Show of the Week - The Cotton Club - 27/10/68

[lfbarfe]

I've just ordered the relevant Kaleidoscope guide, but I'd be grateful if anybody here could tell me whether 'The Cotton Club' - BBC2's Show of the Week on 27/10/68 exists? It was effectively a colour pilot for the next series of the Billy Cotton Band Show, but BC died before a full run could commence. I had no idea any such thing had been done until a friend of his told me last week.

Ta.
L

[dubs again]

Tis junked according to the 95 Guide, interestingly the following weeks show exists on PAL though.

[lfbarfe]

Guest-dubs said:

Tis junked according to the 95 Guide, interestingly the following weeks show exists on PAL though.

Cheers, Dubs. I assumed it would be. The following week's show was Masquerade, featuring the George Mitchell Minstrels, wasn't it?

[dubs again]

That's the title Mr Barfe, though I have no idea as to the content.

[Andrew]

On the same subject - what exists of the Billy Cotton Band Show? I've got the 50th show special from '59 with Max Bygraves, the christmas eve 1961 show with Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques and the one BBC4 screened last year from '64 with Spike Milligan. I've heard mention of a 1956 edition being extant but can anyone confirm?

[lfbarfe]

Guest-Andrew said:

On the same subject - what exists of the Billy Cotton Band Show? I've got the 50th show special from '59 with Max Bygraves,

The full show or the heavily-edited (an hour-long show cut down to 24 mins with an intro by Bill Jr) version shown by Channel 4 in 1988?

the christmas eve 1961 show with Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques

I've seen that one, but I don't have a copy, more's the pity.

and the one BBC4 screened last year from '64 with Spike Milligan. I've heard mention of a 1956 edition being extant but can anyone confirm?

6/11/1956 exists, apparently, and that, along with the aforementioned 1959, 1961 and 1964 editions, is it. As far as I can tell, the surviving 1956 edition would be one of Brian Tesler's productions - BC Jr took over from him when he went to ATV in 1957. I'll check in the Radio Times when I'm back at the BL on Thursday.

[andrew]

Thanks for that - it's a great shame so little remains. I have the complete 1959 show, I wasn't aware of an edited repeat. I wonder what's been removed; actually I wonder what remains - it seems an unnecessarily harsh edit. The Mudlarks and Russ Conway guest with Max - there's some good informal banter between Max and Bill and the pair dress as Pinky and Perky for one number.

[lfbarfe]

Guest-andrew said:

Thanks for that - it's a great shame so little remains. I have the complete 1959 show, I wasn't aware of an edited repeat. I wonder what's been removed; actually I wonder what remains - it seems an unnecessarily harsh edit. The Mudlarks and Russ Conway guest with Max - there's some good informal banter between Max and Bill and the pair dress as Pinky and Perky for one number.

The opening and closing numbers are there, as are Max's act, the Pinky and Perky bit, and Russ playing Side Saddle, but that's about the lot really. Are the 1959 and 1961 shows doing the rounds? When I saw the Eric and Hat 1961 show, I could have told you the month and year without knowing it, simply from the song about the Equity strike.

[Larry Dutch]

Guest-Andrew said:

On the same subject - what exists of the Billy Cotton Band Show? I've got the 50th show special from '59 with Max Bygraves, the christmas eve 1961 show with Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques and the one BBC4 screened last year from '64 with Spike Milligan. I've heard mention of a 1956 edition being extant but can anyone confirm?

There's an 8 (?) minute 16mm telerecorded excerpt which survives from an ep in 1964 (?) of Cliff Richard and The Shadows performing 'Do You Wanna Dance' plus a vaudeville type number with Cliff and Billy Cotton. It's all performed live. Might have the precise TX date written somewhere.
Cheers
LD

[lfbarfe]

Guest-Larry said:

There's an 8 (?) minute 16mm telerecorded excerpt which survives from an ep in 1964 (?) of Cliff Richard and The Shadows performing 'Do You Wanna Dance' plus a vaudeville type number with Cliff and Billy Cotton. It's all performed live. Might have the precise TX date written somewhere.

Cheers, Larry. There's also this - www.tech-ops.co.uk/page107.html - silent colour 8mm footage shot from the circle of the Television Theatre by one of the crew. Unfortunately, there's no shot of the Shads in action - I could probably date it from the line-up and the instruments used. The presence of the Temperance Seven and what looks like Tony Meehan in front of Hank suggests 1961, so it's probably from a different show than the one you mention. I would question the 1964 date of your clip, though, as 'Do You Wanna Dance' was a hit in 1962. If it's '64, Hank will be playing a white Burns guitar. If it's '62 or '63 it'll be a white Fender. Earlier than that, it'll be a red Fender.

[Larry Dutch]

LF said:

Cheers, Larry. There's also this - www.tech-ops.co.uk/page107.html - silent colour 8mm footage shot from the circle of the Television Theatre by one of the crew. Unfortunately, there's no shot of the Shads in action - I could probably date it from the line-up and the instruments used. The presence of the Temperance Seven and what looks like Tony Meehan in front of Hank suggests 1961, so it's probably from a different show than the one you mention. I would question the 1964 date of your clip, though, as 'Do You Wanna Dance' was a hit in 1962. If it's '64, Hank will be playing a white Burns guitar. If it's '62 or '63 it'll be a white Fender. Earlier than that, it'll be a red Fender.

Hi Louis,
Thanks for the link. Those shots may indeed be from the same ep. Cliff looks like he's wearing the same clothes but I'll have a look and let you know. Mrs Mills also appears at the very conclusion of the footage waving goodbye though her performance (thankfully!!) doesn't survive! Thanks also for the tip off with the Marvin guitars - again I'll check.
Cheers
LD