It's almost xmas so ....

[lee jones]

Well it's almost xmas .... so maybe it's time to talk about those BBC xmas symbols !

I wonder if anything from pre 1974 will appear at all? Outside a few fuzzy black-and-white photos there dosen't really seem to be any recordings. Also from memory it appears BBC2 Xmas 79 is missing as well (!).

Any thoughts?

ljones

[Deleted]

I'm not an expert but it's possible some survive on live programmes in the archives and so don't know exactly what exists in respect of things that were recorded by the BBC over the xmas periods (and therefore may have continuity on the beginnings / ends). I know there are many t/rs of programmes existing from the '60s that went out over the December period but i've no idea if these include continuity (it would be unusual if none did). As rare as BBC christmas idents are, do any at all survive for ITV?

[cperry]

Our June event showcased all the remaining ITV Xmas idents from the 1960s and 1970s.

The BBC2 Xmas ident from 1979 was found in the Bob Monkhouse Collection and I think shown at our Oct event.

c

[johnstewart]

Nov 15, 2009 11:03:33 GMT @laurencepiper said:

I'm not an expert but it's possible some survive on live programmes in the archives and so don't know exactly what exists in respect of things that were recorded by the BBC over the xmas periods (and therefore may have continuity on the beginnings / ends). I know there are many t/rs of programmes existing from the '60s that went out over the December period but i've no idea if these include continuity (it would be unusual if none did). As rare as BBC christmas idents are, do any at all survive for ITV?

Aren't there the BBC2 seasonal graphics from BBC2 from the end of the 1966 'Late Night Line up's? (Live off air with the closedown).

BBC2 ran c. 1982 a series of snow slides to Peter Skellern and other songs every night; now I think these were live but someone said some of those special links exist. Not 74 but the same type of thing.

[davemachin]

I remember a lot of close-downs using slides so think it might have been a format used for years. There is lots of continuity from home recordings up on Youtube. The quality is never good though so i'm hoping more do exist on the ends of BBC programme masters. Interesting part of television that never gets archived properly.

Dave

[Dave Hall]

Now were talking, the BBC christmas continuity/idents allways and still do make it christmas, I just love them.

Here's some great christmas continuity, has the BBC1 Christmas Pud from 1977.
thetvroom.com/bbcuk/bbc-1-99-10.html

[davemachin]

I suppose any idents, christmas or otherwise, that were computer generated will exist? If they kept the computer files that store them anyway. BBC2's logo used from 1979 on was the first one made this way. The earlier ones only exist if physical cards have been kept I guess.

Dave