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1960s
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 Sixties
Television - 1960 |
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| 77
Sunset Strip ITV Warner Brothers |
American
private detective series originally created in 1958 which starred
Efrem Zimbalist Jr ( Stuart Bailey ), Roger Smith ( Jeff Spencer
) and Edd Byrnes ( Kookie ). No doubt that the West Coast hot-rodding,
quiff-combing, jive talking Byrnes was the main interest of the
series for teenage females on both sides of the Atlantic. Bailey
and Spencer were the freelance private eyes who, along with their
secretary Suzanne ( Jacqueline Beer ), were assisted in their
enquiries by local 'head', Kookie. Kookie....Kookie...lend me
your comb.... and the theme tune was pretty snappy too
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| A
Life Of Bliss BBC 1960-61 |
George
Cole starred in the successful carry-over of this 30 minute comedy
series from radio to television, playing the part of David Bliss,
a gullible young bachelor prone to verbal gaffes and jumping to
incorrect conclusions. His pet dog, Psyche, was 'voiced' by animal
impersonator Percy Edwards. Sheila Sweet starred as his girlfriend,
Isabel Dean as sister Anne and Colin Gordon as his brother-in-law.
Two series were made, written and produced by Godfrey Harrison
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|
All Our Yesterdays GRANADA 1960-73 |
20 minute ( later 30 minute ) nostalgia documentary programme
which showed newsreels from 25 years ago on that week. These were
made up from the twice-weekly cinema Pathe newsreels which were
shown at the time, later to include television news archive footage
and studio guests. First narrated by James Cameron and later narrated
and introduced by Brian Inglis
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| Biggles GRANADA 1960 |
28
x 30 minute episodes featured the adventures of Air Police Inspector
Bigglesworth based on the stories by Captain W.E.Johns. A children's
action series with very definite goodies and baddies. The goodies
were Biggles ( Nevil Whiting ), Ginger ( Chart-topping pop star
John Leyton ) and Bertie ( David Drummond )
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| Bonanza ITV 1960- NBC 1959 |
Huge,
long-running blockbuster American western series featuring the
life and adventures of the Cartwright family, owners of the Ponderosa
ranch, and citizens in nearby Virginia City during the wild west
of the 1860s. Ben Cartwright was played by Lorne Greene and his
three sons, Hoss, Little Joe and Adam were played respectively
by Dan Blocker, Michael Landon and Pernell Roberts. Very much
a 'moral' series with the Cartwrights demonstrating the best traits
of human nature, usually with a happy ending despite nature's
setbacks and gun-toting baddies of all types. Immensely popular
series still showing on various channels today
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| Bonehead BBC 1960-62 |
Slapstick
25 minute comedy series produced and written by Shaun Sutton which
featured Bonehead ( Colin Douglas ), Happy ( Douglas Blackwell
) and Boss ( Paul Whitsun-Jones ) as the 'Silliest and least successful
gang in the Underworld'
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| Citizen
James BBC 1960-62 |
This
30 minute comedy series was essentially a spin-off of the character
played by Sid James in Hancock's Half Hour. The first series,
written by Galton and Simpson, presented the character as a layabout,
aided and abetted by Bill Kerr and girlfriend Liz Fraser. The
second series, written by Sid Green and Dick Hills transformed
him into a well-meaning but bungling do-gooder aided by pal Sydney
Tafler
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| Coronation
Street GRANADA 1960- |
What
can I possibly say in a few lines that would do justice to what
started as a twice-weekly soap opera about the lives of North-western
city folk and has since turned into a British institution. It
was originally intended to be a 13 part series, written by creator
Tony Warren, to be called 'Florizel Street'. Original series main
characters included Ena Sharples ( Violet Carson ), Martha Longhurst
( Lynne Carol ), Minnie Caldwell ( Margot Bryant ), Elsie Tanner
( Pat Phoenix ), Len Fairclough ( Peter Adamson ), Dennis Tanner
( Philip Lowrie ), Albert Tatlock ( Jack Howarth ), Ken Barlow
( William Roache ) and the masters of 'The Rover's Return' Annie
and Jack Walker ( Doris Speed & Arthur Leslie )
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| Danger
Man ATV 1960-61 1964-67 |
Cult
action / adventure espionage series created by Ralph Smart which
featured Patrick McGoohan as John Drake, a top agent for the NATO
secret service ( British Intelligence M9 in the second series
) who, unlike his American counterparts, rarely resorted to gunplay,
preferring to slug his way out of trouble. The first series consisted
of 39 x 30 minute episodes produced by Ralph Smart and the second
series of 45 x 60 minute episodes produced by Aida Young (64/65)
and Sidney Cole. Two 60 minute episodes (1967) were made in colour
- 'Koroshi' and 'Shinda Shima' which were recombined into a 93
minute telefeature called 'Koroshi'. The programme was networked
in the U.S. by CBS under the title 'Secret Agent'
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| Four
Feather Falls GRANADA 1960 AP Films |
39
x 15minute episodes were made of one of Gerry Anderson's early
puppet-based adventure/fantasy shows. Sherrif Tex Tucker saves
the life of Makooya, the son of indian chief Kalamakooya and is
rewarded with four magic feathers which, among other things, enable
his guns to fire by themselves and allow his dog, Dusty and horse,
Rocky to be able to talk to him. The series villains are bandits
Pedro and Fernando. Other characters included Martha Jones, Grandpa
Twink and Little Jake
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| Here's
Harry BBC 1960-65 |
A
very popular and long-running comedy series starring the genius
of Harry Worth whose bumbling attempts at do-gooding landed him
in all sorts of hot water and strange situations. The series followed
on from the earlier BBC sitcom 'The Trouble With Harry'. Writers
included Vince Powell and Harry Driver and the shows, like the
earlier series, were produced by John Ammonds
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| International
Detective ITV 1960 Delry - A.Edward Sutherland Associated British - Pathe |
A
series of action / drama detective stories based on the actual
files of the William J.Burns international detective agency. 39
x 30minute episodes were made, directed by Eddie Sutherland and
featuring Arthur Fleming as private investigator Ken Franklin
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| It's
A Square World BBC 1960-64 |
A
long-running series of satirical comedy shows masterminded by
Michael Bentine of Goon Show fame. Notable for the unusual variety
of means employed to convey the very visual gags, including cartoons
and silent-movie techniques. The series, produced by John Street
and G.B.Lupino also featured many other famous comedians including
Benny Lee, Clive Dunn, Frank Thornton, Dick Emery, John Bluthal
and the possibly less well-known Leon Thau, Anthea Wyndham, Louis
Mansi and Janette Rowselle
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| Maigret BBC 1960-63 Winwell Productions |
51
episodes x 45/55minutes over four seasons featured Rupert Davies
in the title role as Georges Simenon's famous fictional character
after the BBC acquired worldwide rights to the creation. The thoughtful,
highly observant French detective was supported by assistant Lucas
( Ewen Solon ) and Mme Maigret, played by Helen Shingler. Giles
Cooper wrote and edited the series scripts and Ron Grainer composed
the music which accompanied Eileen Diss's atmospheric French settings.
Davies reprised the character for a one-off 90 minute programme
in 1969 for the 'Play of the Month' series
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| On
Trial GRANADA 1960 |
A
series of 10 x 60minute authentic docu-dramas which chronicled
and re-enacted famous historical British trials such as those
of Oscar Wilde and Sir Roger Casement ( Peter Wyngarde ). The
shows included factual narration by Andrew Faulds and an explanatory
commentary by Brian Inglis. The series producer was Peter Wildeblood
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| Our
House ABC 1960-61 |
Very
much in the 'Carry On' mould, this 13 episode x 55minutes and
7 episodes x 45 minutes two season series was written by Carry
On writer Norman Hudis. Nine inherently incompatible people (
Season one: Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques, Norman Rossington,
Joan Sims, Frank Pettingell, Trader Faulkner, Ina de la Haye,
Frederick Peisley and Leigh Madison ) club together to purchase
and inhabit a run-down house. The disasters and belly laughs continued
into season two with the addition of Hylda Baker and Bernard Bresslaw.
The series was produced by Ernest Maxim
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| Police
Surgeon ABC 1960 |
The
series starred Ian Hendry as Doctor Geoffrey Brent in this lightweight
straight crime drama series. Other regular participants were John
Warwick as Inspector Landon and Ingrid Hafner as Amanda Gibbs.
Michael Crawford appeared in one episode - 'Easy Money' - as a
juvenile delinquent. As it was essentially insipid, the show was
cancelled after one season but the character of Geoffrey Brent,
still played by Hendry, was revived 12 months later, having gained
a partner, as one of the two main parts in the first series of
'The Avengers'
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| Sykes
and a ....... BBC 1960-65 |
Superb
long-running situation comedy series which starred Eric Sykes
and Hattie Jacques as brother and sister who lived at 24 Sebastopol
Terrace next door to long-suffering neighbour Charles Brown, played
by Richard Wattis. The .... of the title each week was the object,
situation or latest weird obsession which was the cause of that
episode's mayhem and disaster, frequently attended by local beat
policeman PC 'Corky' Turnbull ( Deryck Guyler ). 60 x 25-30 minute
episodes were made in black and white, written by Eric Sykes,
Johnny Speight, Spike Milligan and John Antrobus. Occasional guests
on the series included Peter Sellers, Joan Sims and Les Dawson.
One episode was remade in 1967 by Associated London Films as a
54 minute classic comedy film called 'The Plank'
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| Target
Luna Pathfinders In Space Pathfinders To Mars ABC 1960-61 |
6
x 30 minute episode childrens science fiction series written by
Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice. Sydney Newman's production style
was reminiscent of a comic-style approach and featured children
in the lead roles. This was the first of seven series and starred
David Markham, Michael Hammond, Sylvia Davies and Michael Craze
in a story revolving a trip to the moon.The series was followed
by Pathfinders In Space ( 1960 - 7 x 30mins ), Pathfinders To
Mars ( 1960/61 - 6 x 30mins ), Pathfinders To Venus ( 1961 - 8
x 30mins ), Plateau Of Fear ( 1961 - 6 x 30mins ), City Beneath
The Sea ( 1962 - 7 x 30mins ) and Secret Beneath The Sea ( 1963
6 x 30mins )
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| The
Charlie Drake Show BBC 1960-62 ATV 1963 BBC 1967-68 |
30
minute comedy series which followed on from the 1959-60 series
'Charlie Drake' and featured slapstick-style sketches and situations
which brought out the pathos and genius of this much underrated
comedian.Scripts were written by Charlie Drake and Richard Waring.
Ronald Marsh produced. Most, if not all of the slapstick stunts
were undertaken by Drake himself, causing him to be badly injured
on more than one occasion. The 1963 ATV series was scripted by
Drake and Lewis Schwarz and produced by Colin Clews
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| The
Dickie Henderson Show AR 1960-65 AR 1968 |
Although
British-made, this Bill Hitchcock-directed 30 minute domestic
sitcom series had a very American feel. Featuring the multi-talented
Dickie Henderson as 'himself' with long-suffering wife June Laverick,
10 year old son John Parsons and musical manager friend Lionel
Murton as the other main characters, plus weekly guest stars
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| The
Flying Doctor ABC 1960-61 |
Hands
up who thought that this was an Australian show! 39 x 30minute
episodes of stories based on the adventures of the Royal Flying
Doctor Service were made on location in Australia ( plus a lot
of stock footage ) and at the Associated British Studios in Elstree.
The lead character, Dr. Greg Graham ( an American medico ) was
played by Richard Denning, carted around by pilot Charley Wood
( Alan White ) and assisted by nurse Mary Meredith ( Jill Adams
). Series produce was David MacDonald
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| The
Splendid Spur BBC 1960 |
Adventure
/ drama series set during the English Civil War in 1642 starred
Patrick Troughton as cavalier Captain Luke Settle in this 6 x
30 minute episode serial. David Goddard produced, based on a story
by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. Also appearing were Victoria Watts,
Michael Balfour and Kenneth Farrington
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| The
Strange World of Gurney Slade ATV 1960 |
Weird
and surreal, this short series starred Anthony Newley as an over-imaginative
young man prone to fantasising about his ideal female and frequently
finding himself in conversation with trees and similar objects.
The 6 x 30 minute episodes were written by Sid Green and Dick
Hills and produced by Alan Tarrant. Max Harris's music was conducted
by Jack Parnell
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| The
Sunday Night Play BBC 1960-63 |
A
series of new plays specially written for television production,
and starring some very famous names, which were shown periodically
under this umbrella title between 1960 and 1963. The first one
to be seen was 'A Walk In The Desert' by John Whiting which starred
Lawrence Harvey, Tracy Lloyd and Nigel Stock. One of the productions
- David Mercer's 'A Suitable Case For Treatment' - was later made
into a feature film
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| The
Untouchables Desilu Productions |
114
( possibly 118 ) 60 minute episodes were made of this classic gang-busting
series starring Robert Stack as F.B.I. agent Eliot Ness, featuring
the American establishment's fight against organised crime and the
likes of Al Capone during the prohibition period. Although fairly
mild by today's standards, it was considered to be one of the most
violent TV shows of all time. The stories were essentially taken
from F.B.I. files up to the end of prohibition. The later storylines
continued into the Forties although the real 'untouchables' disbanded
in 1932. Other agents were played by Nick Georgiade ( Enrico Rossi
), Abel Fernandez ( Bill Youngfellow ), Paul Percerni ( Lee Hobson
), Jerry Paris ( Martin Flaherty ) Steve London ( Agent Rossman
) and Anthony George ( Cam Allison ). Narration was by Walter Winchell |
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| The
World of Tim Frazer BBC |
18
x 30 minute episodes were made of this drama intrigue series which
were actually three individual 6-part stories although shown consecutively.
Jack Hedley starred as Tim Frazer, a structural engineer who gets
recruitede as an undercover agent by a government intelligence
department. The whole series came under the general heading of
'Francis Durbridge Presents', Durbridge collaborating with three
different writers for the three 'series' which were produced byRichmond
Harding
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|
Torchy
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Another
early Gerry Anderson-directed puppetry series, this time aimed
at a slightly younger audience. Torchy, a clockwork toy with a
battery-powered light on his hat, travels in his space rocket
to and from Topsy-Turvy Land, where all the neglected and mistreated
toys live and come alive to join in his adventures. 3-Dimensional
sets were introduced for the first time on this series and puppets
were fitted with moving mouths and eyes. Creator Roberta Leigh
went on to make a second series of Torchy with Associated British
Pathe |
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| Whiplash ATV / ITC 1960-61 Artransa Park |
34
x 30 minute shows were made of this Wild West style action series
which was set in 1850s Australia. Peter Graves ( Mission Impossible
) starred as stagecoach company owner Chris Cobb and featured
his adventures in the constant struggle against outlawry and competitors
during the continent's formative years. Anthony Wickert featured
as his helper, Dan. The 'baddies' in the series included George
Wallace Jr and Belfast-born Chuck Faulkner, who had actually been
Australia's first newsreader and weatherman back in 1956 for Channel
9. Did you know that Peter Graves and James Arness of 'Gunsmoke'
are brothers?
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Some
Other 1960 Television Shows Which You May Have Forgotten...|
Bernard
Delfont's Show - ITV - Variety series
TV Playhouse - ITV - Drama series Hippodrome - ITV - Variety series Concentration - ITV - Game show |
Back
to top of page
1960 Television Ratings ( millions of homes
)
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1
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Royal
Variety Show
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ITV
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8.06
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2
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Armchair
Theatre
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ITV
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7.70
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3
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Take
Your Pick
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ITV
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7.46
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4
|
No
Hiding Place
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ITV
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7.18
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5
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Wagon
Train
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ITV
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7.18
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6
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The
Army Game
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ITV
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7.15
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7
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Bootsie
and Snudge
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ITV
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7.12
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8
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Sunday
Night at The London Palladium
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ITV
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7.04
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9
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The
Larkins
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ITV
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6.99
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10
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The
Arthur Haynes Show
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ITV
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6.89
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11
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Bernard
Delfont's Show
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ITV
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6.81
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12
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Knight
Errant Ltd
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ITV
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6.58
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13
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Double
Your Money
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ITV
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6.51
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14
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TV
Playhouse
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ITV
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6.40
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15
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Emergency
Ward 10
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ITV
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6.37
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16
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Hippodrome
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ITV
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6.37
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17
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Dickie
Henderson
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ITV
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6.18
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18
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Concentration
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ITV
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6.17
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19
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Candid
Camera
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ITV
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6.17
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20
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The
Moscow State Circus
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ITV
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6.08
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All
Original Material
SixtiesCity 2009 |
