 |
 |
|
|
Welcome to this second edition of a series featuring letters originally published in two magazines produced for archive TV enthusiasts. Test Cards and TV Graphics Review are quarterly magazines produced by HS Publications. The magazines feature a wealth of information associated with the world of archive television and radio covering topics such as broadcasting history, Trade Test Transmissions, BBC-2 Trade Test Colour Films, engineering, Test Card music and much more. If you would like further details about these magazines, plus information about a wide range of books on the subject of television and radio archives, please send a stamped-addressed envelope (or 2 International Reply Coupons - available from main post offices throughout the world- for readers overseas) to the address given at the end of this article.
Contents of This Edition
Ally Pally: ‘The End’ Saga Continues Still Further!
In Issue 14 of Test Cards, we published a photograph showing the Alexandra Palace transmitter with ‘The End’ superimposed in black. We mentioned that the caption was shown each night at Closedown in the Thirties. John Grace in London has been in contact to say that it was, in fact, transmitted in the Fifties (John definitely remembers seeing it in 1950 at Closedown following Children’s Television which came from Studio D).
John recalls that at Closedown during the afternoons in the Thirties, Alexandra Palace transmitted a caption at 4.00pm. At Closedown around 10.0pm, an ornate "carriage clock" was transmitted, accompanied by a recording of the News broadcast via the BBC Home Service. The BBC ‘Coat Of Arms’ was then shown with the National Anthem. Does anyone else remember the Closedown sequence in the Thirties?
Wanted: Roger Roger’s "Toccata" Music For ‘Prisoner’ Convention
We mentioned in the previous edition of Test Cards that Leslie Glen of Saltcoats in Ayrshire is looking for the sheet music for some of Roger Roger’s music recorded for the cult television series, ‘Prisoner’. Leslie has written again. He says: "I am still looking for the piano sheet music (not an actual recording) of Roger Roger’s ‘Toccata’ (performed by Madame Henriette Piug-Roget on the organ at Temple De L’Oratoire in Paris in 1962). I am really looking forward to being able to perform this wonderful piece of music at the next ‘Prisoner’ convention and hope that a Test Cards reader will be able to help. The piece lasts 3’ 08". Once again, it is the sheet music for piano/organ which I want - not a recording of the piece?"
Several pieces by Roger Roger have been issued, including ‘Toccata’ on a CD called The Prisoner: Volume 3 issued by Silva Screen on a CD (No. FILM CD 126) and on an audio cassette (FILMC 126). This also features other Roger Roger compositions including ‘Lonely Flute’, ‘Blast Off’, ‘Arabian Market’ and ‘Fete Foraine’. Roger Roger music is also featured on another CD called The Prisoner: Volume 2 (Silva Screen FILMCD 084. This is also available on an audio cassette, FILMC 084). The disc includes ‘Pavane’ and ‘Lunar Landscape’.
Leslie organised a programme of music for last year’s "Prisoner" convention and included a number of Roger Roger recordings which were very popular. The French composer’s music is obviously a hit with "Prisoner" fans as well as with BBC Test Card music aficionados!
If anyone can help with the ‘Toccata’ sheet music, Leslie can be contacted either via Test Cards or at 7 Adair Avenue, Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland KA21 5QS. If you can help, please write as soon as possible because the next ‘Prisoner’ convention is due to be held in August.
The Latest Stress-Buster: Test Cards On Video!
A reader in Ilford, Essex recently purchased some videos featuring test cards. He writes: "I’ve written to tell you how much I enjoy watching your videos including "BBC Globes On Video" and "Vintage Test Cards On Video". Now the original excitement of seeing them for the first time has gone, I watch them whenever I feel stressed. They are so relaxing to watch! I shouldn’t be surprised because in his book ‘Mind Power’, Dr. Vernon Coleman writes that he wishes the TV companies would bring back interludes because they were so relaxing to watch.
I am too young to remember the original BBC Interludes but I did enjoy watching them when they were repeated in 1982. What I do remember seeing was the interlude shown by LWT every Sunday at 11.45am in-between "Morning Worship" and "Weekend World". I didn’t actually watch the programmes; I tuned in just to see the interlude. I must have had a stressful childhood! I don’t know if it was shown in any other ITV region, but when Thames had a spare 15 minutes they used to show pop videos or cartoons instead."
Editorial Note: We’re delighted to hear that our videos are useful as stress-busters; they certainly caused enough stress actually producing them! If you are all stressed up, why not try the videos for yourself? Full details are contained in our current Catalogue which is available by sending 75p in stamps to:- HS Publications, 7 Epping Close, Mackworth Estate, Derby DE22 4HR (Tel:- 01332 51 33 99). Incidentally, the letter from our reader in Essex is genuine and not just a hype to sell our range of unique videos. If it works for him, it could work for you!
Wanted: Archive Video Recordings
Carl Pfeiffer has written from Watford with a request for recordings which he has inadvertently erased from his collection. Carl writes: "My letter is a request for help, information and/or advice regarding programmes which, for various reasons, are creating a huge hole in my video collection, not because it is extensive but because they are the type of programme that should be in my collection, and would have been were it not for my short-sighted thinking and general stupidity at the time.
I desperately want to acquire copies of the following transmissions:-
In short, can TV Graphics Review readers help? Does anyone have any of these programmes available on video? I can’t face the prospect of not ever seeing some of the television gems again which, through my own folly, I have lost. Any assistance would be most appreciated!"
Lee Jones would like to know how he can receive good quality signals from Channel 5. He writes: "By using the ‘coverage map’ shown in Issue 19 of «TV Graphics Review», I’ve worked out that the closest transmitter to me is about 20 miles away. Do you know where the transmitter will actually be? I have heard that it may be in Fawley (Hampshire) but I don’t know if this is correct.
I would also like to know when (if at all) the test broadcasts for the new channel will commence in my area. Will they show a test pattern and information pages. Finally, is it true that Channel 5 will transmit on channel 36?
If anyone can supply Lee with the required information about Channel 5, please write in to «TV Graphics Review». His location is Fordingbridge in Hampshire. The latest information which we have is that VCR/TV re-tuners are finding that many people do not want to receive the new channel. After watching some of their output, we’re not surprised! Unless you’re under 25 years old, there are very few programmes which are designed to appeal to viewers. It seems that the new channel has barred presenters, audiences and topics outside that age limit, apart from scratchy black-and-white feature films from the Thirties used as fillers between adverts in the afternoons!
It also seems that they are already having some financial difficulties together with extremely low audience figures so perhaps the channel won’t be around for much longer, at least not with its present format. Most of the station’s transmitters operate on channel 37 and all of them are on low-power, resulting in the abysmal signal quality in many areas.
In Issue 22 of «TV Graphics Review» we featured the Marconi test card used by Associated Rediffusion together with details of the various forms of identification.
Alan Keeling has written from Warley in the West Midlands some some further information. Alan writes: "I can’t remember seeing it myself, but there were versions for the Midlands and Granada. For some reason, it was only transmitted for approximately half-an-hour at lunch-time."
R. Brown of East Sussex is trying to obtain some BBC Test Card music. He writes: "I would be very interested if anyone could help me locate some BBC-1 Test Card music transmitted between 1960 and 1972. I only have some poor quality recordings made between 1968 and 1970. I would also be interested in BBC-2 Test Card music used between 1964 and 1973. I also have various ITV interval/schools music from the Seventies plus nine hours of test card music used by C4.
G. Barber has written from Oldham in Lancashire requesting video recordings to help him construct models of vintage BBC Ident Symbols. He writes: "I am interested in various television graphics, in particular the mechanical models used in years gone by the BBC at Christmas. I would like to obtain videos of these to help with model making. I need to obtain details about the correct speeds of rotation and the colours used for the original BBC Christmas Identification Symbols. Can anyone please help me?"
Ian Haggis is trying to obtain a copy of the music used to introduce bulletins of Service Information. Ian writes: "For many years during the two minutes prior to Service Information transmitted on BBC-2 three times daily, a piece of music was played which accompanied the Clock. Does anyone know if it is possible to obtain this music or any details about it? There were two versions I seem to remember, one slightly longer than the other. I did hear it played in part on the Andy Marriot Television Show on GEM AM several years ago."
Editorial Note: The Service Information was called ‘Walk And Talk’ and was issued on a mood-music library disc by KPM. The first ten seconds of the original recording were edited out for Service Information. The shorter version which Ian mentions was the final 30-second section used for short, updated bulletins of Service Information (for example, details of a transmitter on Reduced Power which had been received by the announcer after the main Transmitter Information section had been given).
Nutkins has written from Southend-on-Sea with details about two Internet web sites which he has recently discovered. These should be of interest to television graphics buffs who have the necessary equipment. The details are as follows:-
The BBC Schools "Diamond" caption brought back to life:
http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oucl/users/ian.collier/diamonds.html
TV Logos Web Site
http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/5147/
He also writes: "One of my hobbies is collecting snippets of old TV logos and idents, title sequences and the like on VHS. In particular I would like to get footage of anything ranging from BBC/IBA Trade Test Transmissions to Channel 4 test broadcasts, any moving TV idents, the old BBC-2 Trade Test Colour Films (does anyone have a copy of Rainbow Trout or Polymer Plastics?), footage of ITV when it used to open at 9.25 a.m. in the 70s and Public Information Films.
Maybe I’m imagining it, but does anyone remember an unscheduled programme called ‘Newcomers’ which used to consist of several different versions of the same TV advert screened back-to-back?"
If anyone can help with any of the above items, especially with the BBC-2 Trade Test Colour Films, please write to the address below.
Keith Hamer Reviews a New CD from Apollo Sounds
Keith Hamer Reviews 'Chandos' Big Band Width
If you can help any of our readers’ letters featured above, please write to the following address:-
Keith Hamer, BBC Test Card Club,
HS Publications, 7 Epping Close, Mackworth Estate, Derby DE22 4HR, England (UK)
Please note that we do not currently have access to the Internet. We would be very pleased to hear from readers with information, photographs or comments via the old-fashioned, low-tech mail service. If you do write, and you would like a reply, please don’t forget to enclose a stamped-addressed envelope. If you would like a copy of our current Catalogue which details all our archive TV books and videos, please send 75p in stamps or 4 International Reply Coupons (IRC’s).
| <<< Previous |  |
BBC Test Card Club Index |