ECHOES OF LOUISA
An unusual ghost story set in modern and Victorian times, 'Echoes of Louisa' was a somewhat darker than usual tale in the children's television drama strand. The tale begins in 1876 where 15 year-old Louisa Hallam (Amanda Kirby) is expectantly awaiting the return of her soldier brother, Anthony (Jeremy Nicholas). However, when her brother returns he strikes up a friendship with another girl, Allegra (Lucinda Bateson), sending Louisa into a jealous rage. The story then moves forward to 1981. Whilst exploring the grounds of historic Thornaby Hall in Rutland, Allie Burr hears laughter coming from the grounds deserted stables. At first she believes the Hall to be haunted, but Allie, an exact double of Allegra (a dual role for Bateson), soon becomes witness to the true-life events of 105 years ago as Louisa sets out in a cruel and pitiless manner to rid herself of the rival for her brothers affections. Ultimately, Louisa is doomed to fail and this sometimes-disconcerting tale ends with her falling to her death.
6 episodes. ATV. 1981
EDNA, THE INEBRIATE WOMAN
Written by Jeremy Sandford who, with director Ken Loach, had created one of the most influential dramas of the 1960's, the tale of a homeless mother in 'Cathy Come Home'. In Edna, the subject that Sandford tackled was no less emotive -alcoholism. Patricia Hayes, better known for her comedy roles alongside the likes of Tony Hancock, Arthur Haynes and Frankie Howerd and appearences in television series such as 'Till Death Us Do Part' and (later) 'In Sickness And In Health', gave a BAFTA award winning performance as the troubled vagrant who is shunted from one agency to another finding temporary sanctuary in shelters for the homeless, prison and a psychiatric hospital, only to be forced back, each time, onto the streets. Seen as an indictment of societies inability to care for its outcasts, 'Edna, The Inebriate Woman' was a stirring piece of televisual drama that was made all the more powerful by Hayes' superb performance of a woman trying to hold on to the last vestiges of her dignity.
90 Minute duration. BBC 1971
EDUCATING ARCHIE
As strange as it may seem now, Archie Andrews was a ventriloquists dummy that first hit the big time on Radio! Operated by Peter Brough, Archie was the most popular radio personality of 1952, pulling in a phenomenal average of 15 million listeners. In 1951 a £1000 pound reward was offered for the puppets return when Brough had accidentally left him on a train. His show was also to give exposure to many up-and-coming stars of the time including Tony Hancock, Max Bygraves, Harry Secombe, Benny Hill, Beryl Reid and the 14-year-old Julie Andrews. There was also a fan club of around 250,000 children. 27 half hour TV shows were made for ITV, scripted by Ronald Chesney and Marty Feldman. Co-starring support came from Irene Handl and Dick Emery. Archie Andrews career was cut short when Peter Brough's father died and he decided to quit showbiz in order to run the families textile business.
FATHER BROWN
TV's first sleuth in clerical clothing was adapted in 1974 from the novels of G.K. Chesterton. Amateur detective Father Brown (motto: 'Have Bible -will travel') was amiably bought to the screen by veteran actor Kenneth More, but only after much badgering by TV supremo Lew Grade. When Grade commissioned the 13 60-minute episodes he knew exactly whom he wanted for the title role. But More, who had an impressive list of film credits to his name as well as having starred in the hugely successful BBC drama 'The Forsyte Saga', turned the part down on several occasions until Grade's persistence eventually paid off.
Ian Fordyce produced the series with a careful eye to 1920s period detail and costume. Father Brown, an unassuming East Anglian Roman Catholic priest who was highly successful in the detection of crime, employing a methodical approach and intuitive methods, first appeared in print in 1911 in 'The Innocence Of Father Brown.' The plots were played out at a leisurely pace in both print and on TV where the saintly sleuth was aided by Detective Flambeau as played by Dennis Burgess. The series was broadcast in the US on the PBS network in the 1980s and in 1990 America came up with its own version; 'Father Dowling Investigates', and although that series was based on the novels of Ralph McInery it has been suggested that McInery's tales were an updated American steal of Chesterton's novels.
13 episodes of 60 minute duration. ATV 1974.
THE FEATHERED SERPENT
Studio-bound Children's drama series set in the Aztec period starring former Doctor Who Patrick Troughton; formerly the hero of millions - but here the villain of the piece. Emperor Kukulkhan (Tony Steedman) wishes to bring about the end of sacrifices and other barbaric practices much to the disdain of his High Priest, Nasca (Troughton), who is fearful of losing his own quite considerable powers in the process. He concocts a plan that will draw in Kukulkhan's daughter, Chimalma (Diane Keene), the boy Prince Heumac (Brian Deacon) and a servant boy, Tozo (Richard Willis). Nasca weaves a web of deceitful lies and manipulation which ends with Heumic being sent to the summit of the Pyramid of the Sun to be sacrificed. However, he manages to survive and when the second series aired (two years later) Nasca is still at his conniving best and this time has employed the services of an old witch, Keelag (Sheila Burrell), who claims she can help him in his nefarious plans with the aid of magic and sorcery. As if Heumac hasn't got enough to contend with his intended marriage to Chimalma is disputed by Xipec (Granville Saxton), Governor of the Gold Region who sets him a series of challenges in order to prove his worthiness. The implied violence and savagery in this teatime presentation wouldn't have been out of place in an adult series and the costumes were lavishly colourful and authentic, although Chimalma's wedding dress was designed by a competition winner in the children's magazine ‘Look-In.’
12 episodes of 30 minute duration. Thames Television. 1976 - 1978.
FLIPPER
Based on the 1963 movie of the same name (which starred Chuck "Branded / The Rifleman" Connors and Luke Halpin), 'Flipper' was a clever dolphin who was always on hand (or fin) to help out Coral Key Park residents Sandy (Halpin) and Bud (Tommy Norden) and their father, Porter Ricks (Brian Kelly), who was Chief Ranger at the Florida marine reserve. Veteran Hollywood Western star Andy Devine appeared in earlier episodes as old salty sea-dog Hap Gorman, but was eventually replaced by Scandinavian Oceanographer Ulla Norstrand (Ulla Stromstedt). The Dolphin (real name Suzy), who helped Sandy and Bud through a series of adventures and out of a number of dangerous situations, was trained by Ricou Browning who had previously appeared under heavy make-up in the 1954 horror movie 'The Creature From The Black Lagoon.'
Approx 88 episodes of 30 minute duration. NBC 1964-68.
THE FOUR JUST MEN
Crime and mystery series that starred Jack Hawkins (as British M.P. Ben Manfred), Hollywood song and dance man Dan Dailey (as US journalist Tim Collier -who was based in Paris), Richard Conte (as New York Professor of Law, Jeff Ryder) and Vittorio de Sica (as Italian hotelier Ricco Poccari) all of whom had been members of the same unit during the war. They took turns each week in tackling an injustice (the episode being set in either London, New York, Paris or Rome) and each was aided by a female assistant, one of whom was future 'Avenger' Honor Blackman. Based on a novel by Edgar Wallace originally published in 1906, this ITC series was really one of the first to throw together so many top ranking international stars and the series enjoyed a fair amount of success during its two year run.
39 episodes of 30 minute duration. B&W. ITC 1959-60.
FRONT PAGE STORY
Fleet Street was the setting for this ATV series, which took viewers into the fictional offices of a daily newspaper with a circulation of 2,500,000 readers, called The Globe. Made by Rex Firkin, who produced the successful series 'The Plane Makers' and starring London born actor John Bennett as Ray Boscombe, an ambitious, power-seeking newspaperman who was The Globe's editor. Most of the stories were seen through the eyes of two reporters, Danny Tarrant (Derek Godfrey) and Paddy Lucas (Harry Towb), the former being a persistent, unflappable character relying on smooth charm whilst the latter was a persuasive, argumentative and sometimes lazy journalist. Other notable's in this series were the Editorial Director played by Ivor Dean who was familiar to British viewers as Inspector Claude Eustace Teal in The Saint and rival newspaper reporter John Brownhill played by a young Patrick Mower (later the impetuous killer Cross in James Mitchell's spy series Callan). In order to make the series as authentic as possible many scenes were shot in Fleet Street itself (which at that time was the centre of the British newspaper industry) using a new outside broadcast one-camera technique called Monoculous. This single-camera unit was mounted on the roof of a vehicle that also contained sound and vision controls, together with a video tape recording machine. Dated by today's standards but quite innovative at the time.
ATV 1965
GENTLE BEN
Man's best friend in this series wasn't a dog but a huge bear that had been "affection-trained" by Ivan Tors at his famous animal training compound in the San Fernando Valley, California, which-just a year before this series was filmed had suffered a flood that washed away half the animal compound. In a story that could well have fit into an episode of the series it was soon discovered that the bear's cage had been swept away completely and there was no sign of the animal. A call went out for a missing American black bear with a request not to have him shot on sight! But two days later, trainers at the camp were amazed when they returned to the area where ther bear's cage used to be only to find the animal sitting there patiently. The animal certainly seemed to have a charmed life because on another occasion a train was derailed in the hills above the compound and crashed through a number of animal cages. Some of the animals were badly hurt, but Ben's cage was completely demolished. The night before he had been moved by truck to Florida to begin shooting the TV series. Ben's co-stars were Dennis Weaver ('Gunsmoke,''McCloud'), who played Tom Wedloe, a Florida game warden who travels around the Everglades on an airboat (obviously the setting was a lot warmer than author Walt Morey's original setting: Alaska). Seven-year old Clint Howard played the boy Mark - he was the brother of Ron Howard who later went on to make a name for himself as Ritchie Cunningham in 'Happy Days' and as a celebrated film director. For extra back-up young Clint also had his real-life father in the cast, Rance Howard appeared as Henry Boomhauer, a backwoodsman who befriends the Wedloes. The series premiered in the UK on Tuesday 9th January 1968 in an early evening slot. It ran for two seasons in the USA from September 1967 to August 1969 on CBS.
56 episodes of 25 minute duration.
THE GEORGIAN HOUSE
Dan and Abbie are two students who arrive at a recently restored Georgian house in Bristol in order to further their own scholarly studies whilst acting as tour guides to the public. The two of them couldn't be less alike: Dan (played by former 'Timeslip' star Spencer Banks) has been privately educated and comes from a wealthy family, fully expecting to go straight into his father's company once his schooling is finished. Abbie on the other hand (played by Adrienne Byrne), is from a state school and is clearly unimpressed with the obvious priveleges that wealth will bring Dan. Nontheless, the two of them make plans to show the public around the house, which 200 years before, was owned by the rich Leadbetter family. It is whilst unpacking valuable ornaments for display that the two of them come across an African wood carving which begins to emit a mysterious noise. The carving begins to rotate and the room darkens and a haunting whispering fills the air calling 'boy...boy...boy...'. They find themselves transported back in time where they become involved in the affairs of the Leadbetter family, but with a significant change to their personal circumstances. Abbie is transformed into a member of the wealthy family whilst Dan finds himself dressed in the clothes of a kitchen boy. It transpires that they have both been transported back in order to save a black servant, Ngo (former 'Double Decker' child actor Brinsley Forde later the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the reggae group, 'Aswad') who is about to be transported back to the plantations. Not an easy task given the social circumstances of the age and the fact that Abbie has forgotten all about her 20th century origins.
7 episodes of 25 minute duration. HTV. 1976.
GET SOME IN!
Written by the superior sitcom writing partnership of John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, 'Get Some In!' was, like 'The Army Game' years before, set in the 1950s at a time when all able-bodied men were drafted into the forces to do their National Service. The action begins in 1955 at RAF Skelton, where the motley crew of draftees include 'teddy boy' Jakey Smith (played by a pre-'Citizen Smith' Robert Lindsay), dim Scotsman Bruce Leckie (Brian Pettifer), vicar's son Matthew Lillie (Gerard Ryder) and posh grammar school boy Ken Richardson (David Janson). Although each man is from a different background they are united in their loathing of the Corporal assigned to take them through their basic training and thereby make their lives complete misery, Percy Marsh (Tony Selby). Similarly, Marsh hates every one of them and sets about bullying them, especially young Ken who he dubs 'Poof House' Richardson, not because he is gay but simply because he is well spoken, well mannered and middle class. But ultimately it is Marsh who always comes off worse due to the fact that he's not exactly the brightest star in the sky and it doesn't take much for the new recruits to outwit him. The series ran for three years, a lot longer than basic training would take, but following their induction the group were assigned to train as nurse assistants at RAF Middleton only to discover that Marsh had been sent there with them and after a very short posting to Malta they are back again within the clutches of their old enemy at RAF Hospital Druidswater. This is a series that deserved a longer run but by the 1970s National Service was just a distant memory for many and a completely unknown element to the rest of us - and that may well have contributed to its short run. It was certainly nothing to do with Esmonde and Larbey's writing which was as sharp as ever.
34 episodes of 30 minutes duration. Thames Television. 1975 - 78.
THE GHOSTS OF MOTLEY HALL
Stately Motley Hall has been the ancestral home of the Uproar family since the 16th Century, but in recent years it has been allowed to fall into decrepit disrepair. Empty for twenty years since the death of the last Uproar, Sir Humphrey, who was killed by a kneeling elephant, the property is now in the hands of decidedly jittery estate agent Arnold Gudgin (Peter Sallis), who is desperately trying to offload it to a new buyer. Any new buyer! But Motely Hall isn't exactly empty. It is inhabited by a number of ghosts; General Sir George Uproar (Freddie Jones), the spooks’ self-appointed leader whose Victorian military campaign ended in disaster when he led his men, and himself, to their deaths; Sir Francis 'Fanny' Uproar (Nicholas Le Prevost), an 18th Century fop, gambler and alcoholic; Bodkin (Arthur English), jester to the original Uproar, Sir Richard; the White Lady (Sheila Steafel), who has no recollection of who she is, or in fact, who she was; and Matt (Sean Flanagan) a stable-boy from the Regency era. Together they connive to ensure that Motley Hall stays 'in the family' (even if they are all deceased) and even when Gudgin finally does manage to sell the Hall, its buyer quickly has a change of mind and gives it to him as a gift! As well as potential buyers the Hall is visited by other spooks, several ghost hunters, a documentary film crew and some small-time crooks. Needless to say none of them hang around too long. ‘The Ghosts of Motley Hall’ was created by Richard Carpenter, the man responsible for such classic shows as ‘Catweazle’, ‘Robin of Sherwood’ and ‘The Adventures of Black Beauty’. Sets were minimal, special effects were simple, but the scripts and the cast were spot on, making this a hugely entertaining children's series made in the best possible spirit.
19 episodes of 30 minutes duration and one 60-minute special. Granada Television 1976-78.
THE GOODIES
Originally to be called 'Super Chaps Three', The Goodies were the quintessential image of a 1970's Britain that had not yet shaken off its 1960's 'swinging' image. The trio of do-gooders who would do anything, anyplace, anytime, consisted of Tim Brooke-Taylor (who was so patriotic that he always wore a Union-Jack waistcoat), Graham Garden (a nutty professor type), and Bill Oddie (a left over from the hippie movement, complete with giant sized portrait of Chairman Mao). In the course of their adventures they would typically rescue humanity, as in the case of saving London from the clutches of a giant cat, whilst charging around the country on their three-seater bicycle. Popular fads and cultures of the day were given the 'Goodies' treatment, Kung Fu was given a North Country twist in an episode entitled 'Ecky Thump', whilst Doctor Who was presented as 'Planet of the Rabbits.' During its run the series picked up two Silver Roses at Montreux and spun off into the pop charts top ten with 'novelty' hits 'The In Betweenies,' 'Funky Gibbon,' 'Nappy Love' and 'Make A Daft Noise For Christmas.' After ten years the BBC had decided that they had got all the mileage out of the show that there was to get, and, somewhat disillusioned, Messrs Brooke-Taylor, Garden and Oddie took themselves off to commercial television. However, only six shows were made by LWT.
73 episodes of 30 minute and 2 of 50 minute duration. BBC 1970-80 and LWT 1981-82.
GUNSMOKE / GUNLAW
The longest running Western series on television (originally transmitted in the UK as 'GUN LAW'), starring James Arness, (brother of Peter 'Mission Impossible' Graves), as US Marshall Matt Dillon. John Wayne was the first choice of lead actor, and although he turned down the part he did introduce the first episode. Set in Dodge City in 1873, the other principal characters were Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake), Doc Adams (Milburn Stone) and limping deputy Chester (Dennis Weaver, later to star as TV detective 'McCloud'). Burt Reynolds appeared for a while as blacksmith Quint Asper and when Chester left in 1964 he was replaced by Festus Hagen (Ken Curtis). Arness wore the Marshall’s badge until he finally rode off into the sunset at the end of the second of two TV movies; -'Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge' and 'Gunsmoke: The Last Apache'- made in the late 1980's.
233 episodes of 30 minute duration & 402 episodes of 60 minute duration.
B&W and Colour. CBS TV 1956-1975.
