Out of the Unknown

[ethantyler]

I read elsewhere online that a missing episode was "recently" recovered. Could someone elaborate on this, please - when, how, who, which episode?

[John G]

if you click on "go to the main page" on this forum, it tells you exactly what is left of out of the unknown, the recovered episode you mean is presumably "tunnel under the world"

[ethantyler]

John said:

if you click on "go to the main page" on this forum, it tells you exactly what is left of out of the unknown, the recovered episode you mean is presumably "tunnel under the world"

Thanks. I already know about the archive status list on the main page, but I'd heard that an episode had been recovered recently. Tunnel Under the World is probably the episode I heard about, especially as it's black (rather than grey) in the list, suggesting it changed colour after the site redesign. Do you know when it was recovered and the source?

[John G]

If I recall correctly it cam from a private source that did not know it was missing, and was shown at the 'Missing Believed Wiped' event last November. This event is run by the BFI and therefore they can fill you in with more details.
It tied in with a launch of a lovingly researched book of the series, which should tell you everything you need to know including the fate of the episodes themselves.

Try searching for the "out of the unknown" book

[ethantyler]

Thanks John, that answer was perfect and adds further weight to the claim that most missing material probably exists in the hands of collectors unaware of its value.

[David Buck]

Actually the collector concerned was well aware that the episode was missing and had written to the BBC back in 2001 offering to return it , he received no reply ; although I suspect that was because the letter didn't end up with the right person, such things can happen. Certainly I can advise going directly to the top if you have a mising BBC print to return , it's not exactly hard to find the appropriate contact details, I did so when reurning my z-cars print back in 2003 and they couldn't have been more friendly and helpful , the ITV archives are a different kettle of fish though , I'd always contact the BFI first for missing ITV material .

[ethantyler]

davidbuck said:

Actually the collector concerned was well aware that the episode was missing and had written to the BBC back in 2001 offering to return it , he received no reply ; although I suspect that was because the letter didn't end up with the right person, such things can happen. Certainly I can advise going directly to the top if you have a mising BBC print to return , it's not exactly hard to find the appropriate contact details, I did so when reurning my z-cars print back in 2003 and they couldn't have been more friendly and helpful , the ITV archives are a different kettle of fish though , I'd always contact the BFI first for missing ITV material .

Thanks for that. I've heard a lot of people say that it's easier to win the lottery than to return missing ITV footage! I've also read comments from a few people here who have met a brick wall trying to return things to the BBC via the frontdesk, which makes me wonder what footage has been turned away that hasn't found it's way back to the archive through another route.

[John G]

Yes Ethan do not expect open arms if your trying to
return material, expect contempt in extreme cases .
Its down to getting hold of a few good individuals.With regards to BBC material I am sure Andrew Martin who posts here sometimes would be one such person?



With regards to OOTU again. There was hope a few years ago that a TR of the episode 'Beach head' would turn up somewhere.
The film recording was made for an award festival in Trieste, because it had no facilities for colour VT playback.
Of course the BBC (presumably applying the same wisdom as it applied to 'The Forsyte Saga' ) made the film recording in B/W. Never mind its better than nothing if it did survive?

The programme IIRC won an award at the festival and was consequently never seen again..... by anybody.

[C Perry]

Before the BFI showed Tunnel Under the World, it was shown by Kaleidoscope. Thought I'd just give us a quick plug since the thread had turned into a plug for our book as well, but no one had said it was published by us.

We currently have a sale on at the moment with the book at £30.

A pre-wedding sale to celebrate me tying the know soon. :-)

Chris

[John G]

I didnt know it was your org book Chris.

Congratulations! on the forth coming nuptuals.
Now then which archive are you going to trust with the wedding video?
I would not leave it with the BBC, it will end up in Botswana , with several minutes cut, the end wiped and in B/W.

[ethantyler]

John said:

Congratulations! on the forth coming nuptuals.
Now then which archive are you going to trust with the wedding video?
I would not leave it with the BBC, it will end up in Botswana , with several minutes cut, the end wiped and in B/W.

That made me laugh out loud! ;D

PS: Congratulations!

[dubs honest]

Na - the wedding video would be taking up shelf space along with 93 million episodes of Ready Steady Cook the beeb keeps.

Best idea is to have the vid recorded onto a 2" Quad O.B. truck, which would then be transferred to a 16mm TR whilst the Quads could be recorded over with a National Lottery draw edition, and the TR16 requested by Blue Peter and then lost.

Then we'd have the bride and groom kissing in a 23 sec clip sourced from the Blue Peter edition which will be archived - or maybe not, then we have to refer to the telesnaps...

Or one reel might turn up in the UCLA archive.

[C Perry]

I will contact Botswana State Media straightaway to see if they have space in their archive. :-)

Chris

[Simon Winchester]

"I will contact Botswana State Media straightaway to see if they have space in their archive"

Sigh, it's that kind of attitude that will not help the cause. I do not understand if Mr Perry is serious about archive television. Why not take a serious interest and join the Kaleidoscope instead of silliness which will never lead to the return of the troughton gems.

[Stuart Douglas]

Simon said:

"I will contact Botswana State Media straightaway to see if they have space in their archive"

Sigh, it's that kind of attitude that will not help the cause. I do not understand if Mr Perry is serious about archive television. Why not take a serious interest and join the Kaleidoscope instead of silliness which will never lead to the return of the troughton gems.

Is this a very subtle joke? I think we can safely assume that Chris Perry is serious about archive television

Stuart