Outside
Gary Critcher
I found this on Danny Baker’s Twitter feed.
How atmospheric is that ?
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John Howell
The illuminated banner reads “Jimmy Edwards in ‘Whacko’ Tonight”.
Dave Mundy, Dave Plowman
I was probably working on the show!
Those were the days, when you could park in front of TVT!
Is that a Bentley behind the Austin Sheerline? The ‘Sheerline’ was a favourite of mine in the 1950s as I believe it had powered jacks (as did its big sister the Princess). In an old scrapbook I have the publicity brochure for it as my Dad printed it at work.
I once had an SA2, called Angus, who drove a Bentley, and Security at TVC main gate allowed him to park in the horse-shoe car-park!
Geoff Fletcher
Bob Gillies used to have this MG Y Type when we were at Evesham on TO19 back in 1964 and it also had powered jacks.
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We covered some miles in that car visiting various local hostelries plus trips back to London at weekends, to Salop, and up to Cumbria and back. Good times!
Dave Plowman
The system I remember involved selecting the jack you wanted (one for each wheel) then raising by pumping a hand lever. On some cars, it was under the bonnet – on others you removed a floor panel.
I think it was called the Smiths Jackall.
Peter Hider
Great photo.
I was on that very pavement outside the Theatre doing my second ever live camera shot. It was of Joe Loss, the band leader, arriving for his “This Is Your Life” with Eamonn Andrews in May 1963. Joe Loss featured again in 1980.
In case anyone is interested, my first shot was on “Blue Peter” crabbing along a line of all the full size Bank signs. Mike Bond was the Senior Cameraman and, as he’d let any spare staff go home early, it was left to him to track me on an old tiller ped as I was operating at full height.
Happy days.
Gary Critcher
A shot taken from a window at the TV Theatre one cold December afternoon in 1964.
The ad for Polaroid cameras on the back of the 268 is a bit strange – a somewhat tenuous connection therein?
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Talking of Buses around the Green ….
Dick Blencowe
I remember travelling frequently from Clapham Junction to Harlesden on the 628 Trolley Bus route in the 1950s to visit my Grandmother. This route went over Putney Bridge and up the Fulham Palace Road to Hammersmith Broadway (two way then) then up to Shepherds Bush where trolley busses could go on to Wood Lane as the 628 did or left along Goldhawk Road. I remember on one occasion the poles went left but the 628 took its correct route past the TVT (probably not then). We came to an abrupt stop and out came the long bamboo pole to sort out the mess! We then proceeded up Wood Lane past what would become TV Centre.
Mike Cotton, Alan Stokes
I used to travel from Hounslow to Shepherds Bush by 657 trolley which turned around the Green and then back out along the Goldhawk Road.
Sometimes at Bush Corner on the way home, the arms tried to turn left to Isleworth and the cab continued to Hounslow. Frantic pole work by the crew in the middle of a busy crossroad. I think they had a battery for limited travel off power.
Inside
Albert Barber
I found this link: enter a world of nostalgia (“Radio Times” and BBC Publications covers).
Sad I know but glorious.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/combomphotos/sets/72157624024060738/
Peter Hider
A fascinating collection and very timewasting!
I’m fairly certain that the third cover down on the website – a BBC Childrens Annual Cover Picture – shows a Mole Crane, the arm swinger is Dave Mutton, the driver Martin Dilly and the Cameraman Eddie Stuart
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Alex Thomas
It’s a 4 man Mole and Martin Dilly is on the tiller whilst the driver is out of shot but his seat, unoccupied, is on the edge of the picture.
The great danger of the motor controls being low down on the dolly was the bucket catching them and putting the crane into fast forward or fast reverse.
It did occasionally happen with destructive consequences to the set.
Alec Bray
The cameras are Marconi Mk III – lens change handle on the back, bottom centre.
John Howell (Hibou)
Sadly I can’t identify the boom op but would you agree it’s in the TV Theatre? Look at the clock and the architecture just above the title banner.
All the crew are suffering the vice-like grip of the original Ericsson "cans". I joined in November 1962 and the STC lightweight plastic cans had appeared by then.
Pat Heigham
I agree that’s it’s TVT, and is that Eamonn Andrews with the children? Therefore: “Crackerjack”.
Certainly Eddie Stuart on Cam 1.
I joined Crew 3 in 1962 (Aug) so think this was a bit before that – 1961 or early 1962?
