A
for Andromeda
BBC 1961
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7
x 45 minute episode science fiction serial written by astronomer
Fred Hoyle and John Elliot in which a radio telescope detects
a signal from a distant galaxy which instructs Earth scientists
in the building of a super computer. When completed, the computer
creates an android girl, played by Julie Christie, which it proceeds
to control. The scientists were played by Esmond Knight, Peter
Halliday, Frank Windsor and Mary Morris. Norman James and Michael
Hayes produced. A sequel series called 'The Andromeda Breakthrough'
was made in 1962
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Comedy
Playhouse
BBC 1961 - 74
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A
series of what were essentially comedy 'pilot programmes' that
was the starting point for a number of Sixties classic comedy
series such as 'Steptoe & Son', 'All Gas And Gaiters', 'Me
Mammy', 'Till Death Us Do Part', 'The Liver Birds', 'The Last
Of The Summer Wine', 'Not In Front Of The Children', 'Open All
Hours' and 'Happy Ever After'. The concept was initiated by Tom
Sloan, Head of BBC Light Entertainment
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Drama
'61
ATV 1961-64 1966-67
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A
series of dramatic presentations which were screened on Sunday
nights, alternating with ABC's 'Armchair Theatre'. The series
title changed with the year, becoming 'Drama 62' etc. with the
exception of the later two series which were both called 'Drama
67'. Playwrights included Reginald Rose, Harold Swanton, Frederic
Raphael, Anthony Thorne and Tad Mosel
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Ghost
Squad
ATV 1961
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39
x 60 minute episodes were made of this 'undercover agent' crime
series which was produced by Connery Chappell, based on Scotland
Yard's International Investigation department. The series was
named after the book by Det Supt John Gosling and starred Donald
Wolfit as the head of operations, Sir Andrew Wilson. Agent Nick
Craig was played by Michael Quinn
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Harpers
West One
ATV 1961-63
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A
weekly 60 minute soap-style drama created by John Whitney and
Geoffrey Bellman which revolved around the operations of Harper's,
a fictitious London store, covering all aspects of its day to
day happenings from shop floor to boardroom. The cast notably
included a young guy named John Leyton who played pop star Johnny
StCyr and the show launched his smash hit record 'Johnny Remember
Me', written by Geoff Goddard and produced by Joe Meek. Other
cast members included Jan Holden and Vivian Pickles
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My
Three Sons
U.S. ABC / CBS1960-72 |
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Superb
U.S. domestic comedy starring Fred MacMurray as aerospace consultant
Steve Douglas, documenting his efforts to raise his three motherless
sons Chip ( 7 ), Robbie ( 14 ) and Mike ( 18 ) first with the
help of father-in-law Bub O'Casey ( William Frawley ) then later
'Uncle' Charley O'Casey ( William Demarest ). The programme was
a sitcom, but tended towards a heavily moralistic albeit light
hearted view of the various generation gaps during its twelve
years and 369 episodes. Great entertainment, highly watchable
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One
Step Beyond
A-R 1961-62
Collier -Young Productions / Lancer Films
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"Explain
it? We cannot. Disprove it? We cannot." These words were
part of the introduction by Hollywood's John Newland to 13 x 30
minute British-produced stories about the occult and supernatural
phenomena which were mixed in with similar American productions
from a U.S. programme called 'Alcoa Presents', subtitled 'One
Step Beyond'. The British episodes were produced by Peter Marriott
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Points
of View
BBC 1961-
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In
the early years, this long-established BBC programme which gave
viewers the opportunity to air their opinions, took the form of
a 5-minute filler which went out between major programmes. The
first presenter was Robert Robinson, followed by namesake Kenneth
Robinson in 1965 and reclaimed by Robert later in the decade.
RR also presented a 'Junior Points Of View' from 1963 to 1970.
Strangely, the most recent presenter has also been a Robinson
- Anne, following on from the only 'anomaly', Barry Took, who
presented from 1979
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Sir
Francis Drake
ATV - ABC 1961-62
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Anthony Bushell-produced 26 superb 30 minute episodes of this
costume drama adventure series set in the reign of Elizabeth I
( played by Jean Kent ). Terence Morgan starred in the title role,
battling against his Spanish arch-enemy, Ambassador Mendoza, portrayed
by Roger Delgado. Drake's ship, the Golden Hind, transported him
and his crew of Sea Hawks through many adventures and to locations
as far apart as the English Channel and the West Indian 'Spanish
Main'. Some of the episodes were combined and transmitted as telefeatures
in America in 1962: 'The Flame and The Sword', 'Marauders of The
Sea', 'Mission of The Seahawk' and 'Raiders of The Spanish Main'.
Other main characters were played by: Patrick McLoughlin as Richard
Trevelyan, Richard Warner as Walsingham, Ewan Roberts as Morton,
Earl of Lenox, Michael Crawford as John Drake, Milton Reid as
Diego, Howard Lang as Grenville and Peter Diamond as Drake's Bosun
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Songs
of Praise
BBC 1961-
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A
long-running series featuring televised sermons and congregational
singing from various churches and places of worship around the
country. Shown during the 'God slot' early on Sunday evenings,
the presence of TV cameras unsurprisingly has never failed to
attract a packed house to whichever establishment is featured.
Over the years the programme has had many presenters, including
Cliff Richard, Jimmy Saville and Eddie Waring. The first ever
show came from the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cardiff, Wales
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Supercar
ATV 1961-62
ITC / AP Films Production
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Another
great sci-fi puppet adventure series from the master, Gerry Anderson.
39 x 30 minute episodes featured test pilot Mike Mercury flying
through air, sea and space in Supercar, a futuristic vehicle invented
by Professor Rudolf Popkiss and Doctor Horatio Beaker. Operating
from a secret laboratory in Black Rock, Nevada, Mercury's missions
often involved thwarting the plans of the evil 'Masterspy' and
his accomplice Zarin. Other main characters were young orphan
Jimmy Gibson and his pet, Mitch the monkey
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Survival
ANGLIA 1961-
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Exceptionally
successful and long-running wildlife series featuring superb photography
and commentary on animal species and environments from all over
the world. Originally a co-production with A-R, the series was
first produced and presented by Aubrey Buxton. Script writer and
co-producer of the programme was Colin Willcock
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Tales
of Mystery
A-R 1961-63
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An
anthology drama series of 29 x 30 minute stories based on the
work of Algernon Blackwood dealing with spooky suspense and the
supernatural. The shows were introduced by dour 'We're All Doomed'
scot John Laurie. The series producer was Peter Graham Scott
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Tempo
ABC 1961-67
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'A
fortnightly magazine programme which measures art in terms of
enjoyment' was the official description of this rather highbrow
arts programme. It featured the best of current film, music, art,
drama, literature, sculpture and ballet, starting as a 50 minute
show later reduced to 25 minutes. The original presenter was Lord
Harewood and later, Leonard Maguire ( among others ). Five 'special'
shows in 1962 concentrated purely on Irish Arts. Seies editors
were Kenneth Tynan and Clive Goodwin
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The
Avengers
ABC 1961 - 69
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Evolved
from the earlier series 'Police Surgeon', 26 x 60 minute episodes
were made of this fantasy espionage series where Dr David Keel
( Ian Hendry ) from the original series was joined by bowler-hatted
secret agent John Steed ( Patrick Macnee ) to form a crimebusting
duo in what was more or less a straight crime drama. This era
was produced by Leonard White. The character of John Steed remained
while Keel was replaced in 1962 by leather-clad Cathy Gale, played
by Honor Blackman, for 52 x 60 minute episodes ( produced by Leonard
White and John Bryce ) with occasional assistance from nightclub
singer Venus Smith played by Julie Stevens. Emma Peel ( Diana
Rigg ) became his new partner for- 50 x 60 minute episodes in
1965, the early series being produced by Julian Wintle. Steed's
final partner in the Sixties was Tara King ( Linda Thorson - 1968
) for 33 x 60 minute episodes in ever more fantastic, action-packed,
tongue in cheek secret service type adventures pitted against
diabolical villains. In the later series, Patrick Newell played
their boss, code-named 'Mother' and his secretary by Rhonda Parker.
The later 'Peel' series and the 'King' series were produced by
Albert Fennell and Brian Clemens
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The
Morecambe
and Wise Show
ATV 1961-64, 1966-68, BBC 1968-76
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Not
enough space to provide details of the long-running series starring
Britain's best-loved comedy duo. Their career spanned four decades
and many TV channels. The early Sixties saw Eric and Ernie mainly
performing comedy routines written by Sid Green and Dick Hills,
often with guest artists who both performed in their own right
( with musical backing from Jack Parnell and his Orchestra ) and
also took part in the comedy sketches. The pair's first appearance
on TV had been back in 1951 in a BBC show called 'The Youth Parade'
and they also starred in a fortnightly 1954 show called 'Running
Wild' with Alma Cogan
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The
Pursuers
ATV 1961-62
Crestview Productions
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39
x 30 minute episodes were made of this uninspired Scotland Yard
police series which starred Louis Hayward as Det Insp Steve Bollinger
who, together with his dog, Ivan, 'walks the lonely streets of
London' seeking out and battling against crime, injustice and
low ratings |
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The
Rag Trade
BBC 1961-63
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Comedy
writers Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney's first television series
comprised 35 x 30 minute episodes of this popular sitcom which
revolved around the goings-on at Fenner Fashions, mainly featuring
the long-running battle between the unfortunate owner ( Peter
Jones ) and shop steward Paddy ( Miriam Karlin ). Other main characters
were played by Reg Varney, Sheila Hancock, Esma Cannon, Barbara
Windsor, Judy Carne, Rita Smythe, Toni Palmer and Ann Beach. Series
producer Dennis Main Wilson recorded the programmes on a Sunday
in order to be able to feature top West End actors who would not
normally have been available for work during weekdays
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The
Seven Faces of Jim
BBC 1961
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A
wonderful 7 x 30 minute comedy series written by Frank Muir and
Denis Norden, produced by James Gilbert, which featured the talents
of Jimmy Edwards in distinctly different situations and rather
odd characters. This was followed by two sequel series in 1962
'Six More Faces Of Jim' and 1963 'More Faces Of Jim'. The 1962
series introduced the classic 'Glums' family to television
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The
Valiant Years
BBC 1961
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Documentary
series based on Sir Winston Churchill's Second World War memoirs.
The 26 x 25 minute episodes were produced by American company
ABC TV from newsreel film archives drawn from virtually every
source imaginable. Narration was by Gary Merrill with selected
Churchill quotes and speeches read by Richard Burton. The musical
score accompanying the series was composed by Richard Rodgers
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Tuesday
Rendezvous
A-R 1961 - 63
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Childrens
entertainment show transmitted on Tuesdays and Fridays, presented
by Howard Williams, guitarist Bert Weedon and Muriel Young ably
assisted by glove puppets Pussy Cat Willum and Fred Barker. The
shows had many segments in a 'Blue Peter' style and also included
a pop spot featuring many chart-topping groups - not bad for an
'under 12' show. The programme had evolved from Small Time in
1955 and Lucky Dip in 1958 which had a similar line-up and was
to become The Five O'Clock Club in 1963 by which time another
puppet character, a Liverpudlian owl called Ollie Beak, had joined
the show along with ex-Viper Wally Whyton. From 1965 the show
was known as Ollie and Fred's Five O'Clock Club |
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