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Post by John Wall on Jan 1, 2009 23:47:24 GMT
The contents of the Monkhouse archive are a great boost to the recovery of missing material, both visual and audio.
I've been wondering whether there are other, similar, collections out there and how their owners might be identified. On that basis I've tried to think about what characteristics came together in Bob to enable him to start his collection when he did. He seems to have started his collection in the late 40s or early 50s, about the same time he started in showbusiness.
He seems to have had an interest in "heritage", a knowledge of the "technology" and, possibly most importantly, the money to do it.
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Post by markboulton on Jan 1, 2009 23:53:06 GMT
I think, regrettably, he may have been unique.
I think all other performers fall into two main categories - those who just see their next job, do it, forget it then go to the next one (or wait/fight to get the next one) and don't really look back at the past; and those who saw the benefit of investing in timeshifting equipment, but used it just for that - timeshifting, rather than building an archive.
To be in the latter category AND have the foresight to see just how important this kind of material could be in the future, takes a very rare type of individual, I think.
Monkhouse, I believe, saw his craft as one that 'created material', i.e. wasn't just an ego trip for getting applause from large amounts of people watching his performance. Nice as that may have been, I don't think that was the main driver for him, whereas with most performers it was the applause and good reviews that drove them (or broke them if they didn't arrive - or not in sufficient quantity).
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Post by Greg H on Jan 2, 2009 12:53:19 GMT
I personaly suspect there will be other large collections out there that we simply havent gotten wind of for one reason or another. Such a collection could reside with an ordinairy member of the public who had a bit of disposable income.
Just have to keep your eyes and ears open.
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Post by Andy Howells on Jan 2, 2009 13:49:47 GMT
What about Peter Sellers? I seem to recall reading that he recorded and collected many of his own early performances although how true this is I have no idea, though I suspect back in the 40s and 50s some actors / comedians must have been tempted to record their radio performances as recording equipment became affordable, how much of it survived or was passed down remains to be seen.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2009 16:31:03 GMT
This one will always be a subject for speculation, I suppose. It certainly fascinates me! For what it's worth, i'd agree with Greg that there could be other collections like it out there which are off the radar and in the posession of a few wealthy individuals. Not very likely that they could be collections of the size of Bob's, I guess, but still possible even so (the extent of his collection wasn't known until more recently, after all).
Whether or not there is a another collection of that size though, i'd bet money that there ARE a LOT of much smaller unknown collections of a similar kind scattered around out there!
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Post by Rich Cornock on Jan 2, 2009 18:50:32 GMT
I'm sure there are some other people with collections out there, the biggest problem is time. If people recorded programs in the 50's and 60's they are probably pensioners by now, unless their heirs know the importance of any recordings they have kept then they could be junked when these people pass on. luckily Bob Monkhouse made his collection known to the right people before he passed on.
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Post by Peter Stirling on Jan 2, 2009 22:51:16 GMT
I'm sure there are some other people with collections out there, the biggest problem is time. If people recorded programs in the 50's and 60's they are probably pensioners by now, unless their heirs know the importance of any recordings they have kept then they could be junked when these people pass on. luckily Bob Monkhouse made his collection known to the right people before he passed on. Not quite as simple as that by any means, with regards to Bob's collection. It has only come to light now because of a twist of fate. . . . |
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Post by Joe Haynes on Jan 3, 2009 15:27:48 GMT
Im sure there are lots of famous people who have kept copies for there own personal archives. Im sure Marc Bolan and Jimi Hendrix did. The Beatles started looking for material in the early 70's so im sure they might have some good Gems in there collections. What about the producers of StepToe and Son they Video tapes most of the shows. I think its just getting the chance to question these people and see if they will allow anyone to view their archives.
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Post by simoncoward on Jan 4, 2009 11:16:35 GMT
I'm sure there are some other people with collections out there, the biggest problem is time. If people recorded programs in the 50's and 60's they are probably pensioners by now, unless their heirs know the importance of any recordings they have kept then they could be junked when these people pass on. luckily Bob Monkhouse made his collection known to the right people before he passed on. Not quite as simple as that by any means, with regards to Bob's collection. It has only come to light now because of a twist of fate. That's not true at all. It's been known for donkey's years that Bob had an extensive film collection - what wasn't known (to the likes of us at any rate) was exactly what that comprised nor how extensive his video collection was. He agreed some time ago with the BFI that he would make available any items he had which were of interest to them. The process has just taken quite a while to come to some kind of fruition. If there's any twist of fate involved, it was whatever inspired Bob to make/acquire these recordings in the first place. |
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Post by Peter Stirling on Jan 4, 2009 22:14:25 GMT
It's been known for donkey's years that Bob had an extensive film collection - what wasn't known (to the likes of us at any rate) was exactly what that comprised nor how extensive his video collection was. He agreed some time ago with the BFI that he would make available any items he had which were of interest to them. The process has just taken quite a while to come to some kind of fruition. Yes certainly! agree with almost everything you say, but I maintain my original statement. . |
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Post by simoncoward on Jan 4, 2009 22:51:35 GMT
It's been known for donkey's years that Bob had an extensive film collection - what wasn't known (to the likes of us at any rate) was exactly what that comprised nor how extensive his video collection was. He agreed some time ago with the BFI that he would make available any items he had which were of interest to them. The process has just taken quite a while to come to some kind of fruition. Yes certainly! agree with almost everything you say, but I maintain my original statement. I'm confused then. What aspect of it do you consider to be a twist of fate? |
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Post by Greg H on Jan 5, 2009 15:30:28 GMT
Im kinda intrigued as well.
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