Nostalgic Children's TV and other themes from childhood....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Breakfast this morning is awash with the Flaxton Boys...which I still cannot remember ...

A Sunday teatime programme - each series was set at a different historical period, starting in the mid-Victorian and going on to (IIRC) the First World War (although I may be mistaking the latter with Tom Somebody-or-other's War). The common factor was Flaxton Hall, and the boys of the title were always a pair - one the son of the lord of the manor, the other a poor boy from the village (of whom daddy disapproved). I remember enjoying it, but can't recall any specific stories.

Interesting that many programmes with good title Music had stories that I can't now remember (what Cali said about The Freewheelers is true for me: the Music is firmly impressed on my memory, but I don't remember the stories at all). On the other hand, what was probably my favourite of all children's programmes from the time had a mneh theme, ruined by "comic" sound effects meant to tell kids "it's alright: this is going to make you laugh". I hated this attitude - like Alpie says, sickeningly patronizing. But I loved the series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyyqwQLuNFw

[pastoralguy]

Does anyone remember 'Catweazel'? It made a huge impression on a young boy in the late 60's/early 70's. (Apologies for going off- topic since I don't think it had any specific music connections).

[Roslynmuse]

Does anyone remember 'Catweazel'? It made a huge impression on a young boy in the late 60's/early 70's. (Apologies for going off- topic since I don't think it had any specific music connections).

Yes - Geoffrey Bayldon in the title role, I think.

Another programme from around the same time that terrified me was called 'Escape Into Night' and was an adaptation of the book 'Marianne Dreams'. This used part of RVW 6 as the title music.

[robk]

Grieg's Symphonic Dance No 2 was used for the BBC adaptation of The Railway Children. I wrote to the BBC to ask what is was & got a postcard back from them. Loved it ever since.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Does anyone remember 'Catweazel'? It made a huge impression on a young boy in the late 60's/early 70's. (Apologies for going off- topic since I don't think it had any specific music connections).

Erm ... you see that red-lettered link in the post immediately above your own, pasty?!

[Nick Armstrong]

what Cali said about The Freewheelers is true for me

Euh.... I don't think that was me... not least as I've never heard of The Freewheelers!

Nor did I ever watch or even see the title sequence - not once - of the Flaxton Boys or Catweasel...

I suspect both were on the ... ahem... other side...? ITV didn't get much of a look-in at home

...thank heavens, there must have been Special Dispensation for The Persuaders

But yes, even at 10, those Catweasel titles had to be toe-curlingly, horrifically embarrassing.

Talking of which, the lyrics of this are too - but BOY! I loved this series and the title music!!!

[teamsaint]

Oh yes, that one slipped my mind Cals.

Great stuff.

[mercia]

Another programme from around the same time that terrified me was called 'Escape Into Night' and was an adaptation of the book 'Marianne Dreams'. This used part of RVW 6 as the title music.

...... and starts with some Beethoven (I think) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdE8hRt_k6Q

like someone above ITV wasn't allowed in our house

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Euh.... I don't think that was me... not least as I've never heard of The Freewheelers!

I refer m'learned friend to his post #20:

Bloody hell! How can that music be so familiar and me have no recollection of ever having heard of, still less watched, that programme?!

But yes, even at 10, those Catweasel titles had to be toe-curlingly, horrifically embarrassing.

Yes - we nearly didn't watch it, but there was nothing else to do, so we gave it a go: a brilliant series; a (rather unsuccessful) sorceror from 1066 escapes from Norman soldiers through a lake to the Twentieth Century, discovering all the modern miracles of "electrickery", the "talking bone" ( = "telephone") and the sun in a bottle (an electric light bulb) etc etc (including the horrors of the clock: "I fear thee not, thou tacking tyrant!" - which has become a sort of fhg mantra). Written by Richard Carpenter, it was delightful. Robin Davies, who played Carrot ("my brother in magic") in the first series later was promoted to the BBC series And Mother Makes Three/Five but sadly died of cancer a couple of years ago. Gary Warren, who played Owlface in series Two, went on to play the boy in the Lionel Jeffries film of The Railway Chidren. A third series was planned, but management was shifted round, new policies were put in place and it was never made.

[Radio64]

What a totally fantastic thread...why hadn't I spotted it before...? Some great late 60s/ early 70s stuff there .. as a 'telly bug' in those days I lapped up every single programme even in the hoolidays when I was supposed to be "playing outside" (re. Robinson crusoe, Belle & Sebastian, White Horses, Skippy etc...!)

Apologies if this one has already been mentioned..Not much of a theme as such but the melody haunts me to this day..

[Nick Armstrong]

I refer m'learned friend to his post #20

Ah! it was that one was it! Thanks & apologies - I'd not retained the programme name in my head...

[Radio64]

...and as it's nearly holiday time .....

(hands up those who related most to the bespectacled, shirt 'n' tie-wearing geek ... )

[Lordgeous]

Grieg's Symphonic Dance No 2 was used for the BBC adaptation of The Railway Children. I wrote to the BBC to ask what is was & got a postcard back from them. Loved it ever since.

Me too - see my post 85 above.

[Radio64]

From Trumpton town hall fast forward to the early 70s for scarey kids' sci-fi programmes, with obligatory Moog-driven theme music:

..absoloutely loved this lot.

[pastoralguy]

Erm ... you see that red-lettered link in the post immediately above your own, pasty?!

Oops! Although when I clicked on it it took me to 5 minutes of adverts which is why I often avoid links.