#6 - "SIX-FIVE Special" (1958)

SIX-FIVE Special (1958) - part 6of6

-- Jackie Dennis

-- The King Brothers - "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane", "Six-Five Jive"

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The Six-Five Special was a British television programme launched in February 1957 when both television and rock'n'roll were in their infancy in Britain.

It was the BBC's first attempt at a rock'n'roll programme, a very great innovation at the time and subsequently much imitated, even today. It was called the "Six-Five Special" because of the time it was broadcast - it went out, live of course as all programmes did then, at five past six on a Saturday evening.

Jack Good was the producer and disc jockey Pete Murray was its presenter who used the catchphrase "Time to jive on the old six five". Its resident band was Don Lang and his Frantic Five. The show opened with film of a steam train accompanied by the programme's theme song, played and sung by the Frantic Five.

The show was originally scheduled to last six weeks but, as a result of Jack Good ignoring the guidance given to him by the BBC management not to show the young audience alongside the performers, it continued indefinitely.

The BBC interfered with Good's vision of what the show should be by cluttering it with educational and information elements, as per their Public Service Broadcasting policy. The relationship between Good and the BBC became strained and they eventually fired him, resulting in a big loss of viewing audience.

Jack Good would quickly join the ITV company ABC to create "Oh Boy!", which was the show he'd wanted to make from day one. It featured non-stop music and lost the tedious "public service-inspired" elements as part of its more frenzied pace, and trounced the further-diluted "Six-Five Special" in the ratings.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 6-5
• Special
• Jack
• Good
• Jim
• Dale
• Petula
• Clark
• Lonnie
• Donegan
• Cleo
• Lane
• Don
• Lang
• King
• Brothers

[Jonathandreamer]

Jackie Dennis is an awesome performer! And he's only 15 years old. Great song and love those tartan trews.

[spowart100]

I agree, jackie is my grandad, he is married to my gran. He has never changed

[paulnaylor062]

looks like a snob,stuck up little gayboy....

[spilsby88]

I remember when I was growing up in London in the fifties hearing Jackie's version of La De Dah and immediately going out and buying it with my pocket money; however I am sure when I saw him on TV he wore a kilt; in fact I only ever think of him in a kilt, am I mistaken? I hated the King bros, totally square man!

[leoseries]

Ye Gods!. My (grown up) kids think that things were hip back in 1958. I hope they never see this!

[kingm616]

Proud to say this legend is my uncle.

[11FanMiley1]

that is my best friends grandad :d.

[hyonrty]

sad to say I remember when the king bros first appeared on tv, they were very young and was dressed as cowboys, does anyone else remember this..

[MrMemories]

Damn...after seeing what a geek he appears to be in that performance would you want to talk about it if you were he?

[BlueMagev2]

TO be honest I havent ever spoke to him or anything, the only sorce of speaking I had with him was one time he got really angry at us (we stay above him) because we played really loud music. Then afew months later my friend came back with this and it was so crazy!

[BlueMagev2]

Nah he is living in edinburgh around the corner from where I stay. Its absoloutely crazy how famous he was until we randomly came across this.

[gerard1875]

great guy

regards

Gerard