Post by johnstewart on May 14, 2007 22:59:06 GMT
This memory of 1969 harks from the first things I saw on BBC2; the 'different test card' with a girl with a clown Doll, and three 'Trade test' films in the afternoon. I would have got home from school between 4' 0 clock - 4.30 p.m. The new TV was already on, ij gleeful demonstration. I can remember the aeriel for it was peculiar with two crossed circles of metal rather than bars at the top, and my Dad watching 'colour receiver information and following the instructions on positioning the aerial to minimise 'ghosting' effects on UHF bands.
I'm sure the two films I first saw were one featuring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore and 'The home made car' The Pete and Dud one is the only one no - one can find a source for. It was film stock. Dudley Moore was in the 'Pete and Dud' flat cap and raincoat standing by peter Cook who for some reason was in the cockpit of a mechanical digger, by the edge of a quarry. They were engaged in conversation (can't recall what). I think the quarry or large hole at least had an estate of 50s - 60s maisonettes behind it.
I boycotted Childrens TV at the same time on BBC1 for them because they were so fascinating. The other film involved a man building a Vintage car with a little girl watching him, and at the end he went for a ride with her and her scruffy white sheepdog. I was later told this was called 'The Home made car'.
At the end of each broadcast the announcer would tell you what time the next trade test films would be on and they broke for the Test card. I then would keep an appointment to hear the menu for the day; Saturday transmissions usually began I think at 11.00 interrupted by 'Transmitter information service' at 11.30, and preceded by the Test Card.
Transmitter information had a card saying 'Transmitter information follows shortly' and music. It wasthen read over a slide of what looked like the Crystal Palace Transmitter to one side with the words 'Transmitter Information' to one side. I also recall perking my ears up as we were local to it and then it actually gort a mention 'The Crystal palace transmitter will be broadcasting on a wave length of 500 kilohertz from 12 mid day on Monday'. Or similar wording. though these do not exist off air as such some sound recordings and the slides used on transmission exist.
I seem to remember also seeing the trade test films 'Divertimento' 'Evoluon' and 'Expo 67' early on. 'Expo 67' I recall running at around 5'0 clock once on a Tuesday, around 1970, with 'Evoluon' being shown twice weekly, once being on a Saturday at 11.0 clock a.m. i waited in specially for that one. I seem to remember 'Divertimento being on at a later date, maybe 1973 again, on a Wednesday. That and 'North sea gas' running between 5 and 6 p.m. and Divertimento maybe being the last in that days transmissions. It must have ended before the News or 'Crossroads' or else I would have got told off by my Mother. Probably 5.30 - 5.45 as I think the news used to start around that time in those days.
There was a standard piece used for the play in which sounded like a smoochy piece slightly in the style of the Mrs Peel 'Avengers' incidental music.
Luckily the films were bought in and made on film stock so it was with much delight I discovered the vast majority of the ones I remebered survived. I clearly recalled that B.P. made some, I think 'Divertimento'; Shell made 'North sea gas' ; and I thought Philips the electronic company made 'Expo '67' and 'Evoluon'.
Evoluon and 'Colour receiver information' were my favourites. The latter is the one where it cuts between a cartoon TV engineer in white lab adjusting a T.V. and photographic pictures of a flower, and a humming bird, 'appearing' on its screen. The bit that fascinated me was the explaining and diagrams of the colour guns and the different names for red and blue used ('Magenta' and 'cian').
Evoluon was film of an exhibition on technology; without narration; in a building that looked like the 'Lost in Space' spaceship. I noticed the stock incidental music from 'The Web planet' creeping in there. It was edited in a fast, surreal and juxtaposed style with each scene change having its own section of music to match the image; i.e. electronic music for modern machines; music box style music for Edwardian images.
Expo 67 is the one where a minature train is seen going round the perimeters of a park like Battersea Park and the Driver is dressed (sinister fashion); in Clowns make up. Come to think of it that might have been made by the CBC but it was on film stock.
I'm sure the two films I first saw were one featuring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore and 'The home made car' The Pete and Dud one is the only one no - one can find a source for. It was film stock. Dudley Moore was in the 'Pete and Dud' flat cap and raincoat standing by peter Cook who for some reason was in the cockpit of a mechanical digger, by the edge of a quarry. They were engaged in conversation (can't recall what). I think the quarry or large hole at least had an estate of 50s - 60s maisonettes behind it.
I boycotted Childrens TV at the same time on BBC1 for them because they were so fascinating. The other film involved a man building a Vintage car with a little girl watching him, and at the end he went for a ride with her and her scruffy white sheepdog. I was later told this was called 'The Home made car'.
At the end of each broadcast the announcer would tell you what time the next trade test films would be on and they broke for the Test card. I then would keep an appointment to hear the menu for the day; Saturday transmissions usually began I think at 11.00 interrupted by 'Transmitter information service' at 11.30, and preceded by the Test Card.
Transmitter information had a card saying 'Transmitter information follows shortly' and music. It wasthen read over a slide of what looked like the Crystal Palace Transmitter to one side with the words 'Transmitter Information' to one side. I also recall perking my ears up as we were local to it and then it actually gort a mention 'The Crystal palace transmitter will be broadcasting on a wave length of 500 kilohertz from 12 mid day on Monday'. Or similar wording. though these do not exist off air as such some sound recordings and the slides used on transmission exist.
I seem to remember also seeing the trade test films 'Divertimento' 'Evoluon' and 'Expo 67' early on. 'Expo 67' I recall running at around 5'0 clock once on a Tuesday, around 1970, with 'Evoluon' being shown twice weekly, once being on a Saturday at 11.0 clock a.m. i waited in specially for that one. I seem to remember 'Divertimento being on at a later date, maybe 1973 again, on a Wednesday. That and 'North sea gas' running between 5 and 6 p.m. and Divertimento maybe being the last in that days transmissions. It must have ended before the News or 'Crossroads' or else I would have got told off by my Mother. Probably 5.30 - 5.45 as I think the news used to start around that time in those days.
There was a standard piece used for the play in which sounded like a smoochy piece slightly in the style of the Mrs Peel 'Avengers' incidental music.
Luckily the films were bought in and made on film stock so it was with much delight I discovered the vast majority of the ones I remebered survived. I clearly recalled that B.P. made some, I think 'Divertimento'; Shell made 'North sea gas' ; and I thought Philips the electronic company made 'Expo '67' and 'Evoluon'.
Evoluon and 'Colour receiver information' were my favourites. The latter is the one where it cuts between a cartoon TV engineer in white lab adjusting a T.V. and photographic pictures of a flower, and a humming bird, 'appearing' on its screen. The bit that fascinated me was the explaining and diagrams of the colour guns and the different names for red and blue used ('Magenta' and 'cian').
Evoluon was film of an exhibition on technology; without narration; in a building that looked like the 'Lost in Space' spaceship. I noticed the stock incidental music from 'The Web planet' creeping in there. It was edited in a fast, surreal and juxtaposed style with each scene change having its own section of music to match the image; i.e. electronic music for modern machines; music box style music for Edwardian images.
Expo 67 is the one where a minature train is seen going round the perimeters of a park like Battersea Park and the Driver is dressed (sinister fashion); in Clowns make up. Come to think of it that might have been made by the CBC but it was on film stock.
