Monkhouse Archives

[Dick Fiddy]

Hello. We (the NFTVA/MBW) are in negotiation regarding Bob's collection. So far we have only had a chance to browse through his list of film holdings. This does contain a number of TV items, the bulk of which is the entire run of Mad Movies. We have been assured that we will get onto the tape collection next - probably sometime later this month. As you can imagine such discussions can be quite delicate and rumours of holdings and their worth can muddy the water sometimes. Please bear with us if we wait until we have reached an agreement before we talk about the contents of the collection. Suffice to say any 'missing' material will be given first priority. Cheers. Dick

[Tony Reply to D Fiddy]

Mr Fiddy, I`m glad to see you are takeing the careful approach on the Monkhouse Estate, may I take the opportunity in hopeing you have success in logging all of Bob`s collection, as I like many are keen to see the results. Good luck on your investigations.

Tony.

[H Hartley]

Dick. Glad to know the 'mad movies' survives. One episode contains possibly the last tv interview given by Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels. His co-producer Malcolm Mitchell provided the jazzy music score that made the silent films very entertaining. (Malcolm Mitchell died a few years ago)

[Alex]

Perhaps now this this a good opportunity to approach other `celebs`....(useing the D.Fiddy approach)...could be a wealth of material out there....

[John Miller]

Re - Laurence pipers comments about Missing believed wiped where Bob Monkhouse guested. I too recall references to his old shows. What I recall in reference to 1966 was comments to the effect of bob having taped around 6 editions of 'London Palladium shows' from that year. He also said that 15 unheld previous editions of 'Golden shot' had turned up bringing total to 20. Apart from ITC quoting one edition from each of presenters believed to be Jackie Rae (1967 before nationwide airing), Bob M (1970), Norman Vaughan (first show ? 72), Charlie Williams (1974 penultimate edition) following appear to exist: last C. Williams edition, last Bob M. edition (1975) (I've seen a clip) and one forgotten Bob M. one from April 1968 in the NFAs collection. There have always been errors in quotes as to the editions that exist.

[William Martin]

I would imagine Mr Monkhouse kept a comprehensive catalogue, so thats what we need to have access to it, or someone that we have access who in turn has access to it.

[dubs agains]

Jackie Rae 29/07/67 TR16 Tom Jones Polygram/Carlton
Bob Monkhouse 04/02/68 ? NFTVA
Bob Monkhouse 13/12/70 TR16 Clive Dunn, Jackie Lee, Jack Douglas Polygram/Carlton
Norman Vaughan 04/02/73 TR16 Larry Grayson, Norman Collier, Max Collie & The Rhythym Aces, Buddy Greco Polygram/Carlton?
Charlie Williams 18/11/73 ? NFTVA
Charlie Williams 24/03/74 VT NFTVA
Charlie Williams 31/03/74 VT NFTVA
Charlie Williams ? VT part 1 of 3 only Kaleidoscope
Charlie Williams ? VT Polygram/Carlton

In addition:

Jackie Rae 09/09/67 (Monkhouse first guest appearance - he made a copy to show Lew Grade).

15 editions with Monkhouse.

2 1974 editions with Monkhouse claimed to be on N1500.

Bob Monkhouse 13/04/75 TR? copy of last show given to Monkhouse.

[Kev]

Challenge tv showed 3 episodes a while back didn't they.

[Kevin Segura]

I understand that Mr. Monkhouse hosted the UK version of the American program "Candid Camera" back in the 60's... do any of these survive?

-Kevin

[PHNEILL]

Candid Camera was produced by ABC Television (the UK company) in the 1960s. I have seen a clip from a 1960 episode about the car with no engine but this was hosted by Jonathan Routh I think. I remember that Bob Monkhousec did host some but I don't know if any survive.

The rights to the ABC library are held by Canal Plus. You should be able to get there contact details from the internet - try the British Film Institute.

I think there was a later version of Candid Camera. Granada TV may hold the rights to these- try the ITN website.

[dubs again]

I've seen the Candid Camera clip recently on some 100 greatest show.

Monkhouse is indeed the presenter on the "missing engine" clip.

[Tony T]

Any chance of a video release?...of that episode?

[Laurence Piper]

Yes, I recall the ABC editions of Candid Camera in the '60s. Shown on Sunday afternoons in the London area (am I right in thinking that David Nixon took it over from Monkhouse for a while too? I seem to recall him presenting it). I don't think many ABC editions survive though - possibly that one that was featured in clips on TV Heaven (the 1960 show?) is about all there is. I've bever seen any others although that isn't conclusive that there aren't others somewhere that are maybe uncatalogued / transferred in the vaults. LWT brought the series back in the '70s on film (with Shiela Burnette as one of the regulars) and these all survive. I think some may have been repeated in recent years.

Interesting seeing those Golden Shot dates above, Dubs. I've never seen dates for some of those editions before. How did you manage to date them? Was that first Rae show the one repeated last Xmas? So there are actually two Rae editions? Also, 15 more Monkhouse ones? Do you have dates? I'm just interested to know what survives in total.

[dubs again]

Errr... basically 98% accurate "guestimates" from clues in the eps - for instance the Rae edition introduces Tom Jones, (performing his latest single (I'll Never Fall in love Again'), - "which has just entered the charts". This would place the ep around the end of July as the single charted at #21 w/e 26/07/67. - Hence 29/07/67!

The 1970 Monkhouse edition he thanks pete Murray for standing in for him the week before - the Murray edition is listed in TV Times as 6/12/70, other clues were the gag with the candle at the start with the reference to the electricity workers going back to work, which some diligent contributor found the dates for on some search.
(I think it was the "Guardian Century" site).

The "other" Rae that may exist might be in Monkhouses collection if he has retained it - the "viewing" copy of his guest appearance on 09/09/67, not turned up so far though - of course it could have been a TR or just a domestic tape of the time - I'm sure Lord Grade would have been able to afford a Shibaden or whatever.

The eps held by the NFTVA are from their quoted dates.

The Vaughan ep makes reference to it being noted as a week after the anniversary of his debut, this is a bit of a muddle because Vaughn co-hosted with Monkhouse on his first show of 30/01/72, and only started solo the following week - so it could mean either 28/01/73 or 4/02/73.

As for the reputed 15 eps in the Monkhouse archives - we'll just have to wait and see, I (and I doubt anybody else) knows till their found, hopefully with TX dates on the cans...(!)

BTW the above dating was FAR from my own work - there were lots of people who pitched in with dates from the clues in the episodes themselves.

Kaleidscope also unearthed a Shibaden reel of clips of programmes from the loft at the old Teddington Studios of Thames which has about a minute long clip, the tape was made for potential advertisers and had that last weeks audience share overlaid in caption form over it - still probably the only clip of this ep that exists - I think of the top of my head it might have been a 1971 edition (?).

I sincerely hope more "Shots" come to light and hopefully of the "lost" 1975 series as this is where I became acquainted with it - wouldnt it be wonderful if Bob had the foresite to have one recorded onto Quad in glorious colour!

[dubs again]

PS - Bob hosted a mini-episode of a revived "Shot" for Children In need on 27/11/99, never seen it - no idea how faithfull it was to the original or duration etc.

My thanks to John40dalek at the Mausoleum Club for researching an accurate list of dates for presenters tenures, without whom the above would be wildy speculative.