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Post by John W King on Dec 17, 2012 8:50:39 GMT
Too late to advise on make then - I was going to say that in it's day the best reel to reel was the Akai 4000XD (I used to have one). I am about to acquire a macine of unknown make thru my family. I can then go into the loft to try and listen to my mulititude of tapes to see what I have. Known tapes in existence are:- The Hobbit (Radio 4 1968), War of the Worlds (Radio 4 1967), various radio tracks from the Pop Charts (Alan Freeman ?), Dr Who - the War Games sound track (BBC 1 1969), Adam Adamant - short extract fron a Vintage Year for Scoundrels (already dated and on AA DVD), the Death of John Lennon (various radio and TV soundtrack items from the day he died). I am hoping to find the sound track to BBC 1's 1968 transmission of Triton but I think it was accidentally erased when I moved from a 2 Track to 4 Track open reel. So my advice is:- use 4 track only to play back and don't erase the tapes when you have transferred. That reminds me - as others have said, use phono leads where possible. I have a CD recorder and use that to transfer my tape soundtracks and audio cassettes to dgital format. Good luck! Let us know how you get on.
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Post by John W King on Dec 4, 2012 12:12:13 GMT
Never a waste of time Stephen. My recollection is it was Man Alive and it could have been colour in 1967 as Man Alive was on BBC 2 which had colour by then. The only thing I can't tell you is if it falls into the missing category. I'm sure one of the experts on this site will enlighten us very shortly...... But never consider anything a waste of time.
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Post by John W King on Dec 3, 2012 10:03:32 GMT
I wasn't at MWB but can clearly remember Galaxy 4 from when I saw it as a child. The thung that struck me at the time was how spartan the sets were plain white "ground" with a few scattered upright "rocks". The same was true of the Myth Makers - the plains of Troy were very plain with only a few shrubs here and there. Both stories looked very studio bound compared to stories from series 1 and 2 where efforts were made to create more realistic sets. It's a real shame more episodes from series 3 don't exist as my memories are that most of the stories looked strapped for cash - even parts of the Daleks Masterplan.
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Post by John W King on Nov 30, 2012 9:18:10 GMT
I'm starting a fresh thread only because 50th push is getting bogged down with money which I feel is non-productive and going no where. Before we begin any new "push" or appeal let's try some logic. a) Who are we targeting? 1) WHO fans - no point. They're not fans if they don't know 106 episodes are missing 2) Film collectors - specialist film and TV magazines have previously been contacted. The only fresh slant is the 50th Anniversary. Try. - Film fairs. Tried. Keep trying. Maybe just a stand with information leaflets. Could also be tried at car boots. 3) The general (indifferent) public - this is the hardest target. Forget contacting National papers. The TV Magazine with the largest sales and audience is the RADIO TIMES. Put a regular highly visible feature in this magazine highlighting the history of episode returns, sort after items and, obviously any returns and a forum .i.e. printed version of this site! This needn't be every week, maybe once a month. The Nationals will soon pick up on it. They often run as exclusives interviews given in the Radio Times. REWARD - The only reward on offer is total publicity and acknowledgment on any releases to any one returning anything. As has been discussed on the other thread - financial reward creates more problems than it solves. Please do not contaminate this thread with any mention of money. I thank you.
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Post by John W King on Jul 13, 2012 7:47:48 GMT
I've seen this touched on previous threads but has any one looked at old videos held in Colleges and Universities? The reason I ask is because two colleagues of mine have evening jobs cleaning and caretaking a local college. They were chatting recently about how Abingdon College had just binned approx. a skip full of old videos (what format i don't know and by old I have no knowledge). It was too late to investigate further and quite likely they may have been purely educational. However, when I was at college (Plymouth Polytechnic 1973 -75) I briefly joined their Television Group runby the Media Studies department. They had their own TV studio complete with open reel video recorders. The only session I can remember was where they were filming 3 girl dancers and mixing them in with Status Quo playing "Down Down" apparently taken from Top of the Pops. It just got me wondering what might be found in these educational establishment archives.
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Post by John W King on Jul 2, 2012 11:52:47 GMT
AH yes - the old B & W/Auto/Colour switch! I was told to record B & W programmes with the B &W switch on rather than auto or colour to obtain a true colour image otherwise there was tendency to get colour fringes or cast which I recall was sometimes true. So I recorded Unearthly Child and Krotons like this but rest in colour setting. Oh the fun we had in those early days.
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Post by John W King on Jul 2, 2012 8:55:06 GMT
My understanding has to do (as always with a rights issue). I was working on a stage version of 1984 as it is one of my all time favourite books. I hadn't got very far when it was announced there was to be a major film with Richard Burton. They (i think it was Virgin Films)bought up all the rights from Orwell's family/estate and put a block on any other versions being released in any shape or form as they didn't want any competition. This prevented 1956 Edmund O'Brien version being shown on TV or released on tape. It stopped David Bowie from producing a musical version - the few songs completed are on his Diamond Dogs Album. It brought a halt to my stage version and has prevented the BBC from screening their production very often - except on the death of Rudolph Cartier. How long this prevention clause will last I do not know. That was my understanding back in the early 1980's anyway. Useless Trivia:- George Orwell is buried in Milton Village about a mile from were I work and am currently writing this note. In nearby Sutton Courtenay Orwell Grange, a road of new build houses has just opened. Bet you really neend to know that!
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Post by John W King on Jul 2, 2012 8:32:14 GMT
My first machine was the Philips V2000 and like everyone was for the Five Faces. I didn't buy the machine but rented from Wigfalls (later Radio Rentals) . Although the tapes were £20.00 (!) I did keep the recordings. The advantage of the Philips V2000 format was that technically they were far superior to either Betamax or VHS. They had video tracking for a stable picture and you could record on both sides of the tape like an audio cassette. Unfortunately VHS format won out in the end when. as I understand it, Thorn/EMI struck a contract which allowed exclusive UK distribution of pre-recorded films. I then transferred all my archived video recordings to VHS. I think I still have them as complete episodes with the continuity. Alas the V2000 tapes went to that great rubbish dump at the end of the universe when I moved house in 2001. By the way, I also has BSB squarial..... BBC VHS Dr Who.....BBC DVD Dr Who..........what next to make everything I have obsolete?
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Post by John W King on Jun 12, 2012 8:19:02 GMT
Part:86: Mission to the Unknown by Terry Nation
The Man disappears into the jungle. Meanwhile on another part of the planet a rocket has crashed. It's occupants are Gordon Lwery, Jeff Garvey and Special Agent Marc Cory. Cory and Lowery are repairing the ship while Garvey has gone on an expedition. Suddenly he returns saying "I must kill!" In fact he is the man (note; the man from the beginning of the episode is what I meant). Cory shoots Garvey because the latter wasgoing to kill. As Cory and Lowery try to send a message to a friendly ship Garvey starts turning into a Varga - pets kept by the Daleks! The Daleks have established a great city on the planet making ready for the Master Plan! They sent out a force to capture the rocket. As Cory and Lowery send a signal - rocket the Vargas close in as rockets from 7 galactic planets arrive to reinforce the Daleks. Cory and Lowery run for it but Lowery pricks himself on a Varga! The 7 galactic warriors become allies and plan to attack our Galaxy starting with Earth! Cory is shot by Daleks stopping all means of warning Earth! The Daleks at last leave with their allies set off to complete their Master Plan!
End of notes. This episode was very disconcerting and confusing. The notes as written are confusing but again trigger memories for me. I seem to recall the episode began with the scene from the end of the Exploding Planet in the TARDIS with the time travellers- then closing on the shot of the planet - We close in on the scanner as it zooms down on to a wild jungle seen from above. There is a shot of a clearing and man in a dirty white space suit stumbles into the clearing saying "I must kill! I MUST KILL!" The man looks at his arm covered in raised lumps and spikes like porcupine quills. The man who later learn is called Garvey staggers off into the jungle. Behind him emerges a Varga looking like a prickly cactus made from cotton wool with spikes protruding. The spikes are like the quills on Garvey's arm. It moves like there is a man inside the cotton wool shuffling along. Other Vargas start shuffling after Garvey. In another clearing is the remains of a rocket shuttle craft. My simple description of a "rocket" is mis-leading. I seem to remember a round drum like structure raised on short legs with an oblong panel out of the side. It is in this Cory and Lowery are working. The rest of the episode, alas, I cannot clearly recall. I think the shock and anxiety of feeling "where is the Doctor and the Tardis" made it difficult to digest this episode. Usually I can clearly picture the cliff hanger but not here. I vaguely recall the camera zooming into the tape of Cory's last SOS message. I have to be careful when relating my memories I do not let them become contaminated with knowledge gained from books and magazines. I do recall a lot of shots of jungle vegetation and vargas shuffling along.
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Post by John W King on Jun 12, 2012 7:34:23 GMT
I first started making these notes after the end of the first Dalek story which I thought (and still do think) was absolutely amazing. For Roof Top of the World I orginally stuck the Radio Times entry and made my notes beneath it. This was in a small note book about the size of a Compact Disc cover. From then on I made notes as soon after the episode as I could. Usually the same night. Of course there were episodes I missed and I would then grill friends and relatives who had seen it as to what happened so I could make my notes. Later (around 1968) my older brother had wired a phono socket into the side of the telly and would record the sound track of episodes I missed (how I wish I'd kept those crystal clear recordings). I could make notes from them - he would try to fill in the visual details where the sound alone was not obvious. For me, what has been fascinating as episodes have been released onto video was to actually see an episode I had only known from some one else's recollections. Imagine finally seeing The Firemaker when it was rebroadcast as part of the Five Faces of Doctor Who! Or the last two episodes of the Sensorites... the first episode of the French Revolution.. Some times my borrowed memories from other people were quite close. Some times not. The real tragedy and physical pain for me is the episodes I missed and the BBC have carefully now mis-placed (putting it politely) so that none of us can see! Ever! The final episode of the Dalek's Masterplan...aaargh! Episode 1 and 3 of the Massacre.....oooh! It is for that reason I am trying to share my memories of the missing episodes I did see and to try and evoke for you what it was like being there and watching it. I appreciate this may not be a proper use of the forum and to that end I shall be working with Simeon D Carter who is constructing a web site for these notes - dwme-whatsurvives.blogspot.co.uk/However, I shall continue to transcribe my notes until Simeon has the site working, or I am asked not to continue or I get fed up with it. I am concentrating on those stories I feel are most missed by fans. e.g. Fury, Mission to the Unknown, etc. Back to Mission. I didn't intend to lead into it with a real cliff hanger yesterday but the depot where I work closed for the night! Continue on my next reply...
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Post by John W King on Jun 11, 2012 15:38:36 GMT
Busy day so a quick transcription today:-
the end of Part :85: The Exploding Planet (the rest of the Galaxy Four Story will follow) ........ The Time Travellers get inside the TARDIS just as the Drahvins fire. As the planet starts exploding the TARDIS hurtles into time and space. The Drahvins are left on the planet which is exploding. Meanwhile deep in space on a particular planetis a man in a dreadful jungle. Suddenly he cries out "I must kill! I MUST KILL!"
- that's my notes but the memory is that as the planet explodes shown by clouds of smoke which fade to the interor of the Tardis. The four time travellers are stood by the console where the time rotor is rising and falling. They look up at the scanner to see a planet in space. We close in on the scanner as it zooms down on to a wild jungle seen from above. There is a shot of a clearing and man in a dirty white space suit stumbles into the clearing saying "I must kill! I MUST KILL!"
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Post by John W King on Jun 11, 2012 15:25:53 GMT
On another thread about the Meet the Kids (a hospital visit Christmas Programme) I have added this memory. But since it is also relevant to this thread here it is:- These visits to children's hospitals were later extended to other Bank Holiday's. I have clear memories of Rolf Harris talking to a young boy patient about his favourite programme which was Doctor Who. Rolf asks if he remember's the Doctor's last encounter with the Daleks. Rolf explained the Doctor and his companions had followed the Daleks to their home planet Skaro. The encounter ended in a massive battle between the Daleks. Asked if he would like to see it again the boy nodded. The epic battle from episode 7 of the Evil of the Daleks was then shown ending in a massive explosion. Return to Rolf who said "Good news for all Doctor Who fans as that story will be shown in it's entirety in a few weeks on BBC1". I am not certain but I believe this Meet the kids "episode" was shown on Bank Holiday Whit Monday 1968. However I have never seen this mentioned in any other Doctor Who documentation. Am I the only sad s*d to have watched this broadcast of Meet the Kids? Does any one have any old Radio Times to confirm whether my memory is genuine or at fault?
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Post by John W King on Jun 11, 2012 15:22:59 GMT
These visits to children's hospitals were later extended to other Bank Holiday's. I have clear memories of Rolf Harris talking to a young boy patient about his favourite programme which was Doctor Who. Rolf asks he remember's the Doctor's last encounter with the Daleks. Rolf explained the Doctor and his companions had followed the Daleks to their home planet Skaro. The encounter ended in a massive battle between the Daleks. Asked if he would like to see it again the boy nodded. The epic battle from episode 7 of the Evil of the Daleks was then shown ending in a massive explosion. Return to Rolf who said "Good news for all Doctor Who fans as that story will be shown in it's entirety in a few weeks on BBC1". I am not certain but I believe this Meet the kids "episode" was shown on Bank Holiday Whit Monday 1968. However I have never seen this mentioned in any other Doctor Who documentation. Am I the only sad s*d to have watched this broadcast of Meet the Kids? Does any one have any old Radio Times to confirm whether my memory is genuine or at fault?
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Post by John W King on Jun 8, 2012 14:46:26 GMT
Thanks again for your feedback. More notes will follow next week....
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Post by John W King on Jun 8, 2012 7:58:08 GMT
Thank you folks for your kind comments. I thought I would start with my notes for a lot of people's favourite story and at a point where my notes were becoming more detailed. I originally made my notes almost as soon as the episode ended. I am transcribing exactly what was written at the time.:- The Fury from the Deep by Victor Pemberton Part:198: Episode:1: (note: I actually missed this episode but my notes are based on the soundtrack recording made by my brother)
Tardis lands in the sea. Dr. Who, Victoria and Jamie row ashore and find some gas pipes. They are in England. The hear a strange sound in the pipes. They are knocked out and imprisoned in the refinery. The refinery is controlled by Robson.. Lately the pressure has been falling in the pipes and contact has been loft with a rig. Mrs Harris, wife of the second in command, finds a bit of sea weed in her home. She throws it out and it lays there throbbing... Mrs Harris falls ill. Dr. Who, Jamie and Victoria is sent back. When a man passes she hides in a room. Dr.Who again hears the noise. He also hears the noise. He also hears Victoria scream! A strange sea weed-foam is approaching her through the ventilator!!! Part:199: Episode:2: (this episode I saw) Victoria is rescued. Two strange engineers enter the refinery - Quill and Swan. A strange sound is heard in the shaft. The gas-pump does not work properly. Robson will not turn off the supply. Mrs. Harris is very ill. Quill and Oak enter her home to repair something. They open their mouths and gas comes out. Mrs Harris is knocked out. Contact is lost with another rig. Dr. Who gets a seaweed specimen. Victoria says it can move!!! Part:200: Episode:3: Dr. Who discovers that the seaweed is alive like an animal. It draws life from natural gas and breathes out a toxic gas. Robson will not believe that some is blocking the pump. Robson rests in his room. The seaweed comes in through the ventilator. Robson disappears. Harris sees the creature. Dr. Who goes to Mrs. Harris's house. It is full of seaweed! They can hardly escape from it! The weed must be in the pipe. Mrs.Harris is standing by the sea. She is turning into a seaweed creature. Ronson meets her. He, too, is under the weed's influence! Part:201: Episode:4: One of the men goes down the pipe and is killed by seaweed creature. Dr Who and Jamie also go down. The seaweed comes but Quill and Swann trap the two down there. They escape - just - and find Victoria unconscious. Megan - London Official arrives. Another rig is taken over by seaweed. The creature is drawing power from humans. They must find the nerve centre and destroy it. Suddenly they see the gas is rising up the pipe!!! Part:202: Episode:5: Nearby a conference is held to discuss what will be done about the seaweed. Gas is pumped in and the seaweed attacks. Jamie has a fight with Quill. Victoria screams and Quill appears to die. Only the central rig is now not covered with seaweed. The gas in the pipe is stopped. The weed starts to surround the refinery. The nerve centre must be destroyed. Robson captures Victoria and takes her in a helicopter. Dr Who and Jamie follow in another helicopter. They land and find foam on the rig. The seaweed is here. Then Robson comes out of the foam! Part:203: Episode:6: Victoria screams and the weed and Ronson retreat. With Victoria they leave. Their helicopter has gone. They take Robson's. In the refinery Harris has given up hope and is about to evacuate the base when the Doctor returns. The Dr. says the nerve centre must be on the control rig. The seaweed breaks out of the pipe. They are surrounded! They record Victoria's scream and with Doctor Who's bit of apparatus fix speakers to the pipe to destroy the centre and have directional speakers. The weed breaks into the room. The power is not on and at the last moment the weed is driven back. All is well. Robson and Mrs Harris are back to nornal and the weed is destroyed. Victoria wants to stay there. Jamie and Doctor Who leave her and take off in Tardis. Victoria stands on the beach getting smaller as Tardis hurtles away......
There it is. I was 12 when I made those notes and the interesting thing for me reading those notes for the first time since they were written brings back images and sequences clearly into my mind. Masses of foam with thrashing "hairy" tentacles. First saw the foam demonstrated by the fire brigade on Tomorrow's World some months before. First used by Dr Who on the Web of Fear. By now used by many programmes and looking a bit tired as a special effect by the time of Fury. Ronson sweating and looking at his arm as he began to turn into the creature. The frantic last episode until the creature was finally destroyed. The ending seemed quiet and subdued incomparison. Jamie arguing with Victoria not to stay. The very sad (yes, there were tears!) parting on the beach. Victoria seen from above as the camera pulled back and she dwindled to a dot.......
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