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Post by AlanJS on Aug 30, 2007 15:30:03 GMT
I was having dinner with a friend last week. He mentioned he used to be a regular dancer on 'Discs a Go Go' filmed and recorded in Bristol and only part networked on ITV from the early to late 1960's. It was a TWW production - set in fictional coffee bar and hosted by Kent Walton. I had never heard of this show before and he mentioned many of the big name stars appeared on what was I suppose a fore runner to RSG and Top of the Pops. I guess no editions exist but I wonder if it remains overlooked due to the fact it was only part networked ?
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Post by Kev Mulrenan on Aug 30, 2007 18:31:39 GMT
Very much so. Check out the Tony Rees Pop diaries to get some dates. I believe a very late one around 67 or 68 has at least a bit surviving. One hosted by Tony Blackburn. It may have been a one off as the series originated years before. I imagine there were a lot of naff bands with the odd appearance of a top band, probably when playing a gig in the west in the evening. Here's some info from the net: Discs A'Go-Go 'Discs A'Go-Go' was not networked throughout the UK, but according to Terry Humphries, was also shown in the Tyne-Tees region and possibly other areas. Terry is a television cameraman who worked for Granada, TWW and HTV before turning freelance in 1989. Trevor Bailey wrote a short item about the programme, which is included in our Kent Walton obituary Kent will also be remembered as the host of the Bristol-based television show "Discs-a-Go-Go. As far as I am aware, the show, produced by TWW (Television Wales and the West, the then ITV franchise-holder for that part of the country) only went out in that region. (I would be interested to know if it was transmitted in any other regions.) It certainly wasn't networked For those who didn't see it, it was similar to other shows at the time (early-to-mid sixties). It was a thirty-minute show and I can't remember which night it went out (I was very young at the time!!)with artists lip-synching to their latest "hit parade" songs. There were some "firsts" on the show. It was the place where the "Royal Ruler" Tony Prince got his break, a co-host before joining Caroline, and also the first show to have a black co-presenter, a young lady from Bristol named Cynthia (I can't remember her surname). It also had an innovative way of presenting records by artists who were not available in those far-off pre-satellite-link/video days. They used a cartoon strip of a Fox to illustrate the song. Not an animated cartoon, that would have been impossible in those pre-computer graphics days, but a series of still drawings to illustrate the theme of the song . ("When I was your age, son we had to make our own fun!"). Naturally this worked better with songs that told stories and I remember Claude King's "Wolverton Mountain", Jo-Ann Campbell's "answer disc"(I'm the girl on)Wolverton Mountain, and Tommy Roe's "The Folk Singer" all getting illustrated by the fox cartoon. If I remember correctly(and I wouldn't bank on it)the fox was called Foxy, but if anybody knows differently then let me know. By writing off to the TV station you could receive free "Discs-a-Go-Go" badges with a picture of "Foxy" on them.
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Post by glynsavage67 on Sept 1, 2007 9:14:56 GMT
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Post by ingridb on Apr 22, 2011 5:38:54 GMT
Aghh Thanks for the memories. Now a cuddly grandmother of 14 living in Australia you transported me back to my youth. I was one of the regular "dancers" on Disc a GoGo and yes I used to get embarrassed when "smooching" then noticing the camera was fixed on my, what made it worse (smooching) is I am only 5'1 and my dance partner was over 6' and wore a big cowboy hat. I met many of the acts from the 60's Dave Clark Five Lulu etc and made many new friends with other regulars. Sad none of the shows were "saved I could show my grandchildren I wasn't born old lol
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Post by Colin Anderton on Apr 22, 2011 6:58:52 GMT
This programme was definitely shown in the Anglia region. I watched it regularly. (Don't remember the bit about the fox at all!!!)
One memory sticks in my mind....
The Dave Clark Five appeared, doing their new disc "Everybody Knows" in 1964. I rushed upstairs to get my tape recorder (reel-to-reel), almost fell down the stairs, and got it recording just in time to catch the last verse. It only lasted about a minute and a half!
Incidentally, they're the only group I know of to issue two singles with the same title; the one in 1967 made number two in the charts. This earlier one - which I liked even more - missed completely.
Colin.
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Post by Kev Mulrenan on Apr 22, 2011 7:48:29 GMT
Aghh Thanks for the memories. Now a cuddly grandmother of 14 living in Australia you transported me back to my youth. I was one of the regular "dancers" on Disc a GoGo and yes I used to get embarrassed when "smooching" then noticing the camera was fixed on my, what made it worse (smooching) is I am only 5'1 and my dance partner was over 6' and wore a big cowboy hat. I met many of the acts from the 60's Dave Clark Five Lulu etc and made many new friends with other regulars. Sad none of the shows were "saved I could show my grandchildren I wasn't born old lol In fact one survives albeit an atypical Tony Blackburn hosted one from 68. We should be watching that at kal in June hopefully.
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Post by Simon Winters on Apr 22, 2011 14:18:16 GMT
I'm told that the final Discs A Gogo will be screened at the next kal event in full, on top quality vt.
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Post by LanceM on Dec 25, 2011 0:34:47 GMT
Hello David,
Welcome to the forum. Agreed, a reunion of the cast and crew would be amazing! Am sure as myself and many here would love to hear further there in regards. Will find many fellow enthuaists, and friends in the field here.
Cheers, Lance.
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Post by Fay coffey on Jul 14, 2013 8:18:42 GMT
I was a dancer on this show for a few years I had long blonde hair and my dance partner always wore teddy boy suits. Tom jones sang his first record on there artists like lulu dusty Springfield. Kenny ball alma gogan the animals small faces. Eric Clapton etc also were on it I did try to get recordings of the show years later but was told they could not afford to keep the tapes so recorded over them
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2013 8:19:59 GMT
Please read forum rules before posting again and modify your profile to a real name please! Thanks.
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Post by Thomas William Patrick Walsh on Jul 16, 2013 13:20:29 GMT
Oh and welcome Fay. That word 'welcome' seems to have been removed from all the moderators on here. Sad really, costs nothing.
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Post by Fay coffey on Jul 16, 2013 13:26:50 GMT
Thank you Thomas
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Post by Thomas William Patrick Walsh on Jul 17, 2013 0:49:01 GMT
No worries at all Fay, an honour and a pleasure. Tell me, do you have any Small Faces recollections (or recollections in general). T.x
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2013 9:14:35 GMT
Oh and welcome Fay. That word 'welcome' seems to have been removed from all the moderators on here. Sad really, costs nothing. As we spend much time here telling others to be polite, Thomas, we don't need to be reminded how to suck eggs! The message contained a friendly smiling face, which said the same thing. Welcome anyway, Fay.
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Post by Dale Rumbold on Jul 17, 2013 19:38:34 GMT
Laurence (and all the other Mods) : I think the issue here is that often people will make an initial post that is quite interesting and informative, but neglect to check the house-rules on names, and the first response they get is to be told fairly sternly to get their 'name' sorted out : could this message not be sent as a PM in the first instance? ; and maybe only posted on the forum if said person makes further posts using their 'handle'? I would hate for people with interesting and informative 'stuff' to feel unwelcome the instant they set foot in the door, so to speak.
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