'Gateway', experimental arts series, Scottish TV, 1970
Nov 11, 2018 14:43:53 GMT
Alan Turrell likes this
Post by markdixon on Nov 11, 2018 14:43:53 GMT
Some of you will be familiar with ‘Pierrot and Turquoise or The Looking Glass Murders’. This was a mime piece which featured Lindsay Kemp and David Bowie. It was recorded in February 1970 and broadcast on STV on 08 July 1970. It exists as a colour telerecording.
I assumed for a long time that this programme was a stand-alone production. However, I found out recently that it was the opening episode of a six-part arts series called ‘Gateway’. According to Lost Shows, the other five episodes are missing.
‘The Looking Glass Murders’ seems to have been highly-regarded even before it was broadcast. It was shown at the Cannes Television Festival in April 1970. It was also nominated for a prize in the Pye Colour Television Awards, which took place in London on 15 May 1970. Perhaps this explains why it still exists.
I’ve found out that STV attempted to sell the ‘Gateway’ series to the ITV network, but were turned down. I wonder if any foreign broadcasters bought the series after seeing the first episode at the Cannes Television Festival?
The following article from ‘The Stage’ (09 July 1970) gives a brief outline of the entire series. However, it doesn’t go into detail about the participants. Does anyone know who appeared in the other five episodes? Presumably, the Scottish ‘TV Times’ gave full details.
STV try series of experiments
This week STV began an experimental series called the Gateway Series. They were all produced at STV’s colour studios in Edinburgh. The six programmes attempt to do specifically for television what the Underground movement in the Arts is already doing in the theatre, in music and on film, says STV.
Programme controller Tony Firth, who had been impressed by experimental work produced by various groups on the fringe of the Edinburgh Festival, asked director Brian Mahoney to investigate and create a series of Underground programmes. Not just programmes reflecting new developments in the visual and aural arts, but a series which would create new art forms in television itself.
The first of the programmes, Pierrot and Turquoise or The Looking Glass Murders was shown yesterday. What You See When You’re Not Really Looking, the second in the series (Wednesday, July 15) shows the creation of a painting on television for television.
The third programme in the series, Four Alone, is a two-part programme about poetry and the poet: Part I on Wednesday, July 22 and Part 2 on Wednesday, August 5.
This Programme is Unsuitable For … (Wednesday, July 29) recreates for television the impact of audience involvement, which has been startlingly marked in the theatre recently. In this People Show the cast of young men and women are deeply concerned about how the studio audience and the viewer at home react. A group of ordinary people were invited along to the recording presumably expecting to see a play from the cosy security of their seats. Instead they were forced into an involvement with the cast and with the play. They became part of the drama, a drama which many confessed they didn't understand.
The last programme, Instructions For Viewing This Programme Are In Your Local TV Journal (Wednesday, August 12) is to be taken literally. The programme director has listed the way in which this dramatic and experimental happening should be viewed at home. This programme is about the performance of a piece of music. But it is also a television happening in which everyone - cameramen, lighting engineers, technicians and stage hands form an integral part of the event.
I assumed for a long time that this programme was a stand-alone production. However, I found out recently that it was the opening episode of a six-part arts series called ‘Gateway’. According to Lost Shows, the other five episodes are missing.
‘The Looking Glass Murders’ seems to have been highly-regarded even before it was broadcast. It was shown at the Cannes Television Festival in April 1970. It was also nominated for a prize in the Pye Colour Television Awards, which took place in London on 15 May 1970. Perhaps this explains why it still exists.
I’ve found out that STV attempted to sell the ‘Gateway’ series to the ITV network, but were turned down. I wonder if any foreign broadcasters bought the series after seeing the first episode at the Cannes Television Festival?
The following article from ‘The Stage’ (09 July 1970) gives a brief outline of the entire series. However, it doesn’t go into detail about the participants. Does anyone know who appeared in the other five episodes? Presumably, the Scottish ‘TV Times’ gave full details.
STV try series of experiments
This week STV began an experimental series called the Gateway Series. They were all produced at STV’s colour studios in Edinburgh. The six programmes attempt to do specifically for television what the Underground movement in the Arts is already doing in the theatre, in music and on film, says STV.
Programme controller Tony Firth, who had been impressed by experimental work produced by various groups on the fringe of the Edinburgh Festival, asked director Brian Mahoney to investigate and create a series of Underground programmes. Not just programmes reflecting new developments in the visual and aural arts, but a series which would create new art forms in television itself.
The first of the programmes, Pierrot and Turquoise or The Looking Glass Murders was shown yesterday. What You See When You’re Not Really Looking, the second in the series (Wednesday, July 15) shows the creation of a painting on television for television.
The third programme in the series, Four Alone, is a two-part programme about poetry and the poet: Part I on Wednesday, July 22 and Part 2 on Wednesday, August 5.
This Programme is Unsuitable For … (Wednesday, July 29) recreates for television the impact of audience involvement, which has been startlingly marked in the theatre recently. In this People Show the cast of young men and women are deeply concerned about how the studio audience and the viewer at home react. A group of ordinary people were invited along to the recording presumably expecting to see a play from the cosy security of their seats. Instead they were forced into an involvement with the cast and with the play. They became part of the drama, a drama which many confessed they didn't understand.
The last programme, Instructions For Viewing This Programme Are In Your Local TV Journal (Wednesday, August 12) is to be taken literally. The programme director has listed the way in which this dramatic and experimental happening should be viewed at home. This programme is about the performance of a piece of music. But it is also a television happening in which everyone - cameramen, lighting engineers, technicians and stage hands form an integral part of the event.
