gregg
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Post by gregg on Feb 15, 2016 1:29:07 GMT
What is your earliest recollection of television, can you remember the first programme you watched? My father always promoted shows he liked....Britain's Mike Mercury and his SuperCar Gerry and Sylvia Anderson also I think produced The Firebirds
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gregg
New Member
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Post by gregg on Feb 15, 2016 0:56:57 GMT
I have a few early memories, but I think the earliest was Romper Room, I think that it was called that. I remember it being in black and white and the lady looking in a mirror and also getting the group of children following her round the room doing different activities. I also remember The Clangers, The Pogles and of course Bagpuss. And don't forget the "Pepper Prince" who made spectacles from his fingers forming circles and his upside down hands. In Candada we also had "Razzle Dazzle" with Al Hamel (later married Suzanne Summers) and Michelle Finney
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gregg
New Member
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Post by gregg on Feb 15, 2016 0:55:13 GMT
I have a few early memories, but I think the earliest was Romper Room, I think that it was called that. I remember it being in black and white and the lady looking in a mirror and also getting the group of children following her round the room doing different activities. I also remember The Clangers, The Pogles and of course Bagpuss. And don't forget the "Pepper Prince" who made spectacles from his fingers forming circles and his upside down hands.
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Post by aptsarchive on Aug 25, 2011 18:46:39 GMT
I’m pleased to announce that the Alexandra Palace Television Society will be taking part in a short season at the British Film Institute to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the BBC Television Service. I will be giving a talk on Wednesday 28th September 2011, in NFT2, starting at 6pm, concerning pre-war and immediate post-war output of live television from Alexandra Palace. The main focus of my talk will be the Desmond Campbell films, donated to the APTS Archive just over ten years ago by Neil Campbell ( Desmond’s son), and the work I have undertaken on their identification during the intervening years. The films have been supplemented with sound effects & recreated programme captions. The footage features: • Television’s first grand pantomime (featuring Cyril Fletcher) • Leslie Mitchell • Music Hall Cavalcade (transmitted on the night of the 1937 Coronation) • Elizabeth Cowell • RadiOlympia 1938 – featuring Douglas Byng, Walsh & Barker, Graham Payne, Queenie Leonard, Maureen Potter and Jack Hylton • Margot Fonteyn (dancing the Sleeping Princess from 1939) • Bank Holiday Fair (in Alexandra Park) • Anti-aircraft Defence of London (from 1938) • Ballet Negres (Britain’s first black ballet company – from 1946) • Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders (from 1946 – Felix was then banned from Stoll Moss Empire circuit for three months!) • “Once In A Lifetime” (brief sequence of the first drama to use both studios at Alexandra Palace) • Fire walking in Alexandra Park (film of an outside broadcast from early 1937) • “Gala Variety” – the first (Light Entertainment) production from the new Studio G at Lime Grove – from December 1950 The above list also includes other unique television material, taken by John Bliss, a cameraman at Alexandra Palace, and former Baird employee. The evening will also include amazing film footage of BBC Television received in New York, from December 1938. I have undertaken a great deal of research into this material, which lasts almost three minutes, and look forward to presenting this material, with the additional information, for the first time. In addition to the above there will be a audio-visual presentation, featuring photographs from the Desmond Campbell Collection, married with an audio track of “Television Was Fun”, a radio broadcast to America, from 1944. If you would like to attend please contact the BFI on 020 7928 3232, or at www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/calendar/southbank/day/20110928Other evenings that you might find of interest are: Thursday 8th SeptemberThe Fools on the Hill Made as part of the BBC's 50th Anniversary Celebration of Television in 1986, Jack Rosenthal's charming play - based on anecdotes and actual events - is an affectionate tribute to the early days of television, with a story which centres on the behind-the-scenes life at Alexandra Palace during the build-up to the opening of the BBC TV service in 1936. Television Comes to LondonA demonstration film highlighting the programmes on offer to the first television viewers. Wednesday 14th SeptemberGeorgian Television An amazing glimpse into the early years of British television with a specially compiled selection of most of the surviving (non-news) footage from the small screen, prior to the Coronation in 1953. Highlights include George Bernard Shaw on his 90th birthday (1946), Variety in Sepia featuring Adelaide Hall (from 1947), an experimental telerecording of radio's flagship comedy show of the time ITMA (It's That Man Again) and scenes from the 1948 Olympics. c90min Tuesday 20th SeptemberFilm & TV Taking a look at the new medium of television through the eyes of film with extracts and whole segments from a variety of feature films, shorts and newsreels whose view was not always a rosy one. From reports from Radiolympia, via fearful warnings on the consequences of the one-eyed devil in the corner; to fanciful visions of an all-consuming, television-dominated society - with the viewer left to decide whether such a world would be a dystopia or utopia. c90min I very much hope you will be able to join me on 28th September to step back in time and take a look at the output of the BBC Television Service during its formative years.
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Post by aptsarchive on Jun 16, 2011 16:34:04 GMT
The Restless Sphere has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society’s YouTube Channel.
As the Duke of Edinburgh celebrates his 90th birthday, the Alexandra Palace Television Society is pleased to be able to make this film available on our YouTube Channel.
The International Geophysical Year was held to encourage scientists from across the world to work together to gather and share knowledge about the earth. The Duke of Edinburgh, as a Fellow of the Royal Society, presented an overview of the various experiments to be carried out. These include satellite technology, solar observation and oceanography. This was important as, by 1957, it had already been observed that the oceans were rising and the glaciers melting.
The International Geophysical Year ran from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. During this year the USSR launched Sputnik 1 and the USA set up NASA.
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Post by aptsarchive on May 4, 2011 8:28:42 GMT
Digital UK London Countdown - News Report has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society’s YouTube Channel.
News report on London Tonight concerning the Digital UK launch of the year countdown until the London region’s analogue service is switched off.
TV presenter Christine Bleakley was in the pink as she marked the countdown to the digital TV switchover at the birthplace of television - Alexandra Palace.
The historic landmark was turned bright pink from 4-6th April to celebrate a year until the analogue television signal is officially turned off, leaving digital as the only option from April 4, 2012 onwards.
The Palace's bright pink TV tower, the venue from which the world's first regular, public, high-definition television broadcast began in 1936, could be seen for miles around.
Alexandra Palace managing director Rebecca Kane said: "This is where TV was born and so it's great that Ally Pally is where Digital UK chose to announce the next most significant advancement in TV - the digital switchover."
The switchover, which requires viewers to convert any old analogue TV sets before next year's deadline, will provide an extended freeview service in a range of widescreen and interactive options.
A report by ITV London about the Digital Switchover. Phrase 1 begins with BBC2 switchoff on 4 April 2012. Phrase 2 other channels switch off on 18 April2012
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Post by aptsarchive on May 2, 2011 11:16:07 GMT
Digital UK London Countdown has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society’s YouTube Channel.
TV presenter Christine Bleakley was in the pink as she marked the countdown to the digital TV switchover at the birthplace of television - Alexandra Palace.
The historic landmark was turned bright pink from 4-6th April to celebrate a year until the analogue television signal is officially turned off, leaving digital as the only option from April 4, 2012 onwards.
The Palace's bright pink TV tower, the venue from which the world's first regular, public, high-definition television broadcast began in 1936, could be seen for miles around.
Alexandra Palace managing director Rebecca Kane said: "This is where TV was born and so it's great that Ally Pally is where Digital UK chose to announce the next most significant advancement in TV - the digital switchover."
The switchover, which requires viewers to convert any old analogue TV sets before next year's deadline, will provide an extended freeview service in a range of widescreen and interactive options.
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Post by aptsarchive on Apr 22, 2011 16:42:19 GMT
This Is The BBC has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society’s YouTube Channel. An impression of twenty-four hours of an imaginary day in the life of the BBC. The sound track consists entirely of the announcements, programme music and the voices of artists and commentators and technical staff. Transmitted on the opening night of BBC Television Centre. Producer: Richard Cawston Transmitted: 29th June 1960 This film footage is from the Archive Collection held and administered by the Alexandra Palace Television Society. ~ APTS ~ Preserving the televisual past for the digital future www.apts.org.uk
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Post by aptsarchive on Feb 18, 2011 10:53:04 GMT
Television Comes To Bradford has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society’s YouTube Channel. A programme on the opening of the television galleries at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television (now the National Media Museum) in Bradford, October 1986. Presented by John Walters Features interviews with: Helen McKay Dallas Bower Richard Baker Transmitted: 1st November 1986 This film footage is from the Archive Collection held and administered by the Alexandra Palace Television Society. ~ APTS ~ Preserving the televisual past for the digital future www.apts.org.uk
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Post by aptsarchive on Feb 17, 2011 13:52:19 GMT
Television – The Race For Television has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society’s YouTube Channel. Episode 2 of the Granada Television documentary which looks at the early development and growth of the medium and the attempts to perfect television in the early part of the 20th century. A look at the growth and the influence of television. In 1923, John Logie Baird was conducting experiments on 'seeing by wireless'. Throughout the 20th Century a handful of pioneers worked to win the race for television. This programme tells their story, from Baird's earliest ramshackle experiments to America's battle between big business and the inventors. Narrated by Ian Holme. Transmitted: 19th February 1985 This film footage is from the Archive Collection held and administered by the Alexandra Palace Television Society. ~ APTS ~ Preserving the televisual past for the digital future www.apts.org.uk
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Post by aptsarchive on Feb 14, 2011 11:08:47 GMT
Saturday Night Out – Longmore Train Crash has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society’s YouTube Channel. Saturday Night Out was originally hosted by Robert Beatty as 'The Man with the Mike'. The memorable title sequence started with a picture of a telephone on a desk. This would ring and a voice would say: "Outside Broadcast, we're starting now...". The camera would then pan out of the window, where we saw the Outside Broadcast vans ("Roving Eyes") on the move and a BBC doorman saluting. The action would then cut to show the camera on the roof on the Roving Eye travelling fast down a straight road towards a hoarding showing the inscription "Saturday Night Out". The brakes would squeal and the camera would burst through the hoarding and cut to the O.B. live transmission for this week. So began a weekly, hour long, live programme which was never filmed. The firm rule was that it was always live. One week it would be coming from the Midlands, the next week Brussels and the following week it might be Paris or London. In February 1956 The Royal Engineer’s were planning to send a steam engine named Merlin, a 1919 engine of the King Arthur class along the track, blowing up the track so the train went over an embankment. The driverless train goes speeding along the track, whistle blowing, it arrives at the embankment, where there is an explosion, the train rises slightly in the air, drives down the embankment & comes to rest in the middle of the plain, whistle still blowing. The train, tender & three carriages still remain upright! Somewhat of an anticlimax to the expected wreck of tangled metal! This recording is the from the last part of the programme which was transmitted live from the Royal Engineers private training depot, Longmore Military Camp in Hampshire, England. Transmitted: 11th February 1956 This film footage is from the Archive Collection held and administered by the Alexandra Palace Television Society. ~ APTS ~ Preserving the televisual past for the digital future www.apts.org.uk
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Post by aptsarchive on Feb 13, 2011 14:07:23 GMT
We Bring You Live Pictures has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society’s YouTube Channel. This series, in four parts, concerns the pioneering days of Television Outside Broadcasts in the years after World War Two. Features excerpts from programmes, many of which were TV firsts. Including contributions from producers, technicians and commentators. Episode One - "Saturday Night Out" Episode Two - "A Grandstand View" Episode Three - "On This Historic Day" Episode Four - "By Eurovision & Satellite" This film footage is from the Archive Collection held and administered by the Alexandra Palace Television Society. ~ APTS ~ Preserving the televisual past for the digital future www.apts.org.uk
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Post by aptsarchive on Feb 9, 2011 10:16:21 GMT
The Fools On The Hill has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society’s YouTube Channel. Our 216th upload also coincides with the ability to upload longer videos to YouTube, therefore we are both pleased and proud to be able to upload The Fools On The Hill. This fictionalised account of the formation of the BBC Television Service in 1936 was written by Jack Rosenthal. The characters portrayed in this drama are both real and fictional, mixing the actual events concerning the setting up of the BBC Television Service with a fictional romance between two employees – a “dolly pusher” and a temporary secretary. The drama was produced to mark the 50th anniversary of the Television Service in 1986. The programme was repeated in 1987 as a tribute to Cecil Madden (featured in the programme), who was Programme Organiser and responsible for producing the trial programme to RadiOlympia in August & September, before the regular service began on 2nd November 1936. A mock-up of an Emitron camera used in this production can still be seen today in Studio A at Alexandra Palace, where the Alexandra Palace Television Society and the Alexandra Palace Television Group, have mounted a display of the formation of the BBC Television Service. The exhibits on display tell the story of British television, you can see “Joan Miller” at her “Picture Page” switchboard, a scene set out before the television cameras, lights and microphone, and ultimately how television changed people’s lives. Also on display are a collection of vintage television receivers – the oldest being from 1938. There is even a shop-window replica of a Baird Televisor. The video can be viewed by following this link www.youtube.com/watch?v=SREEaOrtaJE
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Post by aptsarchive on Jun 29, 2010 16:22:50 GMT
BBC Television Centre Is 50 has been uploaded to the APTS YouTube Channel. BBC Television Centre at White City in West London is the headquarters of BBC Television. Officially opened in June 1960, it was one of the world's first buildings designed specifically for the making and transmission of TV programmes. It remains one of the largest. The building features a distinctive circular central block (officially known as the main block — but often affectionately referred to by staff as the "doughnut") around which are studios, offices, engineering areas and the new News Centre. In the centre of the main block is a statue designed by T.B. Huxley-Jones, of the Greek god of the sun, Helios, which is meant to symbolise the radiation of television light around the world. At the foot of this statue are two reclining figures, symbolising sound and vision, the components of television. (This structure was originally a working fountain but due to the building's unique shape it was too noisy and was deactivated.) Even though there is a foundation stone marked 'BBC 1956' in the basement of the main building, construction had begun on the site in 1951. Over time various extensions have been added to the building to maximise the site's potential. The overall design for Television Centre, from the air, appears to be like a question mark in shape. The architect, Graham Dawbarn (Norman & Dawbarn), drew a question mark on an envelope (now held by the BBC Written Archives Centre) while thinking about the design of the building, and realised that it would be an ideal shape for the site. However, an article in The B.B.C. Quarterly, July 1946, proposed a circular design for a new television studio complex, several years before Dawbarn drew up his plans. On 17 June 2009 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport decided to list at Grade II the Central Ring of the building and Studio 1, noting in particular the John Piper mosaic, central drum with its mosaic tiles, the Huxley-Jones gilded statue of Helios, full-height glazing of the stair and original clock in the Central Ring. The 'atomic dots' and name of Studio 1, along with the cantilevered porch on its exterior were noted as important architectural features of that building. The Department did not consider the other buildings, including all other studios, scenery block and canteen of sufficient special interest to warrant listing them, and specifically excluded them. The footage can be viewed here www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4aLpzUpXVE
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Post by aptsarchive on May 31, 2010 15:54:45 GMT
Improving The View has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society Archive YouTube Channel.
BBC Television Newsreel item featuring the new BBC Research building at Kingswood Warren where current equipment is tested and future television technologies are developed.
Originally transmitted: 23rd October 1950
It can be viewed here:
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