Post by markdixon on Oct 15, 2017 12:01:08 GMT
“The Public Ear” was a fortnightly magazine programme which ran on the BBC Light Programme from 06 October 1963 to 22 March 1964. It was introduced by Allan Scott (satirical performer and screenwriter) and regular contributors included Pauline Boty (Pop artist and actress), Tony Hall (DJ and record producer), Dick Vosburgh (comedy writer) and Danny Blanchflower (footballer and journalist). Music was provided by the Max Harris Group.
The programme took an offbeat look at the world of entertainment and featured candid interviews with celebrities. The guests were often encouraged to give their views on the state of the world. Apparently, many of the items segued into each other without being linked by presenters, so the programme sometimes had an “audio collage” feel.
Does anyone know if any full episodes of this series still exist?
I know that segments of the editions which featured appearances by The Beatles (03/11/63, 12/01/64, 22/03/64) have survived.
I’m also aware that the producer of the show, John Fawcett Wilson, kept various production tapes throughout his career and these were donated to Kaleidoscope following his death in 2011. There’s an online list of his collection (wipednews.files.wordpress.com) which identifies two of the tapes as being from “The Public Ear”. However, I’ve looked at Radio Times listings and I think the contents of many of his other tapes correspond with what was featured on “The Public Ear”. Therefore, I believe that many sequences from the show have survived (mainly in an unedited form different from the broadcast versions). These include interviews with the following people:
Joan Bennett, John Schlesinger, Roy Boulting, Eamonn Andrews, Kenneth Tynan, Morecambe and Wise, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Nanette Newman, Bryan Forbes, Annie Ross, Eva Bartok, David Frost, Ned Sherrin, Marion McNaughton, Tippi Hedren, Mary Quant, Jon Pertwee, Benny Hill
Transcripts of some of Pauline Boty’s monologues have survived, but I don’t know if any of the audio of these still exist.
Any further information about the series is welcome.
The programme took an offbeat look at the world of entertainment and featured candid interviews with celebrities. The guests were often encouraged to give their views on the state of the world. Apparently, many of the items segued into each other without being linked by presenters, so the programme sometimes had an “audio collage” feel.
Does anyone know if any full episodes of this series still exist?
I know that segments of the editions which featured appearances by The Beatles (03/11/63, 12/01/64, 22/03/64) have survived.
I’m also aware that the producer of the show, John Fawcett Wilson, kept various production tapes throughout his career and these were donated to Kaleidoscope following his death in 2011. There’s an online list of his collection (wipednews.files.wordpress.com) which identifies two of the tapes as being from “The Public Ear”. However, I’ve looked at Radio Times listings and I think the contents of many of his other tapes correspond with what was featured on “The Public Ear”. Therefore, I believe that many sequences from the show have survived (mainly in an unedited form different from the broadcast versions). These include interviews with the following people:
Joan Bennett, John Schlesinger, Roy Boulting, Eamonn Andrews, Kenneth Tynan, Morecambe and Wise, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Nanette Newman, Bryan Forbes, Annie Ross, Eva Bartok, David Frost, Ned Sherrin, Marion McNaughton, Tippi Hedren, Mary Quant, Jon Pertwee, Benny Hill
Transcripts of some of Pauline Boty’s monologues have survived, but I don’t know if any of the audio of these still exist.
Any further information about the series is welcome.