offer to research old NME's Disc for tv show info

[williammcgregor]

Hi my name is William,

I would like to offer my help to forum members who would like any research done about either known or obscure Pop TV shows or guest appearances etc from 1964-72 Just ask and I'll see what I can find out?

I have complete years of the NME between 1964 and 1970, complete years Melody Maker 1970 and 1971 and of Fabulous 208 magazine from 1964 to 1967 also a very large collection of the Disc & Music Echo music paper, and Rave magazine. oh, and Record Mirror (complete year 1972)

I also go to the National Library of Scotland every week they have a great selection of old newspapers and other helpful magazines

cheers

[jerryg]

Hi william ,thanks for the offer ,i dont know if you will find any details ,but if its possible could you have a look and see ,if there is any info on granada tv new pop show that started 1st november 1968 called discotheque ,only there is very little info anywhere about this pop show ,also do you know if the pop show lift off,which began november 69 is mentioned anywhere ,in the papers ,many thanks.

[williammcgregor]

Hi jerryg

Discotheque UPDATE number 1

The NME had the following info on "Discotheque" (see below) ...........

Billie Davis, Graham Bonney, Tangerine Peel and Roberta Rex guest in the first edition of Granada-TV's "Discotheque" (1/11/68)

The Marbles and Susan Maughan are set for next week's edition (8/11/68)

The show is hosted by Billy J Kramer and produced by Muriel Young

To follow the "Discotheque" research postings from the beginning please see pages 1,3,6,8,9,10,12 and 15

[jerryg]

Many thanks william ,very suprised that you have found any info on discotheque pop show ,it seems to be a very rare pop show ,and finding much info about it anywhere is very slim , i wonder if the marbles song on show 2 ,was their hit only one woman ,brilliant song ,anyway thank you so much william ,it is very much appreciated that you have uncovered some info on the first show ,please if you find any more about this show,or lift off ,please let us know ,many thanks once again.

[SydV]

We've got all studio guests for the 1970 editions of BBC2's "Disco 2" listed except for Saturday 13th June 1970 (tx'd in the early hours of Sunday 14th). Are there any details for that edition?

[williammcgregor]

Disco 2 UPDATE number 1

Hi Syd,

I looked at the NME dated 6th June 1970 on page 8 for info about the episode on the 13th june but all I found was the following:-

The Groundhogs have been added to BBC-2's "Disco 2" tomorrow (Saturday) which is now being screened after the midnight movie at approximately 12:30am - already booked for this edition are Tony Joe White and Brinsley Schwarz.

So I would assume they were talking about the edition on the 7th June 1970

I then looked at the NME dated 13/th June 1970 and found the following:-

Procol Harum and Affinity are showcased in BBC-2's late night "Disco 2" on Saturday 20th June!!!!

So if there was an edition aired on the 13th it has been overlooked by the NME?

see answer to question on UPDATE number 2 on page 6

William

[williammcgregor]

Discotheque UPDATE number 2

I have found an article about "Discotheque" from the Disc and Music Echo dated 11th January 1969

It has a black and white picture of the female presenter Dianne Greaves with the word Discotheque on her thigh! (*see the picture on page 9)

the article is as follows:-

Girls should stop imagining they would make good disc-jockeys-that advice comes from the only official female DJ in the country. Granada TV's "Discotheque" dolly Diane Greaves.

Says short, blonde, London-born Dianne: "I've no ambition to be a fully-fledged DJ. Girls just don't have the gift of the gab so necessary for the job. Even in the show I do, I'm no more of a compere than a DJ because I'm not allowed to say anything unscripted.

"Girls can't tell jokes half as well as men and from listening to the DJ's on Radio 1 I've come to realise it's what they say apart from talking about records that matters. If I was a fellow, maybe I would think differently, but as it is I absolutely agree with Robin Scott" (Mr Scott, former controller of Radio 1, once went so far as to say he played girl DJ tapes at parties to get everybody in a humourous frame of mind).

Not that Miss Greaves is at all ungrateful for the chance of her weekly spot with "Discotheque" which ends in April but is due back for a further run in the autumn. "To be the only girl DJ is fantastic, of course, and I'd like to emulate Cathy McGowan although with the show going out as early as five in the evening each Friday I doubt if that would happen."

Dianne, 22, and trained as an actress at the Corona Stage School which has since led to a lot of TV work including sketches with Morecambe and Wise and Harry Worth, landed the "Discotheque" job purely from her picture. "They wanted someone with dolly clothes," she says, and currently she has a crush on Indian gear, cowgirl mini dresses, beads and an Indian pleat in her hair.

"Actually, when I got the job, I did'nt think I'd like working with pop people. I disliked long hair and supposed them to be unprofessional. I was quite wrong. They're purely out to enjoy themselves and entertain the public and there has'nt been one "moody" thrown by any of the artists. They are all so easy going and so much more full of fun than your dedicated actors.

She's an ardent Bee Gees fan, believes Jimmy Savile and Tony Blackburn to be the best DJ's and wishes Disc's aspiring girl DJ's all the best. "But I still say it's no job for us females." she adds.

For more on Discotheque please see pages 3,6,8,9,10,12 and 15

[Deleted]

Diane Greaves didn't half talk some crap.

[John Green]

William,I've got to admit that when you made your kind offer,I thought that it'd turn out that everything's listed online,but obviously not!

[SydV]

Feb 27, 2013 13:55:33 GMT williammcgregor said:

Hi Syd,

I looked at the NME dated 6th June 1970 on page 8 for info about the episode on the 13th june but all I found was the following:-

The Groundhogs have been added to BBC-2's "Disco 2" tomorrow (Saturday) which is now being screened after the midnight movie at approximately 12:30am - already booked for this edition are Tony Joe White and Brinsley Schwarz.

So I would assume they were talking about the edition on the 7th June 1970

I then looked at the NME dated 13/th June 1970 and found the following:-

Procol Harum and Affinity are showcased in BBC-2's late night "Disco 2" on Saturday 20th June!!!!

So if there was an edition aired on the 13th it has been overlooked by the NME?

William

Groundhogs were indeed on the previous edition. The Mirror newspaper lists at least one act for each show of the series in their TV schedules, except for that one 13th June 1970 edition, so perhaps the content of that particular show was all on film - maybe a concert somewhere - rather than studio guests.

Thanks for taking the time to check.

[Brian Denton]

Very generous offer, William. Welcome to the site !

[williammcgregor]

Thanks for the welcome Brian that means a lot!

William

[Deleted]

Hi, William, what a generous spirit you are. May I impinge upon that generosity and ask you if there is any mention of The Beatles' top of the pops appearance on 16th June 1966??? Thanks :-)

[markandresen]

Feb 27, 2013 17:23:31 GMT @sheldi said:

Diane Greaves didn't half talk some crap.

Consequently, Shelley, you can see how us men had it a lot easier in those days... ;D

[williammcgregor]

Lift-Off UPDATE number 1


details about the TV show "Lift Off" taken from the NME

1970 editions

Roger Whittaker stars in Granada-TV's "Lift Off" on Wednesday, Jan 14th, when he is joined by Bill Kenwright, Billie Davis and Axis. Line up for the previous week's show (7th) includes Marmalade, Gary Hamilton, Tracy and the Back Street Band

Robin Gibb guests in Granada-TV's "Lift Off" next Wednesday (21st) when he is joined by Heath Hampstead, Fluff and Maggie Briton

Guests for Granada-TV's "Lift Off" next Wednesday (28th)
include Edwin Starr and John and Ann Ryder

Granada-TV's "Lift Off" completed it's run this week and is replaced next Wednesday (4th) by a new Southern-TV series of "Little Big Time" starring Freddie and the Dreamers

For more Lift-Off information please see pages 3,4,5,6 and 8