Comments for THIS IS ZENITH 1964 from Transdiffusion

Comment on Wednesday 9 September 1964 on Southern by John King

John King — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 22:41:23 +0000

Just a little note on your explanation that Southern broadcasting hours were overrunning – in fact not just the party political broadcast was exempted this day, but also the Professional Wrestling, which was counted as an outside broadcast, so those 40 minutes of wrestling could be used to extend the broadcasting day, or moved to any other day of the week. Southern decided to close early, as for some regions, early close downs were what their audience preferred, as some regions, people went to bed early, or there wasn’t a need for late night programming. Same happened in Ulster Television region for example, who were often off air come 11.30pm during the 1960s and indeed well into the 70s and 80s

Comment on On the cover of a magazine by Lee Barnard

Lee Barnard — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 07:33:10 +0000

October 6th -12th 1963 – Southern Edition. Is the cover you want.

Comment on Spangles mystery flavour contest by Nick

Nick — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 08:04:01 +0000

The Wikipedia article on Spangles alludes to the competition (vaguely ) and says the mystery flavour was fruit salad.
Any idea which publication the ad came from?

Comment on Saturday 12 September 1964 on Southern by John King

John King — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 18:32:02 +0000

For this Saturday, I checked with the schedule from ATV London and it seems Southern Television followed ATV London with a lot of their schedule. The only difference was at 5.15pm ATV London had Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans. Then Southern sticks with ATV London right up until 11.05pm, when ATV London opted to show Milligan’s Wake followed at 11.25pm by a show called Night Spot to lead up to the ITN News at 11.55pm. So unlike other regions, and later on in the seventies, ATV London and Southern followed a very similar schedule plan for Saturday nights.

Comment on Meet the Beatles by Tom Mackie

Tom Mackie — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 12:06:38 +0000

I asked John lennon while in dressing room, How he managed to keep singing when they were performing nearly every night, Because that was the situation My band were in at that time,And I was beginning to feel the strain In my voice, He just looked at me and said In his scouse accent I just keep shoutin, and that was the end of the conversation,

Comment on ATV London on 22 March 1964 by Dan Franks

Dan Franks — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 09:51:49 +0000

He was my godfather, don’t remember much about him.

Comment on Meet the Beatles by Tom Mackie

Tom Mackie — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 07:22:07 +0000

I met and had a short conversation with John Lennon in their dressing room at the Caird Hall Dundee 1964 when we were supporting act,
Tommy Dene and the Tremors,

Comment on K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M by Stuart Holmes

Stuart Holmes — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 09:05:54 +0000

Slight error of omission in your otherwise interesting & well written article: it was:
”…Keynsham, that’s K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M, Keynsham, Bristol.”

Comment on Back in time for TV: BBC-2 by Coldass

Coldass — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:22:48 +0000

BBC 2 ,what a channel,inrhe 60,s,70,s it didn’t start till around 7,30 pm and finished around 11pm
It was full of schools type of education, an absolute turn off,not mu h better today,
So if you turned auntie off and put the radio on ,you could tune into259 and listen to Caroline South,
Johnnie Walker,the admiral robbie dale,roger day,andy archer, or tune to 266 and listen to the likes of Tony Windsor,tony Blackburn,ed Stewart on wonderful BIG L

Comment on Freddie Phillips starts the day by Paul Mundy

Paul Mundy — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 11:48:29 +0000

Is the Radiophonic Workshop start up music mentioned in the article available? I remember one tune before the start of children’s programmes that sounded like a version of the children’s rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence

Comment on The Big L Club by Mary Payne

Mary Payne — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:46:27 +0000

Robyn Rogers was a real person!

http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/rl/scrap60/minipage/minmem16.html

Comment on Brainwashes whiter by Pete Singleton

Pete Singleton — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 00:26:23 +0000

I can’t help quoting (annoyingly, I know) my own personal maddening advertising jingle here, so do forgive my indulgence. It goes, as Rambling Sid Rumpo might say, after this fashion:

Morton Morton Morton Morton Morton Morton Garden Peas,
Morton Morton Morton Morton Morton Morton Garden Peas,
Why does everybody choose MORton, MORton?
‘Cos Morton’s taste better, Morton’s taste better!

And don’t get me started on Raelbrook Shirts…

Comment on Friday 11 September 1964 on Southern by John G King

John G King — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 21:38:11 +0000

In 1964, was the 7 hour daily limit of regular programmes firmly in place, or could ITV companies use more hours on one day, and then less on another, to ensure they did not breach the 50 hour maximum weekly ration?

Comment on On the cover of a magazine by Michael

Michael — Thu, 20 May 2021 11:01:30 +0000

Hello! I’m looking for a cover from a 60s TV Times I used to own. It showed Roger Moore on horseback, during his time as The Saint. He was smiling at the camera. A black and white image. I’ve searched online but to no avail.
Any chance you can help, please?
Mike

Comment on Friday 11 September 1964 on Southern by Graham Pearson

Graham Pearson — Sun, 02 May 2021 15:18:08 +0000

I am aware that Independent Television in the South brought us show jumping during the 1960s and the late great Raymond Brooks-Ward commentating on the event. Southern Television ceased transmission on Thursday 31st December 1981 after 23 years on air and its successor Television South which began on Friday 1st January 1982 and they relinquished show jumping coverage to the BBC. Roving Report was dropped from the ITV scheduled at the end of June in 1967 to make way for News at Ten which started on Monday 3rd July 1967.

Comment on 12 January 1964 on ABC Weekend TV by John G King

John G King — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 11:34:28 +0000

We forget how tightly regulated and controlled broadcasting hours on a Sunday were back in 1964. Hard work for ITV companies to make sure they have accounted for every minute on air, and try and use the exempted programming genres to expand their day and get a little bit more ad revenue. Hard work.

Comment on 18 January 1964 on ABC Weekend TV by Steve Scales

Steve Scales — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 19:24:06 +0000

In reply to Paul Hughes.

Poor late lamented Brian Clemens had a dreadful job when he was brought back in order to rescue the Linda Thorson episodes of the Avengers. Many remain utterly unwatchable; but I personally still like those episodes that stuck to the old Avengers formula, i.e. plenty of location filming; believable villains with dastardly plots; lots of wit and masses of specially composed music: [“All Done With Mirrors” “False Witness” “Take Me To Your Leader”.] But to view the series at its zenith, you have to return to the 1965-66 black and white Emma Peel episodes. The run from “A Surfeit of H20” up to “The House That Jack Built” is quite breath taking.

Comment on 18 January 1964 on ABC Weekend TV by Paul Hughes

Paul Hughes — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 17:16:16 +0000

A great read. Quite a varied line up. I’ve been enjoying watching the later episodes of The Avengers with Linda Thorson on ITV4 recently and thought they stood up quite well. Hard to believe they are now over 50 years old.

Comment on 18 January 1964 on ABC Weekend TV by Steve Scales

Steve Scales — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 15:49:21 +0000

When the Avengers moved from videotape onto 35mm film, it galvanised the series. Nimble camerawork, wonderful sets, atmospheric lighting, superb location work; none of this is easily done in a tv studio recording onto videotape. Then with film there is the post-production: superb film editing, excellent sound effects and terrific music. Add to all that the pulchritudinous Emma Peel and no wonder the show is still watchable to this very day. RIP Dame Diana. But let’s not be too sad. She’s up there with Patrick in that great big Bentley in the sky.

Comment on 18 January 1964 on ABC Weekend TV by Paul Mason

Paul Mason — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 06:07:07 +0000

Sadly 2020 has seen the deaths of Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg. An awful year which also saw the death of Nicholas Parsons (Arthur Haynes, Benny Hill, Sale of the Century and Just A Minute).

Comment on 12 January 1964 on ABC Weekend TV by Alan Keeling

Alan Keeling — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 16:17:23 +0000

I discovered that the Canadian series The Littlest Hobo (1963) was originally filmed in colour, when I purchased a 2 DVD Region 1 set from Amazon.

Comment on 12 January 1964 on ABC Weekend TV by Kif Bowden-Smith

Kif Bowden-Smith — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 22:22:20 +0000

In reply to Pete Singleton.

Thanks Pete! I’m always trying to emphasise that ABC were of more cultural substance than a certain other pre 1968 weekend franchise!!! ????

There’s another ZENITH – ABC TVT review article next week too! Do come back!

Comment on 12 January 1964 on ABC Weekend TV by Kif Bowden-Smith

Kif Bowden-Smith — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 22:17:30 +0000

In reply to Ray wilson. Thanks Ray! There’s another ABC TVT article arriving on ZENITH next week. Do come back!

Comment on 12 January 1964 on ABC Weekend TV by Pete Singleton

Pete Singleton — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 10:19:00 +0000

I’m suddenly 13 years old again… thank you both for another great insight into ‘the year that changed everything’.

And I’ve learnt something… I never knew that ABC had a remote cubby hole atop the Forum in Lime Street!

Comment on 12 January 1964 on ABC Weekend TV by Ray wilson

Ray wilson — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 17:45:29 +0000

Thanks Kif,a great read…

Comment on Wednesday 9 September 1964 on Southern by MARK C JEFFRIES

MARK C JEFFRIES — Wed, 06 May 2020 23:47:52 +0000

Considering that “East Side West Side,” a serious drama about a New York social worker played by George C. Scott, was one of those series that the critics loved but the viewers didn’t (on the home of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” CBS), one might say that many viewers may’ve just turned their sets off this night.

Comment on 1964 and all that by Gordon Sinclair

Gordon Sinclair — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 15:52:33 +0000

Enjoyed that – at lot of that resonated! I was raised in Lincolnshire (during my formative years, in a red-brick mansion Children’s Home) before joining the RAF as an apprentice in 1966. It’s been a good life, by and large …

Comment on Milestones by Pete Singleton

Pete Singleton — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 08:31:19 +0000

I never thought I’d get all nostalgic about hearing – *adopts 60s American broadcaster accent* – “Garner Ted Armstrong”! (The World Tomorrow, Radio Caroline).

Thank you, TBS Editors, for the great audio and visual inserts into my piece.

Comment on Saturday 12 September 1964 on Southern by Alan Keeling

Alan Keeling — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 19:34:39 +0000

Bristish born Joe Baker who played Jumbo in ATVs Fire Crackers, went to the USA in the early 1970s and appeared in films and TV shows such as Mrs Columbo, Fantasy Island, Highway to Heaven, etc.

Comment on Friday 11 September 1964 on Southern by steve brown

steve brown — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 21:03:08 +0000

These days,a PPB is given ‘by’ rather ‘on behalf of’

Comment on National petrol by Jeremy Rogers

Jeremy Rogers — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 20:15:45 +0000

Benzole (a mixture of benzene and toluene) had only just been finally completely removed from National petrol. It had been bought by BP, who were still selling through a joint operation with Shell that had been formed during the 1930s. National was sold through the 1960s based on lifestyle aspiration, a contrast to the traditional approach on performance, reliability etc.

Comment on Friday 11 September 1964 on Southern by Russ J Graham

Russ J Graham — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 19:00:48 +0000

In reply to Paul Mason. Bloody autocorrect!

Comment on Thursday 10 September 1964 on Southern by Paul Mason

Paul Mason — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 18:32:16 +0000

At the time of writing Dr Desmond Morris is now 90 years old

Comment on Friday 11 September 1964 on Southern by Paul Mason

Paul Mason — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 18:22:27 +0000

Kif and Russ, Groucho MARX. No marks on me already!

Comment on Friday 11 September 1964 on Southern by Alan Keeling

Alan Keeling — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 14:53:32 +0000

The one and only US show for that day was a repeat of Hanna Barber’s Quick Draw McGraw (1959), the successor to The Huckleberry Hound Show and just as funny. As well as the Quick Draw McGraw segment, there was Snooper and Blabber + Auggie Doggy and Doggy Daddy.

Comment on Tuesday 8 September 1964 on Southern by Jeremy Rogers

Jeremy Rogers — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 15:07:17 +0000

The choice of American comedies to show between the regions can be quite singular; Southern for example was the only one to buy a few episodes of ‘Leave it to Beaver’ which it showed in 1962 during children’s television when most of the others were showing Fireball XL5 for the first time.

Comment on Thursday 10 September 1964 on Southern by Alan Keeling

Alan Keeling — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 14:51:21 +0000

At 5.25, a repeat of Richard the Lionheart (1961/62) with episode 10, this series was “The Danzigers” attempt to cash in on the ITC Swashbucklers, a lively action-packed series, last seen in the early 70s.

Comment on Tuesday 8 September 1964 on Southern by Mark Jeffries

Mark Jeffries — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 23:03:38 +0000

Amusing that TV Times on “My Three Sons” lists the role of the Douglas family dog Tramp as being played by his trainer, Frank Inn (who includes among the many animals for films and television “Green Acres”‘ Arnold the pig.

Comment on Tuesday 8 September 1964 on Southern by Pete Singleton

Pete Singleton — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 18:13:06 +0000

A great piece gentlemen! (But we’d expect nothing else!)
Thank you.

‘The Unknown’ (10.5)… Strangely, I was talking last night to a member of the Norfolk hospital radio station in King’s Lynn that I volunteer at on Friday evenings. She is ‘ex-Anglia’ and is working on a ‘regional faces’ type audio programme for the station and has already contacted her old friend, Helen McDermott (Anglia in vision continuity) for an interview. She remembers Dick Joice, executive producer of ‘The Unknown’ and of course, presenter of ‘Bygones’ that had a 20 year run on Anglia. Dick died in 1999.

It’s a small world.

Comment on Monday 7 September 1964 on Southern by Paul Mason

Paul Mason — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 06:37:56 +0000

Don’t forget the young John Thaw a decade before the Sweeney.

Comment on Monday 7 September 1964 on Southern by Mark Jeffries

Mark Jeffries — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 03:01:18 +0000

And I would assume that some British schoolboys coming across the listing for “Discs a Gogo” would be laughing like Beavis and Butt-Head over the description of the setting as “the gayest coffee bar in town.”

Comment on Monday 7 September 1964 on Southern by steve brown

steve brown — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 17:36:44 +0000

What a line up in The Other Man-it included two actors who became legends on BBC children’s tv-John Noakes and Brian Cant,plus two actors who the following year were voice artists in Thunderbirds-Peter Dyneley and David Graham

Comment on Sunday 6 September 1964 on Southern by Alan Keeling

Alan Keeling — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 15:12:34 +0000

The Big Film at 4.45, or should I say, the B-movie stars veteran US actor Kent Taylor who played Boston Blackie on TV for two years from 1951 for Ziv Productions in B/W and Colour.

Comment on Spangles mystery flavour contest by Alan Keeling

Alan Keeling — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 15:01:52 +0000

The question mark on the packet was later replaced by a cocktail glass full of the questionable fluid complete with a cherry on a stick, I still can’t recall what the mystery flavour was. It was a great way to sell Spangles though.