Retro TV

[DavidKW]

My you tube Xmas tv find yesterday included most parts of a Tiswas Chrsitamas from 22/12/1979. Very enjoyable.

Frustratingly, I never got to see it first time, as my house only got Southern TV region, whilst everyone else in the area had ATV Midlands, so could watch in; everyone at school saw it but me! Not fair & parents were patrionising about it.

I got stuck watching Southern's Saturday effort, the final edition of The Saturday Banana (thankfullt Southern finally took Tiswas after this thanks to ITV Strike 1979). I remember it had Slade on as guests with Noddy Holder dressed as Santa where they did their Merry Xmas everyone standard & ended with their new release for Xmas, their take on Hokey Cokey.

Also remmeber one of host Bill Oddie's 2 female teen assistants Maxine being off with measles so they talked to her on phone. Other assistant with extra duties was Sue asa Sue Tully later of Grange Hill then Eastenders, now a TV director.

[DavidKW]

Also on the tube, I saw some old Woolworh's Christmas ads & am going to wiew again one called "Christmas Wrapping part 1" which looks at & critiques (thoguh I don't always agree with critic) the many mechanical logos BBC 1 & 2 used in the 70s & 80s.

The TV ark site also has some assorted Christmas on TV preview trailers from 70s & 80s.

That used to be part of the fun of old Xmas TV - what jingle ad & celebs would Woolworths have, what visuals & slogan ITV network would use.

And after the lunchtime news on Xmas Eve, what logo would BBC have for Christmas. Today they already have the Xmas logo trailer on both BBC channel well before Christmas, thus creating overkill and boredom of them by 27/12.

One of the best logos was the spinning Christmas pud for 1977 (on Xmas night Morecambe & Wise hit record ratings in their last BBC & decent Christmas show. When BBC thrashed ITV all night).

One of worst was the severed head of a pained looking santa in 1978. Creepy.

[Digifiend]

I see what you mean. I wasn't born when these aired. Strange that these are from the 1970s yet use the 1981 logo. Apparently it had been used on continuity and such since 1974, so it's odd that the main ident introduced that year ever used Futura type.

[alanultron5]

To get back to Dr Who for a moment- A site Called `Dr Who Archives` has stated that Uber `Who` fan, Ian Levine has unearthed a few `Dr Who episodes in Taiwan. Bad news is these are already held by the BBC. They are from the final Patrick Troughton season (1968-69) from stories "The Dominators" "The Seeds of death" and "The war games"

If this `is` bona-fide it does at least give hope that episodes `not` held by the BBC might yet still turn up.

[Lew Stringer]

Speaking of the Daleks, it's 50 years to the day since they first appeared on TV (or at least one of their sink plungers did).

[DavidKW]

I think Steve Zodiacs idea of watching Laurel & Hardy for 8 hours may be a good idea for passing s*** Xmas. Or some 1960s Dr Who DVDs.

Was planning on watching Xmas related old Tv DVDs but won't bother as I'm off Xmas. Blame office party I dutifully attended has me off Xmas.

[DavidKW]

The only thing I watched on Xmas day itself was on challenge: A repeat of a 1979 3-2-1 - Xmas Dickensian theme. I remember looking forward to seeing this when originally shown in 79 and to my frustration being prevented by my parents (too busy showing off their trophy daughter/my older sister).

Also watched some good DVDs on other days, including Xmas editions of Athur Haynes Show (had a chuckle) & Public Eye.

[alanultron5]

My favourite was the adaptation of "The Tractate Middoth" Very enjoyable! It had previously been screened way back in 1966 as part of the supernatural anthology series "Mystery and Imagination" which most of sadly wiped.

[stevezodiac]

I am a big fan of Columbo and for the past couple of Saturdays, with Millwall losing over on bbc score, I have sought solace in the scruffy detective. On Sunday I came across this cutting from an old Radio Times. So if anyone asks what Columbo's first name was you can now tell them.

[Peter Gray]

nice find...also a big Columbo fan..

[stevezodiac]

I found a new freeview channel last night - its on channel 64 - you will need to retune. It is showing vintage American tv shows such as The Beverley Hillbillies, Bonanza, Dragnet, The Lucy Show, The Lone Ranger and an old Sherlock Holmes tv series from the 50s I think with Ronald Howard in the title role. Haven't googled it yet so don't know if he's related to Ron Howard of Happy Days/Film Director fame.

[alanultron5]

Anyone remember `SPACE PATROL` ?

[stevezodiac]

Yes I used to watch it as a child in the 60s. It was in TV Comic for a while. I have the dvd box set now.

[philcom55]

I actually preferred Roberta Leigh's stories to Gerry Anderson's Fireball XL5.

- Phil Rushton

[stevezodiac]

I wish they'd colourise Fireball XL5. I know there are purists out there who believe anything made in black and white should stay that way (my mate Steve) but I have the colourised dvd of Scrooge (Alastair Sim) and like it a lot. Same goes for The Longest Day and Red River (Grey River? in its original form?). I bought the first season of Bewitched in B&W before discovering there was a colourised set so had to buy it again. Fireball XL5 being a puppet series at least wouldn't suffer with the artificial skin tones so much.