Post by johnstewart on May 14, 2007 22:57:45 GMT
My Mum reminded me of how the first set we had in the house when I was born was one designed like a sideboard, with shutters. I had forgotten this. In the 1950s apparently there was a fear and suspicion around the new concept of TV and how people thought the screen was like an eye watching them; and also the TV would be often turned off for long periods. These doors closing across the front made it look like a drinks cabinet; I now picture them as polished walnut with a marbled sort of effect and two circular flat golden knobs at the centre of each door to slide them open and lock when out of use.
I did recall how sets designed before the advent of BBC2 in 1964 had push buttons rather than dials for 'BBC1 and ITV' so there was no way of changing the wavelengths to tune in the signal for BBC2. We had one like this, with brown bakelite style oblong switches. As a result we didn't have it till the April - June 1969 period. I know this as we have some photos from the time in which the new set is visible and I can recall that I didn't see anything on BBC2 on our own set prior to 69. There was a period shortly after 'Play school' first started; around 1965; that my Mum used to send me round to a neighbour who had a son my age on certain days to watch it, as they could receive BBC2. For some reason Brian cant was the only presenter who seemed to be on it on the days I watched it.
Think 'Time Tunnel' may have been on BBC2 originally in late 1968; and I went round to the same friend.
My first home memories were of trade test films, 'The Monkees TV special', and shows like 'Rowan and Martin' and 'My world and welcome to it' (James Thurber). There were also repeats of the Hancock show in which theres no onscreen title, he just walks up to the screen and announces it ('Hancocks half hour' c. 1960). (see my other thread on this).
Having seen a lot of what I missed pre 69 or discussed it, it's evident that I came in to BBC2 mid process and that much of what I was seeing was a same established selection of programmes common to it in 67 - 68 and that much of the product ) i.e. early Out of the Unknown' was common in style; slightly more artistic or fringe than what you got on BBC1. Certainly I can't think of a more way out programme than '33 revolutions per Monkee' being shown; which would have been unthinkable c. 1963.
Its regretful that certain genres i.e. one off plays and comedy on BBC2 for the 1968 - 72 were not extensively preserved. An example is (continuing in the 70s); 'Thirty minute theatre', which had a huge volume of interesting sounding items probably of a high quality; but that volume of one off plays on BBC2 and the genre seem to have worked against it.
Be pleased to hear input from anyone who can pick up and expand on the earlier BBC2 years.
I did recall how sets designed before the advent of BBC2 in 1964 had push buttons rather than dials for 'BBC1 and ITV' so there was no way of changing the wavelengths to tune in the signal for BBC2. We had one like this, with brown bakelite style oblong switches. As a result we didn't have it till the April - June 1969 period. I know this as we have some photos from the time in which the new set is visible and I can recall that I didn't see anything on BBC2 on our own set prior to 69. There was a period shortly after 'Play school' first started; around 1965; that my Mum used to send me round to a neighbour who had a son my age on certain days to watch it, as they could receive BBC2. For some reason Brian cant was the only presenter who seemed to be on it on the days I watched it.
Think 'Time Tunnel' may have been on BBC2 originally in late 1968; and I went round to the same friend.
My first home memories were of trade test films, 'The Monkees TV special', and shows like 'Rowan and Martin' and 'My world and welcome to it' (James Thurber). There were also repeats of the Hancock show in which theres no onscreen title, he just walks up to the screen and announces it ('Hancocks half hour' c. 1960). (see my other thread on this).
Having seen a lot of what I missed pre 69 or discussed it, it's evident that I came in to BBC2 mid process and that much of what I was seeing was a same established selection of programmes common to it in 67 - 68 and that much of the product ) i.e. early Out of the Unknown' was common in style; slightly more artistic or fringe than what you got on BBC1. Certainly I can't think of a more way out programme than '33 revolutions per Monkee' being shown; which would have been unthinkable c. 1963.
Its regretful that certain genres i.e. one off plays and comedy on BBC2 for the 1968 - 72 were not extensively preserved. An example is (continuing in the 70s); 'Thirty minute theatre', which had a huge volume of interesting sounding items probably of a high quality; but that volume of one off plays on BBC2 and the genre seem to have worked against it.
Be pleased to hear input from anyone who can pick up and expand on the earlier BBC2 years.