This Is The BBC

An impression of twenty-four hours of an imaginary day in the life of the BBC. The sound track consists entirely of the announcements, programme music and the voices of artists and commentators and technical staff.
Transmitted on the opening night of BBC Television Centre.

Producer: Richard Cawston

Transmitted: 29th June 1960

This film footage is from the Archive Collection held and administered by the Alexandra Palace Television Society.

~ APTS ~
Preserving the televisual past for the digital future

www.apts.org.uk

Category:

Education

Tags:

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• alexandra
• palace
• society
• simon
• vaughan
• bbc
• television
• service
• history
• ally
• pally
• this
• is
• the
• Richard
• cawston
• centre

[mrmousebender]

A marvelously well done film, with no narration--an inspired touch. But at roughly 1:03:00 it abruptly switches to colour for a few minutes, followed by the closing credits in B&W. Was this part of the original film?

BTW, I noticed Richard Murdoch hosting a program of light music. For people of my parents' generation, he is remembered for ITMA, but I remember him as the senescent and perpetually briefless barrister Uncle Tom on Rumpole of the Bailey.

[aptsarchive]

@mrmousebender Thank you for your comments and pleased that you enjoyed watching this film.

However, the wrong edit of the film was uploded to YouTube. Yes, the film should switch to colour at the end, but the end credits should also be in colour. This was partly to emphasise the difference colour television would make - when it eventually arrived.

It is hoped to have a new edit of the film uploaded soon.

[Midsomercounty]

Something just struck me... The production assistent coming into the screen at 23:40, the young woman with the white blousse, is that actually Paddy Russell or am I mistaken???

[aptsarchive]

@Midsomercounty As far as we are aware the person you mention IS Paddy Russell

[uranrising]

Wonderful to see again. I remember seeing the original broadcast and thought it a terrific docu. Marvellous to see so many familiar voives [sic], especially Robert Simpson talking about "The Innocent Ear", seeing a bit of Round The Horne and of the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra. And so much more. Thanks for the upload.

[aptsarchive]

@uranrising Glad you enjoyed this fascinating film.

[almostfm]

@n1uvu I did a quick search and didn't find any pictures from the era, but it _certainly_ sounds like her

[almostfm]

"Three minutes of summary and no difficult words"--music to a newsreader's heart.

[tb3193]

A wonderful window into the past. Thanks so much for posting this.

[aptsarchive]

@Midsomercounty Glad you enjoyed the upload. There are more filmss, currently in preparation, which should be uploaded to our YouTube Channel as soon as we are able to.