The First Ever British Soap, Before Even Coronation Street...

The Grove Family - Episode One - Part One



The first ever episode of the first soap, or television serial, to reach Britain's screens. This the "The Grove Family", a rather orfinary soap of middle class family who live in Hendon, London. The episode is entitled "Cure and Prevention", and this is only 1 of 3 episodes that still exist in the archives, all the rest have been scrubbed.

"We Want Muffin!" The Mule with Strings and All That...

Muffin the Mule- Muffin's Aquarium Part 1



At last, our children's genre goes back to the 1950s, heralding one of the most iconic shows of the decade. A non-pc decade where smoking was given the thumbs up, TV was a very expensive luxery and we were beginning to let our ration books gather dust, as western prosperity rose to great proportions. "Muffin the Mule" was a simple delight for kids and adults alike on the BBC. Broadcast live from 1946 to 1952, the string puppetry show was screened in the late afternoon. In this 2 part, full episodes Muffin the Mule, the main puppet of the show, keeps stock of a small aquarium on top of a piano, while Annette Mills the presenter speaks to Muffin, and plays the piano with her angelic voice. The show may be dated, but still relatively amusing and lively, string puppetry from all the characters. The Mule first appeared in a 1930s puppet circus known as Hogarth Puppet Theatre. It first appeared on TV in 1946 in "For the Children". Annette Mills worked on the show, and named the puppet "Muffin" herself, in agreement with the puppet creators Jan Bussell and Ann Hogarth. The theme song is also well known, as "We Want Muffin" san by Mills via piano. Now that's probably street slang now...ahem. At the end of each episode, Mills sings "Goodbye Muffin".

Muffin of course became very popular with children in the 1950s, and the character is always mentioned when it comes to 50s children's TV. Like most 50s TV in it's day, the production value was crude and small-time, but it doesn't take much to entertain people. Other string puppet characters appeared on the show, though less remembered. The ones that appear in this "Aquarium" episode, are Mr. Peregrine Esquire the penguin, a snappy billed, menacing looking thing, and the much more elegant Oswald the Ostrich, along with dancing sea snakes and a smiling Octopus who plays the bells.

The show abruptly ended in 1955, after the sudden heart attack of Mills, at the age of 61. After the death, new episodes were made for rival channel ITV, presented by Sally McNally, daughter of puppet creator couple Hogarth & Bussell. They all though contributed to a final farewell to Muffin, back on the BBC in 1957. Muffin the Mule returned after a long hiatus, in a new animated series of the same name, on CBBC in 2005.

Curse You, Army Deserter!

Dixon of Dock Green Part 1 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du5yQ9ZZGI4

"Dixon of Dock Green" was certainly was of the most iconic programmes of the 1950s and 60s. Many Brits who lived and grew up in this era, fondly remember the "British Bobby" as friendly, communicative and strived to do good deeds, no mater how small the issue was. No insane loads of paperwork to fill in, no ridiculous political correctness was in sight back then. This is glorified in "Dixon of Dock Green", following the tales of London policeman George Dixon (Jack Warner) of Dock Green, an area of East London, but not as we know it, boasting a low-crime rate. It was an easy-going show, where Dixon would be par-taking with the local community in a big way as a bobby on the beat, with the most serious crimes being only petty, and mostly non-violent. However, the show is much loved for it's community spirit, the likeability of Dixon, and hosting a strong moral backbone, with Dixon expressing messages of keeping on the right side of the law and more, in statements to the camera, at the beginning and end.

This is a full episode entitled "The Roaring Boy" in 3 parts, where Dixon is searching for the whereabouts of army deserter Kenneth Cope. It was a live broadcast, so actors had to remember their lines very well!

The show was immensely popular in the 50s and 60s, recieving TV ratings of 13 million and above. The show is still regarded as one of the best British TV shows ever, despite it's unrealistic nature, with the immortal line of "Evenin' All" from actor Jack Warner. Warner was of a mature age already when the programme began in 1955. He played the role onwards tot he 1970s, where the show declined, looking increasingly more dated compared to the more edgy delights of "Z-Cars" and "The Sweeney", and the show ended in 1976, with an increasingly inactive Dixon, the actor now in his 80s, and promoted then, as a Sargeant.

Keep Your Head Down...and Skate!

Speed skating Men 10000M Oslo 1952 Winter Olympic Games

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhibkjBkomE

We're doing the rounds from the Winter Olympics again, with something a little different each time. We focus on the 1950s incarnation of Speed Skating at the Oslo, Norway Winter Olympics. Commentary is in Norwegian, but there is plenty to watch in this short clip. Speed Skating, a sport now dominated by lesser countries accustomed to the Winter Olympics like the Netherlands and South Korea and adorned in the latest very tight and aerodynamic lycra, taking place on artificial ice in an indoor arena.

In this clip, it shows a Norwegian (Norge) skater winning 2 races, going on to win the Gold medal in the 1000m event. The losing skater who unuckily slides off track is, hard to tell, telling from the flag in black and white, could be German. What we see here is a form of long track speed skating.

Speed Skating has been part of the Winter Olympics from the start, from the inaugural 1924 Games held in Chamonix, France. The roots of the sport go back a few centuries but official races were first set up in the 19th century in Norway. The race and movements for this sport are rather complex. The most notable movement is the "Double Push" which is trying to skate as a straight as possible by pushing alternatively on each side, giving a swaying effect, with the head down, and the arms or arm carrying the momentum in its swing. The skaters also sometimes just skate, but not really sprinting, where the their hands are behind their back. This does looks rather laid back, but probably to conserve energy for the corners and final dash at the end. The races in long-track speed skating are usually fought between two competitors, and after 400 metres, they swap lanes in a straight run section of the ice rink.

The differences between now and the clip are massive. Skates were firmly fixed to the shoes, while in the 1990's what's called a "Clap Skate" was invented, which would detach from one side of the shoe, when lifted off the ground. No more woolly hats, but athletes are now consumed by lycra and now wear goggles too.

Norway dominated the 1952 event with 3 Gold medals in 3 of the 4 various length events, including 2 Bronze medals to go with that. This was in great thanks to Hjalmar Andersen, as seen in the Youtube clip.

Norway went to claim top spot in the overall medal tables with 7 golds and 16 medals in total, with the United States and Finland in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

1950s Grace, Splendour and Mirth in the Golden Days of Variety - Full Episode

Sunday Night at the London Palladium 13-4-58 Part1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kbieLuR3f0

"Sunday Night at the London Palladium" was the ratings powerhouse for ITV in the 1950s and 60s, which can be compared of the same ilk as modern ventures like "X-Factor" and "Strictly Come Dancing", but this wasn't some format manipulated or tampered with to garner viewer's votes! This was true variety, not just singing and dancing, but comedians, puppeteers and ventriloquists. This glitzy extravanganza was for ITV produced by regional midlands super-outfit ATV. the programme is best remembered for song, dance and gag man Bruce Forsyth in his early days (early days?) learning his craft and also hosting the show on occasions. The show reached a peak audience of an astonishing 20 million viewers in 1960, shown live.

The link above is the 1st part of the whole show, and this is an ashtonishing and rare upload to have a 1950s show in it's full entirety on Youtube. Also add to that, only 5 episodes of the show's original run survived the "achive wipeout", a common feature in the 1950s. There seems to be a couple more full episodes of the show from the 60s here too.

The show was headlined and presented by Val Parnell (Valentine Parnell) from 1956 to 1965. He was also a big figure in the world of theatre, and is thought to have introduced Julie Andrews (singing star of "Sound of Music" film)into acting fame. He was the managing director of ATV at the same time.

This episode does not star Bruce Forsyth, who would later be a pillar for the show's success. It does feature American Jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, The Tiller Girls, comedian Tommy Trinder American guitarist and singer Marvin Rainwater, American comedian Dick Shawn and er..string pig puppet singing sensations Pinky and Perky! Singing an Everley Brothers covers of "Bye Bye Love". Along with a host of other puppet animals featuring an Elvis Presley singing cat puppet guitar strummer!

Tommy Trinder also presents the "Beat The Clock" gameshow section of the show. This was later Forsyth's baby too. The format of the gameshow was simple, complete a given task in under 60 seconds and hence, you have beaten the clock! It was originally an American show that ran solo from 1950 and enjoyed a very long run over there. This ran the whole length of the famous variety show, which eventually ended in 1967. The show was asked by TV chief at the the time, Lord Grade, which he later regretted.

Both "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" and "Beat The Clock" enjoyed 80s revivals individually, the former being renamed a few times from "Live at the Palladium" to "Live At Her Majesty's". This lasted for most of the 80s 1982 -1988. The latter in 1987 presented by radio DJ and "Top of the Pops" presenter Mike Smith, for a less impressive run.

Variety died out for a while by the late-80s and especially well into the 90s and 2000s, after another revivial spooned by Bruce Forsyth flopped. However, you could say it's back in a big way now, depending on who you talk to, as you now have "Britain's Got Talent", which suppoesedly cater for all the styles of entertainment you used to see, but not as innocent in it's previous form, taking a winner-takes-all-mentality. I wonder if a plate-spinner will ever win "BGT"?

Back to a Time when Politicians were Much Respected and Admired...

UK General Election 1950 - Election Night Report



At present, here is our is earliest TV nostalgia moment from 1950. Nowadays, especially with the shocking revelations of the Expenses scandal, bursting one of many confort bubbles for our pampered politicians. With a General Election now just months away, many voters are more apathetic that ever, despite the fact this might be a very close election, and the fact that a good deal of voters are in the mood for a change of party, the trust and respect in our MP's have dropped fairly dramatically. It's now hard to imagine a time when politicians did not have inflated wages, and were deemed honourable, admired and respected by the public.

Well, is a BBC information video on the campaign for the 1950 election, such as how votes are counted and organised, what goes on, in election night. Here we have 2 of the greatest British Prime Ministers facing each other. In one corner was Labour's Clement Attlee, who in this administration, brought some huge changes in state welfare, such as the introduction of the free National Health Service (NHS). In the other, was the Conservatives leader Winston Churchill, looking to get back into Government after his election defeat in 1945. He was thought to be a great leader in times of war, but not in peacetimes, in the public's view.

The film shows much enthusiasm for the election process, a gala night to commemorate the election, a large outdoor crowd watching the election score. Politics would crave for that kind of interest these days, but that is a long shot now, especially after dodgy dealings spending taxpayers money on duck moat homes, or whatever you call them.

Resign Now, Mr. Eden

UK Labour Party Political Broadcast - Nov 1956




The leader of the opposition, and known as one the greatest politicians to never become British Prime Minister, Hugh Gaitskell, speaks in 1956, arguing against the British intervention in Egypt, as a result of "The Suez Crisis". He demands that Conservative PM Anthony Eden, steps down from his role. He also mentions the Hungarian Uprising against Soviet Communist rule. Eden now, is one of our least celebrated Prime Ministers. He wanted to be a "Man of Peace" however the Suez Crisis almost contradicted his values. Eden never heeded Gaitskell's calls, but his term in office ran for only 2 years, retiring due to ill health and old age, replaced by fellow Conservative Harold MacMillan.

"The Suez Crisis" was a disaster for Britain, and was a symbolic gesture of the diminishing powers of the Great British Empire, especially in the Middle East. Britain, Israel and France invaded Egypt due to the actions of the country nationalising the Suez Canal, a very important region of trade and commerce which transferred Saudi Arabian oil to the Western World. After Egypt started to become more independent, taking itself out of the "Warsaw Pact", and the ability to arm themselves with the fear of an alliance with China, and trying to turn other Arabian countries like Jordan, Syria and Iraq against the western nations involved, and the tension between the Jews of Israel and the Arabs. This all came to a head. Egypt's leader Nasser was regarded as dictator by the British press.

Gaitskell was leader of the Labour party from 1955-1963. He unfortunately died in the latter year, which ended his leadership of the party instantly, dying of an condition known as Lupus erythematosus, a chronic inflammatory disease. One of the main reason he didn't become PM sooner, was because of the rise in prosperity in UK living standards after the dire state of the UK economy in the early 1950's, under a Conservative Government.

Freeman Tries to Mind Melt Jung's Exterior

Face to face with Carl Jung - Part 1 of 4



From 1959, here is a full episode of in-depth interview show "Face to Face". Off-screen former Labour Party MP John Freeman, probes influential Swiss psychiatrist carl Gustav Jung. The interview unusually takes place out of studio, taking place in the frail 84-year old's Swiss home. The programme, beginning in 1959 held a different format to other similar interview-type documentaries, with a more intimate and tense setting, the camera focusing close-up, on the interviewee's face, in what seems in one long scene and take. On the odd time, Freemen will be shown from the back, focusing on his subject, as he rustles through another question, however we never see his face. The show ran from 1959 - 1962 with Alan Freeman, however there was a revival or second series 17 years later in 1989, this time running for longer, up to 1998. The revival was presented by Jeremy Isaacs.

In an intellectual episode, featuring Carl Jung, despite being 84, appears to be in good health and mind. The titles for the show feature no music, but nicely done, and there seems to be, just a tinge of colour, while the main programme is in black and white. The credits are simply drawn on pieces of paper floating in a lake(?), wonderfully presented. As we see the introduction to the show, there's the inaugural meeting between the 2, and the completely disconnected, whimsical orchestra music, you usually received to your ears, back in the TV of the 50's. Freeman asks Jung about his upbringing, the relationship between mother and father, religion and more. A good watch for intellectuals, and those interested in psychology. Jung died 2 years later, but is held in high regard, along with the arguably more well-known works of Sigmund Frued. Jung was a founder of a section of psychology named analytical or "Jungian psychology". He believe humans are inclined to be religious, and that it is important to feel both spiritual, but at the same time logical or scientific about life, to bring balance and harmony, as well as analysing dreams. There's that and alot more complicated stuff.

"Face to Face" was famous for some ground-breaking episodes in their first run. This includes the very private Tony Hancock, and Gilbert Harding. Harding, you may've seen in an earlier post here, appearing in the "What's My Line?" gameshow in 1955. Tried looking for the Harding episode on Youtube, but no joy. Harding came across as a very rude and stern, mature man on TV, but was a giving and gentle man off-screen. Blighted, really by the closed society at the cusp of the 1960's, when homosexuality could have you arrested and killed. Harding cries about seeing his dead mother, as Alan Freeman really does hit a vibe, which he later regrets, on the homosexual accusation part.

Late-50's Crooning from a Forgotten Star...

Six Five Special Michael Holliday



Now Stretching the music genre to the 1950's, with a short-lived BBC live music show called "Six-Five Special". Promising British crooner here, Michael Holliday, sings "Love You Darlin'" accompanied by Don Lang and his Frantic Five, the resident band of the show.

The "Six-Five Special", ran from 1957-1958, a good year and a half actually. The reason for the titles, is because the show ran at 5 past six in the evening, hence the snazzy "Six-Five". Presented by radio DJ Pete Murray. This was the first programme to feature between 6pm-7pm on a Saturday evening. You know why? Because in this hour the BBC would shut down, marking the "Toddler Truce", a designated time when the parents should be tucking their small children in bed. Changed times!

The show was only suppoesed to run for six weeks, but it became very popular. However it was short-lived, because of arguments between show producer Jack Good and the BBC over what the content of the show should be, whether it would be purely live music or a magazine-type format. The most known performers on this show, were Petula Clarks, Lonnie Donegan & Cleo Laine. Their was also comedy performers on the show including Spike Milligan and Bernie Winters.

Michael Holliday was a popular British singer in the late-50's and early-60's. He had 2 UK No.1 hits, which were "The Story of My Life" and "Starry Eyed". He arguably, commited suicide from a drugs overdose, in 1963. He was believed to have suffered stage fright, and had a mental breakdown in 1961. So really, he would've probably have been more well-known if not for his tragic circumstances.

I Love the Way He Twists My Hand, as He Kisses it, it Reminds me of a Postman?

Whats my Line? BBC 1955

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUA7DzMEcHs

See the clip for further details, on that title. "What's My Line" was a simple but effective question-and-answer panel gameshow, where a line-up of various celebrities try to guess a member of the public's occupation. This format had sailed over the Atlantic from the USA, and appeared in the early TV days of the 1950's presented mainly by Eamonn Andrews from 1951-1963, and has spluttered back into life in every decade since then with re-visits, even in the 2000's. This clip is not a full episode but a pretty meaty section of the show. Enquiring the questions here, are, Isobel Barnett, Barbara Kelly, Gilbert Harding & David Nixon. Includes perfectly spoken english, it's a different age of course, such formal greetings are used such as "Good Evening" to the contestant, but that doesn't mean, all the proceedings are high brow!

Murray Mints Ads from the 1950's - Tell Me When You Haven't Got the Jingle Out of Your Head

Murray Mints (1950's)



"Hey! Can you please dislodge this vaccuum from my downstairs department, if you could do so kindly, sir?"

"Sorry! You'll just have to wait! I'm finishing my Murray Mint! The too good to hurry Mint!"

After watching all 2mins 59 secs, I dare you to not have that jingle and slogan in you're head! 4 pretty amusing and comically well-spoken gentlemen, kitsch European accents, and ruffians, an old-fashioned set of ads, back when the dawn of Television advertising arose. Featuring the French Legion, a woman on a camel, a Spanish matador and bull combo, a dancing Navy crew, a little school ruffian, a posh schoolkid and a teacher!

Murray Mints are a much-loved British creamy hard-boiled sweetie, you may've recieved from you're Grandparents, perhaps, as it was a perennial favourite back in the post-rationed 50's. Now probably known as nostalgic treat, for theatre and cinema occasions.