Today’s speaker was Derry Jordan on “Retro 60’s TV”
A blast from the past. Derry said his talk was based on personal memories of the 60s – an exciting time of the Beatles, Carnaby Street, etc.
At that time there were only two channels on for only parts of the day, not the 24-hour TV of today. He was all into TV with its heros and heroines, mainly British characters with some American programmes. Some of the programme contents would not be allowed to be broadcast today. Re-makes of programmes from that time rarely succeeded with modern audiences, exceptions being “Dr Who” and “Blue Peter”. A time when presenters wore evening dress – Macdonald Hobley, Lady Isobel Barnet for example.
Children’s programmes on for a short period in the afternoon (“Watch with Mother”) included “Andy Pandy”, “The Wooden Tops” including the biggest spotty dog you ever did see, “Muffin the Mule”, “Mr Pastry”, “Champion the Wonder Horse” and many more.
Documentaries included Armand and Michaela Dennis on safari with Hans and Lotte Haas doing the same underwater.
Crime drama had a long list – think of “Dial 999” with Robert Beattie or “The Invisible Man”
Series based on history were not known for accuracy; those on books did not mirror the book.
Who can forget the interludes: - the Potters Wheel, the kitten playing with wool and more.
Puppetry developed from Muffin the Mule, to Camberwick Green and SuperMarionation of Thunderbirds and other products of Jerry and Sylvia Andersen.
Westerns – a long list of memorable names; Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train, Maverick, Cheyenne, Rawhide, High Chapparal, the Lone Ranger, and many more.
Crime series – Highway Patrol, the Naked City, Burke’s Law, the Untouchables, not forgetting Dixon of Dock Green,
Commercials in the 60s were much different from today’s slick productions costing millions to make. The first advert shown was for Gibbs SR toothpaste. Remember the Milky Bar Kid? Double Diamond? (You’re never alone with a) Strand – eventually dropped because of the connotations? (Too good to hurry) Murray Mints? And many, many more
Derry informed us that his first role as an actor was an extra on “Emmerdale Farm” as it was then. He remembers bumping into actors he had watched on TV and found them all approachable. Many modern celebrity actors are unapproachable because of the accompanying host of sycophants. Not so James Mason and David McCallum with whom he has worked.