Post by Ed Brown on Mar 23, 2017 16:56:05 GMT
I've recently come across a collection of six radio shows, from a series starring Frankie, which I believe to be editions of a series that was broadcast on BBC Radio 2 between 1973 and 1975, entitled simply 'Frankie Howerd', in which Frankie appeared with June Whitfield and Ray Fell. 18 editions were aired, in three series.
One episode of the six that came my way is easy to identify, as it's been repeated on Radio 4 Extra. This was episode 1 of series 1, aired on 17th June 1973. I therefore suspect that the six recordings may be all six episodes of the 1973 series, i.e. the entire first series.
My question is a straightforward one: are these episodes missing?
The BBC released 4 of the 18 editions on cassette in the 1990s, and in recent years Radio 7 / Radio 4 Extra has repeated 3 editions (at least 2 of which were, IIRC, included in the cassette release). The fact that none of the other editions have ever resurfaced leads me to think they may be missing from the BBC's sound archives.
Can anyone cast any light on this?
I'm not even certain of the correct title for the show. BBC sources sometimes describe it simply as 'Frankie Howerd' (including in Radio Times), although elsewhere I've seen/heard it called 'The Frankie Howerd Show' (perhaps incorrectly). Originally announced on air simply as: 'We present... Frankie Howerd'.
Listeners might remember it as "Frankie Howerd's Illustrious Memoirs", as that was a term sometimes used in the show, although not in its Radio Times billing.
Are there any on-line recordings with which I could compare the six I have? Since none of the broadcasts have individual titles, identifying individual editions may be tricky.
I should hate to spend a lot of time on restoration, if the episodes are actually widely known to survive.
One episode of the six that came my way is easy to identify, as it's been repeated on Radio 4 Extra. This was episode 1 of series 1, aired on 17th June 1973. I therefore suspect that the six recordings may be all six episodes of the 1973 series, i.e. the entire first series.
My question is a straightforward one: are these episodes missing?
The BBC released 4 of the 18 editions on cassette in the 1990s, and in recent years Radio 7 / Radio 4 Extra has repeated 3 editions (at least 2 of which were, IIRC, included in the cassette release). The fact that none of the other editions have ever resurfaced leads me to think they may be missing from the BBC's sound archives.
Can anyone cast any light on this?
I'm not even certain of the correct title for the show. BBC sources sometimes describe it simply as 'Frankie Howerd' (including in Radio Times), although elsewhere I've seen/heard it called 'The Frankie Howerd Show' (perhaps incorrectly). Originally announced on air simply as: 'We present... Frankie Howerd'.
Listeners might remember it as "Frankie Howerd's Illustrious Memoirs", as that was a term sometimes used in the show, although not in its Radio Times billing.
Are there any on-line recordings with which I could compare the six I have? Since none of the broadcasts have individual titles, identifying individual editions may be tricky.
I should hate to spend a lot of time on restoration, if the episodes are actually widely known to survive.