ITV Schools - The English Programme - A Question Of Talk (1987) 1/3
The golden age of Schools TV may've been the late-70s and early-80s, but taken from some serious proof here, Schools TV in the late-80s could still being in the big boys, an almost star-studded episode by Schools TV standards, with "The English Programme" in a one-off gameshow about "A Question of Talk" presented by gameshow presenter Robert Robinson (of "Ask The Family" and "Call My Bluff" fame), along with team captains Bill Oddie, who used to be quite synonymous for appearing on kids TV in the 70s and 80s, and BBC Radio 1 DJ and "Top of the Pops" presenter Janice Long.
Showing posts with label ITV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ITV. Show all posts
Monday, 22 March 2010
"I'll See Thee" - Beer Swigging Yorkshire Pub Sports on Weekend Telly, Real Men's Sports Y'know!
Indoor League 1
When you go to the pub today, your gaming facilities are normally either a UK version of "Pool", a Dartboard or a fruit machine, or all both. Go back 15 to 30 years ago, maybe the odd arcade, "Space Invaders" or "Pacman" being the favourite to rest in the local boozer counter. However this "sports" show the "Indoor League" which ran circa 1973 to 1978, opens up a feast of now old-fashioned and bygone pub games of a bygone age. Ever heard of Bar Billiards? Skittles? Shove ha'penny? Well find out about them in this 4 part regional Yorkshire Television produced episode, presented by Yorkshire Cricket great Fred Trueman, regarded as one of best fast bowlers in the history of the sport. What's great about the show, is it's non-pc as you like. Shown on daytime TV on a Tuesday, you had old Fred on the lash with his pint of beer and sometimes smoking a pipe on-camera as he presents the show, this was as small-time in sports you could get. This was a ratings success in Yorkshire.
When you go to the pub today, your gaming facilities are normally either a UK version of "Pool", a Dartboard or a fruit machine, or all both. Go back 15 to 30 years ago, maybe the odd arcade, "Space Invaders" or "Pacman" being the favourite to rest in the local boozer counter. However this "sports" show the "Indoor League" which ran circa 1973 to 1978, opens up a feast of now old-fashioned and bygone pub games of a bygone age. Ever heard of Bar Billiards? Skittles? Shove ha'penny? Well find out about them in this 4 part regional Yorkshire Television produced episode, presented by Yorkshire Cricket great Fred Trueman, regarded as one of best fast bowlers in the history of the sport. What's great about the show, is it's non-pc as you like. Shown on daytime TV on a Tuesday, you had old Fred on the lash with his pint of beer and sometimes smoking a pipe on-camera as he presents the show, this was as small-time in sports you could get. This was a ratings success in Yorkshire.
Friday, 19 March 2010
Fancy Dr.Fancy Murdering Ernest Spratt? Oooh, Fancy That!
armchair theatre 1960 fancy.wmv
A short and rare clip of "Armchair Theatre" which ran on the ITV network from 1956-1968. The ABC logo you see at the beginning, were the original producers Associated British Corporation, later to be Thames Television, after it's mergeance with Rediffusion Television in 1968. Each episode was a different play running for an hour. It wasn't all about court drama, taking from this clip!
This clip is from what is regarded as the programme at it's best from 1958-1962, under the tutelage of Canadian producer Sydney Newman, where it breached upon touchy issues, sensitive at the time.
A short and rare clip of "Armchair Theatre" which ran on the ITV network from 1956-1968. The ABC logo you see at the beginning, were the original producers Associated British Corporation, later to be Thames Television, after it's mergeance with Rediffusion Television in 1968. Each episode was a different play running for an hour. It wasn't all about court drama, taking from this clip!
This clip is from what is regarded as the programme at it's best from 1958-1962, under the tutelage of Canadian producer Sydney Newman, where it breached upon touchy issues, sensitive at the time.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Come Aboard the Toy Monorail Folks...
ITV Schools - Physics In Action
Been quite hard to find the year and even the decade for this, but I think it's from the 1980s. This short clips talks about the laws of motion, involving these gliding magnets along a railing, something like a minature monorail. Narrated by Charles Foster, "Physics In Action" as far as I know was still being made for ITV Schools in the late-80s.
The presentation of the show is eerily similar to the 2000s spoof 70s/80s schools series "Look Around You".
Been quite hard to find the year and even the decade for this, but I think it's from the 1980s. This short clips talks about the laws of motion, involving these gliding magnets along a railing, something like a minature monorail. Narrated by Charles Foster, "Physics In Action" as far as I know was still being made for ITV Schools in the late-80s.
The presentation of the show is eerily similar to the 2000s spoof 70s/80s schools series "Look Around You".
There Was A Time Everything Barrymore Touched, Turned to Gold...
Michael Barrymore - Funny Acceptance Speech
Michael Barrymore at his peak here perhaps. Here he wins the "Best ITV Entertainment Presenter" award. There was no overall award for the category, only split between the 3 stations, of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Barrymore by this point, was well-loved and his antics, especially at award shows, became more and more outrageous. Here he rips out the monitor giving the autocue for the now household furniture of the awards show every year, Johnathan Ross. Did he go too far? Maybe, but this is the British Comedy Awards, where many outlandish shenanigans have transpired...the proprietor being usually drunk. The audience loved it. Basically you could say Barrymore, trying to be funny was basically trying to be a twat. Some of it could be known as insensitive, which is maybe why we don't sadly see the likes of him today after all the drama and allegations he has had from his wife Cheryl leaving him, then coming out as gay, then the party pool incident, and you know the rest! You kind of feel sorry for him, but at the same time, you're never quite sure...Is every bloody post about Barrymore going to end on this note!?
The British Comedy Awards has run annually since 1990, the first presentation by the-rather-more-straight-man Michael Parkinson or "Parky". Johnathan Ross has presented the show ever since bar one year - 2008- after the BBC Radio 2 controversy with Russell Brand. Angus Deayton was the replacement that year, but Ross came back for 2009. Various award titles had changed and chopped about over the years, but there's always a lifetime award to a comedy great. which is usually one of the highlights.
There's a plethora of controversial moments from these awards. We'll be seeing more of this here, on the blog. Another thing, the stage backdrop from 1995 and around the time was brilliant, hosting an ancient Greek outdoor setting.
Michael Barrymore at his peak here perhaps. Here he wins the "Best ITV Entertainment Presenter" award. There was no overall award for the category, only split between the 3 stations, of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Barrymore by this point, was well-loved and his antics, especially at award shows, became more and more outrageous. Here he rips out the monitor giving the autocue for the now household furniture of the awards show every year, Johnathan Ross. Did he go too far? Maybe, but this is the British Comedy Awards, where many outlandish shenanigans have transpired...the proprietor being usually drunk. The audience loved it. Basically you could say Barrymore, trying to be funny was basically trying to be a twat. Some of it could be known as insensitive, which is maybe why we don't sadly see the likes of him today after all the drama and allegations he has had from his wife Cheryl leaving him, then coming out as gay, then the party pool incident, and you know the rest! You kind of feel sorry for him, but at the same time, you're never quite sure...Is every bloody post about Barrymore going to end on this note!?
The British Comedy Awards has run annually since 1990, the first presentation by the-rather-more-straight-man Michael Parkinson or "Parky". Johnathan Ross has presented the show ever since bar one year - 2008- after the BBC Radio 2 controversy with Russell Brand. Angus Deayton was the replacement that year, but Ross came back for 2009. Various award titles had changed and chopped about over the years, but there's always a lifetime award to a comedy great. which is usually one of the highlights.
There's a plethora of controversial moments from these awards. We'll be seeing more of this here, on the blog. Another thing, the stage backdrop from 1995 and around the time was brilliant, hosting an ancient Greek outdoor setting.
Monday, 15 March 2010
Hughie Green's Farewell from "Opportunity Knocks" + The Musical Muscleman. Ouch!
Tony Holland The Musical Muscleman (Also Titles And End Credits) - Opportunity Knocks
This is from the last edition of the first and last run of "Opportunity Knocks" on ITV. Hughie Green would soon disappear from the limelight and moved on to other variety show work, presenting on the likes of Australian and Irish TV. This final edition featured the best and most famous performers throughout the run, and none more are unforgettable as "The Musical Muscleman" Tony Holland, who first appeared on the show in 1964.
The tune of "Wheel Cha Cha" (composed by Joe Loss in 1961) is synonymous with the bodybuilder's almost muscle hemorrhaging movements to the beat of the music. Those shoulder blades look like they're getting dislocated to move like that, my giddy aunt. Unbelievably, some people couldn't get enough of him, and he won the show six times. Since then, apart from the odd appearance on reminiscing TV shows, he has done work for the local community, running a children's home, becoming a social worker, and a gym worker throughout his lifetime.
Not to mention, Hughie Green's farewell speech, not THAT infamous speech, that probably put him in this situation of saying farewell(Stand Up and Be Counted Speech). Although cut at the beginning, at his over-dramatic best, with instrumental strings playing in the background, thanking all the stars and auditionees over the years as well as the behind-the-scenes staff, and officially declares his retirement from TV. It was thopught
This is from the last edition of the first and last run of "Opportunity Knocks" on ITV. Hughie Green would soon disappear from the limelight and moved on to other variety show work, presenting on the likes of Australian and Irish TV. This final edition featured the best and most famous performers throughout the run, and none more are unforgettable as "The Musical Muscleman" Tony Holland, who first appeared on the show in 1964.
The tune of "Wheel Cha Cha" (composed by Joe Loss in 1961) is synonymous with the bodybuilder's almost muscle hemorrhaging movements to the beat of the music. Those shoulder blades look like they're getting dislocated to move like that, my giddy aunt. Unbelievably, some people couldn't get enough of him, and he won the show six times. Since then, apart from the odd appearance on reminiscing TV shows, he has done work for the local community, running a children's home, becoming a social worker, and a gym worker throughout his lifetime.
Not to mention, Hughie Green's farewell speech, not THAT infamous speech, that probably put him in this situation of saying farewell(Stand Up and Be Counted Speech). Although cut at the beginning, at his over-dramatic best, with instrumental strings playing in the background, thanking all the stars and auditionees over the years as well as the behind-the-scenes staff, and officially declares his retirement from TV. It was thopught
Get Your Facts Right Harty!
Fred Dibnah - Russell Harty show 1979
This is taken from Russell Harty's ITV chat show, after looking at the year this took place, "Russell Harty Plus" (1973-1981), before moving to the BBC, the stint he was more well known for, Grace Jones et all. He is interviewing the colourful character which was Fred Dibnah, not an entertainer, but had the erstwhile job of being a "steeplejack". This was a traditional job repairing and most famously, demolishing steeples and chimneys such as factory and church steeples. He would be required to climb these tall structures with rope or ladders before going onto the next stage of scaffolding.
Fred Dibnah's work was captured on film in 1978 in a documentary called "Fred Dibnah, Steeplejack", and much like reality TV, the very likeable and passionate Lancastrian became a celebrity on TV appearing on various shows, as well as his own TV series in his later years. 1998's "Fred Dibnah's Industrial Age". In this Youtube clip, one of his most famous scenes from the original programme, the felling of a factory/mill chimny in Rochdale, showing Dibnah dashing away from his handiwork, in this spectacular felling, and you're wondering "has he run in the right direction away from the chimney?".
This is taken from Russell Harty's ITV chat show, after looking at the year this took place, "Russell Harty Plus" (1973-1981), before moving to the BBC, the stint he was more well known for, Grace Jones et all. He is interviewing the colourful character which was Fred Dibnah, not an entertainer, but had the erstwhile job of being a "steeplejack". This was a traditional job repairing and most famously, demolishing steeples and chimneys such as factory and church steeples. He would be required to climb these tall structures with rope or ladders before going onto the next stage of scaffolding.
Fred Dibnah's work was captured on film in 1978 in a documentary called "Fred Dibnah, Steeplejack", and much like reality TV, the very likeable and passionate Lancastrian became a celebrity on TV appearing on various shows, as well as his own TV series in his later years. 1998's "Fred Dibnah's Industrial Age". In this Youtube clip, one of his most famous scenes from the original programme, the felling of a factory/mill chimny in Rochdale, showing Dibnah dashing away from his handiwork, in this spectacular felling, and you're wondering "has he run in the right direction away from the chimney?".
Welcome, to the Magical World of SAW Land, Still Stuck in the 80s as of This Post
The Hitman and Her at Sheffield, 1989 (intro)
This seems a good time to wheel out "Hitman and Her", a now obscure joy, after Pete Waterman's recent step back into the limelight as the "make-a-hit-song-in-15-mins" powerhouse steps to back to claim why he comandeered the biggest wealth of UK Single No.1's in the 80s! Yep with another 80s song for the Eurovision this year, 2010.
We'll talk about Waterman in a later edit, but let's focus on this long clip from this show in Sheffield. Waterman and children's presenter Michaela Strachan host the show, which tours around different nightclubs each Saturday night. As Waterman was behind a producing trio of record producers and song writers Stock, Aitken and Waterman (SAW). So no surprise, many of the hits played were played came from SAW, artists as famous as Kylie Minogue to one-hit wonders like "The Reynold Girls". They all appeared, questionably live. We hear a remix of Minogue's "Never Too Late" hit. The feautured dancers are on the stage, who play a role as cheerleaders for the clubbers to follow, and visual entertainment, for the half-stewed audience back home. Denim is everywhere, bleeding denim jackets (with thick perms) and all the women are wearing denim shorts, a la, Daisy Duke, and not forgetting that one vital 80s ingredient...lycra! They are lead by "Wiggy", a black dancer wearing a white wig, all the time, every time. Wonder if he goes to bed in that?
There's some unintentional humour in this clip. Surely the 2 male clubbers interviews are parodies? The first guy, as said in a Youtube comment on the video, talks like and has the sleaziness to be Keith Lemon, a 2000s comedy characters invented by comedian Leigh Francis. The second guy, swirling his hips throughout his on-screen appearance, the Chuckle Brother, really thinks he's a hit with the ladies, or will be. The first woman interviewed, Jeanie a part-time glamour model, who looks like American "The Fly" actress Geena Davis. Very classy looking for a glamour model compared to today, that's shocking that. Today it would be a bucketload of eye liner, and the Grand Canyon screaming at you're face!
"The Hitman and Her" ran continuously on Sunday early,early mornings for 4 years from 1988-1992, on the ITV's "Night Time" schedule.
This seems a good time to wheel out "Hitman and Her", a now obscure joy, after Pete Waterman's recent step back into the limelight as the "make-a-hit-song-in-15-mins" powerhouse steps to back to claim why he comandeered the biggest wealth of UK Single No.1's in the 80s! Yep with another 80s song for the Eurovision this year, 2010.
We'll talk about Waterman in a later edit, but let's focus on this long clip from this show in Sheffield. Waterman and children's presenter Michaela Strachan host the show, which tours around different nightclubs each Saturday night. As Waterman was behind a producing trio of record producers and song writers Stock, Aitken and Waterman (SAW). So no surprise, many of the hits played were played came from SAW, artists as famous as Kylie Minogue to one-hit wonders like "The Reynold Girls". They all appeared, questionably live. We hear a remix of Minogue's "Never Too Late" hit. The feautured dancers are on the stage, who play a role as cheerleaders for the clubbers to follow, and visual entertainment, for the half-stewed audience back home. Denim is everywhere, bleeding denim jackets (with thick perms) and all the women are wearing denim shorts, a la, Daisy Duke, and not forgetting that one vital 80s ingredient...lycra! They are lead by "Wiggy", a black dancer wearing a white wig, all the time, every time. Wonder if he goes to bed in that?
There's some unintentional humour in this clip. Surely the 2 male clubbers interviews are parodies? The first guy, as said in a Youtube comment on the video, talks like and has the sleaziness to be Keith Lemon, a 2000s comedy characters invented by comedian Leigh Francis. The second guy, swirling his hips throughout his on-screen appearance, the Chuckle Brother, really thinks he's a hit with the ladies, or will be. The first woman interviewed, Jeanie a part-time glamour model, who looks like American "The Fly" actress Geena Davis. Very classy looking for a glamour model compared to today, that's shocking that. Today it would be a bucketload of eye liner, and the Grand Canyon screaming at you're face!
"The Hitman and Her" ran continuously on Sunday early,early mornings for 4 years from 1988-1992, on the ITV's "Night Time" schedule.
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Think Intrique, Think Unsolved Mysteries of a Forgotten Age when you Hear this...
World In Action 1970 Titles
Another great documentary series with a title theme that gives you the goosebumps. This was ITV's main current affairs investigative journalism show which lasted from 1963-1998. It's axing in 1998, replaced by "Tonight", prompted many accusations of the channel dumbing down.
The theme song comes across as rather chilling and the organ sound harps back to an older age, maybe a more mythical age. The visuals do well to unfold the awe and mythical of this tune, with various moving images through a circle styled as a magnifying piece. The icon of the show, Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man drawing, appears at the very beginning. Some images seem random, like the boy balancing a bubble, but probably affiliated with a previous populist news story featured. The music is entitled "Jam for World in Action". The original composer of the tune is disputed, between Johnathon Weston and American musician Shawn Phillips.
Another great documentary series with a title theme that gives you the goosebumps. This was ITV's main current affairs investigative journalism show which lasted from 1963-1998. It's axing in 1998, replaced by "Tonight", prompted many accusations of the channel dumbing down.
The theme song comes across as rather chilling and the organ sound harps back to an older age, maybe a more mythical age. The visuals do well to unfold the awe and mythical of this tune, with various moving images through a circle styled as a magnifying piece. The icon of the show, Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man drawing, appears at the very beginning. Some images seem random, like the boy balancing a bubble, but probably affiliated with a previous populist news story featured. The music is entitled "Jam for World in Action". The original composer of the tune is disputed, between Johnathon Weston and American musician Shawn Phillips.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Rare Short and Sweet Clip of ITN From the 60s...
60s ITN clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhlnDQS5KEE
From 1967, is a rare short 47 second ITN clip (BBC 50s and 60s news clips are plentiful, but ITV's are hard to find on Youtube!) featuring news presenter Reginald Bosanquet. The first news story is about Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh's successful operation to remove a cyst from his right wrist. A cyst is potentially something more serious than pus in the skin caused by spots and acne. Cysts can close off a certain area of human tissue, which can sometimes lead to a tumour forming. That's enough of that. The Beverley Sisters mentioned in the following story, were a very successful female Britiah vocal group composing of twins Babs and Teddie, along with older sister Joy.The last story is how a new advisory scheme for mechanic
Reginald Bosanquet was an ITN journalist since it's beginning in 1955. His career elevated in the 1970's as a main anchor for ITV, albeit only for 2 years (1974-1976), and retired from the newsreading game in 1979. Bosanquet has had a colourful off-screen personality, as portrayed by the media, which may be a falsehood. He was known for his slurred speech while presenting, popping up accusations that he was an alcoholic, however he suffered from epilepsy. Other rumours were he wore a toupee, and had an obsession with one-time co-news presenter Anna Ford, penning love poems about the lady. What?! Bosanquet died in 1984 of pancreatic cancer at the age of only 51.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhlnDQS5KEE
From 1967, is a rare short 47 second ITN clip (BBC 50s and 60s news clips are plentiful, but ITV's are hard to find on Youtube!) featuring news presenter Reginald Bosanquet. The first news story is about Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh's successful operation to remove a cyst from his right wrist. A cyst is potentially something more serious than pus in the skin caused by spots and acne. Cysts can close off a certain area of human tissue, which can sometimes lead to a tumour forming. That's enough of that. The Beverley Sisters mentioned in the following story, were a very successful female Britiah vocal group composing of twins Babs and Teddie, along with older sister Joy.The last story is how a new advisory scheme for mechanic
Reginald Bosanquet was an ITN journalist since it's beginning in 1955. His career elevated in the 1970's as a main anchor for ITV, albeit only for 2 years (1974-1976), and retired from the newsreading game in 1979. Bosanquet has had a colourful off-screen personality, as portrayed by the media, which may be a falsehood. He was known for his slurred speech while presenting, popping up accusations that he was an alcoholic, however he suffered from epilepsy. Other rumours were he wore a toupee, and had an obsession with one-time co-news presenter Anna Ford, penning love poems about the lady. What?! Bosanquet died in 1984 of pancreatic cancer at the age of only 51.
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Breakfast TV First Came in the 70s, not the 80s!
Good Morning Calendar - Bob Warman - Part 1 - 1977 - YTV - Slightly HQ!
I didn't realise this one myself. "Good Morning Calendar" ran only in the Yorkshire region for six weeks, along with Tyne Tees "Good Morning North" as an experiment to have news, weather reports and a look at tonight's Television in an intimate looking studio, although the presenter of this show, Bob Warman, is decked up to suit and tie. A nice little jazzy 70s tune begins the programme, and an orange colour is the key theme. There's also those flirtations outdoors with the normal folk, asking whether they are in a romance, or have any romantic thoughts. Also, some adverts at the end. Despite it's basic 10 minute or so guise, it was a pioneer for Breakfast TV, although it wasn't until 6 years laters, both "Breakfast Time" and "TV-AM" came to our screens.
Bob Warman is a TV presenter during the 1970s and 80s and still presents the regional news from the Central region on ITV. Born in the West Midlands he enjoyed a career at the old ATV presenting regional news for the Midlands, as well as the Yorkshire region from 1976-79. Another interesting fact to point out, is he presented Sky TV's version of "The Price Is Right" in 1989.
I didn't realise this one myself. "Good Morning Calendar" ran only in the Yorkshire region for six weeks, along with Tyne Tees "Good Morning North" as an experiment to have news, weather reports and a look at tonight's Television in an intimate looking studio, although the presenter of this show, Bob Warman, is decked up to suit and tie. A nice little jazzy 70s tune begins the programme, and an orange colour is the key theme. There's also those flirtations outdoors with the normal folk, asking whether they are in a romance, or have any romantic thoughts. Also, some adverts at the end. Despite it's basic 10 minute or so guise, it was a pioneer for Breakfast TV, although it wasn't until 6 years laters, both "Breakfast Time" and "TV-AM" came to our screens.
Bob Warman is a TV presenter during the 1970s and 80s and still presents the regional news from the Central region on ITV. Born in the West Midlands he enjoyed a career at the old ATV presenting regional news for the Midlands, as well as the Yorkshire region from 1976-79. Another interesting fact to point out, is he presented Sky TV's version of "The Price Is Right" in 1989.
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Hey You! Nicholas Parsons' Dancing at 2:47
No. 73: Series 5: Programme 4: TXN 23.2.85
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVv2ZAX9smQ
Here is a small clip of an episode of ITV's "No.73" from 23rd February 1985. Although alot less hyper and anarchaic from it's predecessor "Tiswas", this was still a ground-breaking Saturday morning live kids show. Featuring Danish-born English comedienne, author and presenter Sandi Toksvig starring as Ethel Davis, who is jolly well excitied about going skiing, delivers much japes and puns in a show that was mostly improvised. We first come across the 2nd theme for the show with "Hey You" as the stand-out feature, featuring stock footage of wacky stunts such as jousting knights, cycling monkey's and black and white clips of ridiculous inventions.
After Toksvig's witticisms, we come to the end of the show (edited highlights?). Wondering who the reggae/ska band is? Well, it is Jamaican reggae and dancehall music artist Barrington Levy with the song "Under Mi Sensi". He achieved his best performing singles in Britain at this time in 1985. The rest of the No.73 cast join in coming down the stairs, to dance to the musing sounds. By this point, the other chracters were Andrea Arnold as roller-skating Dawn Lodge, Nick Wilton as Tony Deal, a local call man and Nick Staverson as the amazing mullet-haired Harry Stern. Look at Nicholas Parsons dancing with that wild look of open-mouthed joygasm on his face.
Also, there a brief of clip of Nick Wilton as the con-man sitting on top of Rani the Elephant. Anyway, the show by this point was increasing in it's popularity. The show was set in the home abode of No.73, an ordinary setting in a coastal town by the sea, however the main character Ethel Davis (Sandi Toksvig) had started off as an old woman in the first series but gets younger in each series. Harry Stern was the nephew. Dawn Lodge, believe it or not, was a lodger. We also had inventor Percy Simmonds (Patrick Doyle) playing as Ethel's love interest. Local con man Tony Deal was a new character from the 1984 series. I this 1985 series, there was also a mini series within entitled "Roman Around" set in Ancient Rome. This was also played for laughs, presented by Ethel's fictional theatre company "Front Door Productions". It also starred a young Neil Buchanan, who would later present in Saturday morning's "Motormouth" and more famously in CITV's "Art Attack" in the 90s.
The show lasted from 1982-1988. In the last series (1987-88), the name of the show was changed to "7T3". The show was now set in a mock western setting with the saloon doors conveying "7T3". Maybe the show had lost the plot by now. "Motormouth" replaced it in September '88.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVv2ZAX9smQ
Here is a small clip of an episode of ITV's "No.73" from 23rd February 1985. Although alot less hyper and anarchaic from it's predecessor "Tiswas", this was still a ground-breaking Saturday morning live kids show. Featuring Danish-born English comedienne, author and presenter Sandi Toksvig starring as Ethel Davis, who is jolly well excitied about going skiing, delivers much japes and puns in a show that was mostly improvised. We first come across the 2nd theme for the show with "Hey You" as the stand-out feature, featuring stock footage of wacky stunts such as jousting knights, cycling monkey's and black and white clips of ridiculous inventions.
After Toksvig's witticisms, we come to the end of the show (edited highlights?). Wondering who the reggae/ska band is? Well, it is Jamaican reggae and dancehall music artist Barrington Levy with the song "Under Mi Sensi". He achieved his best performing singles in Britain at this time in 1985. The rest of the No.73 cast join in coming down the stairs, to dance to the musing sounds. By this point, the other chracters were Andrea Arnold as roller-skating Dawn Lodge, Nick Wilton as Tony Deal, a local call man and Nick Staverson as the amazing mullet-haired Harry Stern. Look at Nicholas Parsons dancing with that wild look of open-mouthed joygasm on his face.
Also, there a brief of clip of Nick Wilton as the con-man sitting on top of Rani the Elephant. Anyway, the show by this point was increasing in it's popularity. The show was set in the home abode of No.73, an ordinary setting in a coastal town by the sea, however the main character Ethel Davis (Sandi Toksvig) had started off as an old woman in the first series but gets younger in each series. Harry Stern was the nephew. Dawn Lodge, believe it or not, was a lodger. We also had inventor Percy Simmonds (Patrick Doyle) playing as Ethel's love interest. Local con man Tony Deal was a new character from the 1984 series. I this 1985 series, there was also a mini series within entitled "Roman Around" set in Ancient Rome. This was also played for laughs, presented by Ethel's fictional theatre company "Front Door Productions". It also starred a young Neil Buchanan, who would later present in Saturday morning's "Motormouth" and more famously in CITV's "Art Attack" in the 90s.
The show lasted from 1982-1988. In the last series (1987-88), the name of the show was changed to "7T3". The show was now set in a mock western setting with the saloon doors conveying "7T3". Maybe the show had lost the plot by now. "Motormouth" replaced it in September '88.
Monday, 1 March 2010
Where's Richard and Judy Then Love?
Scottish Television in-vision continuity & closedown - 1987
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRyXvVGCEWo
One of the more memorable continuity videos I've seen on Youtube. Read on, and you'll find out what I mean by the title...
This is from the Scottish ITV (or rather STV) for the Scotland Central region, including Glasgow and Edinburgh. We have some of static idents at the beginning of the video, but hold tight, there's an in-vision announcer to come, introducing the TV schedule for the next day (Tuesday). In-vision announcing was a staple of British TV from the beginning, but became phased out gradually region-to-region in the 1990s.
In this video, Scottish keeps a firm identity in it's idents, with a block 80s-style 3D graphic of a thistle, an icon of Scotand. 1987 is the year the region celebrates 30 years of broadcasting. Then we have a clock ident, which was a mainstay in it's many forms for BBC and Channel 4, but these style of idents have all dissappeared now. So we turn to Liz Kristiansen, who tells us the main highlights of tomorrow. Taking from the fact, Liz is discussing a programme about the "Fringe Festival" in Edinburgh, this must be August, and the shedule look summer holiday-ish, with children's programmes running in the morning like "Rainbow" and "Captain Scarlet", and not at lunchtimes. So it's basically, your highlights, then the schedule in full with some nice luminous 80s pink/blue graphics, then reminders of catching your local radio stations tomorrow, Radio Clyde for the west, Radio Forth for the east. However, what is strange about this clip?
Yes, over a year before "This Morning" reached our screens with Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan, here is a prototype to the "This Morning" theme song, which sounds even more dated and 80s than the future one. The song comes in, when the full schedule is announced. No over-the-top saxophone here I'm afraid, but there is a little sax, and it gets a solo too. It doesn't sound like the theme at first, but you hear a little more, and a little light comes on, and aha! So...
Anyone for Netball World Championship on the box?
Scottish Television got rid of in-vision announcer in October 1991. If you don't live in the Ulster region, then the only sort of in-vision announcers you will be see, will be for children's programmes like CBBC and "yoof" TV in the form of "T4" on channel 4.
Liz Kristiansen remained on Scottish as an off-screen announcer after 1991. Her career on Scottish spanned from the mid-80s to 1994.
And how could I forget! At the end of the video is our Queen Liz, still-frame, and our prestigious national anthem is played, as the channel is over and out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRyXvVGCEWo
One of the more memorable continuity videos I've seen on Youtube. Read on, and you'll find out what I mean by the title...
This is from the Scottish ITV (or rather STV) for the Scotland Central region, including Glasgow and Edinburgh. We have some of static idents at the beginning of the video, but hold tight, there's an in-vision announcer to come, introducing the TV schedule for the next day (Tuesday). In-vision announcing was a staple of British TV from the beginning, but became phased out gradually region-to-region in the 1990s.
In this video, Scottish keeps a firm identity in it's idents, with a block 80s-style 3D graphic of a thistle, an icon of Scotand. 1987 is the year the region celebrates 30 years of broadcasting. Then we have a clock ident, which was a mainstay in it's many forms for BBC and Channel 4, but these style of idents have all dissappeared now. So we turn to Liz Kristiansen, who tells us the main highlights of tomorrow. Taking from the fact, Liz is discussing a programme about the "Fringe Festival" in Edinburgh, this must be August, and the shedule look summer holiday-ish, with children's programmes running in the morning like "Rainbow" and "Captain Scarlet", and not at lunchtimes. So it's basically, your highlights, then the schedule in full with some nice luminous 80s pink/blue graphics, then reminders of catching your local radio stations tomorrow, Radio Clyde for the west, Radio Forth for the east. However, what is strange about this clip?
Yes, over a year before "This Morning" reached our screens with Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan, here is a prototype to the "This Morning" theme song, which sounds even more dated and 80s than the future one. The song comes in, when the full schedule is announced. No over-the-top saxophone here I'm afraid, but there is a little sax, and it gets a solo too. It doesn't sound like the theme at first, but you hear a little more, and a little light comes on, and aha! So...
Anyone for Netball World Championship on the box?
Scottish Television got rid of in-vision announcer in October 1991. If you don't live in the Ulster region, then the only sort of in-vision announcers you will be see, will be for children's programmes like CBBC and "yoof" TV in the form of "T4" on channel 4.
Liz Kristiansen remained on Scottish as an off-screen announcer after 1991. Her career on Scottish spanned from the mid-80s to 1994.
And how could I forget! At the end of the video is our Queen Liz, still-frame, and our prestigious national anthem is played, as the channel is over and out!
Friday, 26 February 2010
Bong...Another Heaping of Tory Sleaze, it's the 1990's of Course
ITN News at Ten - 1995
"News At Ten", the flagship news programme from ITN produced for ITV, enjoyed one of it's most popular and well-remembered runs in the early-late 90s, presented by Britain's first black newsreader Trevor McDonald, who began with ITV back in 1973. McDonald became the premier newsreader , when he became the sole newsreader for "News At Ten" 1992. This ear is much remembered also for the dramatic intro, using aerial flying camera footage of Big Ben over looking the Thames, and the almost frightening but you-know-this-news-is-going-to-be-important Big Ben bongs or dongs. Since it's shock axe and Trevor along with it, it has struggled to find it's feet after hundreds of schedule changes several times over and many beggings to bring back McDonald, made even harder by the BBC moving it's flagship news to "10 'O Clock" in 2000.
The clip begin with some ITV continuity for London Weekend Television including actor John Shaw in the forgotten police drama "The Chief", and London-only show "Richard Littlejohn Live and Uncut". The main story for "News At Ten" is a predictable one, which entertained viewers to no end. If it wasn't sleaze in John Major's cabinet or elected MP's, it's friends of the MP's or cabinets. Nothing new there. Also, unneccessary force from American police officers, bringing comparison to the Rodney King police beating murder inquiry, which led to the 1992 LA riots. The clip only involves the Trevor McDonlad links, not the detailed reports. Other headlines include a disabled rights protest at Westminster and Seagull expert and French footballer Eric Cantona stays with Manchester United. Horah! We also see more continuity later from GMTV, celebrating 40 years after VE Day (Victory in Europe Day -from Hitler and the Nazis and such), no doubt Eammon Holmes and Lorraine Kelly are the best people for that occasion.
"News At Ten", the flagship news programme from ITN produced for ITV, enjoyed one of it's most popular and well-remembered runs in the early-late 90s, presented by Britain's first black newsreader Trevor McDonald, who began with ITV back in 1973. McDonald became the premier newsreader , when he became the sole newsreader for "News At Ten" 1992. This ear is much remembered also for the dramatic intro, using aerial flying camera footage of Big Ben over looking the Thames, and the almost frightening but you-know-this-news-is-going-to-be-important Big Ben bongs or dongs. Since it's shock axe and Trevor along with it, it has struggled to find it's feet after hundreds of schedule changes several times over and many beggings to bring back McDonald, made even harder by the BBC moving it's flagship news to "10 'O Clock" in 2000.
The clip begin with some ITV continuity for London Weekend Television including actor John Shaw in the forgotten police drama "The Chief", and London-only show "Richard Littlejohn Live and Uncut". The main story for "News At Ten" is a predictable one, which entertained viewers to no end. If it wasn't sleaze in John Major's cabinet or elected MP's, it's friends of the MP's or cabinets. Nothing new there. Also, unneccessary force from American police officers, bringing comparison to the Rodney King police beating murder inquiry, which led to the 1992 LA riots. The clip only involves the Trevor McDonlad links, not the detailed reports. Other headlines include a disabled rights protest at Westminster and Seagull expert and French footballer Eric Cantona stays with Manchester United. Horah! We also see more continuity later from GMTV, celebrating 40 years after VE Day (Victory in Europe Day -from Hitler and the Nazis and such), no doubt Eammon Holmes and Lorraine Kelly are the best people for that occasion.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
What is this Mess?
Fiona Corke & Peter Vroom on Motormouth
A star-filled, Pantomime-themed quiz section of the -I think- second series of ITV's Saturday morning "Motormouth". Here we see Andy Crane, sneakily jumping ship from the BBC Broom Cupboard to CITV, dressed as a pirate, talking to Yvette Fielding, no it's not, it's Fiona Corke (you may know her as Gail Robinson, nee Lewis, main squeeze of Paul Robinson at the time, from Australian soap "Neighbours"). So Corke and "Home and Away" actor Peter Vroom (played Lance Smart) against Frank "That's a cracker!" Carson and yes it's a man in drag impersonating Margaret Thatcher, how distinctly accurate. That man was Steve Nallon, who voiced the Maggie Thatcher puppet in the adult political satire "Spitting Image" in it's 80s heyday. Gameshow "God" and "Krypton Factor" presenter Gordon Burns asking the questions. A quite anarchaic, good-humoured mallett-chugging quiz ensues between the main presenters of the show. The celebrities hit the presenter on the head with a mallett if they get the questions wrong, it seems. A little under-utilised on the celebrities behalf, and done much better by Timmy Mallett...Bleurgh.
The main presenters of the show we see participating are Gaby Roslin, who would go onto greater fame presenting with Chris Evans on Channel 4's "Big Breakfast", Steve Johnson and Neil Buchanan, who in the same year of 1989 piloted a little-known show called "Art Attack".
"Motormouth" was a successful ITV Saturday morning show which ran for 4 series, between 1988-1992. The show took it's name from the motorised large mouth, which featured on the set. Coming after the axed "No.73", it ran on a schedule from Autumn to Spring. It wasn't as set-in-the-stone as the BBC's "Going Live!" was in terms of format, as it evolved and improved in later series. It had however, a great set of American-made cartoons, the ones that bribe your parents to buy the toys, like "The Real Ghostbusters", "She-Ra: Princess of Power", 60s favourite "Scooby Doo" and the Japanese parody of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Samurai Pizza Cats".
A star-filled, Pantomime-themed quiz section of the -I think- second series of ITV's Saturday morning "Motormouth". Here we see Andy Crane, sneakily jumping ship from the BBC Broom Cupboard to CITV, dressed as a pirate, talking to Yvette Fielding, no it's not, it's Fiona Corke (you may know her as Gail Robinson, nee Lewis, main squeeze of Paul Robinson at the time, from Australian soap "Neighbours"). So Corke and "Home and Away" actor Peter Vroom (played Lance Smart) against Frank "That's a cracker!" Carson and yes it's a man in drag impersonating Margaret Thatcher, how distinctly accurate. That man was Steve Nallon, who voiced the Maggie Thatcher puppet in the adult political satire "Spitting Image" in it's 80s heyday. Gameshow "God" and "Krypton Factor" presenter Gordon Burns asking the questions. A quite anarchaic, good-humoured mallett-chugging quiz ensues between the main presenters of the show. The celebrities hit the presenter on the head with a mallett if they get the questions wrong, it seems. A little under-utilised on the celebrities behalf, and done much better by Timmy Mallett...Bleurgh.
The main presenters of the show we see participating are Gaby Roslin, who would go onto greater fame presenting with Chris Evans on Channel 4's "Big Breakfast", Steve Johnson and Neil Buchanan, who in the same year of 1989 piloted a little-known show called "Art Attack".
"Motormouth" was a successful ITV Saturday morning show which ran for 4 series, between 1988-1992. The show took it's name from the motorised large mouth, which featured on the set. Coming after the axed "No.73", it ran on a schedule from Autumn to Spring. It wasn't as set-in-the-stone as the BBC's "Going Live!" was in terms of format, as it evolved and improved in later series. It had however, a great set of American-made cartoons, the ones that bribe your parents to buy the toys, like "The Real Ghostbusters", "She-Ra: Princess of Power", 60s favourite "Scooby Doo" and the Japanese parody of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Samurai Pizza Cats".
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Godawful 90's Dating Gameshow, Women May Cheer but Men, Look Away Now!
ITV Saturday Evening 01.06.1996 - 'Man O Man' with Chris Tarrant
This tacky gameshow was like Blind Date's embarrassing and uninhibited younger sister, but it's not a dating show! Presented by Chris Tarrant, who's been a dab hand at presenting and smutty or anarchaic shows undeterred, like the adult version of "Tiswas" in the early eighties, "OTT" and "Tarrant On TV" which showed outrageous TV clips from around the globe. To be fair, Tarrant makes an ideal host here, as he takes it all in his stride, neither crude or saint-like. It was in an age of "Girl Power", where in the media, it was becoming allowable for women to get the upperhand over the men.
"Man O Man" began in 1996, with this faux-tropicana set starring a boisterous audience of hot-blooded women, but not exactly to "Chippendale"-like levels. This clip features the first round of the contest for men to impress the female audience, and the swarm of gorgeous female models, non-dateable of course. This was merely to find the most attractive man on all fields, not just looks. However having looks helps in this first round, which is both the worst and most memorable part of the show, the first impressions round. So all 10 men stand with a swimming pool behind them. If you're an average Joe or have a face that could break a mirror, then you're in trouble! The men who are saved for the next round are kissed by a different model, but the unlucky 2 are teased, then pushed into the pool. Arrrgggh! Feel sorry for those guys!
Also, one of the models featured in the clip who pushes one of the guys, you may know as glamour model Nell McAndrew, probably most well known for appearing in ITV's first ever series of reality show of living it rough in the Australian jungle, "I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here" in 2002.
The later rounds consisted of more of the remaining men's personalities coming through to impress the women. The show was a moderate success, and the format was taken from a European show, but didn't match the original's success. The second elimination round was personality, then "party-piece", "chat-up lines" and another cringeworthy moment being having to undress to their undies in the final 'hunks in trunks' round. After all that, the prize they are given is a real cheap token of manhood...a motorbike? If I was voted the most desirable man in the local vicinity, I would would wanting a prize that "gives back" to reward my radiant splendour.
This tacky gameshow was like Blind Date's embarrassing and uninhibited younger sister, but it's not a dating show! Presented by Chris Tarrant, who's been a dab hand at presenting and smutty or anarchaic shows undeterred, like the adult version of "Tiswas" in the early eighties, "OTT" and "Tarrant On TV" which showed outrageous TV clips from around the globe. To be fair, Tarrant makes an ideal host here, as he takes it all in his stride, neither crude or saint-like. It was in an age of "Girl Power", where in the media, it was becoming allowable for women to get the upperhand over the men.
"Man O Man" began in 1996, with this faux-tropicana set starring a boisterous audience of hot-blooded women, but not exactly to "Chippendale"-like levels. This clip features the first round of the contest for men to impress the female audience, and the swarm of gorgeous female models, non-dateable of course. This was merely to find the most attractive man on all fields, not just looks. However having looks helps in this first round, which is both the worst and most memorable part of the show, the first impressions round. So all 10 men stand with a swimming pool behind them. If you're an average Joe or have a face that could break a mirror, then you're in trouble! The men who are saved for the next round are kissed by a different model, but the unlucky 2 are teased, then pushed into the pool. Arrrgggh! Feel sorry for those guys!
Also, one of the models featured in the clip who pushes one of the guys, you may know as glamour model Nell McAndrew, probably most well known for appearing in ITV's first ever series of reality show of living it rough in the Australian jungle, "I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here" in 2002.
The later rounds consisted of more of the remaining men's personalities coming through to impress the women. The show was a moderate success, and the format was taken from a European show, but didn't match the original's success. The second elimination round was personality, then "party-piece", "chat-up lines" and another cringeworthy moment being having to undress to their undies in the final 'hunks in trunks' round. After all that, the prize they are given is a real cheap token of manhood...a motorbike? If I was voted the most desirable man in the local vicinity, I would would wanting a prize that "gives back" to reward my radiant splendour.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Oh, Big Boy! Watch me Ride (hmmm) the Pony
THE PIPKINS - Hartley Hare visits the dentist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ayM2XqtFY
Oh, this is hilarious. Hartley Hare is a scruffy, wavy-armed looking puppet thing, with a camp but witty tone of manner, not to mention, he's got a bit of an ego, and a little off-the-wall. Watch, if only for him riding the rocking horse, in the Dentist waiting room! Here we see sweet tooth Pipkins go with his friend Johnny (played by Wayne Laryea) to the Dentist. Surely one of the best kid's shows from the 70s! This was suppoesed to be a pre-school programme. Seems quite advanced compared to what you have now. The Dentist gives a running commentary of what he's doing as the tiny puppet sits in the dentists chair, including cleaning and washing his teeth. It starts cut off from the beginning, but contains most of the episode. Nigel Plaskitt, who would later lend his voice in such programmes like "Spitting Image" and 2005's "Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet", is the voice of Hartley Hare.
The programme focused on a group of puppets who lived in a puppet workshop with their maker. Hartley Hare is the most remembered, along with Pig, Tortoise (as shown in this clip), Topov the Monkey and Octavia the Ostrich. The show began in 1973, originally called "Indigo Pipkins", in reference to the elderly puppet maker of the same name. However the actor for the role, George Woodbridge died during filming of the second series, so the title just became "Pipkins". It ran alongside "Rainbow at the lunchtime hour on weekdays.
What was influential about the programme, was it referred on-screen about the death in 1974 as he was central to the show, becoming the first children's programme to make reference to death, long before "Sesame Street" did in 1983. It was also the first children's TV programme to feature regional accents, like Black Country and Cockney. The show ended in 1981, when multi-regional producers ATV(Associated Television),was dismantled to make way for Central Television, and replaced with "Let's Pretend". "Pipkins" was popular though, right to the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ayM2XqtFY
Oh, this is hilarious. Hartley Hare is a scruffy, wavy-armed looking puppet thing, with a camp but witty tone of manner, not to mention, he's got a bit of an ego, and a little off-the-wall. Watch, if only for him riding the rocking horse, in the Dentist waiting room! Here we see sweet tooth Pipkins go with his friend Johnny (played by Wayne Laryea) to the Dentist. Surely one of the best kid's shows from the 70s! This was suppoesed to be a pre-school programme. Seems quite advanced compared to what you have now. The Dentist gives a running commentary of what he's doing as the tiny puppet sits in the dentists chair, including cleaning and washing his teeth. It starts cut off from the beginning, but contains most of the episode. Nigel Plaskitt, who would later lend his voice in such programmes like "Spitting Image" and 2005's "Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet", is the voice of Hartley Hare.
The programme focused on a group of puppets who lived in a puppet workshop with their maker. Hartley Hare is the most remembered, along with Pig, Tortoise (as shown in this clip), Topov the Monkey and Octavia the Ostrich. The show began in 1973, originally called "Indigo Pipkins", in reference to the elderly puppet maker of the same name. However the actor for the role, George Woodbridge died during filming of the second series, so the title just became "Pipkins". It ran alongside "Rainbow at the lunchtime hour on weekdays.
What was influential about the programme, was it referred on-screen about the death in 1974 as he was central to the show, becoming the first children's programme to make reference to death, long before "Sesame Street" did in 1983. It was also the first children's TV programme to feature regional accents, like Black Country and Cockney. The show ended in 1981, when multi-regional producers ATV(Associated Television),was dismantled to make way for Central Television, and replaced with "Let's Pretend". "Pipkins" was popular though, right to the end.
Monday, 22 February 2010
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"?
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"?
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Weekday Morning TV Finds a Pulse...Helped by 917 Pigeons in Trafalgar Square
the 1st tv am
From the 1st February 1983, TV-AM breaks onto our screens, 2 weeks after the BBC's first ever foray into plush, cosy sofa and woolly jumpers which was "Breakfast Time. Before then, there was absolutely nothing on daytime TV, never mind breakfast TV! In the very early days it was blank, then came along the test cards and ceefax pages. It felt almost brain dead, not forgetting the no-frills Open University programmes, perhaps interesting for bores like me, but terribly twee and boring for some.
In this clip, it's genuine continuity featuring a long version of the TV-AM theme. If you want to to just go to the iconic TV-AM intro, go to 2 mins 15 secs into the youtube video, and also see those first words by one of 5 presenters for the show, the main, main anchor of the show, David Frost. The team of five were interviewers David Frost and Michael Parkinson and newscasters Angela Rippon, Anna Ford and Robert Kee. The famous five were also shareholders in the TV-AM franchise, believe it or not. The intro is done on a large scale, really pinning down the fact this is a must-see evolution/revolution of Breakfast TV. Frost gives us a lowdown on all the particiapants that helped form the slogan of TV-AM "Good Morning Britain". Parachutists/sky divers, the people of Bristol, the British Navy and "917 pigeons of Trafalgar Square". How do they know that? And how did they get them to form the word "Morning"? Alright, probably carefully designed metal cased lettering frames with snacks in them. Mystery solved.
Now, there is no Anne Diamond or Nick Owen here at this point! This first version of the show was well, you couldn't say a flop with such distinguished stars of the show, but there was no chemistry between the presenters, and Parkinson and Frost, perhaps too stuffy for what was suppoesed be a more relaxed form of news and lifestyle output. TV-AM ran from 6am-9.15am originally, but extended to 9.25 am later.
4 of the 5 presenters were dumped, the exception being David Frost, who would be moved from main presenter to the more familiar territory of Politics. TV-AM still struggled financially and with ratings but gradually improved in 1984 under Diamond's and Owen's chemistry. The best Breakfast TV shows always seem to be the ones where the main male and female are good at fabricating themselves as a married couple, bickering but never awkward for a moment together.
So this is when TV-AM improved, with of course Roland Rat and later Timmy Mallett's "Wacaday" for the kids, and you had a real good cast of some strong presenters like Richard Keys, keep-fit extradinaire Lizzie Webb, Chris Tarrant in the summer, creepy Jeremy Beadle in his "Today's the Day" section, David Icke in the sports department, before he went mad, the bubbly Lorraine Kelly near the end of the franchise's run, Ulrika Jonsson as the weather girl, and who can forget cheerful, mustached Mike Morris, who seems to have disappeared from TV since TV-AM lost the right to broadcast, after being outbidded by GMTV (Good Morning TeleVision)?
TV-AM lost their franchise beginning from New Year's Day in 1993, their last edition the day before. This was also the day Thames Television lost their franchise of ITV's London region, but whose programmes were also known nationally, replace by Carlton Television. The result of this also saw a more centralised ITV as some regional TV regions were merged or their output was reduced.
I hear it all the time, many say TV-AM would've been doing a much better job than GMTV, which is now less news-focused and more about showbiz and entertainment news, but it is now a long time ago over 17 years since TV-AM, when "zleb" culture did not carry about the "famous for nothing" mantle. Who knows?
From the 1st February 1983, TV-AM breaks onto our screens, 2 weeks after the BBC's first ever foray into plush, cosy sofa and woolly jumpers which was "Breakfast Time. Before then, there was absolutely nothing on daytime TV, never mind breakfast TV! In the very early days it was blank, then came along the test cards and ceefax pages. It felt almost brain dead, not forgetting the no-frills Open University programmes, perhaps interesting for bores like me, but terribly twee and boring for some.
In this clip, it's genuine continuity featuring a long version of the TV-AM theme. If you want to to just go to the iconic TV-AM intro, go to 2 mins 15 secs into the youtube video, and also see those first words by one of 5 presenters for the show, the main, main anchor of the show, David Frost. The team of five were interviewers David Frost and Michael Parkinson and newscasters Angela Rippon, Anna Ford and Robert Kee. The famous five were also shareholders in the TV-AM franchise, believe it or not. The intro is done on a large scale, really pinning down the fact this is a must-see evolution/revolution of Breakfast TV. Frost gives us a lowdown on all the particiapants that helped form the slogan of TV-AM "Good Morning Britain". Parachutists/sky divers, the people of Bristol, the British Navy and "917 pigeons of Trafalgar Square". How do they know that? And how did they get them to form the word "Morning"? Alright, probably carefully designed metal cased lettering frames with snacks in them. Mystery solved.
Now, there is no Anne Diamond or Nick Owen here at this point! This first version of the show was well, you couldn't say a flop with such distinguished stars of the show, but there was no chemistry between the presenters, and Parkinson and Frost, perhaps too stuffy for what was suppoesed be a more relaxed form of news and lifestyle output. TV-AM ran from 6am-9.15am originally, but extended to 9.25 am later.
4 of the 5 presenters were dumped, the exception being David Frost, who would be moved from main presenter to the more familiar territory of Politics. TV-AM still struggled financially and with ratings but gradually improved in 1984 under Diamond's and Owen's chemistry. The best Breakfast TV shows always seem to be the ones where the main male and female are good at fabricating themselves as a married couple, bickering but never awkward for a moment together.
So this is when TV-AM improved, with of course Roland Rat and later Timmy Mallett's "Wacaday" for the kids, and you had a real good cast of some strong presenters like Richard Keys, keep-fit extradinaire Lizzie Webb, Chris Tarrant in the summer, creepy Jeremy Beadle in his "Today's the Day" section, David Icke in the sports department, before he went mad, the bubbly Lorraine Kelly near the end of the franchise's run, Ulrika Jonsson as the weather girl, and who can forget cheerful, mustached Mike Morris, who seems to have disappeared from TV since TV-AM lost the right to broadcast, after being outbidded by GMTV (Good Morning TeleVision)?
TV-AM lost their franchise beginning from New Year's Day in 1993, their last edition the day before. This was also the day Thames Television lost their franchise of ITV's London region, but whose programmes were also known nationally, replace by Carlton Television. The result of this also saw a more centralised ITV as some regional TV regions were merged or their output was reduced.
I hear it all the time, many say TV-AM would've been doing a much better job than GMTV, which is now less news-focused and more about showbiz and entertainment news, but it is now a long time ago over 17 years since TV-AM, when "zleb" culture did not carry about the "famous for nothing" mantle. Who knows?
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Alreet, Going Doon the Toon for a Reet Ol' Crack
Geordie Comedy From The Late 1970s - Part One
An 8 part obscure wonder of bygone times. We focus yet on again on regional comedy, this time from the North East of England or Tyneside region, from which the classic "Geordie" tag originated, especially referred to people born in the city of Newcastle. If you like your comedy, working class, northern, old school, and swear word-free, then you might very well enjoy this massive compilation of not only North East comedians, many you might never have heard of, but Scottish and Irish comedians too. This is from an obscure regional programme produced by Tyne Tees Television called "What Fettle?", and ran only for over a year between 1977-1978. The show took place in what looked like your typical comedy club,with some wiry 70s garb in the background, and the ever-so-slightly Americanised, small intimate tables with over-sized lamps! Featuring interview segments and some off-location clips. Also, marvel at the sheer ease of stand-up Bobby Thompson, puffing away on his cigarette as he fires off his stories and jokes about life in the North East.
Also, look 31 seconds into the first part, a man in audience looks a lot like future Tory MP,and member of the Tory sleaze club, Chelsea football supporter David Mellor? I could be wrong, but it's quite hard to believe!
"What Fettle?" is a Geordie expression, best described by the "Urban Dictionary":
"A greeting , mainly used by older members of the community in North East Mining communities, latterly bastardised by younger members of the community to signify the achievement of the physical act of love,when such topics are discussed in a public house etc."
The cast of comedians and entertainers include: Bobby Thompson, Billy Martin, Bobby Hooper, "Rab C. Nesbitt" look-a-like Alan Snell, the "charming" evening-gowned Scarlet O'Hara, Bobby Knoxall, Bobby Pattinson, Lambert and Ross, Peter Mitchell, the Dixielander and Walter Gee. Phew.
An 8 part obscure wonder of bygone times. We focus yet on again on regional comedy, this time from the North East of England or Tyneside region, from which the classic "Geordie" tag originated, especially referred to people born in the city of Newcastle. If you like your comedy, working class, northern, old school, and swear word-free, then you might very well enjoy this massive compilation of not only North East comedians, many you might never have heard of, but Scottish and Irish comedians too. This is from an obscure regional programme produced by Tyne Tees Television called "What Fettle?", and ran only for over a year between 1977-1978. The show took place in what looked like your typical comedy club,with some wiry 70s garb in the background, and the ever-so-slightly Americanised, small intimate tables with over-sized lamps! Featuring interview segments and some off-location clips. Also, marvel at the sheer ease of stand-up Bobby Thompson, puffing away on his cigarette as he fires off his stories and jokes about life in the North East.
Also, look 31 seconds into the first part, a man in audience looks a lot like future Tory MP,and member of the Tory sleaze club, Chelsea football supporter David Mellor? I could be wrong, but it's quite hard to believe!
"What Fettle?" is a Geordie expression, best described by the "Urban Dictionary":
"A greeting , mainly used by older members of the community in North East Mining communities, latterly bastardised by younger members of the community to signify the achievement of the physical act of love,when such topics are discussed in a public house etc."
The cast of comedians and entertainers include: Bobby Thompson, Billy Martin, Bobby Hooper, "Rab C. Nesbitt" look-a-like Alan Snell, the "charming" evening-gowned Scarlet O'Hara, Bobby Knoxall, Bobby Pattinson, Lambert and Ross, Peter Mitchell, the Dixielander and Walter Gee. Phew.
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