Post by johnstewart on May 14, 2007 22:51:47 GMT
I recall in both cases with 'Monty Python' and 'Old grey whistle test'; not catching on as to what they really were for about a year when they first came on. The first time I saw 'Monty Python' billed, several weeks running, I genuinely disregarded it thinking it was just a broadcast of a circus or aircraft displays. No one said otherwise. I only found out that it was a sort of continuation of 'Do not adjust your set' which I'd liked; by accident. The show was on far too late for me when it started; either 10 or 11.30 I recall, and I'm sure for the first couple of years, up to 1971; it was on a Sunday; in the latter period following an edition of '24 hours'. And it was on BBC2 at first as it wasn't considered mainstream (so were the Goodies intitially). can't remember exactly but I think I had to get up and alert my Mother in the sitting room that I was ill and had been sick or something, necessitating a clean up. What was on TV caught my eye; an animation of music hall style performers in vests with rotating 'peg' style legs. I began laughing and was allowed on that occasion to watch the rest of it; then I recall another time as a special treat, I think during a holiday in 1970. By that time my older brother (old enough to stay up); had cottoned on too that it was a surreal comedy. By 1971 it was the talk of the town at school. It was a show that had such ridiculous humour and cartoons and the DNAYS line up that it appealed to kids, but wasn't designed for them and not really suitable in places as it pushed the boundaries at that time of taste and decency; 'Salad days' being an example I recalled (currently rated as '12' on DVD).
Of 'Whistle test' for some reason; I thought when it was originally publicised, they showed a card which had a steam train like the 'Queen of Scots', black, above a black title board with the series title. It ran opposite a series I was watching on BBC1 for Spike Milligan 'Follies of the Wise'; a documentary series shot on film. I was only allowed to see this I assume as it was the Summer holidays so think this was probably July - August 1972. Again all they said was 'Starting over on BBC2 now, Bob Harris presents the Old Grey Whistle test'. I thought it must be some kind of documentary on steam trains or a sort of 'Top Gear' magazine analysing train designs. There was no information to state otherwise.
Of 'Whistle test' for some reason; I thought when it was originally publicised, they showed a card which had a steam train like the 'Queen of Scots', black, above a black title board with the series title. It ran opposite a series I was watching on BBC1 for Spike Milligan 'Follies of the Wise'; a documentary series shot on film. I was only allowed to see this I assume as it was the Summer holidays so think this was probably July - August 1972. Again all they said was 'Starting over on BBC2 now, Bob Harris presents the Old Grey Whistle test'. I thought it must be some kind of documentary on steam trains or a sort of 'Top Gear' magazine analysing train designs. There was no information to state otherwise.