One summer some of us studio bods were asked to go to Wimbledon to help out, as the OB was short staffed: not sure the year but possibly 1965 or 1966.
The OB people did not want us anywhere near the main cameras (one reason being that focus and zoom controls were “other handed” compared to studio cameras), so we were told to man the cameras for the player interviews and local “studio” pieces ONLY.
Associated Rediffusion were also broadcasting the tennis, and there was no thought of a common feed. So each broadcaster had their own cameras and crew. Here on Centre Court we have two BBC TV Pye Mk 6 cameras, which contrast with the Rediffusion Marconi Mk III cameras – a couple of (tv camera) generations older! (and are they unmanned at this precise moment …???)
When not requi9red for the interview studio, I was able to wander around …I took some quick shots – sorry for the poor quality but I think interest outweighs quality in this case.
his is before Wimbledon Centre court got rebuilt. This is the sort of view that you got:
The same “multi broadcaster” set up was true for the small interview studio – a BBC TV camera and an Associated Rediffusion camera sat side by side – in a cramped space! Although the cameras were spaced a suitable distance apart, it did feel a bit like a case of case of -“… if you pan left, we’ve all got to pan left …”
And of course there was a hoist ….
which occasionally came down to earth…
A view of the portable “studio”, BBC OB trucks and gennie. This studio was for the BBC links and discussions, so it just housed the BBC TV cameras and equipment (the small interview studio was used to talk with the players at the end of their matches).
All made to look pretty for the guests and viewers.
And the live signals had to be relayed back to Television Centre:
