BBC2 - The Craftsmen - Bob Godfrey Documentary - Part 1

[Widgeripoo]

I first met Bob way back in the fifties, when he and we were starting outin animation. He had more success than we, but we remained friends, and at one point we were going to work together on my children's stories, 'tales of Widgeripoo'. ALAS! WE couldn't get the funding, so it never happened. However, I still live in hope (actually, I live in Stevenage, but keep it quiet!)

[ledzepp423]

bob godfrey is my favorite animator

[shaurz]

Before he removed the false teeth he sounded like Custard ;-)

[L1U2C3Y]

Ah the old bbc2 indent :)

[TheBigBanimation]

Man Oh Man would Bob laugh his heart out...a tribute programme to him and all the comments are about the Fonts and type!!?

That's his sense of humour I can assure you!!

;-))

[wayzotoichi]

thanks for this, we hear little of the guy behind Henry's Cat, Roobarb& Custard etc. x

[SozLike]

Yes, I wasn't sure if the endcap font changed at the same time as the globe "COLOUR" (1972 according to MHP and other sources). It would make sense if they did though.

Do you know the name of the italic serif font used after Helvetica? I've been trying to find a match with little success.

Cheers...

[RobinCarmody]

Sadly not. But what with its showing to a new generation before Life on Mars, plus the vast numbers of people outside the UK (especially in the US) who've seen it in Python, that globe must have been seen by more people than any other BBC1 ident.

[SozLike]

It's my personal fave, (the italic serif one).

[RobinCarmody]

I think it is for many. So much better-looking than its successor - but that 1975-81 version, *precisely because* it's so hideous, fits the mood of its time well (c.f. its use in The Filth and the Fury).

[RobinCarmody]

Original tx date is Thursday 4th February 1971, 8.00-8.15 pm on BBC2. I think the Helvetica "COLOUR" font was used initially, and then the italic font succeeded it - the word on the BBC1 globe made the same transition (compare series 2 Monty Python with series 3 Python and the Life on Mars thing).