BBC Children's Hour Home Service mid-late Fifties

[gradus]

She played the piano for Wifred Pickles.

Indeed she did, but was she the Mabel that gave them the money - five bob from memory.

[french frank]

Indeed she did, but was she the Mabel that gave them the money - five bob from memory.

Mabel, it appears, was Mrs Wilfred Pickles.

[oddoneout]

Not radio I know but I see that BBC4 tonight is about the early days of children's TV programmes , and includes a documentary about Oliver Postgate.

[johncorrigan]

Not radio I know but I see that BBC4 tonight is about the early days of children's TV programmes , and includes a documentary about Oliver Postgate.

It's the fiftieth anniversary of the first broadcast of 'Bagpuss' tomorrow. Only thirteen episodes and yet it has become a TV treasure. And 'Words and Music' this evening is about Bagpuss.

[Serial_Apologist]

It's the fiftieth anniversary of the first broadcast of 'Bagpuss' tomorrow. Only thirteen episodes and yet it has become a TV treasure. And 'Words and Music' this evening is about Bagpuss.

A series I completely missed out on. From long ago discussion on the forum, it seemed that the music associated with Bagpuss was interesting too, to say the least.

[Serial_Apologist]

Not radio I know but I see that BBC4 tonight is about the early days of children's TV programmes , and includes a documentary about Oliver Postgate.

I read somewhere quite recently that Postgate's reputation has become sullied in some way, and feeling greately disappointed, having enjoyed that documentary and come to think of him as something of an exemplary.

[Dave2002]

An adventure series - I don't remember its name but the introductory music was from Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements.

Sadly I"m in the same situation. I certainly remember the opening music - loved it ever since. There was another programme - was it Naughty Maria - which had the scherzo from Dvořák's D minor symphony.

[LMcD]

Sadly I"m in the same situation. I certainly remember the opening music - loved it ever since. There was another programme - was it Naughty Maria - which had the scherzo from Dvořák's D minor symphony.

There was also a 1956 Children's Hour drama called 'Counterspy.' It was produced in Cardiff by BBC Wales and featured a young Michael Aspel. The introductory music was the opening of Stravinsky's Symphony in 3 Movements. Aspel played a Canadian called James 'Rocky' Mountain.

[oddoneout]

I read somewhere quite recently that Postgate's reputation has become sullied in some way, and feeling greately disappointed, having enjoyed that documentary and come to think of him as something of an exemplary.

That would be sad if so - can you remember the specifics? Like you I enjoyed that documentary, and will probably watch it again tonight.

[french frank]

That would be sad if so - can you remember the specifics? Like you I enjoyed that documentary, and will probably watch it again tonight.

This was the only thing I could discover - in the Daily Mail, a one-sided version from a disinherited son. Nothing scandalous.

[Serial_Apologist]

That would be sad if so - can you remember the specifics? Like you I enjoyed that documentary, and will probably watch it again tonight.

I must have been thinking of someone else.

[kernelbogey]

There was also a 1956 Children's Hour drama called 'Counterspy.' It was produced in Cardiff by BBC Wales and featured a young Michael Aspel. The introductory music was the opening of Stravinsky's Symphony in 3 Movements. Aspel played a Canadian called James 'Rocky' Mountain.

Thanks for settling that, LMcD - it's been quietly nagging my memory over the years.... Here is a BBC genome record; I suppose there may be a connection with the US series featured in the Wikipedia article, but it's not mentioned there.

[Serial_Apologist]

I was disappointed that there was no mention of Michael Bentine's "Billy Bean Built a Machine" from the late 50s on yesterday's sequence on BBC4. Otherwise it brought back fond memories.

[rauschwerk]

Helen Henschel used to talk about classical music and play the piano, but I remember nothing of this except that she introduced herself by playing the finale theme from Brahms's first symphony,

[LMcD]

Helen Henschel used to talk about classical music and play the piano, but I remember nothing of this except that she introduced herself by playing the finale theme from Brahms's first symphony,

BBC Home Service, 5.20 p.m. 20/10/1947:
'Music at Random' with Helen Henschel.
Alice in Wonderland, arranged as a dialogue in 5 parts.
There's also an edition from 1945 featuring 'Uncle Mac'
Details of these and other broadcasts can be found by googling 'BBC genome Helen Henschel'.