1976-uk drought crisis and heatwave.-august report.
Showing posts with label 1970's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1970's. Show all posts
Saturday, 24 August 2013
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
It's Louis Armstrong Meets the Sugar Puff Monster; It's Tom Waits!
Tom Waits - Tom Traubert's Blues - 1977
A young looking Tom Waits here, with that even more unbelieveable deep, gruff and powerful singing voice. This a pretty long song, it's "Tom Traubert's Blues" from Waits' 1976 album "Small Change", and is the opening song on the collection. Tom Waits vocal delivery is indeed inspired by Jazz great Louis Armstrong, I didn't realise that before I did the title, honest!
A young looking Tom Waits here, with that even more unbelieveable deep, gruff and powerful singing voice. This a pretty long song, it's "Tom Traubert's Blues" from Waits' 1976 album "Small Change", and is the opening song on the collection. Tom Waits vocal delivery is indeed inspired by Jazz great Louis Armstrong, I didn't realise that before I did the title, honest!
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?".
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Rabies is a Threat? That Character from "Maid Marian and Her Merry Men"? I Knew It!
Rabies Outbreak (1976) - Public Information Film
Although Rabies never really gets talked about much these days, it's still a serious infection, it's just that us, western spoiled-types are all vaccinated, as well as domestic warm-blooded animals and livestock. Old news, maybe but, if you live in a poor country in Africa or Asia, you can still be killed from it. It's fatal from the word go. That doesn't mean this overly-charged PIF isn't immune from some of the classic scaremongering that was going on in PIF's in those days. You can get rabies from basically any mammal, but why is so much to blame on the dogs? This PIF warns of all domestic animals being a danger, but 1 poor dog is the centre of the piece, revered like a killer. Dogs get most of the stick because, out of the 2 domestic mammals that are allowed to roam freely, not from a farm, cats are more controlled in their behaviour, although not perfect. Dogs like to put just about anything into their mouths out of curiosity or whatnot.
The situation of the film, poses like it's a nuclear fall-out zone. Rabies areas are cordoned off, all foxes are to be killed, no free moving of mutts and felines and worst of all, no cat shows and dog shows! Better off without them actually. The dog featured, faces execution as non-verbally told by the PIF.
Although Rabies never really gets talked about much these days, it's still a serious infection, it's just that us, western spoiled-types are all vaccinated, as well as domestic warm-blooded animals and livestock. Old news, maybe but, if you live in a poor country in Africa or Asia, you can still be killed from it. It's fatal from the word go. That doesn't mean this overly-charged PIF isn't immune from some of the classic scaremongering that was going on in PIF's in those days. You can get rabies from basically any mammal, but why is so much to blame on the dogs? This PIF warns of all domestic animals being a danger, but 1 poor dog is the centre of the piece, revered like a killer. Dogs get most of the stick because, out of the 2 domestic mammals that are allowed to roam freely, not from a farm, cats are more controlled in their behaviour, although not perfect. Dogs like to put just about anything into their mouths out of curiosity or whatnot.
The situation of the film, poses like it's a nuclear fall-out zone. Rabies areas are cordoned off, all foxes are to be killed, no free moving of mutts and felines and worst of all, no cat shows and dog shows! Better off without them actually. The dog featured, faces execution as non-verbally told by the PIF.
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.
He's Dead, but he's not "Dead" Dead
Third Doctor regenerates - Doctor Who: Planet of the Spiders - BBC
One of the famous regeneration scenes from renowned Sci-Fi drama "Doctor Who". Well, it needs no introduction. Here we see the changing of actors for the role of "The Doctor" to arguably the Proverbial measuring stick from what all past and future Doctor Who's are measured: Tom Baker. In online polls, Baker is nearly always voted as the best Doctor ever. Jon Pertwee, the third actor to play Doctor Who, regenerates into Tom Baker in this Youtube clip after being fatally affected by Metebelis crystals. What are they? Blue crystals from planet Metebelis III of course. Tom Baker only features for a microsecond in the clip. This regeneration is much different from the more modern day regenerations like David Tennant to Matt Smith, full of all the bells and whistles, cosmic rays flying all over the place. Pertwee just goes to sleep peacefully.
The Doctor's assistant who appears here is Sarah Jane Smith (played by Elisabeth Sladen), in which is the climax of the six-part "Planet of the Spiders". The strange broken-English character who appears is abbot K’Anpo Rinpoche, who is a Time Lord like Doctor Who, who has newly regenerated. A bit of a hippy, he leads a peaceful exile on Earth.
Jon Pertwee played the Doctor from 1970 to 1974. Tom Baker became the longest incarnation of the Doctor, and still, lasting 7 years from 1974-1981. David Tennant became the second longest running Doctor, with a good 5 years in the Tardis (2005-2010).
One of the famous regeneration scenes from renowned Sci-Fi drama "Doctor Who". Well, it needs no introduction. Here we see the changing of actors for the role of "The Doctor" to arguably the Proverbial measuring stick from what all past and future Doctor Who's are measured: Tom Baker. In online polls, Baker is nearly always voted as the best Doctor ever. Jon Pertwee, the third actor to play Doctor Who, regenerates into Tom Baker in this Youtube clip after being fatally affected by Metebelis crystals. What are they? Blue crystals from planet Metebelis III of course. Tom Baker only features for a microsecond in the clip. This regeneration is much different from the more modern day regenerations like David Tennant to Matt Smith, full of all the bells and whistles, cosmic rays flying all over the place. Pertwee just goes to sleep peacefully.
The Doctor's assistant who appears here is Sarah Jane Smith (played by Elisabeth Sladen), in which is the climax of the six-part "Planet of the Spiders". The strange broken-English character who appears is abbot K’Anpo Rinpoche, who is a Time Lord like Doctor Who, who has newly regenerated. A bit of a hippy, he leads a peaceful exile on Earth.
Jon Pertwee played the Doctor from 1970 to 1974. Tom Baker became the longest incarnation of the Doctor, and still, lasting 7 years from 1974-1981. David Tennant became the second longest running Doctor, with a good 5 years in the Tardis (2005-2010).
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.
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Fun In the Sun
peters and lee
This was a variety show, that sort of alternated with the Victorian throw-back "The Good Old Days", although much more president in the summer months of the year, on once a week from June to September. It was 70s kitsch wrapped into a family seaside outing for all. The main show was usually presented in a circus big-top tent with some acts outdoors, if the weather's nice. This clip shows only presenter links from musicians Peters and Lee, and their actual performance, but we do get to see those all-important title for the show, which I can't find anywhere else. Well, the titles aren't that great, a cameraman walks in the way of an on-going act. What's up with that? Plus too much emphasis on women's posteriors. Oh, you'll have a look now won't you!
"Peters and Lee" are a male-female singing duo, most well known for their hit song "Welcome Home". Seaside Special ended in 1979, but came back in the 80s with a less gimmicky beach setting, under "Summertime Special" beginning in 1981, to 1988.
This was a variety show, that sort of alternated with the Victorian throw-back "The Good Old Days", although much more president in the summer months of the year, on once a week from June to September. It was 70s kitsch wrapped into a family seaside outing for all. The main show was usually presented in a circus big-top tent with some acts outdoors, if the weather's nice. This clip shows only presenter links from musicians Peters and Lee, and their actual performance, but we do get to see those all-important title for the show, which I can't find anywhere else. Well, the titles aren't that great, a cameraman walks in the way of an on-going act. What's up with that? Plus too much emphasis on women's posteriors. Oh, you'll have a look now won't you!
"Peters and Lee" are a male-female singing duo, most well known for their hit song "Welcome Home". Seaside Special ended in 1979, but came back in the 80s with a less gimmicky beach setting, under "Summertime Special" beginning in 1981, to 1988.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Michael Foot Appearing on the First Ever BBC "Question Time"
The First Ever Question Time (BBC - 25 September, 1979) [Part One]
In light of the death of former Labour leader (from 1980-1983) Michael Foot, who has died at the age of 96 today, here is the most extensive footage I can find of him on Youtube. Coverage of Foot is pretty scant on the website at the moment, but I'm sure that will correct itself soon. This is when Michael Foot was a leading candidate to become the next leader of the Labour Party after Prime Minister James Callaghan's downfall to Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives at the May 1979 General Election. Presented by Robin Day, the panel is completed by former Scottish Conservative MP Teddy Taylor, (who lost his Glasgow Cathcart seat at the previous election) Irish novelist Edna 'O Brien and Archbishop Derek Worlock. This is the first and full edition of "Question Time", in six parts of 10 mins+.
"Question Time" was a topical discussion show that tour in studios, church halls and various other venues around the UK, and would contain a local audience with a scale of wide-ranging view. Members of the audience would be able to ask pre-selected questions (sometimes wonder if they're not their own questions but volunteers for BBC production staff allowable queries for the show), asking a selected number of politicans plus religious leaders and artistic intellectuals (now, pillored with perhaps a celebrity, who is sometimes clueless!). Mostly serious issues are discussed, lighter issues may be asked at the end of the show.
The issues discussed in this episode are the Pope John Paul II's visit to Ireland and whether he should've went to Northern Ireland ("The Troubles" era) and how a story of animals trapped in an aeroplane in Rome had top billing over the state of the economy in the news (aww, we're such animal lovers us Brits), and more.
"Question Time" was not intended to last long, as it has. The BBC, much like the viewing audience, had tired of the 5-nighter that was "Parkinson" the chat show, and reduced it to 3 nights a week, and to be replaced by something different in tone, more serious. Little to be known at the time, the show has now been running for over 30 years. Robin Day hung up his anchoring boots in 1989, then-Channel 4 newsreader Peter Sission took over for a few years, and David Dimbleby has presented the show since 1994.
Michael Foot was leader of the Labour party at a tulmutuous time for the party. Foot was one of the intellectual members of the left wing of the party. A somewhat eccentric manner and look to the man, infamous for wearing a "donkey jacket" at the cenotaph at Remembrance Sunday in 1981. He was though a great orator of the old guard of politicians, never a man to personally please the media, but did things his way. His leadership from 1980-1983, was very unsuccessful, as his anti-war stance and plea for unilateral nuclear disarmament, was not greeted well by voters, especially as PM Maggie Thatcher boldly went to war with Argentina and won quickly, after their invasion of the Falklands Island, a British colony. This bolstered Thatcher's Conservatives they smashed Labour in the 1983 General election. Despite that, Foot was also set back by the plight of the Labour party almost coming to breaking point in 1981, when right wing Labour MP's "The Gang of Four" left for a breakaway party, "The Social Democratic Party", headed by Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Shirley Williams and Bill Rodgers. Further party in-fighting continued, and Foot's manifesto for the 1983 election was labelled "the longest suicide note in history" by right-wing Labour MP Gerald Kaufman.
Although Foot's leadership was a failure, he was a vital part in keeping the party together, until it blossomed under his old apprentice Neil Kinnock. Also, some experts claim, some economic warnings heeded by Foot could've helped Britain stop the full brunt of the 2008 recession.
In light of the death of former Labour leader (from 1980-1983) Michael Foot, who has died at the age of 96 today, here is the most extensive footage I can find of him on Youtube. Coverage of Foot is pretty scant on the website at the moment, but I'm sure that will correct itself soon. This is when Michael Foot was a leading candidate to become the next leader of the Labour Party after Prime Minister James Callaghan's downfall to Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives at the May 1979 General Election. Presented by Robin Day, the panel is completed by former Scottish Conservative MP Teddy Taylor, (who lost his Glasgow Cathcart seat at the previous election) Irish novelist Edna 'O Brien and Archbishop Derek Worlock. This is the first and full edition of "Question Time", in six parts of 10 mins+.
"Question Time" was a topical discussion show that tour in studios, church halls and various other venues around the UK, and would contain a local audience with a scale of wide-ranging view. Members of the audience would be able to ask pre-selected questions (sometimes wonder if they're not their own questions but volunteers for BBC production staff allowable queries for the show), asking a selected number of politicans plus religious leaders and artistic intellectuals (now, pillored with perhaps a celebrity, who is sometimes clueless!). Mostly serious issues are discussed, lighter issues may be asked at the end of the show.
The issues discussed in this episode are the Pope John Paul II's visit to Ireland and whether he should've went to Northern Ireland ("The Troubles" era) and how a story of animals trapped in an aeroplane in Rome had top billing over the state of the economy in the news (aww, we're such animal lovers us Brits), and more.
"Question Time" was not intended to last long, as it has. The BBC, much like the viewing audience, had tired of the 5-nighter that was "Parkinson" the chat show, and reduced it to 3 nights a week, and to be replaced by something different in tone, more serious. Little to be known at the time, the show has now been running for over 30 years. Robin Day hung up his anchoring boots in 1989, then-Channel 4 newsreader Peter Sission took over for a few years, and David Dimbleby has presented the show since 1994.
Michael Foot was leader of the Labour party at a tulmutuous time for the party. Foot was one of the intellectual members of the left wing of the party. A somewhat eccentric manner and look to the man, infamous for wearing a "donkey jacket" at the cenotaph at Remembrance Sunday in 1981. He was though a great orator of the old guard of politicians, never a man to personally please the media, but did things his way. His leadership from 1980-1983, was very unsuccessful, as his anti-war stance and plea for unilateral nuclear disarmament, was not greeted well by voters, especially as PM Maggie Thatcher boldly went to war with Argentina and won quickly, after their invasion of the Falklands Island, a British colony. This bolstered Thatcher's Conservatives they smashed Labour in the 1983 General election. Despite that, Foot was also set back by the plight of the Labour party almost coming to breaking point in 1981, when right wing Labour MP's "The Gang of Four" left for a breakaway party, "The Social Democratic Party", headed by Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Shirley Williams and Bill Rodgers. Further party in-fighting continued, and Foot's manifesto for the 1983 election was labelled "the longest suicide note in history" by right-wing Labour MP Gerald Kaufman.
Although Foot's leadership was a failure, he was a vital part in keeping the party together, until it blossomed under his old apprentice Neil Kinnock. Also, some experts claim, some economic warnings heeded by Foot could've helped Britain stop the full brunt of the 2008 recession.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Please Allow Me to have 3 of the Earth Minutes and 51 of You're Earth Seconds for these Important Messages!
Cadbury's Smash Adverts, 1960s/1970s
It's a collection of 7 of the Cadbury Smash adverts. Most of which show the appearance of the famed metallic aliens, the Smash Martians guffawing at Earth's primitive ways to make mashed potato with the grueling peel and masher kitchen utensils. In an age, when fast food technology was growing and it's industry becoming more accessible and appealing such as ready meals when folk were beginning to buy freezer's, and the famed martian ads here, came out in the same year as the first McDonald's branch was to opened in the UK (1974).
"Smash" was instant mash once added with boiling water. Not real mash, but a mash substitute. Think along the line of "Quorn" burgers, which contain no meat, but plant/vegetable extracts.
The advertising campaign was an enormous success. The exaggerated extent to which the martians unleashed a humourous and mocking attack on ordinary mash, and the workings of such a trivial task was a piece of great marketing. The jingle for the product was effortlessly simple with a few piano keys, "For Mash Get Smash". The laughter of the martians are almost contagious. These adverts, especially the first one of the martians to feature in this video, is always, always featured in any best ever UK ads compilation shows and online polls. It's constantly near the very top for the best ever UK ad including 1st! The Smash Martian adverts were devised by British advertising agency "Boase Massimi Pollitt". The product still sells well today.
The first ad in the video is one from the 1960's and featuring humanoid spaceman, and is rather ordinary compared to what lies ahead. The Martian ads seem to be in chronological order, but I can't confirm that. The later ads seem slightly more elaborate and expensive compared to the earlier ones, enabling a first sighting of the Smash Martin household and a Smash Martin cat. My favourite of these ads, is the second one (the most famous of the campaign) and the sixth one, over-seeing a martian married couple kissing and the Martians rolling about laughing on the settee at an Earth TV channel's cookery show.
It's a collection of 7 of the Cadbury Smash adverts. Most of which show the appearance of the famed metallic aliens, the Smash Martians guffawing at Earth's primitive ways to make mashed potato with the grueling peel and masher kitchen utensils. In an age, when fast food technology was growing and it's industry becoming more accessible and appealing such as ready meals when folk were beginning to buy freezer's, and the famed martian ads here, came out in the same year as the first McDonald's branch was to opened in the UK (1974).
"Smash" was instant mash once added with boiling water. Not real mash, but a mash substitute. Think along the line of "Quorn" burgers, which contain no meat, but plant/vegetable extracts.
The advertising campaign was an enormous success. The exaggerated extent to which the martians unleashed a humourous and mocking attack on ordinary mash, and the workings of such a trivial task was a piece of great marketing. The jingle for the product was effortlessly simple with a few piano keys, "For Mash Get Smash". The laughter of the martians are almost contagious. These adverts, especially the first one of the martians to feature in this video, is always, always featured in any best ever UK ads compilation shows and online polls. It's constantly near the very top for the best ever UK ad including 1st! The Smash Martian adverts were devised by British advertising agency "Boase Massimi Pollitt". The product still sells well today.
The first ad in the video is one from the 1960's and featuring humanoid spaceman, and is rather ordinary compared to what lies ahead. The Martian ads seem to be in chronological order, but I can't confirm that. The later ads seem slightly more elaborate and expensive compared to the earlier ones, enabling a first sighting of the Smash Martin household and a Smash Martin cat. My favourite of these ads, is the second one (the most famous of the campaign) and the sixth one, over-seeing a martian married couple kissing and the Martians rolling about laughing on the settee at an Earth TV channel's cookery show.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
A Feast of Lycra and not-so Lycra Men/Women in Snow and Ice 1972-2002
Alright, we end our Winter Olympics special with this rough, but brilliant highlighting music video of recent Winter Olympics bar 2006 and 2010, of course. Some really good footage of the earlier Olympics which are hard to find on Youtube. The Sports genre will take a break, but we'll be back to good ol' football and more.
List of Winter Games shown:
1972 -Sapporo, Japan
1976 - Innsbruck, Austria
1980 - Lake Placid, USA
1984 - Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina)
1988 - Calgary, Canada
1992 - Albertville, France
1994 - Lillehammer, Norway
1998 - Nagano, Japan
2002 - Salt Lake City, USA
It's a very good highlights video with small clips of each Games opening ceremonies, and the features the most awe-inspiring and most excelled athletes of the games, so we see the likes on Torvill and Dean for '84, Alberto Tomba for '88 and so on. Also, period music of the time from each Olympics, If you want to know what the songs are, well, I'm horribly bad at naming these earlier ones. I've heard the 1972 one loads of times, I just can't put a name to it?
1972 -???
1976 -???
1980 -???
1984 - Irene Cara - What a Feeling
1988 -Erasure -Give a Little Respect
1992 - Snap - Rhythm Is A Dancer
1994 - Whigfield - Saturday Night
1998 - ???
2002 - James Williams - Call of the Champions
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.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Don't Ask Daft Questions, Michael!
Shirley Temple on the Parkinson show June 1972
and the second smaller clip:
Highlights and the first part of an early "Parkinson" interview with one of the most famed Hollywood child actresses Shirley Temple. By 1972, Temple had quit the movie business with only sparse appearances on TV chat show after her 1958 TV vehicle flop "Shirley Temple's Storybook".
This clip features host Michael Parkinson questioning Temple on more serious issues like depression and about being married at the age of 17 to American actor John Agar and divorced at such a young age. Interlaced between that are more -jokey-trivial matters, like were the sets made deliberately bigger to make Shirley the child look even smaller, and how did she prepare to "cry" as child actor. Annoyingly, it's part one of interview on Youtube, the second part is nowhere to be seen in the related videos! I will check later and bring the second part here, if I can find it.
"Parkinson" was a popular BBC chat show from the 70s. Michael Parkinson's non-attention seeking, laid-back and working class heritaged manner went down well with many viewers. Parkinson was born in 1935, in the coal mining village of Cudworth, near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. Although a son of a miner, Parkinson performed well at school, and became an active cricketer (played in the same club as legendary cricket household names like Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott) and news reporter, establishing himself in the journalist market, and impressing enough to get into Tv presenting and his own chat show. That's how they did it back then! The first run of the show was from 1971-1982. He left the show for his unsuccessful short stint on "TV-AM" on Channel 3, the other side. For a while his broadcasting career was a little in the doldrums, far from the heights of "Parkinson".
In 1995, people started to remember how memorable the chat show was, including some of his funniest interview with legendary Boxer Muhammad Ali, Entertainer Rod Hull with his puppet Emu, and numerous ones with Scottish comedian Billy Connolly. A "Best of.." retrospective was shown, and "Parkinson" was soon revived in 1998 on the BBC. Things were going well until forced schedule changes of the show, thanks to the return of "Match of the Day" on Saturday nights in 2004, and the show limped on, on ITV of all places, now with adverts (BBC don't have commercial advertising as they get their money from the "TV licence" bill and Government funded.). Michael Parkinson retired from the role and so was the show, in 2007.
and the second smaller clip:
Highlights and the first part of an early "Parkinson" interview with one of the most famed Hollywood child actresses Shirley Temple. By 1972, Temple had quit the movie business with only sparse appearances on TV chat show after her 1958 TV vehicle flop "Shirley Temple's Storybook".
This clip features host Michael Parkinson questioning Temple on more serious issues like depression and about being married at the age of 17 to American actor John Agar and divorced at such a young age. Interlaced between that are more -jokey-trivial matters, like were the sets made deliberately bigger to make Shirley the child look even smaller, and how did she prepare to "cry" as child actor. Annoyingly, it's part one of interview on Youtube, the second part is nowhere to be seen in the related videos! I will check later and bring the second part here, if I can find it.
"Parkinson" was a popular BBC chat show from the 70s. Michael Parkinson's non-attention seeking, laid-back and working class heritaged manner went down well with many viewers. Parkinson was born in 1935, in the coal mining village of Cudworth, near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. Although a son of a miner, Parkinson performed well at school, and became an active cricketer (played in the same club as legendary cricket household names like Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott) and news reporter, establishing himself in the journalist market, and impressing enough to get into Tv presenting and his own chat show. That's how they did it back then! The first run of the show was from 1971-1982. He left the show for his unsuccessful short stint on "TV-AM" on Channel 3, the other side. For a while his broadcasting career was a little in the doldrums, far from the heights of "Parkinson".
In 1995, people started to remember how memorable the chat show was, including some of his funniest interview with legendary Boxer Muhammad Ali, Entertainer Rod Hull with his puppet Emu, and numerous ones with Scottish comedian Billy Connolly. A "Best of.." retrospective was shown, and "Parkinson" was soon revived in 1998 on the BBC. Things were going well until forced schedule changes of the show, thanks to the return of "Match of the Day" on Saturday nights in 2004, and the show limped on, on ITV of all places, now with adverts (BBC don't have commercial advertising as they get their money from the "TV licence" bill and Government funded.). Michael Parkinson retired from the role and so was the show, in 2007.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread for Teaching Drama in the UK...
Three Looms Waiting Part 1
A memorable episode of the long-running arts and culture programme "Omnibus" (1967-2003), about a teacher. Just a teacher? Not just any teacher, this was someone who helped evolve drastically the way of teaching children drama. It was about the teacher becoming more harmonious with the children, and not be stooped on a higher platform, trying to think of acting like a theatrical director. Instead a more involving and a lack of hierachy, would help children be enthused to act, to act as another person in a more natural process. This process even had a name, it was called "Mantle of the Expert".
This teacher's name was Dorothy Heathcote, a former Mill worker (the clue's in the video title) from West Yorkshire. As she reiterated dreams of to be an actress, the mill boss, Charlie Fletcher exclaimed "that if it didn't work out there would always be three looms waiting for her at his mill." Hence the title. Although a talented actress, she was turned down for not having the right look. For Dorothy, fair to say she wasn't a pretty girl, was plucked out of nowhere to become a drama teacher, in a career change, in 1951. At first, her style of teaching was looked down on, but she then became raved about in her teaching success, spanning into a fan base outwith her local school, and other amenities she used to teach, such as village halls in Yorkshire, and the Bradford Civic Playhouse.
This episode is an celebration of her work, who was now a university lecturer, split into 8 parts on Youtube. Dorothy Heathcote is still alive to this day, in her 80s now.
A memorable episode of the long-running arts and culture programme "Omnibus" (1967-2003), about a teacher. Just a teacher? Not just any teacher, this was someone who helped evolve drastically the way of teaching children drama. It was about the teacher becoming more harmonious with the children, and not be stooped on a higher platform, trying to think of acting like a theatrical director. Instead a more involving and a lack of hierachy, would help children be enthused to act, to act as another person in a more natural process. This process even had a name, it was called "Mantle of the Expert".
This teacher's name was Dorothy Heathcote, a former Mill worker (the clue's in the video title) from West Yorkshire. As she reiterated dreams of to be an actress, the mill boss, Charlie Fletcher exclaimed "that if it didn't work out there would always be three looms waiting for her at his mill." Hence the title. Although a talented actress, she was turned down for not having the right look. For Dorothy, fair to say she wasn't a pretty girl, was plucked out of nowhere to become a drama teacher, in a career change, in 1951. At first, her style of teaching was looked down on, but she then became raved about in her teaching success, spanning into a fan base outwith her local school, and other amenities she used to teach, such as village halls in Yorkshire, and the Bradford Civic Playhouse.
This episode is an celebration of her work, who was now a university lecturer, split into 8 parts on Youtube. Dorothy Heathcote is still alive to this day, in her 80s now.
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.
Monday, 15 February 2010
ITV Lobs It's Head Off the Pillow after a Nice, Cosy Nap
News at 545 with Leonard Parkin (1979) Part 1
This was the first ITN broadcast after the infamous ITV blackout that occured for an eye-shattering 2 months from August-October 1979. This was the early years of ITN's(Independent Television News, which has provided news content for ITV from the very beginning -1955- to the present). evening news programme that used to begin at 5.45pm. This features Leonard Parkin with a magnificent combover. A well-liked news presenter, he began presenting the "News at 545" in the same year until 1987, sharing his position with such great stewards of the presenter garb like Peter Sissons.
This is a 2 part full edition of the evening ITN news. The ITV blackout was surprisingly not the top storyline, but it was British airline entrenpeneur and Laker Airlines owner Sir Freddie Laker's fight to bring dirt cheap (in those days) planes rates to Europe, prompting threats of increased competition and decreasing production quality. Also on the headlines, former Prime Minister James Callaghan faces a challenge for the leadership, from the left wing of the party, which did invariably win. Michael Foot became the next leader of the party. Other headlines of course include the ITV 2 month blackout, plus the upcoming British-ruled Zimbabwe-Rhodesia elections and rising cases of truancy in Birmingham. As said by the user who uploaded the video, 3 minutes in, we have a BBC report on the ITV fiasco blackout shocker. Part 2 of this edition, highlights the ITV event. We see the premier cream of news presenter market being previewed as hosting the upcoming "News at Ten", with Alistair Burnett, and Anna Ford, rather angrily typing on a typewriter. This forwards with report on the set of Coronation Street, and filming their reaction to their glorious return, featuring Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch) and Peter Adamson (Len Fairclough) . Can imagine 2 months without Coronation Street? Bliss for some I suppose.
This was the first ITN broadcast after the infamous ITV blackout that occured for an eye-shattering 2 months from August-October 1979. This was the early years of ITN's(Independent Television News, which has provided news content for ITV from the very beginning -1955- to the present). evening news programme that used to begin at 5.45pm. This features Leonard Parkin with a magnificent combover. A well-liked news presenter, he began presenting the "News at 545" in the same year until 1987, sharing his position with such great stewards of the presenter garb like Peter Sissons.
This is a 2 part full edition of the evening ITN news. The ITV blackout was surprisingly not the top storyline, but it was British airline entrenpeneur and Laker Airlines owner Sir Freddie Laker's fight to bring dirt cheap (in those days) planes rates to Europe, prompting threats of increased competition and decreasing production quality. Also on the headlines, former Prime Minister James Callaghan faces a challenge for the leadership, from the left wing of the party, which did invariably win. Michael Foot became the next leader of the party. Other headlines of course include the ITV 2 month blackout, plus the upcoming British-ruled Zimbabwe-Rhodesia elections and rising cases of truancy in Birmingham. As said by the user who uploaded the video, 3 minutes in, we have a BBC report on the ITV fiasco blackout shocker. Part 2 of this edition, highlights the ITV event. We see the premier cream of news presenter market being previewed as hosting the upcoming "News at Ten", with Alistair Burnett, and Anna Ford, rather angrily typing on a typewriter. This forwards with report on the set of Coronation Street, and filming their reaction to their glorious return, featuring Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch) and Peter Adamson (Len Fairclough) . Can imagine 2 months without Coronation Street? Bliss for some I suppose.
The infamous blackout was a 10-week industrial dispute after pitiful wage increase for staff including electricians. ITV was entrely blacked out, with no TV programmes for those 10 weeks, with only viewers in the Midlands being able to see Central Television programmes, from which they were fear the regional company would be run out of business, if the strike reached their shores.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Donald Duck Sounding Tentacle-Fingered Octopus Art Lovers
Paperplay
From Thames Television, this was disturbing but quite weirdly funny. Alright the finger puppets are actually 2 spiders, blook more like tiny octopus. Set in studio fantasyland, "Paperplay" is much like "fingerbobs" but with has no musical element and the finger puppets can fully communicate with an on-screen presenter, who is former "Magpie" presenter Susan Stranks, who came up with the idea of this show also. The puppeter is not seen, who is Norman Beardsley, camoflaged in the black background, and it's a good effect. In this episode, under the influence of a rather inconcisely titled book called "The Dangerous Sort", and they create a hot-air ballon from paper and yes, a balloon.
The 2 spider's names were Itsy and Bitsy, clear inspiration from the nursery rhyme "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Itsy was the Donald Duck-sounding red male, and Bitsy was the squeaky, human trumpetting yellow female. Other puppets also featured like Boris the Ladybird, Cardew the Caterpillar and Katie the bird.
"Paperplay" ran from 1974-1981 on weekday lunchtimes, so it was by no means, an oscure show.
From Thames Television, this was disturbing but quite weirdly funny. Alright the finger puppets are actually 2 spiders, blook more like tiny octopus. Set in studio fantasyland, "Paperplay" is much like "fingerbobs" but with has no musical element and the finger puppets can fully communicate with an on-screen presenter, who is former "Magpie" presenter Susan Stranks, who came up with the idea of this show also. The puppeter is not seen, who is Norman Beardsley, camoflaged in the black background, and it's a good effect. In this episode, under the influence of a rather inconcisely titled book called "The Dangerous Sort", and they create a hot-air ballon from paper and yes, a balloon.
The 2 spider's names were Itsy and Bitsy, clear inspiration from the nursery rhyme "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Itsy was the Donald Duck-sounding red male, and Bitsy was the squeaky, human trumpetting yellow female. Other puppets also featured like Boris the Ladybird, Cardew the Caterpillar and Katie the bird.
"Paperplay" ran from 1974-1981 on weekday lunchtimes, so it was by no means, an oscure show.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
James Bellamy Meets His End, in one of the finest Periodical Drama's...
Upstairs, Downstairs - James's suicide
Near 11 minute clip from the last series of the critically-acclaimed period drama "Upstairs, Downstairs". War veteran James Bellamy life burns to ashes, as his fortune made over in America invested using a deceased relative of house maid Rose Buck's Will money given generously, all comes to blows as it's 1929, the event of the "Wall Street Crash", which began "The Great Depression" in the 1930's. This was all too much to bear for Bellamy, not to mention his First World War experiences, which he could never try to comprehend and get over. His father Richard Bellamy at the beginning here, is very disappointed in his son's (lack of) handiwork.
The scene is very well-acted, and it's tastefully done. The seres charts the Bellamy family through 5 series (1971-1975), which starts in 1903 and up to 1930 in chronological order. The series is set in a large Edwardian townhouse of the wealthy Bellamy family. they are the masters "Upstairs", while their servants are "Downstairs". It highlights the mood of the early 20th century of high and low-class living standards, the trial of the First World War and the Politics scene at the time. David Langton plays as Robert Bellamy, 1st Viscount Bellamy of Haversham, and Simon Williams plays a ex-Major James Bellamy.
Near 11 minute clip from the last series of the critically-acclaimed period drama "Upstairs, Downstairs". War veteran James Bellamy life burns to ashes, as his fortune made over in America invested using a deceased relative of house maid Rose Buck's Will money given generously, all comes to blows as it's 1929, the event of the "Wall Street Crash", which began "The Great Depression" in the 1930's. This was all too much to bear for Bellamy, not to mention his First World War experiences, which he could never try to comprehend and get over. His father Richard Bellamy at the beginning here, is very disappointed in his son's (lack of) handiwork.
The scene is very well-acted, and it's tastefully done. The seres charts the Bellamy family through 5 series (1971-1975), which starts in 1903 and up to 1930 in chronological order. The series is set in a large Edwardian townhouse of the wealthy Bellamy family. they are the masters "Upstairs", while their servants are "Downstairs". It highlights the mood of the early 20th century of high and low-class living standards, the trial of the First World War and the Politics scene at the time. David Langton plays as Robert Bellamy, 1st Viscount Bellamy of Haversham, and Simon Williams plays a ex-Major James Bellamy.
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