Post by John Stewart Miller on Apr 30, 2005 19:19:34 GMT
I've recently dug out a copy; (found by a friend at aboot sale who passed it on); of the 'ITV 1965' year book. This profiles and covers an overview of independent televisions output for the year 1964.
One section I find most interesting is the drama section, which illustrates the startling abundance of one off plays being broadcast at that time. In addition the names of writers who since have become associated with highly acclaimed drama such as Hugh Whitemore, with the evocative quality of the titles gives an impression of general high quality criteria.
This period was one in which I was very young but recall fragments and an atmosphere of a highly creative televisual period. Dramas shot with tight dramatic close ups of the actors, and a general academic, stage play feel; drawing upon the grammar school sensibilities present in the society of the day.
Noteably, titles from classic literature (such as 'Crime and Punishment' Dostoyevsky) were matched against contemporary dramas by new writers. This provided an interesting contrast and an edge to the framework.
SUNDAY NIGHT PLAYS listing 1964.
The published listing points out the individual play titles were broadcast under seperate 'umbrella' series titles. The divisions were: 'Armchair theatre', 'Armchair mystery theatre'; (produced by ABC); 'Drama '64', 'Studio '64', and 'Sunday mystery theatre' (produced by ATV).
Titles given: - (Re: Autumn 1964)
'THATS WHERE THE TOWNS GOING' - Tad Mosel (ABC)
'EXIT JOE - RUNNING' - John Hall (ABC)
'A MENACE TO DECENT PEOPLE' - Philip Guard (ATV)
'A CERTAIN KIND OF SILENCE' - Hugo Charteris (ABC)
'THE PRIMITIVES' - Brian Clemens (ATV)
'TIME OUT OF MIND' - John Hopkins (ABC)
'THE BLACKMAILING OF MR. S' - Michael Gilbert (ABC)
'WEEKEND AT WILLABURRA' - Charles Oliver & Maurice Travers (ATV)
'THE LONELY CRIME' - James Mitchell (ABC)
'THE LAST COACH' - Paul Erickson (ABC)
'DIG HERE' - Michael Ashe (ATV)
'ADMIRER AT NUMBER EIGHT' - Virginia Hewett (ABC)
'YOU MUST BE VIRGINIA' - Richard Harris (ABC)
'THE TRIAL OF DR FANCY' - Clive Exton (ABC)
'THE BIG TOE' - Robert Hollies (ATV)
'THE CHERRY ON THE TOP' - Donald Churchill (ABC)
'A MEMORY OF OCTOBER' - Leon Griffiths (ATV)
'OLD SOLDIERS' - Andrew Sinclair (ABC)
'THEY THROW IT AT YOU' - Allan Prior (ABC)
'THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - Oscar Wilde (ABC)
'MISS HANAGO' - John Gray (ATV)
Following the Monday night plays, second half of 1964. These titled collectively 'Play of the week'. Produced by different ITV companies, ATV, Rediffusion, Granada and Anglia contributed entries.
'CELEBRATION DINNER' - Paul Wheeler (REDIFFUSION)
'THE BASTOW AFFAIR' - E.Y. Bannard (REDIFFUSION)
'VALENTINA' - Bill Mcilwraith (REDIFFUSION)
'SPANNER IN THE GRASS ROOTS' - Anne Piper (REDIFFUSION)
'SAMSON BY MOONSHINE' - Patrick Ryan (REDIFFUSION)
'THE LOVERS OF FLORENCE' - Leo Lehmann (REDIFFUSION)
'THE WITNESSES' - Julian Symons (ATV)
'GINA' - Michael Ashe (REDIFFUSION)
'THE OFFENCE' - Peter Baker (ANGLIA)
'PRESENT LAUGHTER' - Noel Coward (GRANADA)
'BLITHE SPIRIT' - Noel Coward (GRANADA)
'THE VORTEX' - Noel Coward (GRANADA)
'DESIGN FOR LIVING' - Noel Coward (GRANADA)
'THE OTHER MAN' - Giles Cooper (GRANADA)
'THE WIFE OF KNIGHTSBRIDGE' - John Hallowell (ANGLIA)
'THE MAN WITH THE PANAMA HAT' - Paul Lee (ATV)
'FIND YOURSELF A MUG' - Michael Cahill (ATV)
'GOODNIGHT TO HEROES' - Fred Watson (ATV)
'UNDERCURRENT' - Keith Watson (REDIFFUSION)
'CRIME AND PUNISHMENT' - Dostoyevsky (REDIFFUSION)
A big debate would be not only the merits of the output but what exists.
As regards this, most of the 'Sunday night plays' under 'Armchair theatre' I seem to recognise as existing titles. These were: THE TRIAL OF DR FANCY, CHERRY ON THE TOP and IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Largely as regards ATV entries, their archive is erratic and it may be realistic to anticipate they don't exist.
None of the records I've examined seem to quantify the existance of any of the Ganada items.
As regards 'Monday night plays', I seem to think I've seen clips of GINA and CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, but would largely assume Rediffusion material not to exist. I've heard though in addition to The NFAs holdings; (limited in the perspective of volume of broadcast output); Canal+ hold some material.
Anglias archive is pretty complete and comprehensive. There I would assume all entries survive. THE OFFENCE definitely does. The play was later turned into a contraversial, disturbing & powerful film with Ian Bannen & Sean Connery (1972).
Granada have complete runs of many programmes. However other items have limited holdings, and I've found the archive haven't been forthcoming information wise as to what exists over the years.
One section I find most interesting is the drama section, which illustrates the startling abundance of one off plays being broadcast at that time. In addition the names of writers who since have become associated with highly acclaimed drama such as Hugh Whitemore, with the evocative quality of the titles gives an impression of general high quality criteria.
This period was one in which I was very young but recall fragments and an atmosphere of a highly creative televisual period. Dramas shot with tight dramatic close ups of the actors, and a general academic, stage play feel; drawing upon the grammar school sensibilities present in the society of the day.
Noteably, titles from classic literature (such as 'Crime and Punishment' Dostoyevsky) were matched against contemporary dramas by new writers. This provided an interesting contrast and an edge to the framework.
SUNDAY NIGHT PLAYS listing 1964.
The published listing points out the individual play titles were broadcast under seperate 'umbrella' series titles. The divisions were: 'Armchair theatre', 'Armchair mystery theatre'; (produced by ABC); 'Drama '64', 'Studio '64', and 'Sunday mystery theatre' (produced by ATV).
Titles given: - (Re: Autumn 1964)
'THATS WHERE THE TOWNS GOING' - Tad Mosel (ABC)
'EXIT JOE - RUNNING' - John Hall (ABC)
'A MENACE TO DECENT PEOPLE' - Philip Guard (ATV)
'A CERTAIN KIND OF SILENCE' - Hugo Charteris (ABC)
'THE PRIMITIVES' - Brian Clemens (ATV)
'TIME OUT OF MIND' - John Hopkins (ABC)
'THE BLACKMAILING OF MR. S' - Michael Gilbert (ABC)
'WEEKEND AT WILLABURRA' - Charles Oliver & Maurice Travers (ATV)
'THE LONELY CRIME' - James Mitchell (ABC)
'THE LAST COACH' - Paul Erickson (ABC)
'DIG HERE' - Michael Ashe (ATV)
'ADMIRER AT NUMBER EIGHT' - Virginia Hewett (ABC)
'YOU MUST BE VIRGINIA' - Richard Harris (ABC)
'THE TRIAL OF DR FANCY' - Clive Exton (ABC)
'THE BIG TOE' - Robert Hollies (ATV)
'THE CHERRY ON THE TOP' - Donald Churchill (ABC)
'A MEMORY OF OCTOBER' - Leon Griffiths (ATV)
'OLD SOLDIERS' - Andrew Sinclair (ABC)
'THEY THROW IT AT YOU' - Allan Prior (ABC)
'THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - Oscar Wilde (ABC)
'MISS HANAGO' - John Gray (ATV)
Following the Monday night plays, second half of 1964. These titled collectively 'Play of the week'. Produced by different ITV companies, ATV, Rediffusion, Granada and Anglia contributed entries.
'CELEBRATION DINNER' - Paul Wheeler (REDIFFUSION)
'THE BASTOW AFFAIR' - E.Y. Bannard (REDIFFUSION)
'VALENTINA' - Bill Mcilwraith (REDIFFUSION)
'SPANNER IN THE GRASS ROOTS' - Anne Piper (REDIFFUSION)
'SAMSON BY MOONSHINE' - Patrick Ryan (REDIFFUSION)
'THE LOVERS OF FLORENCE' - Leo Lehmann (REDIFFUSION)
'THE WITNESSES' - Julian Symons (ATV)
'GINA' - Michael Ashe (REDIFFUSION)
'THE OFFENCE' - Peter Baker (ANGLIA)
'PRESENT LAUGHTER' - Noel Coward (GRANADA)
'BLITHE SPIRIT' - Noel Coward (GRANADA)
'THE VORTEX' - Noel Coward (GRANADA)
'DESIGN FOR LIVING' - Noel Coward (GRANADA)
'THE OTHER MAN' - Giles Cooper (GRANADA)
'THE WIFE OF KNIGHTSBRIDGE' - John Hallowell (ANGLIA)
'THE MAN WITH THE PANAMA HAT' - Paul Lee (ATV)
'FIND YOURSELF A MUG' - Michael Cahill (ATV)
'GOODNIGHT TO HEROES' - Fred Watson (ATV)
'UNDERCURRENT' - Keith Watson (REDIFFUSION)
'CRIME AND PUNISHMENT' - Dostoyevsky (REDIFFUSION)
A big debate would be not only the merits of the output but what exists.
As regards this, most of the 'Sunday night plays' under 'Armchair theatre' I seem to recognise as existing titles. These were: THE TRIAL OF DR FANCY, CHERRY ON THE TOP and IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Largely as regards ATV entries, their archive is erratic and it may be realistic to anticipate they don't exist.
None of the records I've examined seem to quantify the existance of any of the Ganada items.
As regards 'Monday night plays', I seem to think I've seen clips of GINA and CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, but would largely assume Rediffusion material not to exist. I've heard though in addition to The NFAs holdings; (limited in the perspective of volume of broadcast output); Canal+ hold some material.
Anglias archive is pretty complete and comprehensive. There I would assume all entries survive. THE OFFENCE definitely does. The play was later turned into a contraversial, disturbing & powerful film with Ian Bannen & Sean Connery (1972).
Granada have complete runs of many programmes. However other items have limited holdings, and I've found the archive haven't been forthcoming information wise as to what exists over the years.
