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Post by Mark Brown on Mar 30, 2009 11:48:31 GMT
data missing
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Post by Colin Anderton on Mar 31, 2009 8:09:07 GMT
We all know a lot of good TV was lost - but Crossroads? Are we being serious here?
This is one programme whose loss I definitely do NOT mourn!
Let's not get carried away by saying all old telly was worth preserving! Rose-coloured glasses, and all that....
Colin.
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Post by Peter Stirling on Mar 31, 2009 13:41:23 GMT
We all know a lot of good TV was lost - but Crossroads? Are we being serious here? This is one programme whose loss I definitely do NOT mourn! Let's not get carried away by saying all old telly was worth preserving! Rose-coloured glasses, and all that.... Colin. Well you have to preserve everything you can or nothing at all. I am not a particular fan of Dr Who and could go on about cheap looking, poor acting etc but that is only one person's opinion and I respect the fact that many people love it and have done their best to save what they can, as well as spurring on a whole industry dedicated to finding other programmes as well. Crossroads had a huge audience in its day and the plot lines were just the tonic for those coming home weiry from the dreadful factory jobs that were the norm in the 1960/70s. So I think it deserves as much attention and preservation as anything else. Colin woudnt you dispair if someone threw your favourite programme in the skip, just because he personally thought it was rubbish?
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Post by Colin Anderton on Mar 31, 2009 15:16:04 GMT
I know what you mean really, Peter. No, I wouldn't throw any old programmes - not even Crossroads - into the skip. But please let's remember it truthfully - as the joke that it was!
Who could ever forget Noele Gordon taking it all so seriously when she was interviewed on chat shows!
Colin.
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Post by adriane17 on Mar 31, 2009 17:51:43 GMT
I'm no fan but let us remember that it brought pleasure to millions of viewers - if I remember right it used to do its share of viewer education on social issues/health so give it some credit.
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Post by Roger Stevens on Mar 31, 2009 21:13:03 GMT
Why not ask about "Crossroads"? This was a hugely popular show, and had viewing figures in the millions. It was as much a mainstay of the ITV schedule as "Coronation Street", but both programmes are treated badly by those interested in TV history and preservation because they were soaps rather than Sci-fi. As it happens "Corrie" exists complete - which must be something of a miracle - but "Crossroads" has fared much worse. Hundreds, if not thousands of episodes are lost, with virtually nothing save a handful of episodes from the 1960's. Yet this was our first daily serial, and an important part of ATV's output. I am at a loss to understand why this inoffensive show which gave pleasure to so many comes in for such bile, especially from those who are supposed to care about lost episodes of our TV heritage.
The Kal site lists all the missing episodes, too many to repeat here, and makes grim reading.
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Post by Eric Lawton on Apr 1, 2009 9:16:21 GMT
I think realistically, the best chance of finding the odd show from, say, 1979 onwards will be on folks old VHS / BETAMAX tapes gathering dust in boxrooms and attics. For example, my Dad has a load of tapes Im going through, and Ive found a complete episode of Howards way. Dont know the Archive status of this show. Theyre probably all surviving, so, it isnt much of a find. I never used to watch it to be honest. But, it just shows you that little gems, thought to be long lost, may turn up via this particular avenue.
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Post by Peter Stirling on Apr 1, 2009 9:20:03 GMT
I know what you mean really, Peter. No, I wouldn't throw any old programmes - not even Crossroads - into the skip. But please let's remember it truthfully - as the joke that it was! Who could ever forget Noele Gordon taking it all so seriously when she was interviewed on chat shows! Colin. Colin I am not especially a fan myself, but all the stuff comedians talk about (who probably never saw it anyway) about wobbly sets and various production calamities I dont remember happening. I like 'Spooks' and would like to a 'Saint' like run of 26 episodes, but after about only 7 episodes the crew say "we cant do anymore for a year bcause we are just so exhausted and writers cant think of any more plots" You contrast that with Crossroads producing 5 episodes a week, 52 weeks a year in its heyday, trying to keep an interesting thread going with the technology of the day. I am sure your right about Noele Gordon and maybe the shock of the sacking was instrumental in shortening her life considerably ? .
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2009 10:08:32 GMT
Yes, it's a very well trotted-out myth about Crossroads having wobbly sets. Usually this is on modern docs with rent-a-quote talking heads that never liked the show (and are probably too young to have watched any but the final '80s episodes anyway). It's become "established fact" though, due to continuous repetition. I've got two or three of the Network DVD sets that feature all the earliest '60s / early '70s episodes and nowhere is there a glimpse of a wobble. The acting can sometimes best be described as wooden (not all the time) but the show had a fast turnover and you have to see things in that context.
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Post by Jeff Leach on Apr 2, 2009 0:33:12 GMT
Whilst many people morn the loss of this show, there are many such shows as "The newcomers 1966 - 69" which suffered even greater losses (5 left out of 430), without any chance of viewing episodes since transmission in the 60s
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2009 9:24:08 GMT
Yes, a lot of the Rediffusion series are lucky if they're represented by a single episode! '60s Top Of The Pops was particularly badly decimated too, as was Colour Me Pop. The list goes on and on...
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Post by Martin McDowell on Jun 8, 2012 15:24:04 GMT
I think my message was in the wrong place when I posted it in the BFI finds page and have re-inserted it here as its probably a better place for it. If anyone can help me with any information on the trailer mentioned in the last paragraph that would be great.
Here it is again:
Not meaning to be negative here or anything but the 20 episodes of Crossroads listed as finds on page 5 of the BFI finds page aren't finds at all. There seems to be a problem with the episode numbers when compared to transmission dates, many episodes were shown one day earlier in different regions. Anyone who compares the list of discovered episodes will notice that they conveniently fall one episode before those recently released on DVD and the DVD episodes do not appear to be held by the BFI, this is simply because they are the same episodes.
I would LOVE any new episodes of Crossroads to turn up but unfortunately the BFI is not the place. The archive was thoroughly checked in conjunction with Network DVD I believe. There is one missing episode on Youtube - 2815 - it was skipped out on the DVD release as not of sufficient quality (a VHS copy only remains) but it seems to be known about.
2867 wasn't on the DVD but has been known to be in the BFI archive.
Can anyone confirm what was on the Crossroads trailer found in 2011? That is most likely new footage but haven't heard what is on it yet.
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Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Jun 8, 2012 15:31:49 GMT
Hi Martin.
The BFI database (s) have inaccuracies. Currently Kaleidoscope are in touch with the BFI to confirm what they have.
In regards to Crossroads, their data seems particularly erroneous, hence the problems caused.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2012 16:06:31 GMT
Talk of Crossroads with regard to the BFI reminds me of something I've mentioned before but might be worth repeating. The A For Andromeda book lists an episode from June 1969 as existing at the NFTVA (including cast / production credits) which apparently could not be found when the Network DVDs were being prepared. I wouldn't mind betting it does somewhere in the archive though, bearing in mind all the other discrepancies with holdings currently.
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Post by Richard Marple on Jun 8, 2012 16:38:52 GMT
The Guinness Classic British TV book makes a fair assessment of Crossroads contrasting the sometimes flimsy production values with the impressive viewing figures it had at it's peak.
Was Crossroads ever exported? I've got the feeling I read it was shown in Australia at one time, but I might be wrong.
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