Soundstagenorth

RTBWTV February 20th 2025 - Robots, cyborgs and computers As we enter that optimistic Star Trek future, where everything is automated and everyone lives a life of peaceful leisure staring at their screens, Guy Morgan and David Newell look back at how the future was viewed by classic television during Britain's golden age - 1956 and the Suez Crisis to 1974 and the three day week. We discover that amongst all the bright predictions, many writers and producers were offering a rather more gloomy forecast. Dave takes charge of the robots (although there's a tussle regarding the Cybernauts) while Guy tinkers with giant computers. But where, you ask, do the Daleks and Cybermen fit in? What's the best way to disable an errant computer? (A trip to your local ironmonger's might prove useful) and never, never cancel a scientist's funding -- who knows what they might get up to in revenge? As usual, rights in any clips and music remain with the holders and are used here for educational purposes. They can be purchased through legitimate online websites. By the way, if any of our original material is used for training AI, the perpetrators agree to pay us £1,000,000,000.

RTBWTV December 15th 2024 A leisurely sleigh ride through the snowy wastes of Christmas scheduling from the Golden Age of British Television (1956 and the Suez Crisis to 1974 and the three day week). Guy Morgan and David Newell set out on a search party to find the first authentic UK Xmas TV episode of a regular series - only to find the Americans had got there first. Sad to say, some of the tracks have been obliterated by the blizzard of wiping that afflicted the BBC, but some, surprisingly, have been frozen in time, thanks to the advent of ITV and the business nous of Lew Grade. The intrepid explorers discover that the template of church service, the Queen's message and the mandatory circus/panto/celebrity revue was carved in stone from the mid fifties, but the number of elephants dramatically declined over the years. So pour an eggnog, prise out some dates and steep yourself in the warm glow of black and white television that was probably recorded sometime in August...…….. As usual, rights in any clips and music remain with the holders and are used here for educational purposes.

RBWTV September 22nd 2024 Another careful excavation of the treasure buried deep in the archives of the Golden Age of British television - that's 1956 (The Suez Crisis) to 1974 (The Three Day Week). With Dave back from his Volvo hunting in Italy, we explore, as promised, the mysteries of Edgar Wallace now unspooling again on Talking Pictures TV. A host of familiar faces have a crack at playing unfamiliar roles - good guys and gals get a chance to turn villainous and actors best known for a bit of menace join the side of the angels. Originally made as quota quickie B-movies, they were repackaged for television with three versions of the sinister theme tune (including a fast paced one by The Shadows). Guy Morgan and David Newell try to make sense of the plots, note one famous producer who repeatedly got cast as a Brummie tearaway before stepping behind the cameras and select one episode which would have been a noir classic if it was in French. But first, they pay tribute to both David Graham and Kenneth Cope who recently passed away in their 90s after long and distinguished careers and also to Cleo Sylvestre for her pioneering work on screens big and small. As always, rights in all music and clips belong to the holders and are used here for educational purposes.

RTBWTV August 18th 2024 - The commies are coming! Oh hang on a minute, they're here! Another snorkel through the calm reassuring lagoon that is the classic television which flitted across the black and white screens of the UK from the Suez Crisis of 1956 until 1974's three day week. But what's this? Some our most beloved adventure series from the beginning of the Golden Age of British TV were written and directed by communists. That's right! These reds were on the run from the sinister HUAC, the House Unamerican Activities Committee in the United States and sought refuge and work in the unlikeliest spot of the Home Counties of England. And like other exiles, either from the Nazis or Soviet dominated Eastern Europe, they contributed immeasurably to British cultural life. Hear how we wouldn't have the Globe Theatre, Zoe Wannamaker or Zulu without the witchhunts of Senator Joseph McArthy. David and Guy explore the semi hidden history that became a staple of TV in the late 50s and early 60s and provides Talking Pictures TV with its Saturday schedule. And, they cry out, why hasn't anyone made a biopic about Hannah Weinstein? Oh, yes and there's also some self flagellation about watching (ahem) The New Avengers. As always, rights in all music and clips belong to the holders and are used here for educational purposes.

RTBWTV May 31st 2024 - Lone Wolves versus teams - which is better? Another snorkel through the classic television that flitted across the black and white screens of the UK from the Suez Crisis of 1956 until 1974's three day week. Co hosts Guy Morgan and David Newell consider shows that are still available, others that have been lost and some which should have existed and perhaps still could........... In this episode, we look at the pros and cons of being a single protagonist or "lone wolf" as against being a team player. Of course we examine the Saint, but there's a pack of lone wolves in 1960s and 70s television - they just kept themselves to themselves. We compare those shows to the ones which feature "a precinct". Not always cops, there's one set in a football club (that's soccer to our American friends), but also publishing, lawyers, and particularly medicine, with their firebrand young doctors kept under control by their crusty wise old superiors, ably assisted by a nurse or a resourceful Scottish housekeeper. And then there's the Precinct in the room that we have to talk about - the police/detective series, where even mavericks have the backing of an entire organisation - whether they like it or not. We put on our sociological hats and stroke our chins as to how Dixon of Dock Green charts the real changes in British policing during the period and ends up not deserving the "cosy" label it's often been associated with. In fact, it ends its days as downbeat as a modern Nordic Noir, just listen to that minor chord at the end of the last theme tune........... We also ask: Did the Mission Impossible team paint the town red after a successful adventure? How did they recruit Dave when he was in Aladdin and to what purpose? And why did Airfix fail to produce a kit for the popular Western series Bonanza? As always, rights in all music and clips belong to the holders and are used here for educational purposes.

RTBWTV March 7th 2024 - Stars behind wartime bars Another snorkel through the classic television that flitted across the black and white screens of the UK from the Suez Crisis of 1956 until 1974's three day week. Co hosts Guy Morgan and David Newell consider shows that are still available, others that have been lost and some which should have existed and perhaps still could........... This time, we take a deep dive into that crucible of acting and writing talent, the Second World War -- or more specifically prisoner of war camps. The National Archive near Kew in West London is currently staging Great Escapes, an exhibition about life in captivity for servicemen and civilians on both sides of the conflict. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/great-escapes/ And in particular, we pay tribute to the performers incarcerated in the most famous prison camp of all, Stalag Luft III. We also look at people held prisoner by the Japanese who went on to find fame and fortune in literature and on screen. And we consider the impact the war had not only on actors' careers, but the appetite for TV series about it. As always, rights in all music and clips belong to the holders and are used here for educational purposes. You'll hear a smidgeon of Peter Butterworth in Carry On Screaming, plus an extract from his This is Your Life episode in 1976. Also, Robert Farnon's Colditz March, Clifton Parker's music from The Wooden Horse (1950), Elmer Berstein's theme to the The Great Escape and the theme to Hogan's Heroes composed by Jerry Fielding. All can be found and purchased online.

Happy New Year to all our listeners! To begin 2024, we take a deep chin stroking review of The Gold Robbers, whose Saturday repeats are winding down on Talking Pictures TV. The series is on the cusp of change for the classic television that flitted across the black and white screens of the UK from the Suez Crisis of 1956 until 1974's three day week, which is of course the Golden Age that co hosts Guy Morgan and David Newell champion in their self appointed role of keepers of the vintage TV flame. We ask: did Guy remember that scene correctly from his cradle all those years ago? Just how much violence was acceptable at the end of the sixties? And did the success of such a long running serial lead LWT to double down and make six months worth of the much maligned (by us) Manhunt? As always, rights in all music and clips belong to the holders and are used here for educational purposes. And don't forget, The Gold Robbers theme by Max Harris can be tracked down at all good online retailers.