Associated Rediffusion (London weekday ITV, 1955-1968)
A-R Headquarters were at Television House, Kingsway London WC2. Chairman (1955): J Spencer Wills. Programme Director Paul Adorian was probably the most active spokesman for the company. Adviser on Light Entertainment was Jack Hylton who was responsible for most of their variety shows for the first four years. First Controller of Programmes- Roland Gillett who was appointed in December 1954, but left the company early in 1956. "My aim," he said "is to use the best ideas in American competitive TV, and leave out the worst"! Company policy was to produce live drama rather than filmed material.
Opening Day of ITV was September 22nd 1955 at 7.15pm with A-R and ATV jointly providing the programmes. The rather dull opening, which is preserved, see my brief review, was an outside broadcast from London's Guildhall where speeches were made by the likes of Sir Kenneth Clark. The producer was Stephen McCormack who had joined A-R the previous May from the BBC. 57 minutes later there appeared the first commercial, which was for Gibbs SR toothpaste. However my accolade for inventiveness goes to the first cartoon ad (Crompton-Parkinson). According to reports it was made in a basement in Tufnell Park with a fifty shilling camera, by a firm that eventually went on to produce many such efforts (Biographic Cartoon Films Ltd), albeit using more luxurious equipment. Full details of the programmes were found in TV Times No.1, with Patricia Dainton ('Sixpenny Corner') and Lucille Ball on the cover. The magazine was produced by a subsidiary of Associated Rediffusion.
A-R was one of the best of the early ITV companies, chasing its name to Rediffusion in April 1964, but losing its franchise in July 1968, merged with ABC to form Thames TV. The old A-R clock known as 'Mitch' after Leslie Mitchell, was presented to the Science Museum.
1964 executives: General Manager: John McMillan. Chief Programme Executive: David Windlesham. Programme production: Ray Dicks. Programme Planning: Cyril Francis. Senior technical Executive: Geoffrey Whittaker. Asst Controller film acquisition: Milton Shulmann. Executive producers: Guthrie Moir (religious and schools), Eric Maschwitz and Ray Dicks (scripted series), Elkan Allan (entertainment), Cyril Bennett (features and children's), Anthony Kearey (plays). At this period, A-R could be seen in places as far apart as Wantage, Bedford and Cambridge, Sittingbourne and Herne Bay.

Sample Schedules: Sept 22nd 1955, Oct 24th 1955, Feb 9th 1956, June 13th 1956, Sept 12th 1956, Jan 24th 1957, Jul 11th 1957, Dec 23rd 1957, Jan 29th 1958, April 2nd 1958, Nov 7th 1958, Jan 20th 1959, Feb 27th 1959, July 21st 1959, July 22nd 1960, Sept 8th 1960, April 7th 1961, Oct 16th 1961, Feb 28th 1962, March 30th 1962, Aug 24th 1962, Oct 14th 1963, Nov 14th 1963, March 3rd 1964, July 28th 1964, March 18th 1965, July 28th 1965, Aug 5th 1966, Nov 1st 1966, Feb 28th 1967, March 15th 1967, May 31st 1968, July 26th 1968.
sound clip from Small Time (1963). . . TAM ratings London area

Research projects: Boyd QC ... No Hiding Place forerunners ... Jack Hylton Presents ... Dickie Henderson Show ... Our Man at St Mark's ...
A-R children's serials ... Small Time . . . Earliest Soap Operas . . . Pioneer Schools Broadcaster . . . Jim's Inn - A-R's most successful admag
Rediffusion archive . . . Wembley Studios - opened June 1960 . . . A 1960 cancellation . . A 1967 extra . Archway Players- A-R staff club.

Main Dinosaur TV page

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Schedule for opening night Thursday 22nd September 1955
The Ceremony at Guildhall
7.15 The Guests Arrive - commentator: John Connell
7.30 The Halle Orchestra - Overture In London Town, and National Anthem
7.45 Inaugural Speeches Mayor of London / Postmaster General/ Chairman of ITA
8.00 Variety - from ABC's Television Theatre introduced by Jack Jackson. With some of Channel Nine's future variety stars including Hughie Green, Leslie Randall, Elizabeth Allan, Billy Cotton, John Hanson, Harry Secombe
8.40 Drama - Robert Morley introduces
An excerpt from The Importance of Being Earnest with Edith Evans, and John Gielgud
Baker's Dozen with Alec Guinness, Faith Brook, and Pamela Brown
An excerpt from Private Lives with Kay Hammond and John Clements
9.10 Professional Boxing - Terence Murphy v Lew Lazar
10.00 News and Newsreel
10.15 Gala Night at the Mayfair - introduced by Leslie Mitchell
10.30 Star Cabaret - with Billy Ternent and His Orchestra
10.50 Preview - a glimpse of programmes in the coming months
11.00 Epilogue
The National Anthem and Close down.

Associated-Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Monday October 24th 1955
11am Sixpenny Corner - Billy and Sally are anxious about a possible meeting between Bill's brother Tom and his sweetheart Grete
11.19 Here's Health - the difference between feeding children now and 18 years ago
11.30 Morning Melody
11.45 Personal Diary -with Kaye Webb
12.00 noon News; 12.10 It's an Idea - with Coral Fairweather
12.15pm Small Time - Stories with Pictures, with Jean Ford and Rolf Harris - 12.30 Testing
5.00 Tea-V Time- Venture (for boys) starting with
Hobby House -with PE Norman
5.15 Sportspot - No 5 Soccer with Walter Winterbottom
5.30 Playtime - 6.00 Close-down
7.00 Time, News, Weather (Weather Presenter Laurie West)
7.15 Man's Best Friend - Macdonald Daly on the problems of rearing pups
7.30 The Granville Melodramas: The Silver King with Erik Chitty, John Bailey, John Arnatt, Frank Thornton, Hattie Jacques
8.00 Double Your Money
8.30 Halle Orchestra - conducted by John Barbirolli, introduced by Archie Camden
9.30 Four Star Theatre: The Man in the Box - with Charles Boyer
10.00 News
10.15 Visitor of the Day
10.20 The Scientist Replies - Prof PE Medawar, Dr D Newth, Prof P Massey, Chairman Jeremy Thorpe
10.50 And So To Bed - with Charles Pude
11.00 Workshop for Peace - A tribute to United Nations Day
11.30 Epilogue and Close down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Thursday February 9th 1956
4.00 News - Newscaster Barbara Mandell
4.05 Small Time - Snoozy the Sea Lion, with Dorothy Smith
4.15 Look What I've Found - with Margot Lovell
4.30 To Make Your Mouth Water -cookery demonstrator Dione Lucas rpt
4.45 Four Star Playhouse - The Man in the Box with Charles Boyer rpt from Oct 24th 1955
5.15 Tea-V Time- Flickwiz - introduced by Jack Allen, starting with
Write It Yourself - episode 9 of The Tale of Two Halves
5.30 Hopalong Cassidy - The Feud
6.00 Close-down
7.00 Time, News, Weather Newscaster Christopher Chataway, Weather Presenter Laurie West
7.06 Sixpenny Corner - Doctor Tim confesses the truth to Grete
7.20 Date With A Song - with Shirley Abicair
7.30 Godfrey Winn in As Others See Us
8.00 Variety Star Time- starring Ted Ray and Patachou ITP Production
9.00 London Playhouse - Margaret Moves On starring Patrick Barr, Mary Merrall, Ursula Howells
10.00 Shall We Join the Ladies? - Yvonne Mitchell with a feminine half hour
10.30 Mail Call - Genine Graham and John Witty answer viewers' questions
10.45 News - Newscaster Christopher Chataway
10.57 And So To Bed - Hero de Rance with a glimpse of tomorrow's programmes
11.00 Epilogue
Close down.

To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Wednesday June 13th 1956

3.00 Afternoon Out - Racing from Lingfield Park
4.40 Tea with Noele Gordon
5.00 FOR CHILDREN
Rin-Tin-Tin - Blood Brothers, then at 5.30
Jolly Good Time -with Nat Temple and his band, also The Song Spinner competition
5.55 News from ITN
6.00 Close-down
7.00 Time, News with Newscaster Ludovic Kennedy
7.05 Crown Theatre Presents - Street of Angels with Douglas Fairbanks Jr
7.30 Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks
8.00 Close Up- on Gina Lollobrigida
8.30 Port Calypso - with Fredye Marshall, Cy Grant, Eric Spear and Orchestra
9.00 Big City - Beginners Please a story of London's Theatreland. . Script: Ted Willis, director: Jean Hamilton
9.30 Holiday Night - from Butlin's Clacton, introduced by McDonald Hobley, with Hedley Ward Trio
10.00 Time, Weather with Laurie West followed by
Look In On London - with Michael Ingrams. This week street cleaner Fred Robinson
10.15 Gun Law
10.45 News - with Ludovic Kennedy
11.00 Epilogue
Close down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Wednesday September 12th 1956
3.00 Afternoon Out - Summer Magazine introduced by Anne Valery. Then at 3.45
Women in Blue - some jobs the women do in support of the RAF, then at 4.30
Tea with Noele Gordon
5.00 FOR CHILDREN
Rin-Tin-Tin - The Guilty One, then at 5.28
Jolly Good Time -with Jimmy Hanley, and
Pop the Question - a panel game compered by Eric Spear
5.55 News from ITN
6.00 Close-down
7.00 Time, News with Newscaster Ludovic Kennedy
7.05 The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel - The Winged Madonna (a repeat from Feb 7th 1956)
7.30 Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks - top prize £400 or a trip to New York
8.00 Close Up- last in series, extracts from 20th Century Fox musicals
8.30 Chez Bon Viveur - Fanny and Johnie Craddock take over a Provencal restaurant for one evening
9.00 They're Off! - Course Steward: Larry Cross. Clerk: Nicholas Parsons. Plus four glamorous Stable Lads
9.30 Holiday Night - from Butlin's Clacton, introduced by Richard Murdoch
10.00 Time, Weather with Laurie West
10.01 Gun Law
10.30 Lester Ferguson - sings
10.46 News - Newscaster Ludovic Kennedy
11.00 Epilogue
Close down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Thursday January 24th 1957

4.00 A Date with Don - Don Peters introduces Les Baker and His Trio, ATV's Star Housewife, and the blind dates of the week
4.30 Pets' Parade - Reginald Landworn and a vet answer questions about pets (ATV)
5.00 Jolly Good Time- School of Secrets - episode 2: The Gold Cigarette Case
Steve Donovan Western Marshall - Journey to Justice
6.00 Close-down
7.00 Time, News
7.12 Weather with Laurie West
7.16 Hello- Come In - admag with Margot Lovell
7.30 Spot the Tune! - with Ken Platt and Marion Ryan
8.00 Television Playhouse- No Hero starring John Robinson, Susan Stephen and Helen Cherry
9.00 Val Parnell's Startime - with "a host of stars"
10.00 Members Mail - how MPs look after their constituents
10.15 The Adventures of Robin Hood - A Year and a Day
10.46 News - Newscaster Christopher Chataway
11.00 Epilogue and
Close down.

To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Thursday July 11th 1957

12.43 Thought for the Day
12.45 Lunch Box -1.30
2.43 Schools - A Year of Observation No 8 Solar Influence-3.15

5.00 Magic In The Air - with David Berglas (ATV)
5.30 The Count of Monte Cristo - A Matter of Justice
6.00 People and Places- with Elaine Grand and Peter Jones; and
Roving Report
6.45 Time, News Weather
7.00 The Adventures of Long John Silver - The Flag Flies Back
7.30 Shadow Squad- Murder in Mink, final episode
8.00 Turnabout- quiz with Roy Ward Dixon
8.30 Val Parnell's Startime
9.15 Television Playhouse- The Shadow of a Gunman with Eddie Byrne (A-R)
10.15 Hello- Come In ad mag
10.30 Mark Saber - Receipt for Murder
11.00 Time, News
11.15 Epilogue and
Close down.

To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Monday 23rd December 1957
4.30 Small Time - Mr Happy and Oliver Polip, with Rolf Harris
4.45 Seeing Sport - Christmas Party
5.30 Hopalong Cassidy - Frontier Law
6.00 Cross Talk - Edgar Lustgarten in informal conversation with four distinguished people
6.30 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.45 Jim's Inn -ad mag with Jimmy Hanley
7.00 Superman - A Night of Terror
7.30 Shadow Squad - There's No Place Like... part 2
8.00 Criss Cross Quiz- with Jeremy Hawk
8.30 Joan and Leslie- starring Leslie Randall and Joan Reynolds
9.00 The Murder Bag - Case 15: December 23
9.30 Jack Hylton presents The Crazy Gang's Party- plus guests Arthur Askey, Robert Boothby, Donald Campbell, Peter Glaze, Alfred Marks, Jack Solomons, Jimmy Wheeler
10.00 Gun Law - Fingered
10.30 What The Papers Say - with John Connell
10.46 News, Weather
11.00 Douglas Fairbanks Presents - Four Farewells in Venice
11.30 The Epilogue and Close down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Wednesday 29th January 1958

2.43 FOR SCHOOLS:
Producing Macbeth no.2 The Gracious Duncan (repeated at 3.23)-3.50
5.00 Junior Criss Cross Quiz with Jeremy Hawk
5.30 Rin-Tin-Tin - Rin-Tin-Tin and the Connecticut Yankee
6.00 Roving Report - Reginald Bosanquet in The Monte Carlo Rally
6.30 News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.45 Cool for Cats -introduced by Kent Walton
7.00 Ivanhoe - starring Roger Moore
7.30 Close Up 50 - Paul Carpenter with the fiftieth edition
8.00 Spot the Tune!- with Alfred Marks and Marion Ryan
8.30 Play of the Week - Trevor Howard and Helen Cherry in Reunion in Vienna, with Ralph Michael Miles Malleson and Marie Burke
10.00 Keeping in Step - The Brigade of Guards with Daniel Farson
10.15 The Carroll Levis Show
10.46 News
11.00 Palais Party - with Lou Praeger
11.30 Douglas Fairbanks Presents - Mr Purley's Profession
followed by The Weather
The Epilogue and
Close down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Wednesday 2nd April 1958

4.58 Thought for the Day
5.00 Junior Criss Cross Quiz with Jeremy Hawk
5.25 Rin-Tin-Tin - The Missing Heir
5.55 News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.10 Cool for Cats -introduced by Kent Walton
6.40 Youth Wants to Know - Chairman: Elaine Grand. Guest: Very Rev Dr George Dwyer
7.00 The Adventures of Tugboat Annie - Sophisticated Annie
7.30 Spotlight on Rising Stars - Paul Carpenter with June Archer of Innocent Sinners
8.00 Spot the Tune!- with Alfred Marks and Marion Ryan
8.30 The Carroll Levis Show
9.00 Play of the Week - Winterset starring George Rose, John Phillips, Brian Bedford and Carl Bernard
10.30 Keeping in Step - This England with Daniel Farson
10.46 News
11.00 Palais Party - with Lou Praeger and guest Colin Hicks
11.30 Douglas Fairbanks Presents - To What Great Heights with Robert Beatty
followed by The Weather
The Epilogue and
Close down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Friday 7th November 1958
4.45 Small Time - Mr Happy, and Folli the Foal
5.00 Let's Get Together with
Steve Race who has Music In View, and
Nutshell, presented by Redvers Kyle
5.25 Popeye
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.10 Educating Archie -In an effort to help Brough, Archie finds easy money is the hardest to make
6.40 Roving Report - Italy with Tom St John Barry
7.00 The Man Called X - X is dispatched to Istanbul
7.30 Emergency- Ward 10 - cast includes Ian Hendry
8.00 Take Your Pick- with Michael Miles
8.30 The Army Game- starring Michael Medwin and Alfie Bass
9.00 Television Playhouse - Breakdown starring Roger Livesey, Walter Fitzgerald, Walter Hudd
10.00 News
10.15 Cooper's Capers - Tommy Cooper, with Aileen Cochrane
10.45 Please Note - ad mag
11.00 Cool For Cats - with Kent Walton
11.30 Dick and The Duchess - Jealousy
followed by The Weather
The Epilogue and
Close down.

To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Friday 27th February 1959
12.45 Thought for the Day - Rev Leslie Goy
12.47 Small Time - Mr Happy, and Amanda and the Magic Glade read by Lisel Beaumont
1.00 News
1.02 Lunch Box - with Noele Gordon. Rock with us to the Kasbah Record Shop for the best from the hit parades old and new -1.30
2.43 For Schools: The Open Window - No. 6 Railways -3.11 (repeated 3.23 to 3.50)
5.00 Let's Get Together with Redvers Kyle: Nutshell. A look at Edward Lear
5.25 Popeye
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.10 Find the Singer -Lou Preager's £1,000 contest with Kendall McDonald, Maurice Burman and Monty Lewis
6.40 We Want an Answer - chairman Elaine Grand
7.00 Mark Saber - The Sally Ankers Story
7.30 Emergency- Ward 10 - with Charles Tingwell, Barbara Clegg and Desmond Carrington
8.00 Take Your Pick- with Michael Miles
8.30 The Army Game- starring Michael Medwin and Alfie Bass
9.00 Television Playhouse - A Memory of Two Mondays, with Ada Ship as Agnes
10.00 News
10.15 The Melody Dances - with Cyril Stapleton and his Band
10.45 Jim's Inn - ad mag with Jimmy Hanley
11.00 Cool For Cats - with Kent Walton
followed by The Weather
The Epilogue - The Rev John Morris and
Close down.

To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Tuesday 21st July 1959
12.45 Thought for the Day - Rev John Morris
12.47 Lunch Box - with Noele Gordon -1.25
5.05 Small Time -Muriel Young introduces The Birthday (Colonel Crock)
5.15 Lucky Dip - with Nevil Whiting
5.45 The Sword and the Lute - episode 3 starring William Young and Neville Jason
6.15 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.35 Flicka - The Recluse
7.05 Roving Report - Poland Rebuilt with Robin Day
7.30 Concentration - host David Gell
8.00 Emergency- Ward 10 - included in the cast were Shaun O'Riordan and Arthur Lawrence
8.30 Play of the Week - Nude with Violin starring Robert Helpmann (ATV Production)
9.59 News Headlines
10.00 Work and Play - (an interminably long) Party Political Broadcast with Heathcoat Amory and Iain MacLeod
10.25 Jack Hylton Presents Focus on Youth - with Brian Michie
10.55 News from ITN
11.10 Look In - with Michael Ingrams who inquires into the lives we lead
The Weather Forecast
The Epilogue - Rev Edward Rodgers
Close-down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Tuesday 20th January 1959
12.45 Thought for the Day - Canon Charles Crowson
12.47 Small Time - The Musical Box, and Mr Happy
1.00 News; 1.02 Lunch Box -1.30
2.43 For Schools - Maps and Men - No.1 Filling the Gaps -3.11 (rpt 3.23-3.50pm)
5.00 Lucky Dip - with Nevil Whiting
5.25 The Red Grass - episode 3
5.55 News and Weather by Laurie West
6.10 Martin Kane - William Gargan in Stockholm Story
6.40 Look In -with Michael Ingrams
7.00 The Carroll Levis Show
7.30 Emergency- Ward 10
8.00 Spot the Tune - Jackie Rae and Marion Ryan
8.30 Play of the Week - The Education of Mr Surrage with Maurice Denham
10.00 News from ITN
10.15 Boyd QC - 4: A Question of Talking Turkey
10.45 Camera Test - Donald Peers introduces artists new to the cameras
followed by The Weather Forecast
The Epilogue - Rev Philip Cuff
Close down

To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Friday July 22nd 1960
4.15 Change of Scene - Magazine for women with Huw Thomas
4.45 Small Time -Willum's Picture Book
5.00 Enquiry Unlimited - with Howard Williams and Redvers Kyle: The World of Speed
5.25 Mickey Mouse Club - with Barry Pevan
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.10 How Do We Look? - with Geoffrey Johnson Smith
6.30 Douglas Fairbanks Presents - The Journey
7.00 Biggles
7.30 Emergency- Ward 10 - included in the cast was Elizabeth Shepherd
8.00 This Week
8.25 Twenty Questions - Chair: Stewart MacPherson, with Isobel Barnett, Frankie Howerd, Stephen Potter, Muriel Young
8.55 Two's A Crowd- with Marion Ryan and Orson Bean
9.25 News from ITN
9.35 On Trial - Admiral Byng
10.35 Questions in the House - with Kenneth Harris
11.05 News Headlines followed by The Weather Forecast
11.07 Bold Venture - Ralph Anderson disappears and Shannon sets out to find him
11.37 The Epilogue - Rev Stanley Andrews, Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church
Close down.

To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Thursday September 8th 1960
2pm Junior Lawn Tennis Championships - Emlyn Jones commentating from Wimbledon
4.45 Small Time -The Adventures of Plonk
5.00 Four Feather Falls amd It's Wizard
5.25 Popeye
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.15 Look Again - with Michael Ingrams
6.30 The Adventures of the Seahawk - Treasure Point
7.00 Cool for Cats - with Kent Walton
7.30 It's Only Money - with Tommy Trinder
7.55 A Date With Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy
8.30 No Hiding Place - Double Fugue
9.25 News from ITN
9.35 Television Playhouse - The Harsh World with Lloyd Lamble and Patience Collier
10.35 What the Papers Say - with JPW Mallalieu
10.50 The Handicrafts and Do It Yourself Exhibition- admag from Empire Hall Olympia with Kenneth Horne, Rex Garner, Frances Bennett
11.05 News Headlines
11.07 Rendezvous - Screaming Woman with Dermot Walsh, Sarah Lawson and Janina Faye
followed by The Weather Forecast
The Epilogue - Rev JK Gardiner, Woodberry Down N4
Close-down

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Friday 7th April 1961
2.15 Racing from Catterick -4.15
4.45 Small Time -Tum. And Muriel Young talks to Pussy Cat Willum
5.00 Enquiry Unlimited - with Howard Williams and Redvers Kyle
5.25 Huckleberry Hound
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.10 The Battle For London - Brian Connell introduces the first of three programmes on the London County Council elections
6.45 Just Dennis - Dennis and the Bees
7.15 Rendezvous with Rosemary - with Rosemary Squires and guests Mike Preston
7.30 Emergency- Ward 10 - in the cast Patrick Connor and Maureen Pryor
8.00 This Week
8.30 Take Your Pick
8.55 Bootsie and Snudge
9.25 News from ITN
9.35 No Hiding Place - The Toy House
10.30 Appointment with Arnold Wesker - talking to Malcolm Muggeridge
11.00 News Headlines
11.02 Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Morning of the Bride
11.32 Man from Interpol - Murder in the Smart Set
The Weather Forecast followed by
The Epilogue - Father Alfonso de Zulueta, Cheyne Row London SW3
Close down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Monday October 16th 1961
2.35 For Schools - The World Around Us, Ici la France, The Story of Industry - ends 3.45
4.45 Small Time -Brock and Bruin
5.00 Seeing Sport - Football
5.25 Fury - Operation CD rpt
5.55 News and Weather ITN News, and Weather by Laurie West
6.08 In My View - admag with Sheila Mathews
6.15 All Our Yesterdays - with James Cameron
6.45 Home Tonight - the story of the Sutton family: daily serial
7.00 Criss Cross Quiz - with Jeremy Hawk
7.30 Coronation Street - a coach trip to Blackpool
8.00 Three Live Wires - Michael Medwin in Higgy's Romance
8.30 Gunsmoke - Perce
9.25 News
9.35 Probation Officer - starring John Paul
10.30 Drawn from Life - with John Berger
11.00 News Headlines
11.02 News from London
11.10 Semprini rpt
11.25 Saber of London - Operation Arson
11.55 approx The Weather Forecast, followed by
The Epilogue -all this week: Very Rev John Coventry, Provincial of the Society of Jesus
Close down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Wednesday February 28th 1962
Note: a prolonged Equity strike resulted in this schedule. (* Networked programme)

2.35* For Schools - Summing It Up, Context, The Story of Industry - ends 3.45
4.00 S.S. Fashion -Mary Hill visits "a famous Kensington Store" with music by Peter Alan Trio
4.45 Small Time -The Musical Box with Wally Whyton and Peter Firmin
5.00* Zoo Time - The Parrot House
5.25 Flying Visit - A mysterious little girl lands on the seashore from a flying saucer and two children find her and smuggle her home (A-R)
5.55* News and Weather ITN News, and Weather by Laurie West
6.08 Sportscast - with Ian Wooldridge
6.15 Just Dennis - The Fortune Cookie
6.45 Here and Now - with Huw Thomas
7.00 Take a Letter - with Robert Holness
7.30* Coronation Street- Ena returns in triumph to the vestry
8.00* Startime - music by Jack Parnell- but no stars named in TV Times
9.00* News
9.15* One Step Beyond - Justice starring Clifford Evans
9.45 Double Confession - film starring Derek Farr
11.15 News Headlines
11.17 Dateline London followed by
The Weather Forecast
11.27 approx The Epilogue -all this week: Rev JR Satterthwaite, Church of England Council on Inter-Church Relations
Close-down.

To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Friday March 30th 1962
Note: the continued Equity strike yielded this schedule:

2.35 For Schools - Looking About, The Craft of Hands, Chez les Dupre - ends 3.45
4.45 Small Time -Ivor the Engine
5.00 Discover Your City - with Peter Jackson
5.25 Huckleberry Hound
5.55 News and Weather ITN News, and Weather by Laurie West
6.15 In My View - admag with Margaret Mitchell
6.21 The Warning Voice - this week: dying craftsmen
6.45 Here and Now - with Huw Thomas
7.00 Take Your Pick - with Michael Miles
7.30 Rawhide- The House of the Hunter
8.20 No Trace - film starring Hugh Sinclair, Dinah Sheridan
(break for News from 9.00 to 9.15)
9.45 The Little Eight - Ian Trethowan talks to Sir Grantley Adams about the West Indies
10.00 All That Jazz - with Chris Barber
10.30 Questions in the House - with Kenneth Harris
11.00 News Headlines
11.02 Dateline London followed by The Weather Forecast
11.12 Gay Cavalier - Springtime for Julia rpt
11.42 The Epilogue -all this week: Rev Prebendary Colin Kerr, St Paul's Church Portman Square
Close-down.

To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Friday 24th August 1962
2.15 Racing from York -4.15
4.45 Small Time -Susie and Hug's Story Book
5.00 Holiday Music - with Neville Whiting, Penny Allen, and The Ted Taylor Four
5.25 Huckleberry Hound rpt
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.16 The City Temple - first part of service for the Commemoration of the Great Ejectment on St Bartholomew's Day 1662
7.00 Spot the Tune - with Marion Ryan and Pete Murray
7.30 Emergency- Ward 10 - in the cast Ian Colin
8.00 Desilu Mystery Theatre - Dead on Nine starring Louis Hayward
9.00 News from ITN
9.15 Saki - eighth programme
10.10 Dickie Valentine Show - with Susan Maughan, Glen Mason, Paula Watson
10.40 Bridgehead - Foreign Communities in Britain, a report by Ian Trethowan on the Italians
11.10 News Headlines
11.12 Dateline - with Ian Trethowan and Gavin Lyall
followed by The Weather Forecast
11.22 Tension - Weekend Guest starring Mary Hinton and Brenda Hogan
11.52 Epilogue - Rev Michael Hollings, Chaplain to Roman Catholic Undergraduates, Oxford University
Close down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Monday 14th October 1963
2.35 The Railway Age - 5 New Towns for Old
3.04 The World Around Us - 5 The Customs Officer
3.26 The Tools of Science - 5 Manipulation with Arthur Garrett ends 3.46
4.45 Small Time -Muskit and Dido
5.00 Seeing Sport - Table Tennis
5.25 Boots and Saddles - Marquis of Donnybrook
5.55 News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.08 People in London
6.15 I'm Dickens, He's Fenster - Big Opening at the Hospital
6.45 Here and Now- Shooting and Shotguns with Anthony Brown (Anglia TV)
7.00 All Our Yesterdays - with Brian Inglis
7.30 Coronation Street - Jerry has best man trouble and the Street puts the shutters up on Ena
8.00 The Plane Makers - Don't Stick Your Head Out
9.00 News from ITN
9.15 Naked City - The Highest of Prizes
10.10 World in Action
10.40 News Headlines
10.42 Dateline - with Brian Widlake, and The Weather Forecast
10.55 Tension - Dennis Price in Let Murder Be Done
11.25 The Epilogue - Modern Parables, with Rev Michael Hollings, Chaplain to Roman Catholic Undergraduates, Oxford
Close-down.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

A-R schedule for Thursday 14th November 1963
2.35 The World Around Us - 8 How We grow
2.57 Notre Ville - 8 La Broche
3.16 Afternoon Edition -3.41
4.45 Small Time -Tum
5.00 Criss Cross Quiz - David Lee champion (Mill Hill), challenged by Anne Vail (Herne Hill), David Gottesman (Harlow), Kathleen Montgomery (West Ham), and Terry Merritt (Lambeth)
5.25 Space Patrol - The Glowing Eggs of Titan
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.08 People in London
6.15 True Adventure - Jungle Patrol introduced by Bill Burrud
6.40 Out of Town
7.00 Double Your Money
7.30 Dickie Henderson Show - Richard becomes interested in horse racing
8.00 Big G - A House in Order
8.55 News from ITN
9.10 This Week
9.40 My Favourite Martian - The Matchmakers
10.10 Thirty Minute Theatre - Finlay Currie in Death of a Gladiator (STV)
10.40 What the Papers Say
10.55 News Headlines
10.57 Dateline - with Michael Thomas
followed by The Weather Forecast
11.10 The Tools of Science - No 1 Glass (part one) narrated by Arthur Garratt (previously shown as a Schools programme)
11.30 The Epilogue - Christ in Our World by Olive Stephens
Close down
To
Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rediffusion schedule for Tuesday 3rd March 1964

2.35 FOR SCHOOLS Ici La France - No 17 Colette, 2.59 Drama - The Playboy of the Western World part 1, 3.28 Discovery - No 7 The Nature of Glass-3.53
4.45 Small Time -The Adventures of Twizzle: Twizzle and Footso rpt
5.00 Five O'Clock Club - guest Adam Faith
5.25 The Barnstormers - 1 Mystery at the Mill with Dennis Waterman
5.55 News and Weather - News from ITN and Weather Forecast, prepared by Laurie West
6.08 People in London (ITN)
6.15 I Love Lucy - Housewarming
6.45 Here and Now - with Huw Thomas
7.00 University Challenge - challenger: Reading University
7.30 Emergency- Ward 10 - Andrew Shaw talks to Carole's new friend
8.00 Big Night Out - Mike and Bernie Winters introduce The Beatles (ABC)
8.55 News from ITN
9.10 The Plane Makers - A Matter of Priorities
10.05 Second City Reports- with David Battley, Kathleen Breck, Eleanor Bron, David Buck, Pamela Ann Davy, Jeremy Geidt, Gordon Gostelow, Barry Letts
10.34 News Headlines
10.36 Dateline
followed by The Weather Forecast
10.49 Camera Eye - Barbican Regained
11.15 Douglas Fairbanks Jr Presents - Enchanted Doll
11.40 Last Programme - Special Lenten Series: God's Cross in Our World- The Stumbling Block with Rev Michael Hollings
Close down.

Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rediffusion schedule for Tuesday 28th July 1964
2.45 Racing from Redcar
4.45 Small Time -The Adventures of Twizzle: Bouncy the Ball rpt
5.00 Five O'Clock Club - guest Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas
5.25 Futurama - presented by Jimmy Hanley
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.08 Three After Six
6.30 Grindl - The Great Bank Robbery
7.00 Cinema - introduced by Bamber Gascoigne, including an interview with Alfred Hitchock
7.30 Emergency- Ward 10 - in the cast Basil Hoskins, Vic Wise
8.00 Comedy Hour - Car 54: Home Sweet Sing Sing/ Petticoat Junction: Hooterville Flivverball
8.55 News from ITN
9.10 Love Story - Elizabeth Sellars and Marius Goring in In Loving Memory
10.05 World In Action
10.35 News Headlines
10.37 Dateline
followed by The Weather Forecast
10.50 One Step Beyond - The Hand with Robert Loggia
11.20 Exploring the Universe - Is There Other Life?
11.50 Last Programme - Comment by David Edwards on some aspects of the evening's programmes from a Christian perspective
Close down.

Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rediffusion schedule for Thursday 18th March 1965
11.15am FOR SCHOOLS: Notre Ville, Science in Action-11.55
2.10pm FOR SCHOOLS The World Around Us, Afternoon Edition-2.58
4.20 Crossroads -with Noele Gordon and John Bentley
4.45 Small Time -Susie and Hug
5.00 Ollie and Fred's Five O'Clock Club - star guest Tommy Quickly, with Gerry and the Pacemakers
5.25 True Adventure - Wild Life of the North rpt
5.55 News from ITN and Weather
6.08 Three After Six
6.30 Cannonball - Lil's Cafe
7.00 Double Your Money - with Hughie Green
7.30 Survival - first of a new series: Bolt from the Blue
8.00 Rawhide - Moment in the Sun
8.55 News from ITN
9.10 This Week
9.40 The Human Jungle - Ring of Hate
10.35 What the Papers Say - with Brian Inglis
10.50 News Headlines
10.52 Mangement in Action- Management in the Electronics Industry with John Bolton
11.22 Dateline
followed by The Weather Forecast
11.32 The Psalms Today - David Butler talks to Canon Francis Bartlett
Close down.

To Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rediffusion schedule for Wednesday 28th July 1965
2.15 Racing from Redcar -4.15
4.20 Crossroads -with Noele Gordon and John Bentley
4.45 Small Time -The Musical Box
5.00 Zoo Time - guest Harold Tong director of Whipsnade Park
5.25 The Littlest Hobo - Curse of Smokey Ridge rpt
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.08 Three After Six
6.30 ITN Reports - with Andrew Gardner
7.00 Pardon the Expression - the staff plan a surprise for Mr Swindley but so does Mr Parbold
7.30 Coronation Street
8.00 The Fugitive - The Cage
8.55 News from ITN
9.10 Call in On Wynter - with Mark Wynter and Susan Maughan
9.30 Party Political Broadcast -Labour
9.40 To Live Till You Die - Intertel film on old age
10.40 Redcap - A Town Called Love
11.35 News Headlines
11.40 Dateline
followed by The Weather Forecast
11.50 20th Century Pilgrims - David Butler with pilgrims to Ireland's most ancient shrines
Close down.

To Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rediffusion schedule for Friday 5th August 1966
2.45 Racing from Redcar
4.45 Small Time -All At Sea
5.00 Five O'Clock Club - guest compere Billy Boyle
5.25 The Jetsons - The Space Car
5.55 News and Weekend Weather
6.07 Weavers Green - Geoffrey plays the heavy husband
6.35 Crossroads -Agnes to Sandy: I've got a very special favour to ask you
7.00 Ready Steady Go! - with Cathy McGowan
7.30 Emergency- Ward 10 - in the cast Carol White, John Collin
8.00 Public Eye - You're Not Cinderella Are You?
8.55 News from ITN
9.10 Cinema - with Michael Scott
9.40 The Friday Film - The African Queen rpt
11.30 News Headlines
11.32 What the Papers Say - with Bernard Levin
11.47 Dateline Westminster
followed by The Weather Forecast
12.02 Faith and the Word - Norman St John Stevas talks to Peter Snow
Close down.
Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rediffusion schedule for Tuesday 1st November 1966
11.10 For Schools: Picture Box/ Ici la France -11.50
2.05 For Schools: The World Around Us/ Notre Ville (half term repeats) -2.43
4.45 Playtime -today you need a lemon, a dipping pen or paint brush and a piece of paper
5.00 Disney Wonderland - presented by Francesca Annis, with Tony Bateman as Merlin
5.25 Orlando - Dangerous Waters: 6 All in the Book
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.08 Batman - Fine Finny Fiends part 1
6.35 Crossroads - Kevin: We could relax and enjoy ourselves! In other words, have fun like we did before, Meg
7.00 Double Your Money - including a preview of next week's show from Moscow
7.30 Peyton Place
8.00 Comedy Hour - The Beverly Hillbillies- Admiral Jed Clampett, and Run Buddy Run- Did You Ever Have One of Those Days?
8.55 News from ITN
9.10 Dear Liar - play with Peggy Ashcroft and Roy Dotrice
10.50 This Week
11.20 News Headlines
11.22 T.H.E. Cat - Little Arnie from Long Ago
11.52 Dateline
followed by The Weather Forecast
12.02 Men of Vision - William Tyndale, presented by Professor John Foster
Close down.
To
Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rediffusion schedule for Tuesday 28th February 1967
11.10 For Schools: Picture Box/ Ici la France -11.50
11.52 Dialogue with Doubt - Art and Imagination with John Mortimer, Werner Felz, introduced by Jenny Izard rpt - 11.59
2.05 For Schools: The World Around Us/ Le Voyage du Jericho -2.43
4.23 Crossroads - Meg: You're hounding Hugh Mortimer, are you? There must be some reason
4.45 Playtime -presented by Gwyneth Surdivall and Jennifer Naden
5.00 Disney Wonderland - presented by Francesca Annis, with Tony Bateman as Merlin, Al Lampert as Goofy
5.25 Orlando - Irish Stew 1: A Time in the Night
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.08 Three After Six
6.30 Batman - The Contaminated Cowl part 1
7.00 Double Your Money - including the first semi-final in the contest Hostess with the Mostest
7.30 Framed a film starring Glenn Ford
8.55 News from ITN
9.10 Felony Squad - The Desperate Silence
9.40 Here Comes Kathy - Kathy Kirby and guests Daniel Remy, Clinton Ford and Tommy Bruce
10.25 This Week
10.55 News Headlines
10.57 Dateline
followed by The Weather Forecast
11.07 The Six Continents - about missionaries, with Anthony Lejeune, Dr John Taylor and Rev Maurice Wheatley
Close down.
Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rediffusion schedule for Wednesday 15th March 1967
11.7 For Schools: Finding Out/ The Art of Music -11.55
2.05 For Schools: Discovery/ Ways with Words -2.55
4.23 Crossroads - Penny: "I want a taxi right away. It's urgent!"
4.45 Playtime -with Gwyneth Surdivall and Jennifer Naden
5.00 Zoo Time - with Desmond Morris
5.25 Adventures of the Seaspray - Shipwrecked
5.55 News and Weather News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.08 Three After Six
6.30 Batman - That Darn Catwoman, part 1
7.00 University Challenge
7.30 Coronation Street - A family gathering at the Barlows and a wet idea from Miss Nugent
8.00 No Hiding Place - It's all Happening
8.55 News from ITN
9.10 Cinema
9.30 Party Political Broadcast - Conservative and Unionist Party
9.45 At Last the 1948 Show
10.18 Gunsmoke - Double Entry
11.13 Best Sellers - Joseph Conrad with Douglas Hewitt
11.43 News Headlines
11.45 Inter-League Football - Scottish League v English League from Hampden Park
12.30 Dateline
followed by The Weather Forecast
12.40 The Six Continents - what do Africans think of nuns? with Anthony Lejeune and a Missionary Sister and a Roman Catholic
Close down.
Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Rediffusion schedule for Friday 31st May 1968
11.05 For Schools - Let's Go Out/ Notre Ville-11.46
1.45 Epsom Summer Meeting -4.23
4.38 Hullabaloo -with Mrs Mills
4.58 Skippy - Trapped
5.25 Orlando - The Fifi Affair episode 2
5.55 News and Weather by Laurie West
6.09 Crossroads - Ryder: I've grown very fond of you. But if it's you or my career...
6.33 Londoners - with Robin Ray
7.00 Sportsweek - introduced by David Rees
7.30 Take Your Pick
8.00 The Avengers - The 13th Hole rpt
9.00 Mr Rose - The Frozen Swede
10.00 News from ITN, followed by The Weather Forecast
10.30 The Friday Night Film - Victim
12.20 Past Midnight - with Alasdair Clayre
Close down.
To
Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

..

.

.

Rediffusion schedule for Friday 26th July 1968
There's an aura of the final curtain around several choices of programmes in this schedule!

3.45 Bowls- from Westminster Bank Sports Club Norbury
4.28 One in Three - Howard Marratt with Rev Saul Amias and David Cowan discussing beliefs of Christians Jews and Moslems
4.38 Hullabaloo -with this week's guest Bill Oddie
4.58 Skippy - Golden Reef
5.25 Devil-in-the-Fog - final episode
5.55 News and Weather: News from ITN and Weather by Laurie West
6.09 Crossroads - Kitty: "These next few hours are going to be the longest of our lives, Dick"
6.33 Londoners - with Ludovic Kennedy
7.00 Sportsweek - with Richard Davies
7.30 Take Your Pick - the very last edition, from studios in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
8.00 The Avengers - Honey for the Prince rpt
9.00 The War of Darkie Pilbeam - Phase III- August 1945
10.00 News from ITN followed by The Weather Forecast by Laurie West
10.30 The Friday Night Film - Let No Man Write My Epitaph starring Burl Ives
12.25 Past Midnight - Joy Hyman and Bernard Finch sing and read their Personal Choice
Close-down.
Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

Studio 5 Wembley
was "the largest in Europe" (at that time) to be designed solely for tv use. Planning had begun in December 1954, building work at Wembley commenced in December 1958 the million pound project taking five and a half years to complete, Studio 5 opening in June 1960.
With a floor area of 14,000 sq ft, there were eight four and a half inch Orthicon camera chains supplied by EMI, and a special effects generator made by Pye. Vision systems could be operated on 405, 525 and 625 line systems and "when colour comes," explained Programme Controller John McMillan, "we shall be secure in the knowledge that Studio 5 has been designed for that too."
Footnotes: it surely was no coincidence that the Wembley studio opening just pipped the opening of the new BBC Television centre at the end of June 1960!
The (refurbished) complex is still in use today, owned by ftv, Fountain TV

To celebrate the opening of this magnificent Studio, on Thursday 9th June 1960 (8pm-9.35), A-R transmitted live An Arabian Night
Script: Stanley Miller. Director: Mark Lawton
Preparation had been dogged by union objections to the use of an American star. Dawn Berret had also been cast, but backed out in order to play in The Pure Hell of St Trinians.
Six huge sets were constructed with eighty different scenes.
Critic Guy Taylor described it thus, "The Script tried desperately hard to capture the poetic beauty and magic, but never quite made it. Direction: Mark Lawton produced some lovely picture compositions and proved crowd scenes can be effective on tv. Choreography was disappointing. With the extra space I had hoped for something a little more imaginative from Philippe Perrottet. Artists were to some extent badly cast. Notably Susan Stranks who was a serious weakness- not the woman to turn the eyes of every man. Henry Kendall was completely miscast- I think he imagined himself to be playing in farce. The artist who came off best was Joseph O'Connor as the Caliph. He brought dignity and humanity to a part which on paper must have seemed impossible to play. Stanley Holloway had some delightful scenes but essentially remained SH. Robert Loggia was adequate enough. As for Orson Welles, it seemed to me that anyone could have opened and closed the show. From the rest of the cast I single out Alan Wheatley, Sydney Tafler, Carl Bernard and Peter Bull."

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

A-R Schools Broadcasting
The first Head of A-R Schools Broadcasting was Boris 'Headmaster' Ford. The venture began in a tentative way in Summer 1957 with one programme per day aimed at the 14 to 15 year old age range. The first ever series on May 13th 1957 at 2.45pm was Looking and Seeing, and was preceded by a brief ceremony with Sir Kenneth Clark (chair of ITA) and Sir John Wolfenden (chair of A-R's Educational Advisory Council). Less than 100 schools saw the first programme subtitled To See Or Not To See. Presenter was Redvers Kyle. John Lord, who once claimed to be "the first tv teacher," presented the second series to be shown, The Ballad Story. More substantial offerings followed in the Autumn Term 1957, the first programme shown was The Farming Year which was to run for 27 programmes, while also that week were the mathematics lesson World of Figures, Judge for Yourselves, and Shape in Your Hands. It was a modest start, for schools in London and Midlands areas, Granada avoided the venture.
Autumn Term 1958 programmes began in September 1958 with a mere 580 schools receiving programmes, Southern TV and Scottish TV joining the transmissions. Process of Law began on October 1st 1958 and was hosted by Jeremy Thorpe.
Autumn 1959 saw Granada finally succumb and made their first schools programme Discovery which began on September 24th 1959, but not unsurprisingly this wasn't shown in the London area! A-R continued to be the only company to make networked schools programmes in 1959/60. By this stage Paul Adorian claimed that, "we now have over 1,000 schools to which we send our teachers' notes." For 1960/1, A-R were still almost exclusively making these schools programmes, Granada repeating only the Discovery series and ATV's first venture Ici La France which was only shown in some regions.
At last, on September 18th 1961 there began a networking of schools programmes, each of the three main ITV companies contributing to the output of eleven series.

Schools Drama - Macbeth, Twelfth Night, She Stoops to Conquer, The Angry Gods, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Medea, The Playboy of the Western World, Cross-Roads, One World, Mysteries and Miracles, Preparing a Play

French Lessons - A-R's first series on France was La Dordogne: The Story of a River which started on Monday September 30th 1958, 2.43pm to 3.11, repeated immediately at 3.23pm- part one was The High Country. It was scripted by Martin Worth, a joint production with Paris Television.
From 1960 to 1962 they produced the French drama lesson Chez Les Dupre.
This was succeeded by Notre Ville from 1962 to 1966.

The Farming Year (1957)
To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

The Farming Year (1957, A-R)
This schools broadcast ran for 27 programmes during the academic year 1957-8. It proved an unexpected success, not just with children. Thomas B Radley, deputy head of A-R Schools Broadcasts, said it was "an extraordinary reaction, which we didn't expect when planning the original afternoon programmes for children.... farmers who saw them have been enthusiastic." The setting was Waydale Farm in Little Brington, Northamptonshire, with owner Evan Davies. There were 27 programmes altogether, showing how a typical farm was managed over the four seasons. Filming was often done close to transmission, as Radley explained, "sometimes shooting, cutting and editing were squeezed in by only a matter of mnutes. No ordinary film men would have dreamed of working in such conditions." Programmes were introduced by Denys Bullard. Directors included Geoff Rimmer, Kenyon Emrys Roberts, Randal Beattie, Bill Morton, and William Morton. Scriptwriters included Ron Downing, also Stanley Joseph.

For adults, five edited programmes were made, and shown in the London area starting Monday May 27th 1958 at 11pm. About 18 of the series were also shown to schools during the autumn term 1960 and spring term 1961. Finally A-R milked it further by repeating these same programmes to adults late Thursday nights in Spring/Summer 1962. Who said Schools' Programmes couldn't make money?!
Programmes in the series: 1 (Monday Sept 23rd 1957, 2.43pm, repeated same day at 3.23pm. Then also at same times each subsequent Thursday), 2 The Harvest (Sept 30th 1957), 3 Milk Production (Oct 7th 1957), 4 Problems for Mr Davies (Oct 14th 1957), 5 Grain and Sheep (Oct 21st 1957), 6 Autumn Activity (Nov 4th 1957, rpt Oct 10th 1960), 7 The Morning Post (Nov 11th), 8 Wheat and Fertilizer (Nov 18th 1957, rpt May 3rd 1962), 9 The Country Comes to Town (Nov 25th 1957)- the Dairy Show Olympia. 10 The Young Farmers' Club (Jan 20th 1958), 11 Hedging and Fencing- including a saw mill on Earl Spencer's land (Jan 27th 1958, rpt Oct 31st 1960 as well as half term rpt), 12 Land Drainage (Feb 3rd 1958), 13 Machines for the Farmer (Feb 10th), 14 The Chicken and the Egg (Feb 17th 1958), 15 Animals on the Farm (Mar 3rd 1958), 16 Winter at Waydale (Mar 10th 1968), 17 Potatoes (Mar 17th), 18 The Hounds of Spring (Mar 24th). 19 The Lambing Season (April 28th 1958 repeated May 27th 1958 11pm), 20 Springtime Planting (May 5th), 21 More About Milk (May 12th 1958, rpt Jan 23rd 1961), 22 A Visit to the Fens (May 19th 1958, rpt Jan 30th 1961)- the Bullards' farm near Wisbech, 23 Beef Cattle (June 2nd 1958, rpt June 23rd 1958 11pm, rpt Feb 6th 1961, rpt July 26th 1962)- Welland Valley, 24 The Farmer goes to War (June 9th), 25 Flocks and Fleeces (June 16th), 26 Grass (July 7th 1958), and 27 Haymaking (July 14th 1958, rpt Mar 20th 1961, rpt Aug 23rd 1962)- sheep dipping and hay harvest and farewell to Mr Bullard and Mr Davies.

AR Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

She Stoops to Conquer
(1960, repeated January 1964)

After two programmes of Michael Hawkins introducing the background to the play, the play then followed in three weekly parts.
The distinguished cast was: Paul Daneman as Marlow, George Woodbridge as Mr Hardcastle, Margaret Courtenay as Mrs Hardcastle, Jane Downs as Kate Hardcastle, Tristram Jellinek as Hastings, Jocelyn James as Constance Neville, Patrick Newell as Tony Lumpkin, Kynaston Reeves as Sir Charles Marlow, John Cater as Diggory, and Vivian Pickles as Pimple.
Director: Roger Jenkins.

AR Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The Equity dispute affected production in late 1961/ Spring 1962. For the Summer term 1962 A-R produced The Pickwick Papers, a study of the characters introduced by Redvers Kyle.

Romeo and Juliet (Autumn Term 1962)
An exploration of the theme of Romeo and Juliet (A-R)
introduced by Redvers Kyle.
No 1 Patterns of Love: September 18th 1962: scenes from Cyrano de Bergerac with John Woodvine as Cyrano, Dereck Ware as Valvert, Anthony Paul as Lebret, Erica Rogers as Rosane and Richard Hampton as Christian. Script: Martin Worth. Director: Geoffrey Hughes.
No 4 With Wilful Choler: October 9th 1962: scenes from Romeo and Juliet with Michael Griffiths as Chorus, George Pensotti as Romeo, Brian Jackson as Tybalt, Kevin Stoney as Capulet, William Holmes as Mercutio, Desmond Davies as Benvolio, Heather Canning as Nurse and Kika Markham as Juliet. Commentary: Martin Worth. Director: Prudence Nesbitt.
Performance of Romeo and Juliet, in 25 minute segments began on October 23rd 1962 (repeated Autumn term 1964). Director: Prudence Nesbitt. Cast: Michael Griffiths as Chorus, David Weston as Romeo, Lauriston Shaw as Tybalt, Michael Logan as Capulet, Christine Pollon as Lady Capulet, Jerome Wallis as Prince, Daniel Thorndike as Montague, Rosemary Towler as Lady Montague, Richard Davies as Peter, Rick Jones as Mercutio, Peter Ellis as Benvolio, Jessie Evans as Nurse, Jane Asher as Juliet, Terence Soall as Serving Man, Terence Greenridge as Old Capulet, and Anthony Rogers as Tybalt's Page.
Parts 2 to 5 followed on November 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th.
AR Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

One World (Rediffusion, January-June 1965)
A series for schools, an interesting mixture of documentary and drama.

Series 1 all introduced by Peter Snow.
1 What is a Nation? (January 18th 1965, 2.28pm-2.53)
With Ewan Hooper (The Farmer), Dennis Chinnery (The Warrior) and Jolyon Booth (Chaucer). Script: Antony Brown.
2 My Country Right or Wrong (January 25th 1965) With Peter Barkworth (Englishman), Paul Gillard (Frenchman) and Mavis Villiers (American). Script: Martin Worth. Director: Sheila Gregg. Theme: National prejudice.
3 Conflicts Between Nations (February 1st 1965) With Richard Burnell (Mr West), Joyce Marlow (Mrs West), Barry Linehan (Mr Lake) and Marcia Ashton (Mrs Lake). Script: Martin Worth. Director: Sheila Gregg. Synopsis: Mr Lake grows tomatoes, Mr West makes gardening equipment. They exchange products and get on well together. But a shed put up by Mr West leads to a bitter dispute between them. At the same time we see a furious dispute growing up between the agricultural country of Lakia and the industrialised Westland. Both individuals and nations need an arbiter to settle disputes without fighting.
4 Political Systems (February 8th 1965) Director: Bob Gray. James Cameron who scripted this programme also explained the background to the Cold War.
5 Religions of the World (February 15th 1965) Director: Bob Gray. James Cameron, also the script writer, explains about religious conflicts. Also with Dewan Motihar.
7 Intolerance in Britain (March 6th 1965). Script: Peter Pickering. Director: Bob Gray.
8 The United Nations (March 13th 1965). Script: Patricia Latham. Director: Bob Gray.
9 World Problems and International Agencies (March 20th 1965). Script: Jeri Matos. Director: Bob Gray.
10 Individuals Play Their Part (March 27th 1965). Script: Rosemary Davies. Director: Bob Gray.
Series 2 introduced by Michael Smee.
2.1 The Commonwealth (May 3rd 1965). Script: Gerry Davis. Director: Richard Gilbert. With Hugh Morton (Englishman), Roger Booth (Edmund Burke) and Kenneth Dight (Captain). From the first British colony in Newfoundland in 1583, the development of the British Empire is traced.
2.2 Farmers of Many Lands (May 10th 1965). Script: Charles Griffiths. Director: Richard Gilbert.
2.3 Leisure (May 17th 1965). Script: Gerry Davis. Director: Richard Gilbert.
2.4 The Arts (May 24th 1965). Script: Patricia Latham. Director: Richard Gilbert.With Rina Singha as Indian Dancer.
2.5 The Internationalism of Science (May 31st 1965). Script: Arthur Garratt. Director: Richard Gilbert.
2.6 Looking to the Future (June14th 1965). Script: Martin Worth. Director: Richard Gilbert.

Rediffusion Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Theatres and Temples (A-R)
(Spring Term 1963, the series was repeated in the autumn term 1964 under a different title)
A mixture of narration and drama. Some of the plays were repeats from the 1960 series The Angry Gods, including The Crimson Path (repeated Jan 22nd 1963) and The Judgment (repeated Feb 5th 1963).

The series ended with a performance of Medea
by Euripides, translated by Philip Vellacott and directed by Robert Stead.
Part 1 In a Foreign Land (March 12th 1963, 3.25-3.50pm): Marjery Withers as Nurse, John Southworth as Tutor, Barbara Jefford as Medea, Anthony Nicholls as Creon, Paul Holdaway and Frank Summerscales as children, with chorus: Elizabeth Cassie, Janet Lees Price, Iris Rafferty, Jessica Hill, Sarah Milton and Dawn Pearcy.
Part 2 The Path of Vengeance (March 19th 1963): Barbara Jefford as Medea, George Baker as Jason and Hugh Cross as Aegeus, with same chorus.
Part 3 The Poisoned Robe (March 26th 1963: Barbara Jefford as Medea, George Baker as Jason, John Southworth as tutor, Paul Holdaway and Frank Summerscales as children, Tom Criddle as Messenger, Ebun Odutola as Handmaiden, with chorus as before.
To
AR Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
The Playboy of the Western World

Script: Martin Worth from the story by John M Synge. Director: Charles Warren.
Introduction (February 26th 1964, 2.55-3.20pm, repeated: Tuesday September 21st 1965): Joe Lynch introduces the background to the story.

Part 1: Christy Mahon comes to the village saying he has killed his father. Everyone regards him as a hero, and he's the idol of the ladies.
Part 3 (March 17th 1964, rpt: Tuesday October 12th 1965): Christy is disgraced when the village finds his father is still alive. So he decides to kill him, with a different result than before.

Cast: James Caffrey as Christy Mahon, Eileen Colgan as Pegeen Mike, Peggy Marshall as Widow Quin, Tony Doyle as Shawn Keogh, Joe Lynch as Michael James, Brian O'Higgins as Old Mahon, Desmond Perry as Philly Cullen, Chris Gannon as Jimmy Farrell, Kate Binchy as Sarah, Colette Dunn as Susan, and Maggie Fitzgerald as Nelly.

To AR Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

Macbeth
(Thursday Apr 24th 1958, 3.30-4.45pm)
This was a compilation, repeating three schools' broadcasts of the last term, March 12th, 19th and 26th,
starring William Devlin as Macbeth,
Mary Morris as Lady Macbeth,
Joseph O'Connor as Banquo
and Miles Malleson.
Others in the cast included Anthony Jacobs as First Murderer, and Ronald Barker as Second Murderer.
Director: Roger Jenkins

A-R Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Cross-Roads
Dramatic playlets aimed at 14+ years, on religious themes. Introduced by Michael Spice. Script: Martin Worth. Directed by Richard Gilbert.
1 What's the Point? (April 28th 1964) with Peter Bayliss (First Man), Martin Cort (Second Man) and Grace Arnold (Woman). Synopsis: Look at the wonder of the universe. Look at the wonder of the Earth. And the wonder of Man. Is there not a pattern in all this? If so, what lies behind it, and what is our relation to it? What is Mankind for? (Sounds like quite a lot for 25 minutes!
3 No One's Looking (May 12th 1964) with Stephen Marriott (Alec), Lindsay Scot Patton (Peter), Petra Markham (Shirley) and Ingrid Sylvester (Maureen). Synopsis: At school it is fairly easy to know what is right and wrong for there are rules which have to be obeyed, but is it the same when we leave school? How do we decide things for ourselves, and how can we always know right from wrong? (Did the 1960s generation take any heed?
4 Who Does He Think He is? (May 26th 1964) with Hugh Halliday (Harry), Jennifer Lyons (Carol), Douglas Blackwell (Father), Ruth Porcher (Miss Clifford), Arthur Lovegrove (Foreman) and Ann Tirard (Miss Benson). Synopsis: A look at the lives of two young people, Harry who works in a garage and Carol who works in a shop and the many confusing problems that face them.
6 It's Not Fair (June 16th 1964) with Douglas Blackwell (Father), Hugh Halliday (Harry) and Nora Nicholson (Old Lady). Synopsis: The world seems to be full of evil and suffering, and we often come up against what appears to be injustice in our daily lives. What are we to make of all this?

To Rediffusion Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Twelfth Night
One of A-R's first and most ambitious schools' drama productions was this Shakespeare adaptation shown on Wednesday March 18th 1959 from 2.43 to 4.00pm.
The director was Roger Jenkins. The cast: Laurence Hardy as Sir Toby Belch, John Wood as Malvolio, Emrys James as Feste, Murray Hayne as Orsino, Bernard Horsfall as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Geoffrey Taylor as Antonio, Ingrid Hafner as Olivia, Sally Home as Viola, Hilda Braid as Maria, Keith Taylor as Sebastian, with Hugh Cross as Sea captain/ First officer, and Edward Rhodes as Valentine/ Second officer.

This was the culmination of the weekly series, each programme lasting 28 minutes, that had begun on January 21st 1959, examining aspects of the play. introduced by John Westbrook, with scripts by Martin Worth. Director: Peter Robinson.
1 His Very Genius (Jan 21s 1959): some of the characters in Twelfth Night are introduced-, concluding with Scene 3 from Act 2, in which Malvolio interrupts the revellers. For this extract the cast were George A Cooper as Sir Toby, Peter Vaughan as Malvolio, Terence Soall as Feste, Geoffrey Bayldon as Sir Andrew, Gillian Raine as Olivia and Prunella Scales as Maria.
2 This Is Illyria, Lady (Jan 28th 1959): Maria steps out of her part to relate this comedy of errors. The 'Midsummer madness' of Illyria, where fantasy reigns, though the characters are for all that real. Cast: Gillian Raine, Prunella Scales, Richard Gale as Orsino, Sally Home as Viola, and Paul Hardwick as Antonio.
3 O Spirit of Love (Feb 4th 1959): Love takes on a deeper meaning for Orsino, in love with the idea of love, and for Olivia, keeping alive the memory of her dead brother. With Gillian Raine, Richard Gale, Sally Home, Terence Soall, and Norman Mitchell as Captain.
4 Cakes and Ale (Feb 11th 1959): Sir Toby, cheerful, uninhibited, fond of practical jokes. Cast: George A Cooper, Geoffrey Bayldon, Prunella Scales, Sally Home, and William Peacock as Fabian.
5 A Kind of Puritan (Feb 18th 1959): Malvolio- the famous letter scene. "Is his final humiliation not so funny to us as it was to the Elizabethans?" With: Peter Vaughan, Terence Soall. Gillian Raine, George A Cooper, Prunella Scales, and William Peacock.
6 Perchance He Is Not Drowned (Feb 25th 1959): The dramatic suspense around the central character of Sebastian. Cast: Sally Home as Sebastian and Viola, Gillian Raine, George A Cooper, Peter Welch as Antonio, and John Southworth as Sir Andrew.
7 The Wind and the Rain (Mar 4th 1959): Feste, the clown and jester. His repartee links the changing moods of the play. With Terence Soall. Gillian Raine, Sally Home, and Richard Gale.
8 Played Upon A Stage (Mar 11th 1959): In Elizabethan London the actors of the Globe Theatre are rehearsing, with boys in the part of Olivia and Viola. With: Richard Gale, Peter Vaughan, and Donald Morley as Sea Captain.
Details of a later 1966 Rediffusion production of Twelfth Night
AR Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The Angry Gods
starting January 18th 1961, (3.15-3.45pm)
A study of guilt and retribution in Aeschylus and Shakespeare, with commentary and script by Martin Worth.
Extracts from plays including:
2 The Crimson Path (January 25th 1961) narrated by Michael Hawkins. Directed by Pat Baker. Synopsis: Agamemnon returns from the Trojan War with the prophetess Cassandra, to find that his wife has waited all these years to avenge the sacrifice of her daughter Iphigenia. Cast: Michael Beint as Watchman, Bernard Brown as Aegisthus, Jill Balcon as Clytemnestra, Nigel Green as Agamemnon, Zoe Caldwell as Cassandra, and chorus: Clive Graham, Robin Culver, John Macleod, William Buck, Powell Jones and Robert Sidaway.
3 The Black Furies (Feb 1st 1961), introduced by Michael Hawkins. Cast: Jill Balcon as Clytemnestra, Avril Elgar as Electra, Neville Jason as Orestes, Julian Glover as Pylades, Marjorie Hawtrey as Nurse, Bernard Brown as Aegisthus, and in the chorus: Marian Worsdale, Janine Hill, Betty Mayne, Jeanne Rees, Anne Lister and Kirsty Thomas. Director: Pat Baker.
4 The Judgment (Feb 8th 1961), introduced by Michael Hawkins. Cast: Jill Balcon as Clytemnestra's Ghost, Neville Jason as Orestes, Veronica Turleigh as Priestess, David William as Apollo, Diana Fairfax as Athene, and in the chorus: Marian Worsdale, Janine Hill, Betty Mayne, Jeanne Rees, Anne Lister and Kirsty Thomas. Director: Pat Baker.
8 The Oracle is Fulfilled (March 22nd 1961), introduced by Michael Hawkins. Cast: Timothy Bateson as Autolycus, Edward Harvey as Camillo, Christopher Gilmore as Florizel, Jane Merrow as Perdita, Timothy Harley as Clown, Dudley Jones as Shepherd, John Church as Cleomines, Nigel Green as Leontes, Rachel Gurney as Paulina, Julian Glover as First Lord, Bernard Brown as Polixenes and Jill Balcon as Hermione. Director: Pat Baker.
To
AR Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Hamlet
First screened Thursday September 21st 1961 3.20-3.45pm repeated the following day at 3pm. The whole series was reshown in the Autumn Term 1963.
Introduced by Ernest Clark. Commentary by Martin Worth. Directed by Prudence Nesbitt.
To prove this was no cheapskate production, the cast included William Russell as Hamlet, Clive Morton as Polonius, Mark Dignam as Claudius, Margaretta Scott as Gertrude, Bernard Kay as Horatio, Henry Oscar as the Ghost, Allan Mitchell as Francisco, James Sharkey as Laertes, Kenneth Gilbert as Bernardo, Michael Spice as Marcellus.
Part 1: Foul Deeds Will Rise. Part 2: The Trail of Policy. Part 3: The Play's The Thing. Part 5: The Readiness of it All.
After these introductory programmes, in the second half of the term, the play was shown in five parts with a different cast: Barry Foster was Hamlet The Prince of Denmark, Sydney Tafler as Claudius, Patricia Jessel as Gertrude, Jennifer Daniel as Ophelia, wirh Nicholas Hawtrey as Guildenstern, Thane Bettany as Rosencrantz, Bernard Brown as Fortinbras, Neville Jason as Horatio, David Sumner as Laertes. Director: Tania Lieven.
Part 1 (Nov 2nd 1961) also with Michael Aldridge as Polonius, Christopher Gilmore as Marcellus and Peter Copley as Ghost.
Part 2 (Nov 9th 1961) also Michael Aldridge, Alan Edwards as First Player, William Marlowe as Player King, Anthony Gardner as Player Queen and Colin Pinney as Fourth Player.
The final episode was on Friday November 30th 1961. Also with Peter Cellier as Osric.
To
AR Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Mysteries and Miracles
The umbrella title 'Drama' was used for quite a few of these schools productions in this period. This was a series of six programmes on English Medieval Drama. Introduced by Mike Hall. Script: Martin Starkie. Director: Charles Warren.
1 The Beginning (Tuesday October 19th 1965, 11.30am-11.55). With Richard Burnett (Bishop), Leonard Fenton (Barbarian), Bernard Kay (Cain), David Munro (Father Christmas), Jeffrey Shankley (St George), Martin Starkie (Abel) and Terence Woodfield (Dragon).
2 Noah's Flood (Tuesday October 26th 1965). With Richard Burnett (God), James Bree (Noah), Peggy Paige (Noah's Wife), Bernard Kay (Shem), Martin Starkie (Ham), Jeffrey Shankley (Japhet), Barbara Keogh (Shem's Wife), Miranda Marshall (Ham's Wife) and Jane Bolton (Japhet's Wife ). The programme shows the end scenes of Cain and Abel then a performance of Noah's Flood.
3 Guilds and Pageants (Tuesday November 9th 1965). With John Collin (Pageant Master), Ralph Nossek (Abraham), Jeffrey Shankley (Isaac), Raymond Smith (Clerk), Margaret John (First Woman), Annette Kerr (Second Woman), Martin Starkie (Herald) and Anthony Gardner (Anthony).
5 The Crucfixion (Tuesday November 23rd 1965). With Anthony Sagar (Herod), Jeffrey Shankley (Devil ), Deidre Denham (Second Woman), Martin Starkie (Soldier), Ralph Nossek (Torturer), Terence Woodfield (Jesus), Rosalie Westwater (Mary) and Anthony Gardner (St John). Richard Gilbert now director, Charles Warren producer.
6 The Resurrection and the Judgment (Tuesday November 30th 1965). With Martin Starkie (Angel), Jeffrey Shankley (First Soldier), Terence Woodfield (Christ), Anthony Gardner (Second Soldier), Anthony Sagar (Third Soldier), Raymond Smith (Fourth Soldier), Rosalie Westwater (Mary Jacobi), Polly March (Mary Magdalene) and Miranda Marshall (Mary Salome). Director: Richard Gilbert.

Rediffusion Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Preparing a Play (Autumn term 1966)
was screened under the umbrella title Drama, a series of five programmes about preparation for staging Twelfth Night. Mike Hall introduced each programme. Script: Alexander Franklin. Director: Richard Gilbert. Producer: Charles Warren.
1 The Stage (Wednesday September 21st 1966, 2.35pm-3.00)- with Trevor Martin (Sir Toby Belch), Kate Lansbury (Maria) and Jonathan Elsom (Sir Andrew Aguecheek).
2 First Steps (Wednesday September 28th 1966)- with Trevor Martin (Sir Toby Belch), Kate Lansbury (Maria), Jonathan Elsom (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), William Ingram (Feste) and Christopher Benjamin (Malvolio).
4 Setting the Pace (Wednesday October 12th 1966)- with Trevor Martin (Sir Toby Belch), Kate Lansbury (Maria), Jonathan Elsom (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), William Ingram (Feste), Christopher Benjamin (Malvolio) and Terence Woodfield (Fabian).
The next group of two programmes were introduced by Redvers Kyle. Director: Charles Warren.
6 Television Part 1 (October 26th 1966)- the development of a tv programme through script conference, casting, rehearsals and preparation of camera script, up to the point the play is ready to go into the studio.
7 Television Part 2 (November 9th 1966)- the work of various specialists during camera rehearsal up to the point the play is ready to be recorded.
8, 9 and 10 A Change of Climate (in three parts: November 16th, 23rd and 30th 1966)- a play by Martin Worth. Director: Robert Stead. Cast: William Lucas (Ted Bradfield), June Jago (Nancy Barton), Trevor Bowen (Ronnie Bradfield), Pinkie Johnstone (Barbara Minton) and Roshan Seth (Govind Upadhya). Synopsis: SS Coogee bound for Australia is sailing from London calling at Gibraltar, Naples and Bombay on the way. Its passenger lists includes five people, each with his or her own reason for travelling. Nothing turns out quite as expected, for instance Ted Bradfield finds out his son is not going all the way, preferring to sail in a yacht round the world with Barbara.
Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Chez Les Dupré (1960-1962)
The everyday story of French country-town folk, in particular the Dupré family. They were-
The doctor (John Serret), whose one passion in life is his plants.
His wife (Elma Soiron, who said she spoke such good English, she was asked to adopt "a broken accent").
Their daughter Nicole (Marie France), petite and blonde.
The doctor's nephew Francois (Jean Driant).
The oldest member of the family is Grande-pere (Henry de Bray).
One other semi regular was the village postman (Jacques Cey), dubbed "dear rubber face!"
The series was aimed at Secondary School beginners. Most of this first A-R schools series was also repeated for adults in the London area on Thursdays at 6.45pm from the end of 1960. Not so the second year's broadcasts, in the autumn of 1961 which saw Nicole leave, allegedly to go to England to study the language, but the Duprés also move and their new neighbour is bookseller M Arnoux, and he has a beautiful daughter Danielle. These second year's stories were also lengthened from 12 minutes length to 20 minutes, though some of the Spring Term 1962 films lasted only 15 minutes.

1.1 Le Petit Déjeuner (September 20th 1960, 3.8 to 3.20pm)
1.2 La Visite de Grand-Père (September 27th 1960, rpt Jan 6th 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester and Marcel Oppenheimer. Director: Roger Jenkins. With Elma Soiron, Marie France, Jean Driant and Henry de Bray
1.3 Le Gros Lot (October 4th 1960, rpt Feb 9th 1961 6.45pm)
Script: Gerald Lester and Marcel Oppenheimer. Director: Roger Jenkins. With Marie France (Nicole), Jean Driant (Francois) and Nancy Nevinson (L'Epiciere). Francois buys a National Lottery ticket from Madame Verlet the grocer, who dreams of selling her shop to return to her home in Dieppe, while Francois and Nicole dream of a house by the sea, a large American car etc. They listen on the radio to the results, has Mme Verlet won?
1.4 Le Pique-Nique (Tuesday October 11th 1960)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Roger Jenkins. With John Serret (Doctor Dupre), Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Marie France (Nicole), Jean Driant (Francois) and Jacques Cey (Le Facteur). The family are late going on their picnic because the postman is late. The next problem is that they forget to take a knife so cannot carve the chicken. Dr Dupre doesn't like picnics anyway and resolves the problem.
1.5 Le Malade (October 18th 1960)
1.6 On Fait des Emplettes
Script: Gerald Lester and Marcel Oppenheimer. Director: Roger Jenkins. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Marie France (Nicole), Henry de Bray (Grand-pere) and Nancy Nevinson (L'Epiciere). Having lost her shopping list, Mme Dupre forgets to buy something important, but it all works out OK with the arrival of grandpa.
1.7 Au Garage (November 15th 1960)
Script: Gerald Lester and Marcel Oppenheimer. Director: Roger Jenkins. With Jean Driant (Francois), Jacques Cey (Le Facteur) and Guy Millot (Le garagiste).
1.8 Le Depart de Grand-pere (November 22nd 1960, rpt February 2nd 1961 6.45pm)
Script: Gerald Lester and Marcel Oppenheimer. Director: Roger Jenkins. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Marie France (Nicole), Jean Driant (Francois) and Henry de Bray (Grand-pere). Grandpa is seen off at the station.
1.9 On Va au Théatre (November 29th 1960)
1.10 Veille de Noël (December 6th 1960)
2.1 La Visite-Surprise (January 17th 1961)
2.2 La Consultation (January 24th 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Prudence Nesbitt. With Jacques Cey (Le Facteur), Nancy Nevinson (L'Epiciere), John Serret (Le Docteur Dupre) and Guy Millot (Le Garagiste). M Picot the postman is once again suffering from rheumatism. He goes to consult the doctor, but in an unfortunate set of circumastances, never gets beyond the waiting room.
2.3 La Petite Voiture (January 31st 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Prudence Nesbitt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Henry de Bray (Grand-pere) and Guy Millot (Le Garagiste). An English friend travelling in France invites Madame Dupre and Grandpa to dinner.
2.4 La Fausse Alerte (February 7th 1961, rpt March 23rd 1961 at 6.45pm)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Prudence Nesbitt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Marie France (Nicole), Henry de Bray (Grand-pere) and Jacques Cey (Le Facteur). Grandpa has disappeared. The postman finds his beret by the river...
2.5 Souvenirs de Vacances (February 21st 1961)
2.6 La Fete de Francois (March 7th 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Prudence Nesbitt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), John Serret (Docteur Dupre), Marie France (Nicole), Jean Driant (Francois) and Jacques Cey (Le Facteur). Presents for Francois as it's St Francis Day. As the postman's name is Francois Picot he buys a present, as they're both keen fishermen, the choice is an obvious one.
2.7 Le Chat et le Canari (March 14th 1961)
2.8 L'Anniversaire de Mariage (March 21st 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Prudence Nesbitt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), John Serret (Docteur Dupre) and Nancy Nevinson (L'Epiciere). Oh dear, has the doctor forgotten his wedding anniversary?
3.1 Dimanche - Jour de Repos (April 25th 1961)
3.2 Le Plombier (May 2nd 1961)
3.3 On Fait du Camping (May 9th 1961)
3.4 Le Quatorze Juillet (May 16th 1961)
3.5 On Fait la Cuisine (June 6th 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Prudence Nesbitt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Marie France (Nicole) and Jean Driant (Francois). Mme Dupre and Francois demonstrate a new way to make a cake.
3.6 Le Camelot (June 13th 1961)
4.1 Le Demenagement (September 21st 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), John Serret (Le Docteur Dupre), Jean Driant (Francois) and Richard Molinas (Le Demenageur). The Dupre family have moved to a lovely house, but Mme Dupre seems a trifle upset.
4.2 Chez La Libraire (September 28th 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With John Serret (Le Docteur Dupre), Jean Driant (Francois), Bettine le Beau (Daniele), Maurice Belfer (M Arnoux) and Dani Seper (La Cliente). Francois meets Daniele for the first time in unusual circumstances.
4.3. L'Arrivée de Grand-Père (October 5th 1961)
4.4 Le Petit Chien (October 12th 1961)
4.5 Grand-Pere Fair le Menage (October 19th 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Henry de Bray (Grand-pere) and Jacques Cey (Le Facteur). Grandpa to the rescue when Mme Dupre is in Paris and the housekeeper falls ill with guests coming to dinner.
4.6 L'Accident (November 2nd 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With John Serret (Le Docteur Dupre), Jean Driant (Francois), Bettine le Beau (Daniele), and Sonia Windsor (Madame Poret). Madame Poyet has a fall and Daniele looks after her very well until she too needs help.
4.7 Madame Dupré a des Soucis (November 9th 1961)
4.8 La Mère Martin (November 16th 1961)
4.9 Le Disque de Grand-Pere (November 23rd 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With Jean Driant (Francois), Bettine le Beau (Daniele), Michel Bouvier (Jean-Michel), Jacques Cey (Le Facteur) and Albert Grant (L'Employe des Postes). Francois has bought Grandpa's Christmas present, a great record, but unfortunately, because of young Jean-Michael, he is not able to dance.
4.10 Une Reunion d'Enfants (November 30th 1961)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Henry de Bray (Grand-pere), Bettine le Beau (Daniele), Sonia Windsor (Madame Poret), Michel Bouvier (Jean-Michel), Virginia Lloyd-Davis (Monique), Robert Smits (Philippe) and Jan Rosol (Le Chanteur). Madame Dupre invites Jean-Michel and his friends to stay at her house. Grandpa makes it a very jolly occasion.
The ITV Equity strike clearly affected some programmes in early 1962.
5.1 L'Album des Vacances (January 18th 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With John Serret (Docteur Dupre), Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Michel Bouvier (Jean-Michel) and Virginia Lloyd-Davis (Monique). A snapshot of the Dupre's visit to Le Pays Basque, La Normandie, Le Languedoc, La Touriane, the Alps and Corsica.
5.2 Le Merveilleuse Histoire de Paris (January 25th 1962) with Jean Driant
5.3 La Provence a Vol d'Oiseau (February 1st 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With Henry de Bray (Grand-Pere). A tour of Provence.
5.4 Excursion en Bretagne (February 8th 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre). A tour of Brittany.
5.5 Une Soiree Manquee (February 15th 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), John Serret (Le Docteur Dupre), Jean Driant (Francois), and Henry de Bray (Grand-Pere). Francois screens a film of the family though it goes really badly.
5.6 and 5.7 La Tournee du Facteur (February 22nd and March 1st 1962)
A film by Michel Adenis. A visit to Bricquebec in Normandy. We follow the postman there on his round. (TV Times unaccountably listed the second week's showing as programme 7 in the series, but it was probably a half term repeat following the usual pattern of schools' broadcasts. However subsequent programmes this term were shown as though it wasn't and I list them as shown in TV Times.)
5.8 Avec les Animaux du Zoo (March 8th 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. with Jean Driant (Francois). A look at the animals in the zoo at Vincennes south east of Paris.
5.9 Au Bord du Rhin- L'Alsace (March 15th 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt.
5.10 Dans les Montagnes de Savoie (March 22nd 1962)
5.11 Portrait de la France (March 29th 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Narrator: Robert Ferrieux. The final stop on our long tour of France is a flight in Caravelle.
6.1 Madame va au Thêatre (May 3rd 1962)
with Jean Driant. Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. The doctor falls asleep instead of getting ready for the trip to the theatre, but thanks to Francois, the evening isn't wasted.
6.2 Le Docteur est Malade 1(May 10th 1962)
6.3 La Visite-Surprise (May 17th 1962)
6.4 La Peintre (May 24th 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Jean Driant (Francois), Henry de Bray (Grand-Pere), Michel Bouvier (Jean-Michel). Both Grandpa and Francois take up painting, who is going to be the better painter?
6.5 La Grippe (May 31st 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), Jean Driant (Francois), Henry de Bray (Grand-Pere), Michel Bouvier (Jean-Michel). Grandpa has gone down with flu and Madame Dupre tells him to rest at home, though Grandpa pretends he is quite well, why?
6.6 Dèpart en Vacances (June 21st 1962 - final story ever). Script: Gerald Lester. Director: Peter Moffatt. With Elma Soiron (Mme Dupre), John Serret (Le Docteur Dupre), Jean Driant (Francois), and Henry de Bray (Grand-Pere). The family are off on their holidays, but minutes later are back home- why?
A-R Schools menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

NOTRE VILLE (Associated Rediffusion, 15 minutes long)
Elementary French for the second or third year of study. "This series is designed to enable pupils to hear French spoken by native French speakers, and to convey something of the atmosphere of the country. Each episode is a self contained story." The series ran for four academic years from 1962/3 to 1965/6. Each year for the first three years, there were ten programmes each in the Autumn and Spring Terms and six in the Summer, the final 1965/6 season had no summer programmes, so there were a total of 98 programmes.
Well known French names in English programmes can be found in many of these stories, including
Andre Maranne as Marcel (series 1-8, he also plays a different character in one story in series 11),
Elma Soiron as Madame Vergennes (series 2 to 11),
Jacques Cey as Jules (series 2-6) and
John Serret who starts in series 2 but then has a bigger role as M Sourget in series 7 and 8.
A few English, presumably brave enough to speak good French, did appear also.

Times for first Thursday transmission (repeats in the same week not shown)
1.1 On Fait L'Etalage (September 20th 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Richard Doubleday. With Bettine le Beau (Maryse), Andre Maranne (Marcel), Georges Robin (Yves), Henry de Bray (Monsieur Dallier), and Yvonne Dulac (Madame Dallier). We meet those who work in M Dallier's shop 'Tout Pour L'Electricite.' Not everyone is in agreement with the window display.
1.4 Les Affaires Vont Bien (October 11th 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Peter Yolland. With Henry de Bray (Raymond Dallier), Bettine le Beau (Maryse), Andre Maranne (Marcel) and Michael Anthony (Georges Dubois). If you want to borrow money, don't shout too loud that you are well off.
1.6 Yves Detective (October 25th 1962)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Richard Doubleday. With Georges Robin (Yves), Andre Charise (Le Bijoutier), Marcel de Villiers (Lecoq), Bert Lena (Deuxieme Voleur). Robbery at the jewellers of M Mauricet. Yves turns out to be a great detective.
1.8 Stephane S'Achete Un Beau Joust (November 15th 1962)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Peter Yolland. With Andre Maranne (Marcel), Shusha Assar (Therese), Michael Orski (Stephane). Stephane finally unpacks his toy.
1.10 La Guirlande Electrique (November 29th 1962)
Script: Gerald Lester. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Peter Yolland. With Andre Maranne (Marcel), Bettine le Beau (Maryse), George Robin (Yves), Marika Rivera (Mme de Garsignies). Yves and Maryse have bought Christmas tree lights, but do they work? Tout Pour L'Electricite stand to lose a customer if they don't.
2.2 La Nouvelle Venue (January 24th 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Bettine le Beau (Maryse), Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), George Robin (Yves), and Jean Driant (Employe). Mme Vergennes wants to modernise her new shop.
2.4 Le Nouvel Emploi (February 7th 1963)
Script: Gerald Lester. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Henry de Bray (M Dallier), Andre Maranne (Marcel), and Shusha Assar (Therese). Marcel's wife tells him he's not earning enough. "change jobs," she advises, and M Dallier hits on a happy idea.
2.5 Le Grand Chasseur (February 14th 1963)
Script: Gerald Lester. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Henry de Bray (Monsieur Dallier), Yvonne Dulac (Madame Dallier), Keith Pyott (Le General) and Maurice Junior (Le Capitaine). After dinner Dallier recounts his prowess as a hunter. But the General is a formidable rival.
2.6 L'Accident (February 21st 1963)
Script: Gerald Lester. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Shusha Assar (Therese) and Michael Orski (Stephane). Outside Marcel's there's an accident which only young Gilou has witnessed.
2.7 Le Manteau (March 7th 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Bettine le Beau (Maryse), Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Sonia Windsor (mme Bonnet) and Marika Rivera (Mme Garsignies). There's a magnificent coat in Mme Vergennes' window. Maryse vows to work hard to be able to afford it, but the mayor's wife has also taken a liking to it.
2.8 La Pendule (March 14th 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Yvonne Dulac (Madame Dallier), Henry de Bray (Monsieur Dallier), and John Serret (Agent). Mme Dallier is worried about her valuable clock that needs to be taken to the jewellers, as there are thieves in the area.
2.9 Billet de Loterie (March 21st 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Andre Maranne (Marcel), George Robin (Yves), Shusha Assar (Therese) and Jacques Cey (Jules). Marcel and Jules are at least going to realise their dream, buying a restaurant. Then Jules thinks he's won the lottery.
2.10 Maryse Donne Son Conge (March 28th 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director:Robert Stead. With Bettine le Beau (Maryse), Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Henry De Bray (M Dallier), Andre Maranne (Marcel) and George Robin (Yves). If only I had an employee like you, Mme Vergenne says to Maryse, which makes Maryse decide to leave M Dallier's employment.
3.1 L'Homme (May 2nd 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Allan Martin. With Bettine le Beau (Maryse), George Robin (Yves), Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes) and Lawrence Davidson (L'Homme). There's a suspicious character at Maryse's window. There's a photo of him in the paper, he's a dangerous criminal
3.2 La Montre Perdue (May 9th 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Allan Martin. With Henry De Bray (M Dallier), Andre Maranne (Marcel) , Yvonne Dulac (Madame Dallier), Alex Gallier (Gaston). M Dallier appears to have lost the watch that his wife had given him to take to the jeweller's.
3.3 L'Achat (May 16th 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Allan Martin. With Bettine le Beau (Maryse), Sonia Windsor (Mme Bonnet) and Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes). Maryse attempts to get her mother to buy a new coat.
3.4 Le Rendez-vous (May 23rd 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Allan Martin. With Andre Maranne (Marcel) , Jacques Cey (Jules), Maurice Chevallier (Octave) and Dani Seper (Mme Bernard). Marcel has arranged to meet his pal Jules at his shop, while Jules is waiting for Marcel at his garage.
3.5 La Visite Inattendue (June 13th 1963)
Script: Gerald Lester. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Allan Martin. With Amme L Cerisier-Duvernoy (Mme Moreau), Henry de Bray (M Dallier), Georges Robin (Yves) and Marika Rivera (Mme de Garsignies). Yves' mother leaves her farm to come and see her son at the electricity shop, bringing eggs and fruit. Yves' dilemma is whether to risk losing a customer by looking after his mother.
3.6 Depart en vacances (June 20th 1963)
Script: Gerald Lester. Editor: Martin Worth. Director: Allan Martin. With Andre Maranne (Marcel) , Shusha Assar (Therese), Jacques Cey (Jules), and Michael Orski (Stephane). Stephane and his mother leave on holiday, though poor Marcel can't get time off for six weeks and will have to cook his own meals.
4.1 Appartement a Vendre (September 19th 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Peter Hunt. Director: Allan Martin. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Bettine le Beau (Maryse), Christian Ghoris (L'Employe), Alex Gallier (M Bordier). Mme Vergennes has found a splendid flat that she wants to buy, but can she sell her current one?
4.3 Les Champignons (October 3rd 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Peter Hunt. Director: Peter Yolland. With Andre Maranne (Marcel) , Jacques Cey (Jules), Henry de Bray (M Dallier) and Maurice Chevallier (L'Epicier). Jules has got a bargain, six mushrooms for two francs. He'll make a fat profit selling them and other goodies.
4.5 La Visite de Grand'Mere (October 17th 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Peter Hunt. Director: Peter Yolland. With Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Lydia Dattas (Jeannette), Giles Dattas (Pierre), Gladys Spencer (Grand'mere), and Tom Bowman (Concierge). Grandma is due for dinner with Mme Leclerc, but she is late.
4.6 L'Orange (October 24th 1963).
This was a film with script by Michel Adenis. Director: Peter Yolland.
Bakri, a little Algerian boy is accused of stealing an orange from the window display of the grocer.
4.7 L'Automobile (November 7th 1963)
Director: Peter Yolland. With Andre Maranne (Marcel) , Jacques Cey (Jules), John Serret (Agent de Police) and Lawrence Davidson (Conducteur). Jules has purchased a magnificent car with which he'll make his fortune using it for weddings, funerals etc.
4.8 La Broche (November 14th 1963)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Peter Hunt. Director: Peter Yolland. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Viviane Ventura (Eliane) and Keith Pyott (Le Bijoutier). Mme Vergennes lends her brooch to Eliane, Mme Leclerc's oldest daughter. But she loses it. She remembers she put it in the bin!
5.1 Les Provisions (January 16th 1964)
Director: Sheila Gregg. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Sonia Windsor (Tante Felicie) and Gilles Dattas (Pierre). Mme Leclerc's Aunt Felicie has brought a food hamper, but Mme Leclerc hasn't spotted that the name on the hamper is that of Mme Vergennes.
5.3 L'Anglais (January 30th 1964)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Lydia Dattas (Jeannette), Gilles Dattas (Pierre) and Michel Bouvier (Un Jeune Anglais). Brian MacDonald is a young Anglo Scot who has come to stay with the Leclercs to help Pierre with his English.
5.5 La Fraude (February 13th 1964)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Peter Hunt. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Keith Pyott (Bijoutier), Jean Driant (Reporter), Bettine le Beau (Maryse) and Pierre Lagrange (Un Homme). At a jeweller's, a man wants to purchase a present for his wife's 25th anniversary. However a reporter is suspicious.
5.6 Le Marais Poitevin (February 20th 1964) Editor: Peter Hunt. A visit to the area near La Rochelle.
5.7 L'Horoscope (March 5th 1964)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Peter Hunt. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Jacques Cey (Jules), Andre Maranne (Marcel) and John Serret (Garagiste). The adventures of Jules, fighting his fate.
5.9 Grands Travaux (March 19th 1964)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Editor: Peter Hunt. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Andre Maranne (Marcel), Jacques Cey (Jules), and Sonia Windsor (Tante Felicie). While Mme Vergennes is on holiday, she asks Marcel to give her flat a makeover. He asks Jules who seems complete mad for he removes the chimney and makes a hole in the wall!
6.1 Le Cadeau (April 30th 1964)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Sonia Windsor (Tante Felicie), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), and Vivianne Ventura (Eliane). For her birthday, Aunt Felicie gives Mme Leclerc her niece an old fashioned necklace. Mme Leclerc decides she can pass it on to her daughter on her birthday!
6.3 Le Medecin de Campagne (May 14th 1964)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Narrator: Jean Driant. Andre Boulanger, the young doctor, visits Dr Martin in a neighbouring town.
6.4 Marcel est Malade (May 28th 1964)
Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Sheila Gregg. With Jacques Cey (Jules), Andre Maranne (Marcel) and Gaston Richer (Butcher). Jules calls an ambulance when Marcel falls ill. At the hospital, who is the doctor who is to operate?
6.5 Pierre Detective (June 11th 1964)
Director: Sheila Gregg. With Gilles Dattas (Pierre), Maurice Juniot (Un Homme), John Serret (Garagiste), and Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes). This lady has a visit from a telephone repair man, just as she's about to go out with Pierre
6.6 Marcel Prestidigitateur (June 18th 1964)
Director: Sheila Gregg. With Jacques Cey (Jules), Andre Maranne (Marcel), Jan Rosol (Chanteur) and Pierre Lagrange (Prestidigitateur). Marcel is preparing a magic show for the scouts, though Jules doubts if it will be a success.
The third season opened with a new day, Tuesday, for the first screening.
7.1 Le Magazine D'en Face (September 22nd 1964) Script: Max Bellancourt.
Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Andre Maranne (Marcel), John Serret (M Sourget), Maurice Juniot (Le Proprietaire du Magazine d'en Face). Opening day at M Sourget, new owner of the jewellers is a disaster. Why? A rival establishment opens. Will Sourget have to sell up, and make new employee Marcel redundant?
7.2 Les Associes (September 29th 1964) Script: Max Bellancourt.
Director: Robert Stead. With Andre Maranne (Marcel), John Serret (M Sourget), Monique Garnier (Francoise) and Pierre Lagrange (L'Architecte). Sourget and Marcel fall out in their new business Maison Universelle. It's all over the sign above their shop.
7.3 Le Manteau Bon Marche (October 6th 1964) With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Daniel Bremont (M Bonnis), Lydia Dattas (Jeannette) and Gilles Dattas (Pierre). Pierre and Jeannette want to give a chic coat to their mother, but she'd never accept such an expensive present.
7.4 Le Grand Jour (October 13th 1964). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. Today sees the grand opening of Maison Universelle. Everything is here, except photos, for Marcel detests them.
7.5 Faites vos Jeux (October 20th 1964). Adapted from a Sinpri production by Guy Perol. Narrators: Max Bellancourt and Paule Deglon. M and Mme July, owners of the cake shop, go on holiday to Auvergne.
7.6 Le Nouveau Restaurant (October 27th 1964). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Daniel Bremont (L'Architecte) and Robert Pages (Le Commissionaire-Priseur). Mme Vergennes has inherited a chateau and her friend Mme Leclerc helps her decide what to do with it.
7.7 Le Voyage (November 10th 1964). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Andre Maranne (Marcel Dubreuil), Lydia Dattas (Jeannette) and Gilles Dattas (Pierre). This evening sees the opening of Mme Vergennes' restaurant. All is ready, but where is Mme Leclerc. Her apartment is in a mess, has she been kidnapped?
7.8 La Nouvelle Vendeuse (November 17th 1964). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Andre Maranne (Marcel), Michele Simonnet (Marie-Louise), John Serret (M Sourget) and Annette Fernand (La Cliente). Marcel offers a job to his niece, but will Sourget accept her?
7.9 Le Gourmand (November 24th 1964). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Jean-Pierre Zola (Le Cuisinier) and Jean-Pierre Laverne (Le Garcon).
7.10 La Confidente (December 1st 1964). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With A weird customer at the restaurant. Acting suspiciously. He's hiding food in his napkin. Is he a criminal on the run?
7.10 La Confidente (December 1st 1964). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Andre Maranne (Marcel), Michele Simonnet (Marie-Louise), and Christian Duroc (Le Jeune Homme). Marie-Louise wants to get to know the nice young man who has come to do Mme Vergennes' end of the year accounts.
8.1 La Cliente (January 19th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Simone Barillier (La Cliente), Etienne Dirand (Le Cuisinier) and Jean-Pierre Laverne (Le Garcon). The cook and waiter fall out over serving an attractive customer.
8.2 Le Cheque Inattendu (January 26th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), and Andre Maranne (Marcel). Marcel finds an old cheque for 1,000 francs and decides to make a present of it to his old friends Mme Vergennes and Mme Leclerc.
8.3 La Vaisselle (February 2nd 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Etienne Dirand (Le Cuisinier), Vera Finbert (Elle) and Francois Charet (Lui). Two awkward customers, husband and wife, they complain an awful lot.
8.4 Brave Rencontre (February 9th 1965). Narration : Max Bellancourt. Adapted from an original film ' La Premiere Nuit.' 'What a charming friend that little girl'd make,' thinks a young man who sees a student entering the metro.
8.5 L'Aspirant Cuisinier (February 16th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Etienne Dirand (Le Cuisinier), and Jan Rosol (Le Chanteur). A banquet at the restaurant.
8.6 Changements a la Maison Universelle (March 2nd 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Peter Yolland. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Andre Maranne (Marcel) and Christian Duroc (Le Comptable). Marcel argues on the phone with Sourget, offering to buy his share of the shop. But he hasn't enough funds.
8.7 La Ruse (March 9th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Peter Yolland. With Andre Maranne (Marcel), Keith Pyott (M Mauricet), Alex Gallier (L'Homme), Christian Ghoris (L'Inspecteur) and Pierre Paree (Le Jeune Homme). The best diamond in the jewellers disappears, and just when marcel is about to show it to a distinguished customer.
8.8 La Crise (March 16th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Andre Maranne (Marcel), Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Etienne Dirand (Le Cuisinier), Jean Reney (Le Premier Client) and Lawrence Davidson (Le Deuxieme Client). A representative of the Gormet's Guide is coming today to Mme Vergennes' restaurant. Disaster, for the waiter is sick!
8.9 Le Proces (March 23rd 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Andre Maranne (Marcel), Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Claudine Cheret (La Femme), Andre Dumas (L'Homme) and Maurice Juniot (Le Juge). "I am going to sue you," cries a lady to Marcel when trunks fall on her in the shop.
8.10 Au Voleur! (March 30th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Andre Maranne (Marcel), Keith Pyott (Le bijoutier), Yves Chefson (Landru) and Christian Ghoris (L'Inspecteur de Police). A thief smashes the jeweller's window to steal necklaces. Marcel's customer helps police recover the property.
9.1 La Malle (May 4th 1965). Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Andre Daguenet (Gustave) and Claude Debord (Bebert). As Maison Universelle is closed, how can someone buy the trunk inside?
9.2 Vigilance et Perspicacite (May 11th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Michele Simonnet (Marie-Louise), Patrick Lancelot (L'Homme), Any Deschamps (Mme Gentil) and Daniel Moceau (Un Livreur). mme Gentil's watch is missing. But Marie-Louise is sure it had been left on the counter.
9.3 La Campagne Debarque (May 18th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Dominique MacAvoy (Chantal), Liliane Sorval (La Tante), Jacques Pruvost (Le Controleur) and Bernard Soukoff (M Leroy). The formidable aunt of Mme Vergennes is coming today, but how to stop her talking to customers?
9.4 Cusinier, Tu Dors... (May 25th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Raoul Curet (Le Cuisinier) and Jean Conte (Emile, le Frere du Cuisinier). For the fourth time this week, the chef is late, and with a banquet set for midday, Mme Vergennes is furious.
9.5 On Frappe (June 1st1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Raoul Curet (Le Cuisinier), Alexandre Grecq (Le Garcon) and Xavier Renouli (L'Homme). Mme Leclerc's neighbour, angry over noise from the restauant, threatens to come and make a scene. The cook and waiter prepare to deal with him when he comes.
9.6 La Fete (June 15th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Daniel Bremont (M Bonnis) and Bernard Pisani (Jena). There's a fair at Jean's school. Jean persuades his mother Mme Leclerc to sing at the fair.
10.1 Les Premiers Clients (September 21st 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Andre Dumas (Lui), Claudine Cheret (Elle) and Maurice Antoni (Un Agent de Police). Mme Vergennes is opening a new hotel.
10.2 Le Pique-Nique (September 21st 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Raoul Curet (Le Cuisinier), Jacques David (Emile), Sylvie Dattas (Michele) and Gilles Dattas (Pierre Dattas (Pierre). Today is the birthday of |Pierre and Eugenie, the chef. Pierre Michele and their mother take a picnic while at the restaurant Eugenie prepares a slap up meal with his brother.
10.3 Paiement Par Cheque -first part (October 5th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Dominique Mac'Avoy (Chantal), Andre Daguenet (L'Homme), Blanche Ariel (La Femme), and Alexandre Grecq (Le Chauffeur). Mme Vergennes accepts a customer's cheque after phoning the bank.
10.4 Paiement Par Cheque -conclusion (October 12th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Dominique Mac'Avoy (Chantal), Andre Daguenet (L'Homme), Blanche Ariel (La Femme), Alexandre Grecq (Le Chauffeur), Jean-Michel Mole (L'Employe de Banque) and Francoise Metruels (La Receptionniste). Mme Vergennes has underpaid by a hundred francs, so dashes to the bank to stop the cheque.
10.5 Le Nouvel Appartement (October 19th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Maurice Juniot (Le Proprietaire de l'Agence), Gilles Dattas (Pierre), Daniel Bremont (Le Client) and Denyse Roland (La Secretaire de l'Agence). Mme Leclerc puts down a deposit on a new flat, but the agent has also accept another deposit from another client.
10.6 La Fortune!... Quel Reve! (October 26th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Xavier Renoult (M de Bassanville), Suzanne Perel (Louisa), Annette Fernan (La Dame) and Jacques Pruvost (Le Garcon). Louisa brings M de Bassanville tomorrow's paper, and in it will be the winning lottery number!
10.7 Le Gaugin de L'Oncle Arthur (November 9th 1965). Jean finds a painting in his late uncle's effects that Mme Vergennes' architect believes is a Gaugin.
10.9 La Permission du Soldat (November 23rd 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Raoul Curet (Le Cusinier), Jean Depraz (Alain) and Calude Morin (Mireille). Soldier Alain, nephew of the chef, has 24 hours leave in Bordeaux to see his fiancee Mireille. But her boss won't let her go.
10.10 Le Rendez-vous (November 30th 1965). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Raoul Curet (Le Cuisinier) and Jean Conte (Lucien). Le Rendez-vous is the title of a farce written by the chef's brother and Mme Vergennes, Mme Leclerc and the chef are acting in it.
11.1 Projet d'Emprunt (January 18th 1966). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Raoul Curet (Le Cuisinier), Francois Marie (Le Garcon), Andre Maranne (Le Parent), Luc Delhumeau (Le Commissaire-Priseur). Hotel Marguerite is for sale. Will her rich cousin lend her the money to buy it?
11.2 Ah... Ces Parisiennes! (January 25th 1966). Director: Robert Stead.
11.3 and 11.4 Cadichon (February 1st and 8th 1966- shown in two parts). Script and narration by Max Bellancourt. Little Jackie sees a man beating an ass. He rescues the unfortunate animal and takes it to the mountains.
11.5 L'Oncle d'Amerique (February 15th 1966). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Raoul Curet (Le Cuisinier), and Jean-Pierre Zola (Le Frere). The chef's brother has made his fortune in America, so naturally he receives a royal welcome when he comes to the hotel.
11.7 Projet d'Emprunt (March 8th 1966). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Robert Stead. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Raoul Curet (Le Cuisinier), Jean-Pierre Zola (Le Frere) and Jean Mermet (Le Docteur). The chef is late having watched the Tour de France. Thus when his brother comes, Mme Vergennes has to help him as he is ill. A doctor is called.
11.8 Un Peu de Patience (March 15th 1966). Director: Robert Stead
11.9 La Nouvelle Gerante (March 22nd 1966). Script: Max Bellancourt. Director: Fred Sadoff. With Elma Soiron (Mme Vergennes), Paulette Preney (Mme Leclerc), Raoul Curet (Le Cuisinier), Patricia Morane (Mlle Papon) and Bernard Soukoff (M Papon). Money goes missing when the new manageress joins the hotel-restaurant.
11.10 L'Imposture (March 29th 1966 final programme). A young draftsman conspires with another.

Repeated stories in later years:
Le Nouveau Restaurant (rpt from 7.6, screened September 20th 1966).
Le Voyage (rpt from 7.7 September 27th 1966).
La Vaisselle (rpt from 8.3 Oct 11th 1966).
Le Proces (rpt from 8.9 Oct 25th 1966 and Nov 1st 1966 half term repeat).
La Confidente (rpt from 7.10 Nov 8th 1966).
La Malle (rpt from 9.1 Nov 15th 1966).
La Fete (rpt from 9.6 Nov 29th 1966).
A second group of repeats were shown in the summer term 1968.
Les Premiers Clients (rpt from 10.1 screened April 30th 1968).
Paiement Par Cheque -part 1 (rpt from 10.3, May 7th 1968).
Paiement Par Cheque -part 2 (rpt from 10.4, May 14th 1968).
La Fortune!... Quel Reve! (rpt from 10.6 shown June 11th 1968).
To
Associated Rediffusion schools

.

.

.

.

.

Small Time (1955-1966)
was Associated Rediffusion's long running programme for youngsters, the most regular timing being from 4.45 to 5pm. It was shown in the London region, plus a few ITV regions who did not want to produce their own series for this age group. It made a star of Muriel Young (1923-2001), who joined in 1959, linking shorter items with the aid of the unexceptional puppet Pussy Cat Willum. Muriel went on to make many complete programmes for Small Time.
There's a lot of work needed to list all the individual series within this series, but you can find a brave attempt on the Transdiffusion site.
A few selected programmes:

Johnny and Flonny (Fridays 12.15pm from Sept 23rd 1955). The very first programme, with creator Paul Hansard. Johnny is a glove puppet, Flonny his rabbit pal.
Big Black Crayon (Mondays 12.15pm from Sept 26th 1955). The second Small Time series, with Rolf Harris and Jean Ford. Soon renamed Stories with Pictures. Rolf later was assisted by Oliver Polyp the Octopus. Though Jean Ford soon left, she went on to make many other Small Time programmes.
Alexander the Mouse (4.45pm, Spring/ Summer 1958). An early contribution from Oliver Postgate. Others of his efforts included Dog-Watch (1961), The Pingwings (1961), most famously Ivor the Engine (1961) and Peter Rabbit Stories (1962).
The Adventures of Twizzle (1958/9). Best remembered as a primitive Gerry Anderson effort. Roberta Leigh's Torchy followed.
The Musical Box (1958-66) had various presenters, such as Rolf Harris, but most long lived was Wally Whyton. It settled in to a Wednesday slot.
Brock and Bruin (first screening January 19th 1959). 12 films shown in the Small Time slot. A puppet series written by Janette Nicholls and produced by Tig Roe. Manipulator of Brock the badger and Bruin the bear: Elizabeth Shingler, with Jane Tyson working Hare. The voices were provided by Ivan Evans (Brock), and Peter Hawkins (Bruin). Miss Nicholls appeared at the start and finish with the puppets.
Hank (1959). With Francis Coudrill, once one of BBC's big children's stars.
Peter's Playmates (1959) was by A-R's animal guru, Graham Dangerfield. He introduced Peter's unusual animal friends. Muriel Young later took over, assisted by the dreaded Mr Oliver Beak.
Here Comes Kandy (Mondays Autumn 1959). A series of twelve adventures of a koala bear puppet called Kandy, plus his friends, Hopity the enthusiastic kangaroo, and The Bunny Babes, two rather naughty little rabbits. Scripts were by David White. Director was Tig Roe. Peter Elliott Hayes was in charge of manipulation, assisted by Elizabeth Shingler and Jane Phillips. Puppets' voices were supplied by Dera Cooper, Ivan Owen and Jane Elliott Hayes, who also hosted the show. Jack Whitehead, fresh from his work on the filmed series The Invisible Man, made the puppets, scenery and props.
Cookery Tales of Oaktree Kitchen (1960)
Fireside Story (1963/4). June Thorburn read stories, including some submitted to her in a competition. The 1963 competition was won by a grown-up, L Bever of Portsmouth! His tale King Trout which won him £100 was read on the programme on Thurs Sept 5th 1963.

If you have some youthful memories of Small Time, do email me please. You can find some details of programmes on the A-R schedules lists on this page, and a few on these TV companies pages Southern, Westward, Anglia (who showed it up to 1964) and Tyne Tees (who showed it for a short period up to 1966).
To the Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Cookery Tales of Oaktree Kitchen
(Small Time, starting March 14th 1960)

With Janet Nicholls as the Fairy Hetty Houseproud.
Script: Edwina Coven.

Edwina said, "I found that recipes of children were just watered down from adult cookery books, so I have tried to incorporate recipes that small children would like to do without using a stove." Children learned to make a variety of things to eat with the puppet animals of Bearland Forest. Janet Nicholls adapted the scripts for tv and Peter Moffatt directed the stories. The puppet voices were supllied by Jean Burgess, Peter Hawkins (of course!), Ivan Owen and Edwina Coven.
The series was networked only to Anglia and Ulster. So popular was it, that it returned next August, after an avalanche of enthusiastic letters, Edwina commenting rather presciently, "there were just as many letters from boys as from girls. It looks as though in the next century the men will be doing the cooking and the women will be in Parliament."
Some local ITV regions showed these films later in the 1960s, in their own children's tv slots.

Small Time menu

.

.

.

.

Jack Hylton Presents
It's something of a mystery why A-R approached Jack Hylton to be responsible for their Variety output. He had no experience of television, even though he was a noted showman with a fine record of running several pre war dance bands.
It's even more a mystery how Hylton was given almost a free hand, with which he made numerous mediocre series on poor quality film that failed to do much more than film stage acts that were under contract to him. A-R otherwise committed very little to film, so quite how Hylton succeeded in going against company policy is baffling. But for over four years most of A-R's comedy and variety was made under the Hylton banner, and very little achieved any critical acclaim.
The only good news is that Hylton did at least not junk all his material, and his vast record collection, and cans of his tv series were stored in the attic of London's Adelphi Theatre, somehow surviving the damp. Hylton's film archive was given to the BFI who unfortunately, presumably because of the complex British laws on copyright, have been unable to release much of Hylton's surviving output. So little of his tv material has yet made it on to dvd. Such gems as The Crazy Gang, even not at their best, must surely be worth a cursory glance. But for the present, it seems the films might just as well have stayed hidden at the Adelphi!
To details of
I'm Not Bothered (1956)
My Husband and I (1956)
Together Again (1957)
Beside the Seaside (1957)
Gert and Daisy (1959)
Tell it to the Marines (1959-60)
To my reviews of a few of his shows.
To Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

I'm Not Bothered

This 1956 A-R comedy series was made by Jack Hylton Productions, and starred Glenn Melvyn reprising his role of Wally Binns, here as a milkman with Danny Ross as Alf Hall. Also appearing were Betty Marsden as Dolly Binns, Eileen Mayers as Rose Binns, and Arthur Rigby as George Gallop who left the series during May.
Perhaps the show's best claim to fame, is that it gave Ronnie Barker his debut on tv in programme #8. According to Barker's autobiography, he also ghost wrote this programme.
The series began February 1956 and was so successful in the ratings, if not with the critics, that the run eventually extended to 26 shows. Oddly, though this was Northern-type humour, it was only shown on London ITV! It seems there are no surviving episodes.

A few transmission details:
5 Tuesday April 10th 1956, 7.30pm Script: Edward J Mason. Director: Richard Carrickford. (no ep Apr 24th)
7 Tuesday May 1st 1956, 9.30pm Producer: Richard Bird.
11 Tuesday May 29th 1956, 7.30pm Director: Robert Hartford-Davies.
17 Tuesday July 10th 1956, 7.30pm Director: Robert Hartford-Davies.
18 Tuesday July 17th 1956, 7.30pm Producer: Henry Kendall.
20 Tuesday July 31st 1956, 7.30pm Producer: Henry Kendall.
26 Tuesday September 17th 1956, 7.30pm Director: Milo Lewis. Producer: Richard Bird. "The twenty sixth and final episode in this popular series."

To Jack Hylton menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

My Husband and I
(A-R, shown fortnightly from July 20th 1956)
starring Evelyn Laye and Frank Lawton, playing a West End couple, as they were in real life.

#2 Aug 3rd 1956: The Reunion Dinner. Script: Geoffrey Kerr. Director: Eric Fawcett. Rest of cast: Linda Gray as Molly, Peter Collingwood as Jennings, and Alicia Massy-Beresford as Jane.
Also in the cast of #5 on Sept 14th 1956 were Robertson Hare and Donald Morley, as well as Linda Gray, Peter Collingwood and Alicia Massy-Beresford.
Also in the cast of #6 on Sept 28th 1956 were regulars Linda Gray, Peter Collingwood and Alicia Massy-Beresford.
An extra show to the scheduled six was shown in October before the series ended. It was not networked to ATV in the Midlands. Sadly this series, unlike some others made under the Jack Hylton umbrella, seems not to have survived

To Jack Hylton menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Together Again (1957, A-R)
Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen reunited after over ten years! A series of six song and sketch shows, scripted by Bud and directed by John Phillips.
The supporting cast was not credited in TV Times, despite the fact that shows were filmed, but at least that means that they have all survived.
1. Friday April 5th 1957, 8.30-9pm: also with Max Bacon, George Stone, Dick James, Courtney Bromet, Raymond Graham and Jack Hylton's Ladies. This programme was No 1 in the Top Ten with 2,283,000 homes watching.
2. April 19th 1957: also with The Radio Revellers, Peter Glaze, the George Mitchell Singers and Jack Hylton's Young Ladies.
3. May 3rd 1957: also with The Radio Revellers, Peter Glaze, Jane Hilary, George Stone, the Jack Hylton Dancers and the George Mitchell Singers.
4. May 17th 1957: also with The Radio Revellers, Peter Glaze, Jean Wynser, George Stone, Redvers Kyle and the Jack Hylton Dancers.
5. May 31st 1957: also with Monsewer Eddie Gray, The Radio Revellers, Peter Glaze, George Stone, Maggie Fitzgibbon and the Jack Hylton Dancers.
6. June 14th 1957: also with The Radio Revellers, Peter Glaze, Lillemor Knudsen, George Stone, Lionel Gamlin and the Jack Hylton Dancers.
To
Jack Hylton menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Beside the Seaside

"A summertime entertainment" live fortnightly at the "seaside bandstand," ie the studio.
Richard Muroch starred as the Entertainments manager at a lively resort, helped by his two attendants Glenn Melvyn as Wally Binns and Danny Ross as Alf Hall. Music by the Billy Ternent Orchestra. Guests stars were promised but not announced in advance.
Dances arranged by Joan Davis. Director: Bimbi Harris.

1 Friday June 28th 1957, 9-9.30pm,
2 July 12th 1957
3 July 26th 1957, guest David Nixon
4 Aug 9th 1957, also with Pauline Stroud
5 Aug 23rd 1957, also with Pauline Stroud
6 Sept 6th 1957, also with Pauline Stroud

Jack Hylton Presents menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Gert and Daisy
Director: Milo Lewis. (From Monday August 10th 1959, A-R.) Networked to ATV Midlands and Granada, but not Southern TV. All six programmes are in existence.
For my review of the first. The stories of Gert and Daisy (Elsie and Doris Waters) who own a theatrical boarding house with a motley group of entertainers finding a cosy home from home.
First episode (Aug 10th, 8.30-9pm) Script: Ted Willis. With Hugh Paddick as Boris, Patsy Rowlands as Bonnie, Dudy Nimmo as Maureen, Jennifer Browne as Lulu, Julian d'Albie as Harry, and Rosemary Scott as Violet, also with Keith Faulkner. Gert and Daisy help two of their boarders to go on a diet. Inevitably the zany pair end up creeping downstairs in the middle of the night to have a feast on the day's left overs.
2 (Aug 17th) Script: Ted Willis. With Hugh Paddick, Patsy Rowlands, Dudy Nimmo, Jennifer Browne, Julian d'Albie, Rosemary Scott and Keith Faulkner. Is Lulu a cat burglar?
3 (Aug 24th) Script: Lew Schwartz. With Hugh Paddick, Patsy Rowlands, Dudy Nimmo, Jennifer Browne, Julian d'Albie, Rosemary Scott, The Lynton Boys and Thomas Gallagher. Billy Miller and His Orchestra. It's Harry and Violet's wedding anniversary, but what have they to celebrate? Their act is simply dreadful.
4 (Aug 31st) Script: Malcolm A Hulke and Eric Paice. With Hugh Paddick, Patsy Rowlands, Dudy Nimmo, Jennifer Browne, Julian d'Albie, Rosemary Scott, and Thomas Gallagher. Maureen's dad wants to take her back home.
5 (Sept 7th) Script: Malcolm A Hulke and Eric Paice. With Hugh Paddick, Patsy Rowlands, Dudy Nimmo, Jennifer Browne, Julian d'Albie, Rosemary Scott, Patrick Godfrey, Raymond Adamson and Frank Pettitt. Gert and Daisy's economy drive!
6 (Sept 16th 7pm), Script: Malcolm A Hulke and Eric Paice. With Hugh Paddick, Patsy Rowlands, Dudy Nimmo, Jennifer Browne, Julian d'Albie, Rosemary Scott and Patrick Godfrey. Is Boris really an archduke?!
To Jack Hylton menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Tell It To the Marines (A-R 1959-60)
30 stories about the comedy rivalry between the Navy and the Marines, this was the last major contribution from Jack Hylton's production company. It was widely reviled by the critics, but its popularity in the Top Ten ratings suggests that as so often the critics were out of step, sadly no story has survived for us to be able to judge. Hylton's ambitions were shown in that he invested in the new videotape technology. They were also evident in the fact that Ted Willis was commissioned to devise the programme, and Milo Lewis, responsible for Granada's The Army Game, was contracted to direct it.
The main stars: Alan White as Leading Seaman White, and Ronald Hines as Marine Corporal Surtees. Other starring roles: Ian MacNaughton as Tactical Communications Operator Kilmartin Dalrymple, Jack Allen as Marine Major Howard, and Ian Whittaker as Whittle. Rest of regular cast: Ian Colin as Commander Walters of the Navy, Henry McGee as Lt Raleigh Henry, and John Bascombe as Petty Officer Woodward.

Outline episode details-
1 (Wed Sept 23rd 1959, 7pm) Script: Eric Paice and Malcolm Hulke. Also in this story: Frederick Peisley as Landlord, Michael Anthony as Gujon, John G Heller as Hauptmann, Linda Castle as Sybil and Andrea Loran as Elsie. Two Navy boys take over the girls in a pub. The Marines take exception, and the ensuing brawl is only ended with the arrival of the police. In an attempt to end the rivalry, a friendly sports contest is planned, but it ends in chaos.
2 (Wed Sept 30th 1959)- advertised story, though not that transmitted. Script: Brad Ashton and Dick Vosburgh. Also in this story: Frederick Peisley, Norman Chappell as Tubby, John Rhodes as Hodson, Peter Thomas as Ginger, Johnny Hayes as Nobby, Marie Devereux as Edie and Julie Alexander as Mary.
3 (Wed Oct 7th 1959). 4 (Wed Oct 14th 1959)- also with Norman Chappell who remained in the series, ditto 5 (Oct 21st, 6 (Oct 28th), 7 (Nov 4th), 8 (Nov 11th), 9 (Nov 18th), 10 (Nov 25th), 11 (Dec 2nd), 12 (Dec 9th), 13 (Dec 16th), 14 (Dec 23rd), 15 (Dec 30th), 16 (Jan 6th 1960), 17 (Jan 13th), 18 Jan 20th), 19 (Jan 27th).
20 (Feb 4th): director Tig Roe. 21 (Feb 11th): Milo Lewis returns as director. Cast as for ep 4, 22 (Feb 18th, now at 7.55pm), 23 (Feb 25th), 24 (Mar 2nd, 10.20pm), 25 (Mar 9th, back to 7.55pm), 26 (Mar 16th, 10.15pm).
27 (Mar 23rd, 10.15pm) - no John Bascombe who left the series, ditto 28 (Mar 30th, back to 7.55pm), 29 (Apr 6th) and 30 (April 13th 1960, 6.30pm).
To
Jack Hylton menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Early Soap Operas
Sixpenny Corner was the very first day time soap opera on ITV.
It was followed by
Round at the Redways (A-R)
This began Wednesday September 28th 1955 and ran until at least February 1956.
A mere 15 minute weekly series about a local London ironmonger Bill Redway and his family plus Ben their helping hand.
Regular Cast: Howard Greene (Bill Redway), Marjorie Lawrence (Ruth Redway), Jacqueline Wall (Maureen), Andrew Irvine (Nokle), and Leonard Sharp (Ben).
Also appearing: Sept 28th 1955 Grace Arnold as Mrs Catt,
Oct 26th 1955 Joyce Cummings as Mrs Matthews,
Nov 23rd 1955 Richard Pearson as Toyshop Proprietor,
Feb 8th 1956 John Crocker as Bert Arnold.
Script: Bill Evans.

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The Archway Players were formed from A-R's staff club, and here is an account of one evening of extraordinary activity:

Out of Focus (Sunday May 19th 1957)
This was a first presentation by the Archway Players, at the Adelphi Theatre London, "an intensely domestic affair," wrote critic CMP.
"Patrick Campbell's production was most professional, and the revue's 35 items swept through with a speed and continuity that would put many a more ambitious venture to shame. To the alien eye, the effect was that of too little material spread thinly; good in the brief interludes of nonsense characteristic of revue yet lacking the necessary weight of voices and group vitality to make good opening and finale numbers. But there were some highly amusing moments.
The quaint British custom that sets a major-general in command at Broadcasting House and a Captain RN at AR is, for all its effectiveness, the very stuff of Gilbertian comedy. Patrick Campbell's exploitation of the situation to the music of HMS Pinafore lost none of its piquancy by the fact that one of the gentlemen concerned was present in person.
Inevitably, the BBC and Richard Dimbleby were the main targets for the evening's wit, but the chief laughter makers were Joseph McGrath's two clever interludes of mime, Mr Campbell's tv ingenious play that could be switched on at any time and still be understood, and the recalcitrant corps de ballet of Swan Song.
The company was a large one but the names of Neil Bramson and Nick Barker, together with those of Daphne Shadwell, Eric Croall, and Judy Rankine cropped up with considerable frequency during the evening. It was these artists, together with Patrick Campbell, and literally dozens of others before and behind the curtain who made the show an undoubted success. The accompaniment of two pianos, bass, guitar and drums was conducted by Andrew Fenner"

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Unwelcome Stranger
scheduled for Friday June 10th 1960

A-R's play in the Television Playhouse slot was scheduled for this date, but a spokesman announced, "having seen rehearsals, A-R production executives decided that certain facets of the play were unwelcome."
The story, by Paul Jones, concerned a mother who takes a lodger into her home while her husband is in Burma.
The cast included Sarah Lawson, Duncan Lamont, Jeremy Ward, and Marie Burke. The director was Tania Lieven.
Originally titled Kids Are Murder, the author later complained in Television Weekly, "the title was arbitrarily changed to Unwelcome Stranger without consultation during the first week of rehearsal. It was under this title that the play was taped on June 3rd." (He might mean 'was to have been taped'?)

Shown in its place was a second production of the play Margaret Moves On

A-R menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

Thursday October 26th 1967 saw an additional live programme transmitted by Rediffusion and also shown in the Granada and Grampian regions.

Live coverage of the United Nations emergency debate on the Middle East crisis was transmitted via satellite.

John McMillan, Rediffusion General Manager, said it cost £10,000, "in times of international crisis, the public must be informed by the fastest possible means."
I wonder how many sat up until just after midnight to be informed?
The last minute decision to transmit this programme was made on Oct 25th at 9.30pm

A-R menu

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Here is my list compiled from the TV Programming Guide circulated to the trade during the 1990s, that may give a slight indication of some survivors.The number of episodes available for tv stations to purchase are indicated in brackets.
The distributors were Global Television. In March 2016 One Media iP Group plc announced that it would be issuing this archive. However sadly nothing came of this and it is now in the clutches of BFI.

Boyd QC (from 1956- 77 of the 83 made)
No Hiding Place (from 1959 - 9 episodes, though more than 20+ are now known to survive)
The Dickie Henderson Show (from 1960- an incredible 103 programmes)
Laudes Evangelii (March 1961- 1)
Crane (from 1963- 26 episodes)
Richard Whittington Esquire with Tommy Steele (Dec 1964- 1)
Play of the Week: Deep and Crisp and Stolen with Raymond Francis (Dec 1964- 1)
Riviera Police (1965- all 13 stories)
Blackmail (from 1965- 13 episodes)
Orlando (from 1965- an amazing 52 stories)
The World of Comedy with Michael Crawford (1965- 13 of the 17 eps)
Play of the Week: Solo for the Banker with Alfie Bass (Dec 1965- 1)
Play of the Week: All My Loving with Scott Forbes (March 1966- 1)
Seven Deadly Sins (1966- all 7 stories)
The Rat Catchers (from 1966- 13 episodes)
A Swinging Scene (1966- 8 eps)
Royalist and Roundhead (from May 1966- 13 films)
Funny Girl Happened to Me on the Way to the Piano (1966- 1)
Millicent and Roy with M Martin and R Castle (1966- 1)
The Informer (from 1966- 8 episodes)

Associated Rediffusion menu

.

.

.

.

.

.


From 1955: "In the can... is a telefilm of a variety show consisting of young artists produced by A-R producer Richard Carrickford. The show is in the form of an audition ... made to be shown only to producers at Television House Kingsway, so they can pick any artist for future programmes." This film was made in association of the Cattan Agency. Richard Carrickford stated, " We hit upon the idea of turning the various auditions into a complete variety show, because we thought it would give producers a better idea of the youngsters' talents." The report concludes by naming the artistes involved: "Fenella Fielding a young revue actress and character comedienne, New Zealand singer John Hauxwell, Glasgow singer Roberta McKeown, and two London singers Patricia Baird and Peter Dimuentes"

.

.

.

.

.

.

London TV area Nielsen ratings 30th October 1955
these first ever such figures relate to sets taking both channels
1 Palladium Show 78%
2 Take Your Pick 73%
3 Double Your Money 70%
4= Saturday Showtime 69%
4= Roy Rogers
4= Dragnet
7= Highland Fling (BBC) 68%
7= I Love Lucy
9= Boxing (BBC) 66%
9= Robin Hood
9= Movie Magazine

.

London TV area Nielsen ratings May 1957
1 Take Your Pick 67%
2= Ward 10 64%
2= Palladium Show
4 Gun Law 63%
5 Amateur Boxing (A-R) 62%
6 Fireside Theatre 61%
7= Dragnet 60%
7= Saturday Spectacular
9= Jack Hylton Presents 59%
9= Highway Patrol

TAM ratings for London area Nov 13th 1960
1 Conservative Party Political 68% (AR 51%)
2 Bootsie and Snudge 66
3 Cimarron City 63
4 Arthur Haynes Show 60
5= Ward 10 (Tues) 59
5= Take Your Pick
7= Ward 10 (Fri) 58
7= Riverboat
9 Highway Patrol 57
10 Double Your Money 56
Top BBC: Bing Crosby Show 49%

London TV area TAM ratings w/e 28 May 1961
1 Bootsie and Snudge 66%
2 No Hiding Place 61%
3 Knight Errant 57%
4 Ward 10 (Tues) 54%
5= Boyd QC 53%
5= Putting on the Donegan
5= Hancock (BBC)
8= Rawhide 51%
8= Coronation Street (Wed)
10 Ward 10 (Fri) 50%

TAM ratings for London area Nov 19th 1961
1= London Palladium Show 58%
1= Armchair Theatre
3 Coronation Street (Nov 15) 54
4 Coronation Street (Nov 13) 53
5 77 Sunset Strip 52
6 Dickie Henderson Show 52
7= A for Andromeda (BBC) 49
7= Double Your Money
7= Just Dennis
10= Here's Harry (BBC) 48
10= Rawhide
10= Cheyenne

London area TAM ratings w/e 28 Oct 1962
1 Maigret (BBC) 60%
2= Coronation Street (Oct 22) 59%
2= Coronation Street (Oct 24)
4 Zero One (BBC) 55%
5= No Hiding Place 49%
5= The Saint
7 Z Cars (Oct 24 BBC) 48%
8 Winning Widows 47%
9= Here's Harry (BBC) 46%
9= It's A Square World (BBC)
9= Ward Ten (Oct 26)
9= Blackpool Tower Circus

London TV area TAM ratings w/e 15 Dec 1963
1 Coronation St (Dec 9) 60%
2= No Hiding Place 58%
2= The Travelling Man (A-R)
2= The Swindler (ABC play)
5 Coronation St (Dec 11) 56%
6 Sunday Night at Prince of Wales 55%
7 Take Your Pick 54%
8 Ready Steady Go 52%
9= This Is Your Life (BBC) 50%
9= Ward 10 (Dec 13)

TAM ratings for London area July 5th 1964
1 Perry Mason 62%
2 Four Seasons of Rosie Carr 61%
3 Club Night 60%
4 Call the Gun Expert 59%
5 The Defenders 57%
6 Singalong Saturday 56%
7= Sportsview 55%
7= The Nurses
7= Laramie
10= Coronation Street (June 28th) 54%
10= Catch Hand
10= Juke Box Jury
Other ITV: Alfred Hitchcock Hour 51%, Love Story 51%, No Hiding Place 49%, Play of the Week 44%
These ratings appear at first sight extraordinary. All programmes except one ubiquitous Coronation Street were from the BBC! What was going on?! The truth is that during this week, ACTT staged a strike which blacked out ITV from midnight on Tuesday June 29th 1964. Thus the BBC got a huge influx of viewers for the rest of that week!

TAM ratings for London area Aug 8th 1965
1 Riviera Police 54%
2 Coronation Street (Aug 2) 48
3 Our Man at St Marks 46
4 The Fugitive 44
5= Cinema 40
5= Best of Morecambe and Wise
7= Gilligan's Island 39
7= Coronation Street (Aug 4)
7= Film on ATV: Million Pound Note
10 Blackpool Night Out 38
Top BBC: Comedy Playhouse (34%)

London TV area TAM ratings w/e 28th Nov 1965
1 The Avengers 58%
2 A Man Called Shenandoah 57%
3= The Fugitive 53%
3= Captive Heart (Rediffusion film)
5 Bhowani Junction (ATV film) 52%
6= Take Your Pick 51%
6= Cinema
8 Peyton Place (Nov 26) 50%
9 Alfred Hitchcock Hour 49%
10 Coronation Street (Nov 24) 47%
Top BBC: Perry Mason/Benny Hill 46%

London TV area TAM ratings w/e 13th February 1966
1 The Avengers 62%
2 The Savage (ATV) 58%
3 The Rat Catchers 56%
4 A Man Called Shenandoah 55%
5 Morecambe and Wise Show 51%
6= Harder They Fall (film BBC) 50%
6= Take Your Pick
6= Cinema
9= EW10 (Feb 11) 49%
9= Peyton Place (Feb 11)
Wot, no Corrie!

London TV area TAM ratings w/e 3rd July 1966
1 Public Eye 46%
2= Pardon the Expression 42%
2= The FBI
4 Cinema 41%
5 No Hiding Place 39%
6 Blackpool Show 38%
7= Seven Deadly Sins 37%
7= Comedy Playhouse (BBC)
7= Film: The Joker is Wild
10 Coronation Street (Wed) 35%

London TV area TAM ratings w/e 8th October 1967
1 The Avengers 52%
2 ATV Play: The Hanging Tree 50%
3= Whistle Down the Wind (Rediffusion film) 46%
3= Spotlight ATV
5= World In Action 45%
5= Rediffusion Playhouse
5= Coronation Street (Wed)
8 A Series of Birds (BBC) 43%
9 Coronation Street (Mon) 42%
10= Tarzan 41%
10= The Informer
10= Val Doonican (BBC)

London TV area TAM ratings w/e 3rd December 1967
1 London Palladium Show 64%
2 ATV Play: The Bad and the Beautiful 56%
3= No That's me Over Here 48%
3= The Gamblers
5= ATV Play: I Love You Mrs Patterson 47%
5= The Prisoner
7= World In Action 46%
7= The Captive Heart film
7= Granada Play: Death by Misadventure
10= Dixon of Dock Green (BBC) 44%
10= Val Doonican (BBC)

London TV area TAM ratings w/e 18th February 1968
1 Till Death Us Do Part (BBC) 54%
2 The Saint 52%
3 Francis Durbridge Presents (BBC) 49%
4= Playhouse (Granada) 47%
4= World In Action
6= Cilla (BBC) 45%
6= Saturday Thriller (BBC)
8 Beggar My Neighbour (BBC) 43%
9= Coronation Street (Feb 12) 43%
9= Softly Softly (BBC)

A-R menu