I seem to remember that TV stopped during the showing of a Mickey Mouse cartoon at the advent of World War 2, and was, 'resumed', when the war had finished. With the announcer saying something along the lines of, 'and now, before we were rudely interrupted...'
Is this the ACTUAL first postwar broadcast? Or was this staged just for this particular film? Does anyone know for sure?
Regardless, it's wonderful that someone thought to film this, and that the footage survives. Early TV from America is practically nonexistent. That's because each station was independent and thus the survival of any material was completely by chance. There was no central archive to keep anything, and no one saw any value in doing so anyway.
Unfortunately as no television recording method was available at this time (1946), what you see here was a recreation, but using the same presenter, Jasmine Bligh, and the original engineers. It was filmed for a BBC TV Film called "Television Is Here Again", to mark the re-opening of the BBC Television Station after the 1939 - 1945 war.
Yes, Jasmine Bligh was one of the in-vision announcers in 1936 when the BBC Television Service started on 2nd November. After the service closed on 1st September 1939, she went off to make a film with Arthur Askey. She was involved in war work, contributed to a closed-circuit television demonstration in 1945, and then became an annoucer again when the service stated in 1946.
@aptsarchive Around 1953 Jasmine Bligh opened our summer school fete in Kent, I remember thinking how attractive she was as I got her autograph. I still have that autograph to this day.
@prehistory42 Jasmine was a lovely lady, if not a little controversal in her younger days! It is such a shame that she suffered a stroke and her latter years were subject to ill health. Jasmine did write an autobiography, but for whatever reason, her family have chosen not to make it available for publication.
@aptsarchive Author and historian Bob Ogley writes a weekly nostalgia column in our local paper The Gravesend Reporter and recently wrote about Ivo Bligh 8th Earl of Darnley. I let Bob know about Jasmine being related to the Earl (great niece I think) which resulted in him writing an in depth piece about Jasmine in this week's paper (24.02.11) I think it's good to keep her name going and what a shame her book has not been published.
Yes, the BBC Television Service did start broadcasting "officially" on 2nd November 1936, (with trial transmissions beginning in August 1936 for the Radio Exhibition), but the was the re-opening (after the Second World War) on 7th June 1946
Farnsworth didn't invent the electronic television. It was invented and patented by Hungarian Kálmán Tihanyi in 1926. The later Farnsworth system proved to a blind alley, Factories have never produced the Farnsworth system. Tihanyi's earlier invention of the predecessor of all modern electronic system. UNESCO (United Nations) the patent offices and Nobel Comitee created the award: MEMORY OFTHE WORLD. They considered Tihanyi as the inventor
Regular television transmissions from Alexandra Palace had begun in the summer of 1936. However, after Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, the BBC immediately shut down all TV studios and transmitters for the duration of World War II. Not until 1946 did those broadcasts resume, as demonstrated here...
Television is amazing, and can be fun. The history of it is fascinating. Its effect on society has been almost entirely negative. It has certainly contributed to mass illiteracy and mass ignorance. If we could ABOLISH GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS we might be able to repair some of the damage done by government schools and television.
I seem to remember that TV stopped during the showing of a Mickey Mouse cartoon at the advent of World War 2, and was, 'resumed', when the war had finished. With the announcer saying something along the lines of, 'and now, before we were rudely interrupted...'
JFredUK 1 year ago
@JFredUK I believe the announcement was, "We apologize for the interruption of service." How wonderfully British if it's true.
MrUnidyne 1 year ago
Comment removed
JFredUK 1 year ago
Of course if this was now they wouldn't have took the bbc off during the war. U would just press the red button for live coverage.
weirdnetwork 1 year ago
Of course if this was now they wouldn't have took the bbc off during the war. U would just press the red button for live coverage.
weirdnetwork 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
What a horrible plummy accent, ugh.
Fronika 2 years ago
I love it! It's safe and reassuring. I think it's a great pity the announcers don't speak like that any more! :-)
disremembrance 2 years ago 6
Hopefully Hitler never had a live broadcast. But thank God for the BBC.
spoiledbrat1440001 2 years ago
Is this the ACTUAL first postwar broadcast? Or was this staged just for this particular film? Does anyone know for sure?
Regardless, it's wonderful that someone thought to film this, and that the footage survives. Early TV from America is practically nonexistent. That's because each station was independent and thus the survival of any material was completely by chance. There was no central archive to keep anything, and no one saw any value in doing so anyway.
hebneh 2 years ago
Unfortunately as no television recording method was available at this time (1946), what you see here was a recreation, but using the same presenter, Jasmine Bligh, and the original engineers. It was filmed for a BBC TV Film called "Television Is Here Again", to mark the re-opening of the BBC Television Station after the 1939 - 1945 war.
aptsarchive 2 years ago
wow was that the woman who did the 1936 broadcasts? Blyme, she must have been on the dole for ages. Bloody Germans.
BNCA70 2 years ago
Yes, Jasmine Bligh was one of the in-vision announcers in 1936 when the BBC Television Service started on 2nd November. After the service closed on 1st September 1939, she went off to make a film with Arthur Askey. She was involved in war work, contributed to a closed-circuit television demonstration in 1945, and then became an annoucer again when the service stated in 1946.
aptsarchive 2 years ago
@aptsarchive Around 1953 Jasmine Bligh opened our summer school fete in Kent, I remember thinking how attractive she was as I got her autograph. I still have that autograph to this day.
prehistory42 1 year ago
@prehistory42 Jasmine was a lovely lady, if not a little controversal in her younger days! It is such a shame that she suffered a stroke and her latter years were subject to ill health. Jasmine did write an autobiography, but for whatever reason, her family have chosen not to make it available for publication.
aptsarchive 1 year ago
@aptsarchive Author and historian Bob Ogley writes a weekly nostalgia column in our local paper The Gravesend Reporter and recently wrote about Ivo Bligh 8th Earl of Darnley. I let Bob know about Jasmine being related to the Earl (great niece I think) which resulted in him writing an in depth piece about Jasmine in this week's paper (24.02.11) I think it's good to keep her name going and what a shame her book has not been published.
prehistory42 1 year ago
BBC TS started is 2nd November 1936
New7Dry 2 years ago
Yes, the BBC Television Service did start broadcasting "officially" on 2nd November 1936, (with trial transmissions beginning in August 1936 for the Radio Exhibition), but the was the re-opening (after the Second World War) on 7th June 1946
aptsarchive 2 years ago
Farnsworth didn't invent the electronic television. It was invented and patented by Hungarian Kálmán Tihanyi in 1926. The later Farnsworth system proved to a blind alley, Factories have never produced the Farnsworth system. Tihanyi's earlier invention of the predecessor of all modern electronic system. UNESCO (United Nations) the patent offices and Nobel Comitee created the award: MEMORY OFTHE WORLD. They considered Tihanyi as the inventor
celebration81 2 years ago
Regular television transmissions from Alexandra Palace had begun in the summer of 1936. However, after Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, the BBC immediately shut down all TV studios and transmitters for the duration of World War II. Not until 1946 did those broadcasts resume, as demonstrated here...
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
Television is amazing, and can be fun. The history of it is fascinating. Its effect on society has been almost entirely negative. It has certainly contributed to mass illiteracy and mass ignorance. If we could ABOLISH GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS we might be able to repair some of the damage done by government schools and television.
bobparis 3 years ago
Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Thank you for your comment.
aptsarchive 3 years ago