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

[Angle]

I am suffering from nostalgia having read the entire thread - to say nothing of weakening eye-sight - but what an excellent thread; to which I shall make the following unconnected contributions:

Sullivan's IRISH SYMPHONY was used for Tom Brown;'s Schooldays back in the seventies. (Recorded by the LIverpool Phil under Charles Groves)

Then of course, there was STRANGER ON THE SHORE - Acker Bilk

You might like to know that you can get the enbtire Robinson Crusoe series from YouTube, if you have the patience.

Why is no-one mentioning radio?

I can trace my music appreciation back to Paul Temple and SChEHEREZADE in about 1946.

Listeners to radio Children's Hour might recall that Elgar's Chanson de Matin (du Matin?) was the signature tune for the Bunkle series, Wolf-Ferrari's Intermezzo from The Jewels of the Madonna was used for either Ballet Shoes or tThe Bloue Door Theatre.

Happy, happier days indeed.

Don

[Angle]

Here's the link for Tom Brown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwjbWWiE14Y&index=2&list=PLDBF728CBDB14A44C

[Nick Armstrong]

Here's the link for Tom Brown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwjb...F728CBDB14A44C

Yes I have this series on DVD... I was much impressed by it when young, and it remained imprinted in my brain and had to be acquired when released on silver disc! And that music is so evocative! (Didn't know it was Sullivan - thanks A). The benign Ian Cuthbertson (remember "Sutherland's Law" with the MacCunn "Mountain and Flood" overture as the theme?) as the HM, and Richard Morant as the vile Flashman. The 'roasting of Tom' scene terrified me when I was small!

(Incidentally, the account holder of that Youtube clip appears to be Simon Turner who played Tom's sidekick East with the very 1970s blond hairstyle - he went on (adding the middle name Fisher) to become a successful left-field composer inc the soundtrack of Jarman 'Caravaggio'... https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=si...w=1462&bih=880 )

[Roslynmuse]

The 'roasting of Tom' scene terrified me when I was small!

Me too! That was the first thing I thought of when I read Angle's post!

[Barbirollians]

Here's the link for Tom Brown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwjb...F728CBDB14A44C

What a splendid avatar !

[Angle]

Thank you, Barbirollians. I am glad you approve since Barbirolli remains, for me, foremost among conductors, even unto this day. Don

[mangerton]

Yes I have this series on DVD... I was much impressed by it when young, and it remained imprinted in my brain and had to be acquired when released on silver disc! And that music is so evocative! (Didn't know it was Sullivan - thanks A). The benign Ian Cuthbertson (remember "Sutherland's Law" with the MacCunn "Mountain and Flood" overture as the theme?)

Just catching up with this. Yes, he certainly was benign in that, and also in "The Railway Children", where he played "Daddy, my daddy!", which would bring a tear to a glass eye.

But do you remember him as "Charles Endell Esquire", in the eponymous programme and its predecessor "Budgie"? He was anything but benign in these. All in all, one of Scotland's great actors.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But do you remember him as "Charles Endell Esquire", in the eponymous programme and its predecessor "Budgie"? He was anything but benign in these. All in all, one of Scotland's great actors.

Yes! Casually sadistic ("This man is bleeding. Why have you brought this man here to bleed on my floor?") - superbly performed.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

captain Scarlet wasn't, but he was probably the coolest guy around.
Nice tune, with the odd groovy harmony.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wV6m9NlsOJ4

And today's sad news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27859814

[teamsaint]

And today's sad news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27859814

Thanks so much for flagging that up Ferney.
As mentioned elsewhere, after Paul Temple I always had a soft spot for Francis Matthews, and Captain Scarlet was my no 1 hero in his day.

RIP

[Radio64]

RIP. I remember him but never knew he was the voice of CS ..

[Nick Armstrong]

Thanks so much for flagging that up Ferney.
As mentioned elsewhere, after Paul Temple I always had a soft spot for Francis Matthews, and Captain Scarlet was my no 1 hero in his day.

RIP

Very much agree with that!

I was hooked by Paul Temple on telly when young, it struck me that I have no recollection of the theme music - just found the reason: it's utterly unmemorable

(In contrast to the earlier radio versions which were before my time but which I'm now hooked on thanks to Radio 4 extra)

And Captain Scarlett was a key part of childhood...... but I didn't even know the voice was Francis Matthews!!!

[Roslynmuse]

As a kid I wrote to the BBC to ask what the music was that was used in The Railway Children (original B/W series). I believe it was a Greig Symphonic Dance. Years later I found myself arranging many of the Nursery Rhymes for "Listen With Mother" - though not sure I should admit to that!

When were you making those arrangements? I was listening in probably from about 1968 to 70 or 71...

[Roslynmuse]

I've just remembered another radio experience I had as a small child that left an indelible impression on me.

This would be late 60s, afternoon schools programme; I can't quite remember whether it was a story or a drama, but the gist was a sort of Cinderella story with a young girl and a wicked step-mother. The twist to this story was that the step-mother's pride and joy was a glass staircase that the girl was made to clean day after day, with the threat that should it be damaged, the stepmother would 'break her bones and bury her under the cold, cold stones'. Of course, one day the inevitable happens and the girl runs away in terror. Does this rather grim tale ring any bells for anyone?

[Lordgeous]

When were you making those arrangements? I was listening in probably from about 1968 to 70 or 71...

From 1972/73 onwards.