Doug Puddifoot

Where was this shot? I don’t recognise this as a TVC camera. Pre 63 when I joined.

Alec Bray

Surely the TV theatre, as there were Marconi Mk IIIs there in 1963

Hugh Sheppard

Surely TVC; I had worked on only one with Crew 6, prob. early ’60s, in the days when Bill Cotton (then Bill Cotton Jnr,) was the Floor Manager. Can’t recall the Producer unless it was George Inns. But who was the cameraman and where was the picture sourced from?

Vern Dyer

Not sure, but it looks like a Marconi Mk III, in the Theatre presumably – and that has to be Eddie Stuart on the Mole Crane.

I joined Eddie’s crew in 1964, and I’m pretty sure the Theatre had Pye Mk Vs already then.

Alec Bray

Marconi Mk III cameras were never ever at Television Centre: in the early 1960s their haunts were the Television Theatre and Riverside…

TC4 had EMI 203s.

John Henshall

My image is on Alamy with this description:

Head Television Topper Jackie Joyner and George Mitchell Minstrel Dai Francis perform in front of the Marconi Mark III black and white camera operated by Senior Cameraman Eddie Stewart on stage at the BBC Television Theatre Shepherds Bush Empire London W12 in November 1962. Left of picture (back row) is Elspeth Hands. PER0097

Roy Bailey

Yes, Eddie Stuart. And note the head protector from the TVT circle on the Mole.

David Plowman

Not intending making a political comment, but ‘black face’ is an ancient theatrical tradition. From the days when it would have been impossible to find (enough) black UK actors. And I’d guess the same applied to Minstrels then. Totally different from today, when it would be easy. Was it meant to denigrate our black citizens then? I’d say not. Surely acting is all about the talent portraying someone who is not themselves.

Alasdair Lawrance

You’re quite right about blackface, it’s a very old tradition.

I may be wrong, but I did hear that it was one of the Supremes, possibly Mary Wilson, who were guesting on a B&WMS who suggested that it was not appropriate, and that started a re-think by management.

Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know.

Dave Brunt

The only thing I can find where The Supremes and The Minstrels appeared in the same show together was on the 1968 Royal Variety Performance.

It took another decade to get the Minstrels off the telly.