50's continuity

[William Martin]

how much of the tv continuity survives from the 50's I'm thinking of the bit at the end of the Quatermass episode and similar

[Deleted]

There are a few bits and pieces I can think of - not too much, I don't think. I've seen some in-vision stuff of the female presenters from about 1953-55 and there's an evening of medaeval programming (or similar - Fanny Craddock appears in it) from about 1953, which has some continuity, I believe. I think there's one bit from 1949 as well, with the Bat's Wing logo. As you get into the late '50s / early '60s though, there is a lot more existing on the beginnings / ends of programmes telerecorded as they went out. I expect someone here can elaborate more on the '50s though.

[Andrew Doherty]

Not that much, but there is Sylvia Peters introducing 'An Elizabethan Evening' in 1953, plus some snippets with Sylvia Peters, Mary Malcolm, and McDonald Hobley. With respect to voice only continuity, Kenneth Kendall, a BBC continuity announcer and newsreader in the fifties (along with Richard Baker) can be heard reading the end credits to the July 1958 drama 'This Day in Fear'. As for late '50s ITV, don't ask, because even less continuity exists in the archives (quite possibly none at all). Associated Rediffusion had Redvers Kyle, Dick Norton and Muriel Young. (Muriel Young 'cropped up' in the film I'm Alright Jack (1959.)

However, I was surprised to see late 1950s ATV London on-screen announcer, Arthur Adair appear in a 1959 advert on the first programme (I think) from the series 'Washes Whiter' (1990), which was shown recently.

Click on the following:
www.sub-tv.co.uk/atvstartups.asp

and then click on the first test card ('ITA Croydon'), which can be enlarged. You will hear the voice of Norman Tozer who was also a continuity announcer for ATV in London. Arthur Adair would do the continuity on Saturday while Norman Tozer did the continuity on Sunday, and they would 'swap' days the following weekend.
(ATV held the franchise for London on Saturday and Sunday at the time.)

The recording was made one late autumn Sunday afternoon in 1958. This, combined with a superb reconstruction, shows exactly how the 'start-up' for Weekend London ITV was presented in the late 1950s .

Yours,

ANDy

[William Martin]

thanks all for the info, very usefull, I wonder what the earliest example is?

[Stephen Doran]

Good to see the ITA Croydon Test Card .

[Andrew Martin]

1950s continuity that exists in the BBC archive - there is almost certainly more than this, but this is a sample of what has survived:

17/08/51 – ANNOUNCERS’ TESTS (LPR5019J ) - Sylvia Peters announcements

25/08/51 – ANNOUNCERS’ TESTS (LPR5897L) - Mary Malcolm announcements

16/10/51 – PARTY ELECTION BROADCAST: CONSERVATIVE (LCA6219R) – continuity announcer on front.

02/06/53 – THE CORONATION – front: opening announcement by Sylvia Peters. Middle: [there is a break in the coverage, but recording stops and starts when the coverage ends and resumes.] End: recording stops at end of coverage.

25/07/53 – THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT:2 (LDS9418L) – End: in-vision announcer trails the next episode.

15/05/54 – PRESENTATION: SYLVIA PETERS (LPR5824R) (ALSO ON LLV5173H: CELEBRATION MUSIC HALL?) – presentation announcement? (actually this is very brief and mute – not much to write home about).

07/12/54 – SEEING IS BELIEVING (LCH7048T) – front: [start of programme only]. End: announcer Sylvia Peters talks to presenter of programme and takes part in demonstration (this may be just part of the programme?), then signs off this part of the day’s transmissions, screen fades to black.

11/10/55 - ZOO QUEST TO GUIANA (LGF6997F) - front: trail for “Look”; ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock with announcement.

09/11/55 – INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL:WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS V MOSCOW DYNAMO (LOS5561B) – front: ‘Bat’s Wing’ ident, end of announcement of football, which continues as we cut to the OB programme, announcer introduces Kenneth Wolstenholme etc. End: recording cuts at end of programme.

12/11/55 - QUATERMASS II (LDS5311J) – front: ‘Bat’s Wing’ ident with warning announcement ‘for those of a nervous disposition’.

03/05/56 - ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MINERAL? (LGF5151K) - front: end caption of “Meet Jeanne Heal”; Sylvia Peters in-vision announcement; ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (NB all above items are MUTE).

08/09/56 – SPORTS ROUND UP (LOS3116B) – front: film sequence of OB camera on top of Roving Eye van (?) with end of voice over announcement introducing programme (from Wales… this may be opt-out information, “Sports Round Up” is introduced by Kenneth Wolstenholme); black screen for a second or two. End: ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (22.58?) briefly.

03/10/57 – FARMING (NBM5041J) – front: moving ‘Bat’s Wing’ logo, with harp music – mixes (not very smoothly) to clock (coming up to 12.30), Greenwich pips (with picture break-up for a moment during this). End: (DO THIS WHEN THIS PROGRAMME IS TRANSFERRED).

10/12/57 – PARTY POLITICAL BROADCAST: RT HON HAROLD MACMILLAN (LCA6254K) – front: ‘Bat’s Wing’ ident with announcement ‘This is the BBC Television Service’, then usual caption and announcement. End: end of programme only.

20/02/58 – NEWS AND BEHIND THE HEADLINES (ANB2745B) – front: sound of amateur boxing briefly; caption (trail for?) “Hall of Fame” (mute) [then straight into News]. Middle: [nothing between News and “Behind the Headlines”]. End: ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock for a second or two (22.27).

26/03/58 – PLAYBOX (LCH7183P) – front: Children’s Television opening film; Sylvia Peters in-vision announcement, plug for “Children’s Newsreel” afterwards. End: end of programme not recorded.

26/03/58 – STATE VISIT TO THE NETHERLANDS: PREAMBLE TO OFFICIAL DINNER (C:LON5349S) – front: Cliff Michelmore in “Tonight” studio (?) on phone, links to Richard Dimbleby who is to commentate on programme. End: in-vision announcer in dinner jacket gives credits to Dimbleby, Dutch TV Service and Eurovision link…

31/03/58 – PANORAMA (LCA6621K) – front: glimpses and credits (over action) of “This is Your Life: Harry Secombe”; trailer for “RAF Fortieth Anniversary Dinner” tomorrow (with footage of airfield scenes); cut to black, then cut to “Panorama” titles. End: BBC Crest with ‘BBC News’ caption over & marimba tones, start of bulletin with Kenneth Kendal reading first headline.

27/04/58 - THE QUEEN’S SCOUTS’ ST. GEORGE’S DAY PARADE (LON5430F) - front: ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock with Greenwich time signal, in-vision announcement by Michael Aspel. End: ‘Bat’s Wing’ logo with announced credit; ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock with incomplete announcement of “I Married Joan”.

07/05/58 - ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL:OPENING OF THE RESTORED ALTAR BY H.M. QUEEN (LON5383S) – front: still of St. Paul’s with OOV introduction by announcer. End: ‘Bat’s Wing’ ident, with start of spoken credits.

09/06/58 - INAUGURATION OF GATWICK AIRPORT BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN (LON5642N) – front: [leader]; in-vision female announcer opens network and introduces programme. End: in-vision announcer as before speaks the credits.

10/06/58 – BEATING RETREAT: THE ROYAL MARINES (LON5006R) – front: [leader], in-vision announcer Sylvia Peters introduces programme. End: end of programme only.

22/06/58 - TERRITORIAL ARMY GOLDEN JUBILEE REVIEW BY H.M. QUEEN (LON5541S) - front: ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock and in-vision announcement by Sylvia Peters. End: nothing.

24/06/58 – PARTY POLITICAL BROADCAST: RT HON HAROLD MACMILLAN (LCA6257S) – front: ‘Bat’s Wing’ ident, with party political broadcast announcement (it’s ‘on behalf of and devised by…’). End: recording cuts after usual caption and announcement.

03/07/58 - THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE 1958: OPENING SERVICE FROM THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST, CANTERBURY (LRP5102W) – front: last couple of words of announcement over establishing shot of church. End: in-vision female announcer starts spoken credits; (recording speeds up, stops, starts again) black screen; caption ‘The Lambeth Conference 1958’ with introduction by announcer; picture cuts to shot of cathedral during this.

05/07/58 – CEREMONY AT SUNSET (LON5104E) – front: ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock superimposed over end of ‘Windmill’ interlude, which fades to black; clock (22.15); caption ‘Ceremony at Sunset’ over still of Holyrood House, with introduction by announcer. End: caption as before, with spoken credits; BBC crest with snatch of music.

07/07/58 – THE QUEEN’S VISIT TO LARGS (LON5431A) – front: glimpse of filmed programme; ‘Bat’s Wing’ logo, end of announcement, short bit of music, fade to black. End: cut to outside of sports centre (end of programme?).

18/07/58 - BRITISH EMPIRE AND COMMONWEALTH GAMES: OPENING CEREMONY (LOS5217F) - front: Michael Aspel in vision announcing that tomorrow’s “Lone Ranger” will be postponed due to exciting race in Empire & Commonwealth Games. Then he verbally trails new Sunday serial “Queen’s Champion”. Children’s Television closing sequence. Aspel again in vision, announces opening ceremony (inc stab at Welsh!).

22/07/58 - BRITISH EMPIRE AND COMMONWEALTH GAMES (LOS5213E) – front: BBC Crest ident briefly – bit of showjumping – recording stops; crash into “Sportsview Special” titles. End: recording stops before end of programme [THIS IS RL.6 OF 6 – THIS MATERIAL (RLS.1-5) NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT FULLY (& REST OF EMPIRE GAMES?].

26/07/58 – DESTINATION MIDDLE EAST (LCA5229D) – front: live trail for “Fair Game” episode 5, “The House in Warren Square” (trail consists of shot of crossed sword and umbrella with bowler and officer’s cap lying on crumpled silk, with voice-over); ‘Bat’s Wing’ symbol with announcement ‘We are now interrupting our published programme to present a special programme introduced by Richard Dimbleby’. End: ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (21.45), no narration; start of titles of feature film “Lucky Partners”.

30/07/58 - BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION: THE BRITISH PAVILION (LON5037J) – front: [leader] Michael Aspel in-vision announcement of programme (mentioning that it is called Expo ’58 by the Belgians (and this is on-screen title). End: end of programme only.

05/08/58 - BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION: RUSSIAN PAVILION (LON5036P) – front: [leader] in-vision announcement of programme by Michael Aspel. End: recording cuts at end of programme.

23/08/58 – TODAY’S SPORT (LOS8193W) – front: crash start to recording during titles. End: clock – ‘tv screen’ shaped clock (never seen that before!?) (18.00), as second hand reaches the top, caption ‘BBC News Time’ is superimposed; good chunk of start of early evening news summary, part of first story about Middle East…

30/08/58 - TODAY’S SPORT (LOS8194P) - front: end of ‘Children’s Television’ caption, ‘Bat’s Wing’ caption with announcement of next programme, ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (5.40pm). End: different clock for a few seconds.

25/10/58 - THE BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL UNVIELED BY H.M. THE QUEEN (ANA5030H) – front: [leader], in vision female announcer (check PasB for name) introduces programme. End: recording ends at end of programme.

22/01/59 - BRITAIN'S WORLD CHAMPION: A TRIBUTE: MIKE HAWTHORNE TRIBUTE (LOS6753F) – front: snatch of Kenneth Kendal at end of News; in-vision continuity announcer (Michael Aspel) introduces programme, announces that “As I See It” from Scotland will be ten minutes later than billed. End: ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (22.46) for a few seconds.

04/02/59 - SPORTSVIEW (LOS7737E) - front: end of caption trail for “Animal, Vegetable, Mineral”; black screen for 2 seconds.

24/02/59 - EYE ON RESEARCH (LSF5068W) – front: end of introduction to programme by in-vision announcer (Alex Macintosh?) – mentions programme is coming via Eurovision. End: announcer (as before) gives time check and introduces News headlines; picture cuts, sound of Richard Baker reading first news item (re Khrushchev).

10/03/59 – PROFESSIONAL BOXING (LOS7365J) – front: in-vision announcer (very posh).

07/04/59 - THE BUDGET: CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (LCA5150D) – front: ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (22.00) with announcement ‘This is the BBC Television Service. The time is ten o’clock’. End: [recording ends at end of programme]

04/05/59 - THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE 1949-1959 (LON5022X) – front: glimpse of ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (12.00); in-vision announcer introduces programme. End: fade to black at end of programme, recording stops/cut.

06/05/59 – SPORTSVIEW (LOS7747W) – front: ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (coming up to 8pm) with partial announcement ‘…the two Charlies (?) for another week and make way for our next programme which is “Sportsview”’ (we then cut accidentally to Peter Dimmock (who looks surprised and refers to this after the film titles have run as normal)).

10/05/59 – MONITOR (LMA6009D) – front: end of News (end of film story about Julie Andrews’ wedding, then sign off by Richard Baker); black screen for a couple of seconds, then straight into programme. End: couple of seconds black screen, then start of “The Epilogue” for a second or two.

18/06/59 – THE ROYAL TOUR OF CANADA (LON5324P) – front: end of cricket coverage, handing over to royal coverage. End: in-vision announcer reads credits for royal programme, announces return to cricket for final pre-lunch overs.

27/06/59 – GREYHOUND DERBY (LOS5882H) – front: ‘End’ caption of RKO film (then 2 seconds of black, and straight into Greyhound Derby).

22/07/59 – ROYAL INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW (LOS7254X) – front: Robert Dougall signing off at end of News; caption ‘Royal International Horse Show 1959’, announcer introduces programme over this. End: ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (5.27?), screen goes black, we hear start of music for ?

24/07/59 – PRESS CONFERENCE (LCA7412P) – front: end of credits of “The Eustace Diamonds” (part 5) (shot of flowers with superimposed credit caption for producer Naomi Capon); caption ‘“The Eustace Diamonds” part 6 will be televised next Friday at 9.30pm’; black screen for 2 seconds, then programme starts. End: caption ‘BBC tv’/‘Mercator projection’ globe symbol (News symbol?); picture cuts – sound of start of News bulletin, Kenneth Kendal reads headline about Vice-President Nixon opening Congress…

31/07/59 – PRESS CONFERENCE (LCA7413J) – front: incomplete Public Information Film (recording stops and starts briefly during it) with Jack Warner in ‘Dixon’ uniform, about road manners; black screen for a few seconds, then programme starts. End: black at end of programme; glimpse of advert for Radio Times (‘Full BBC programmes a week in advance, every Friday’).

31/08/59 - PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S VISIT TO LONDON: TALKS AT No.10 (16/TU/6593/C) (LCA7077B) – front: end credits of “Tonight”; ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (19.20), no narration. End: start of News – Michael Aspel with caption ‘The News’ superimposed, he just starts to speak as recording cuts.

13/09/59 – ITALIAN GRAND PRIX (LOS7215B) – front: end titles of programme produced by John Furness (quiz); ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (coming up to 4.40pm); Judith Chalmers in vision announces programme.

26/09/59 – SPORTS SPECIAL (LOS3241F) – front: caption trail for “Sunday Night Theatre: It’s an Ill Wind”; ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock, no announcement. End: glimpse of in-vision announcer.

29/09/59 - PARTY POLITICAL BROADCAST: CONSERVATIVE (LCA6271K) – front: [leader], ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (22.00) briefly; usual PPB caption and announcement. End: Usual PPB caption and announcement.

08/10/59 – GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS (A:LCA5445L) – front: end credits of “The Black and White Minstrel Show” over Red Indian number; few seconds of black; start of programme.

09/10/59 – GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS (6.10pm programme) (A:LCA5105S) – front: glimpse of piper before line-up [this is the earliest known existing footage from “Blue Peter”!]; glimpse of end of weather forecast (weatherman saying ‘Goodbye’); weather summary chart (no voice-over); black for 2 seconds, then programme. End: glimpse of ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (18.29).

09/10/59 – GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS (8pm programme) (B:LCA5105S) – front: end of caption trail (?) for “Laramie”/Radio Times (snatch of sound before picture starts – caption of Radio Times billboard ‘Laramie – All Star Western New BBC TV Series’, announcer is plugging new series of “Good Companions” – ‘You’ll find full details in Radio Times, now on sale, price fourpence’; ‘Bat’s Wing’ clock (20.00) – no narration. End: start of caption trail for “Dixon of Dock Green” at 7.15pm tomorrow – graphic caption with small cut-out photo of Dixon, snatch of narration then recording cuts.

16/12/59 – SPORTS REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1959 (LOS3071B) – front: most of end credits of “Charlie Drake” show, finishing with caption ‘Charlie Drake in The Angry Young Plumber next Wednesday at 7.30’; two seconds black; opening film sequence of SROTY, but reck line is in middle of picture, so film cuts after a few seconds to black, then we cut to Peter Dimmock who apologises for the ‘gremlins’. End: 2 seconds of black, then some archive film of artillery at night (start of “After the Battle”?), picture cuts then sound cuts.

[Andrew Martin]

Jun 23, 2008 19:25:18 GMT @laurencepiper said:

I believe. I think there's one bit from 1949 as well, with the Bat's Wing logo.

The Bat's Wing logo didn't start till 1953; there possibly is some 1949 continuity as telerecording started to be used properly around then (experiments having started in 1947).

[robincarmody]

I *really* want to see the material Andrew mentions.

Was the Children's Television film in 1958 still the wonderfully evocative toy roundabout one? I know that the branding was dropped for a while in 1959, and indeed the children's department didn't exist as such for some time in the 1960s.

Who was the announcer on 10/03/59, I wonder? Male or female? And how much does his/her poshness stand out compared to other announcers of the time? I wonder if it seems particularly enhanced because of the contrast with the very working-class sport he/she was introducing, compared to the old-establishment nature of most of the other material which was kept, where such a style would seem more appropriate.

The commentator on the 1959 Greyhound Derby was, I think, Peter Bromley, who didn't retire as BBC radio's horse racing commentator until 2001.

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2008 17:41:06 GMT Andrew Martin said:

Jun 23, 2008 19:25:18 GMT @laurencepiper said:

I believe. I think there's one bit from 1949 as well, with the Bat's Wing logo.

The Bat's Wing logo didn't start till 1953; there possibly is some 1949 continuity as telerecording started to be used properly around then (experiments having started in 1947).

You're right! I know Steve Bryant made reference to a rare piece of continuity from 1949 in his book. That's what I was thinking of. It'll be of whatever was before the Bat's Wings though.

[A.Doe]

Fascinating thread and list guys!

Has anybody got lists of surviving continuity from the 60s, 70s and 80s? I expect there is a lot more and maybe too much to list, but I'd love to know (and see, of course) if by some miracle some nice clean copies of the schools idents and other stuff that would probably not be recorded are out there. I'd also love to see some more examples of early colour BBC2 from the start of the experimental phase through to 1979.

One thing I discovered lately is that there are telerecordings of one Piechart variant and the early Schools Diamond (blue on black) in the NI archive. This is because NI had to have the symbols recorded at the start of the programmes. The Diamond is without the word 'COLOUR' though and the piechart is not the one with the disappearing sections revealing the clock face.