Paul Mantz contributed some sequences, about which it was reported in June 1959 that "several episodes have been completed." It does seem six were actually finished. The script for one episode, Operation Jaguar, survives, what else, who knows?
At the end of 1959 G-K axed the project, Thor being summoned back from Japan where he was shooting sequences for Rogue for Hire. A statement claimed "the American-made films were not approved, and did not get a sale."

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Mr Riviera -

A 25 minute ITC pilot that was originally titled Sirocco was scheduled for shooting starting June 14th 1960. ITC held screen tests at the start of that month, choosing Charles Drake as the star. It would be interesting to know who else tested for the series.
Although production did not actually start until the following month, it was made at MGM Studios Elstree, by producer Dennis O'Dell. Location shooting was done that month also, at Monte Carlo "with a cast of 20 people." The script was by Bill Strutton and the film was directed by Peter Graham Scott.
I remember it was actually screened on British television, by ATV. However this projected series never got beyond this pilot. Charles Drake played freelance reporter and photographer Neil McCrea, with guest star for this story Anna Gaylor as Annette Brosse.
Others in the cast were Warren Mitchell, Kenneth Griffith, Harry Locke and Michael Peake.
The storyline:
The Sirocco is a yacht, which sails into the harbour at Monte Carlo. On board is McCrea who receives this message from one of his editors:
'Planning feature on plastic surgeon, Jules Brosse killed in crash over Corniche. Appreciate new piece on him.'

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The Adventures of an Elephant Boy
Three pilot films were made starting late 1958, and finishing early April 1959, for a projected series starring 14 year old David Wyman.
The scriptwriter and director was Kenneth Hume and the producer John Kennedy. The series was shot on location in Ceylon, but the team encountered problems with their Cingalese extras, who were allegedly paid in beer, but when this ran out, so did the extras! Worse, two cameramen were said to have died during the filming, as a result of snake bites. Less serious was the problem illustrating that old adage, Never Work with Animals or Children, for claimed Hume, "shots relying on the antics of animals took up a lot of time."
John Kennedy claimed that the series had been made in Ceylon because "within the Commonwealth, there is a feast fit for a king of television material." He also wanted to avoid the "vice like grip on British screens held by American productions," a very laudable aim, but one which may have lead to the downfall of the project.
Anyone know if any tv station bought up these pilots, and even more boldly, screened 'em?

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Mr Turnip

His 'mother' Joy Laurey made puppets in her childhood in Yorkshire; then during the war with her mother and sister entertained the troops with their puppet shows.
Her most famous creation, Mr Turnip was born in 1950 in Tiptree Essex, when tv producer Michael Westmore saw one of the shows, and approached Joy to ask her manufacture a puppet to appear with Humphrey Lestocq.
Providing Mr Turnip's voice was that BBC stalwart Peter Hawkins, whilst Peter Ling wrote the scripts.
Whirligig in which Mr Turnip appeared with H-L, was one of the BBC's biggest success stories in Children's TV, and I remember being very sad when it stopped, because H-L left.

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