Post by maxcampbell on Dec 5, 2023 9:46:06 GMT
I am seeking more information about a lost children's television programme that aired live a few weeks after the Coronation on the BBC. It was based on the Rev. Wilbert Awdry's Thomas the Tank Engine books.
The programme was produced by Special Effects Technician Douglas Mair, who, according to some sources (https://historyproject.org.uk/sites/default/files/HP0227%20Yvonne%20Littlewood%20-%20Transcript.pdf), also invented a precursor to the Teleprompter for the BBC.
from the 12th of June 1953 edition of Radio Times
The programme was a collaboration between Meccano Ltd. (producers of Hornby Trains) and the BBC. Meccano rented miniature trains to the BBC, which would modify them to enhance their resemblance to the engines from Awdry's illustrations.
What made this programme memorable at the time was the fact that, due to the BBC's modifications to the props, they broke down on screen multiple times. On one occasion during this 12-minute broadcast, one of the trains derailed on screen, and a crew member's hand was then seen trying to put it back on the rails. On another occasion, the carriages pulled by one train got decoupled from the train. The props depicting the character Edward completely broke down right before a scene meant to feature it. The announcer of the children's programmes on that day had to come on screen many times, explaining what was happening and trying to pass it off as something that actually happened during the story.
This created quite the stir at the time, with reports about this programme reaching as far as Australia. Contemporary news articles claimed that the BBC probably was too proud of the Coronation and didn't take the necessary measures to ensure this (rather insignificant) broadcast would run smoothly. The author of the books, who had a huge model railway, was interviewed in a few newspapers and criticized the BBC's attempt at televising his story, mainly because the episode's plot barely resembled the original books. This led to the delay of the program's production until 1955!! (when there were plans to use larger O gauge trains for a revival of the show filmed at Ealing Studios). However, it was ultimately canceled in favor of a radio show about these stories, narrated by Charles Stidwell.
Cecil McGivern even said in a letter to the head of Children's Programming that this programme was the most pathetic thing he had ever seen on television in his life.
Now, last year, more information about this surfaced, including a promotional picture of the character James and a few letters by Douglas Mair about it. However, there surely must be more information about it out there, given its controversial nature back in June 1953. Are there any other pictures from that broadcast out there? Does anyone happen to know somebody who watched the broadcast in 1953? These are questions that come to mind. I happened to know a guy who told me he remembered details from it, but not having the chance to interview him until last year, he had since forgotten everything about it.
Promotional pic of the character James
I would be grateful if you could provide me with more information about this, as it has become a little passion of mine to uncover more details about it. Thanks.
The programme was produced by Special Effects Technician Douglas Mair, who, according to some sources (https://historyproject.org.uk/sites/default/files/HP0227%20Yvonne%20Littlewood%20-%20Transcript.pdf), also invented a precursor to the Teleprompter for the BBC.
from the 12th of June 1953 edition of Radio Times
The programme was a collaboration between Meccano Ltd. (producers of Hornby Trains) and the BBC. Meccano rented miniature trains to the BBC, which would modify them to enhance their resemblance to the engines from Awdry's illustrations.
What made this programme memorable at the time was the fact that, due to the BBC's modifications to the props, they broke down on screen multiple times. On one occasion during this 12-minute broadcast, one of the trains derailed on screen, and a crew member's hand was then seen trying to put it back on the rails. On another occasion, the carriages pulled by one train got decoupled from the train. The props depicting the character Edward completely broke down right before a scene meant to feature it. The announcer of the children's programmes on that day had to come on screen many times, explaining what was happening and trying to pass it off as something that actually happened during the story.
This created quite the stir at the time, with reports about this programme reaching as far as Australia. Contemporary news articles claimed that the BBC probably was too proud of the Coronation and didn't take the necessary measures to ensure this (rather insignificant) broadcast would run smoothly. The author of the books, who had a huge model railway, was interviewed in a few newspapers and criticized the BBC's attempt at televising his story, mainly because the episode's plot barely resembled the original books. This led to the delay of the program's production until 1955!! (when there were plans to use larger O gauge trains for a revival of the show filmed at Ealing Studios). However, it was ultimately canceled in favor of a radio show about these stories, narrated by Charles Stidwell.
Cecil McGivern even said in a letter to the head of Children's Programming that this programme was the most pathetic thing he had ever seen on television in his life.
Now, last year, more information about this surfaced, including a promotional picture of the character James and a few letters by Douglas Mair about it. However, there surely must be more information about it out there, given its controversial nature back in June 1953. Are there any other pictures from that broadcast out there? Does anyone happen to know somebody who watched the broadcast in 1953? These are questions that come to mind. I happened to know a guy who told me he remembered details from it, but not having the chance to interview him until last year, he had since forgotten everything about it.
Promotional pic of the character James
