8mm Forum: British Childrens Programmes from the past

This is topic British Childrens Programmes from the past in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on October 28, 2009, 10:49 AM:

I have just been reading Osi’s post “My Wife has never heard of Captain Kangaroo” and I thought how “surreal” this post must seem to us Brits, not knowing about American T.V. children’s programmes and presenters etc. I then started thinking that if we discussed our childhood T.V. programmes, from a Brit point of view, how surreal will that be to our American cousins?

The trouble is – where do we begin? We had -
“Muffin the Mule” (no jokes please, gentlemen!), Presented by the esteemed actor Sir John Mills sister – Annette.

“Watch with Mother” – which was a compendium of children’s characters including -“Bill and Ben – The Flowerpot Men” not forgetting their friend “Little Weed”. These characters spoke with a unintelligible language “ Slobber, Dobber, Flobber, Dobberlot – Little Weed”. That could mean anything from “Einstein’s Theory of Relativity” to “Good Morning, Little Weed”, it all depended on the narrator.

“Andy Pandy” who shared a toy basket with “Looby Loo” and “Teddy” (how politically incorrect would that be deemed today?).

“Rag, Tag and Bobtail” – A hedgehog, a mouse and a rabbit.

“Picture Book” – a talking story book with “Bizzy Lizzie”.

“The Woodentops” A family of wooden dolls on a farm.

Then we had –
“Torchy the Battery Boy”,

“Four Feather Falls” starring “Tex Tucker” (mind the jokes again, please) and
“Supercar” with “Mike Mercury”, (these were early Gerry Anderson productions).

"Sooty and Sweep" -

"Lenny the Lion" -
"Archie Andrews"

Moving onto “real life presenters” –
“The Five O’Clock Club” with “Olly Beak” and “Fred Barker” (an owl and a dog puppet respectively),

“Blue Peter”, (Still being shown today!)
“Magpie”
“Crackerjack”

The list, as with the memories, is endless.

Are there any “memorable British Childrens Progs/Presenters other members may know?

[ October 28, 2009, 03:40 PM: Message edited by: Keith Ashfield ]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on October 28, 2009, 01:13 PM:

Torchy the Battery Boy looks quite naughty, with those eyebrows!

Let us not forget those British childrens educational shows from the past that taught many good things ...

Monty Python's Flying Circus = Treating each other with respect.
Keeping up appearances = proper decorum and manners
Last of the Summer Wine = proper abuse of the elderly (very important!)
Father Ted = The proper observance of religion!

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on October 28, 2009, 01:14 PM:

Torchy the Battery Boy looks quite naughty, with those eyebrows!

Let us not forget those British childrens educational shows from the past that taught many good things ...

Monty Python's Flying Circus = Treating each other with respect.
Keeping up appearances = proper decorum and manners
Last of the Summer Wine = proper abuse of the elderly (very important!)
Father Ted = The proper observance of religion!

and, of course ...

Benny Hill Show = How to treat women with respect and proper British sex education!

(snicker snicker, wink wink, nudge nudge!)

Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on October 28, 2009, 01:45 PM:

Osi, you had to be careful getting "involved" with "Torchy" as there were always "strings attached". [Wink]

Posted by Mark Mander (Member # 340) on October 28, 2009, 02:26 PM:

Hi Keith,
Pipkin?? springs to mind,not sure if that's the correct title(i was very young) but i remember the character Hartley Hare...Mark.

Posted by Mike Peckham (Member # 16) on October 28, 2009, 02:41 PM:

Q. Why was Little Weed always wet?

A. Because Bill and Ben flob a lot! [Big Grin]

My own child hood tv memories were just a little later than yours Keith [Wink]

- my favorites being the Clangers and the Wombles. I've been collecting The Wombles on Super 8, I think 6 episodes were released and I have 4 so 2 to go!

What about Bag Puss, he was always a winner with me. Who remembers the mice "we can do it!" and Proffessor Yaffel "Nya Nya Nya" [Big Grin]

Mike

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on October 28, 2009, 02:54 PM:

Are you claiming to have been a regular viewer of "Muffin the Mule", Keith?
If so, join the club!. If there are enough of us left, could we perhaps do a T-shirt?
And who's going to tell us all about Mr. Pastry?
Martin.

Posted by Steven Sigel (Member # 21) on October 28, 2009, 02:57 PM:

I once had a 16mm telerecording of a "Flowerpot Men" show -- totally incoherent to an American!!

My favorite UK "children's" show is Dr. Who.... Got about 100 of them in 16mm.....

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on October 28, 2009, 03:20 PM:

Brilliant topic Keith it brought long ago memories of growing up in Britain during the late 50s-60s I dont think I watched to much TV,to busy out terrorizing the neighbourhood instead [Roll Eyes]

however I do remember "The Flowerpot Men" and especially "Weed" was his name spoken like weeeeeed... long drawn out? [Roll Eyes]

Blue Peter as you mentioned and "Sooty and Sweep" it would be great to see some of those old programmes again.. a bit of nostalgia.

Graham. [Smile]

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on October 28, 2009, 03:30 PM:

Steve you're not alone. Totally indecipherable to an Irishman also.
[Smile]

Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on October 28, 2009, 03:38 PM:

Martin, I not only claim fame for watching "Muffin the Mule" but I have a photograph of me aged approximately four sat astride the said "beast". If I can find it, I'll scan it and give everyone a good laugh.

Mark, yes it was "Pipkin".

Of course musn't forget "Pinky and Perky".

The BBC did an excellent VHS release of all of the "classic" Watch with Mother programmes. Sadly, I don't think it's available on DVD.

Mr Pastry, played by Richard Hearne.

I can remeber his dance routine of "The Lancers" - Hilarious. (See link below to video of routine)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fedb77hZF18

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on October 28, 2009, 03:57 PM:

Oh!..I dont no I understood it [Smile]

things like....flub a dub..... and so on....oh! my distorted memory is now coming back or is it me being of "Scottish" descent that helped [Wink]

Graham.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on October 28, 2009, 04:57 PM:

Were those stop action animated "Paddington bear" shows a british kids show?

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on October 28, 2009, 05:33 PM:

How about Captain Pugwash featuring the characters Seaman Staines and Master Bates!!

I,m not kidding the BBC managed to get away with the above!!!

Posted by Steven Sigel (Member # 21) on October 28, 2009, 05:40 PM:

As an aside (and unashamed sales plug) - if anyone out there is a Richard Hearne fan, I've got a 16mm print of "Madam Louise" available for sale for $199... :-)

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on October 28, 2009, 05:50 PM:

Mark ...

You've GOT to be kidding?!

If true, I think I was pretty screwy for being pissed off with Pee Wee Herman!

Posted by Paul Tivy (Member # 836) on October 28, 2009, 06:37 PM:

Aha! At last my favourite subject. I have examples of ALL the programmes mentioned in this thread (and even a Mr Pastry film) on VHS, Laserdisc, Super 8, 16mm and DVD. To clear up the Captain Pugwash question, this is in fact an urban myth and has been the subject of litigation. Guardian Newspapers amongst many others were forced to offer an apology to John Ryan for repeating such foolishness. For the record, the crew of The Black Pig were Captain Pugwash, Pirate Barnabus, Pirate Willy, Master Mate and Tom the cabin boy. And no others. Stand on me. I have the tapes!

Tiv

Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on October 28, 2009, 06:42 PM:

Mark / Osi, I think you will find that the actual name in "Pugwash" was "Master Mate", who always had a teddy in his bunk and misquoted his words quite a lot. The other "misquoted" character was "Tom the Cabin Boy", who name was said to be "Roger the Cabin Boy"?

Master Mate

Tom the Cabin Boy

There was another character, called "Willy" ?

Sorry for the repetition, Paul, you just beat me to it.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on October 28, 2009, 07:01 PM:

Thinking back "Sooty" was my favourite but the thing I remember most and I hope I am not going of topic to far was the Western on British TV, although not British it was very popular with children at the time, my earliest thoughts were such like Wagon Train, Laramie, Rawhide and later "The Virginian" which was a big hit with its catchy theme music.

As well as TV, Childrens radio programmes were very good, in some ways better than TV "letting your imagination run wild" used to enjoy listing to them, cant remember any names though [Frown]

Graham.

Posted by Patrick Walsh (Member # 637) on October 28, 2009, 09:28 PM:

I remember watching when I was younger (Im 23)
POSTMAN PAT
DR WHO (was repeats of the late 60s early 70s episodes)
RAINBOW ( had a thing with a zip for a mouth)
WOZEL GRUMMAGE (had DR WHO in it!)

All great fun! [Big Grin]

Patrick

Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on November 02, 2009, 02:07 PM:

Wot about Basil Boom,Boom Brush and Mr Derek? [Wink]

Posted by Christopher P Quinn (Member # 1294) on November 08, 2009, 02:13 PM:

Catweazle first hit the British screens on Sunday February the 15th 1970.

Written by Richard Carpenter. The entire series was filmed in 16mm and was a mile stone for children’s TV. Nothing like it had ever been done before and it cast the mould for many more such like programs. Starring as Catweazle was Geoffrey Bayldon who gave up an offer to be the next Dr Who eventually being offered to Jon Pertwee.

Also starring Charles Tingwell Neil McCarthy and Robin Davies.

The story is about an eleventh centuary wizard who managed to transport himself to the 20th centuary. He ends up making friends with a farmers son who keeps him hidden. Catweazle finds an old water tower in the woods to live in, and has lots of adventures trying to find a way back to own time. The boy just thinks he is a bit mad and does not believe him. Catweazle thinks everything he sees is magic and calls electricity, ELEC-TRICKERY.

A second series was commision, good but not as good as the first. I strongly recommend it, and is available on DVD.

I loved this and still do, i have many happy memories of the wonderful Sundays, so long ago.

Chris.

Posted by Gordon Hunter (Member # 679) on November 11, 2009, 05:43 PM:

BBC TV in the early 1950s had "Billy Bean and his Funny Machine" and don't forget "The Magic Roundabout". (Florence, Dougal the Scotty dog, Zebedee (who was attached to a spring) and others).
Zebedee always appeared at the end of each five minute episode with his catch phrase "time for bed" and it is!

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