On the subject of BBC Television Centre, I was moved to dig this wee delight out of the ganderbag and share it with a wider audience. From the edition of 'Points of View' that went out on 2 June 1962, this is a montage of images showing BBC tv going about its daily business. The exciting new building plays a starring role, supported by Robert Robinson, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, various old cars - including a Pininfarina-bodied BMC barge (the resolution of even the original tape is insufficient for me to say either Morris Oxford or Austin Cambridge with any confidence, but I've ruled out the Wolseley, Riley and MG options), shedloads of Richard Levin's wonderful Derek Italic signage, a rake of GPO type 332 bakelite telephones and a director who sounds suspiciously like Rudolph Cartier at the end. There's even a cameo appearance from the White City greyhound stadium, a much-missed example of the architecture of pleasure. TC must not be allowed to join it.
Note that the concerns about programme quality and use of resources seem oddly familiar.
3 comments:
Robert Robinson (or Trebor Nosnibor as we like to call him) is top of my list of Celebrities Who Were Born Looking Old.
If only I could respond to that comment with a crisp ping from one of those hotel reception-type bells.
Hi,
I write a blog about Blackheath, in South London, and I am interested
in the history of the Blackheath Arts Club, which later became the GPO
Film Unit. I noticed in this post about the closure of TVC, that you
might have a copy of "BBC - Voice of Britain", which was made by the
GPO Film Unit:
http://myreader.co.uk/msg/124210347.aspx
"Birth of a Building was on
a compilation tape of odds and sods given to me years ago by a friend and
fellow collector - BBC Voice of Britain and This is the BBC (without which,
not a single Time Shift documentary on BBC4 could be made) were also in the
same batch. You learn not to ask too many questions about the provenance of
items. Gift horses, etc."
I would love to get hold of a copy of this, as I believe (according to
a local history book - "Blackheath Village and Environs" by Neil
Rhind.), that much of it was shot around Blackheath.
My post about the Film Unit is here:
http://blackheathbugle.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/blue-plaques-saucy-postcards-and-lunar-craters-in-blackheath/
I've googled around trying to find other sources for it, but so far
you seem to have the only copy!
Please let me know if there is anything you can do to help - I would have emailed, but can't find your email address.
Many thanks,
BB
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