Does anyone have rare or missing TV episodes in their collection?

[Gary Sayers]

As a follow up to the 'TV Shows on 16mm' thread, I wondered if any of the good folks on here have rare or missing TV shows on 16mm in their collection?

Some of the most wished for recoveries include 1960s 'Doctor Who' (probably the most publicised and hunted for of all), 'The Avengers', 'Out of the Unknown' and many others as well as classic comedy such as Harry Worth and the fondly remembered (well I liked it) 'Gnomes of Dulwich'.

Just one missing episode turning up from a private collection is always great news. The 'Avengers' episode that made it's way back after first being mentioned on this very forum eventually had a proper DVD release so that everyone could enjoy it's brilliance. All thanks to one of our fellow collectors for keeping the 16mm film in good condition.

[Lee Mannering]

Yes and the last time I gave one off 16mm prints to a tv network I never even got a thankyou note which is problay why most 16mm collectors hang onto raraties at least they get screened. I'm still waiting for the courier fee to be reimbursed.

As collectors we collects films to preserve and show from our private collections. It saddened me to have my own good will taken advantage of within the industry.

[Graham Hobbs]

Yes, but I don't tell the been

[Graham Hobbs]

The beeb

[Martin Davey]

One day it might be the 'been'. Its business model is a dinosaur in the 21st century!

[Jason Moffatt]

Have any “top of the pops” episodes ever turned up on 16mm ?

[Brian Fretwell]

The only ones I know of were on old B&W home video formats, even the 405 line ones. being so topical I doubt it had the export potential for films prints to be made. The only thing I think may have been on 16mm would have been filmed inserts for bands that couldn't get to the studio.

[Gary Sayers]

Yes and the last time I gave one off 16mm prints to a tv network I never even got a thankyou note which is problay why most 16mm collectors hang onto raraties at least they get screened. I'm still waiting for the courier fee to be reimbursed.

As collectors we collects films to preserve and show from our private collections. It saddened me to have my own good will taken advantage of within the industry.

Sounds like you were really treated badly there Lee, no wonder you were peeved off! After all, you've been effectively keeping the film safe and secure, at no cost to them, after they threw it out with the trash.

It's a shame though that even if returned, especially if you have material that many people would enjoy, there's no guarantee that it would be released for Joe Public to see. As you say, at least with you they get screened and are not confined to an off-limits archive. A year or two back, some Harry Worth 16mm episodes were returned (3 or 4 I think) and as a fan of his, I would love to see them but they have not appeared on DVD or streaming as far as I know.

I know that for 16mm returns, the BBC just want to borrow prints to make a digital copy and then return the prints to the collector. The question of whether it would be released for others to see would, I suppose, depend on it's sale ability.
I guess something like a complete Doctor Who story would definitely get a release, such as say 'The Power of the Daleks' or any odd episodes of a partly missing story that would then make a complete story such as 'The Tenth Planet' episode 4.

[Gary Sayers]

Lee and Graham - Got to ask, any chance of saying what the titles are? To know there's more missing material with collectors on here is fantastic news. Just obviously curious about what they are.

[Phil Slater]

I have 3 episodes of Muffin the Mule which I think are missing ones, according to the kaleidescope web site.

[Maurice Leakey]

I'd forgotten that I have a complete 16mm copy of a Muffin the Mule. Just checked the Kaleidoscope website and I see mine is quoted as missing :-
"Muffin's Treasure Map."
The presenter at the piano was Annette Mills, sister of John Mills the film star. She died in January 1955.


Maurice

[Phil Slater]

For info, mine are:
Muffin in a Jam
Muffin the Pavement Artist
Dick Muffington and his Cat
Phil

[Gary Sayers]

Maurice and Phil - that's very interesting that missing 'Muffin the Mule' are in both your collections and great news for fans of vintage British TV.

Just out of curiosity again, can you say how and when you acquired them - was it from film lists, car boot sales, dealers, etc? I have scoured film lists and boot sales for over 40 years but never found any missing vintage TV - I guess I haven't been looking in the right places!

It would be interesting to compare how episodes from the same series were acquired by different collectors.

[Lee Mannering]

Gary I should say to be fair more recently TPTV pick up my Buster Keaton and Richard Hearne home movie film collection and being a massive life long fan of Richard I was really pleased they were for the most part broadcast on TV. TPTV over here have done amazing work and I think I can say we love the small team in the office bringing us films main networks have no interest in. I lived near Richard as a kid..memorable.

[Gary Sayers]

Hi Lee, I'm a huge, huge fan of TPTV. In all truth, it's the only reason I pay my TV license fee.

As well as the films and TV series, I love those interviews that they film with the old stars and their families. I particularly liked the ones with Tyler Butterworth and John Gregson's family.

It was great to see TPTV on the news yesterday (didn't see it on first showing as I avoid BBC news but caught it on the internet). It's on the BBC news website for anyone that missed it. Here's the link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entert...a-lockdown-hit

I used to watch Richard Hearne as Mr Pastry when I was a kid (I was born in 1957) but didn't see him on TV for years until several months ago when I saw 'Tons of Trouble' on TPTV. Loved it!

So pleased that you let them have some material and I'm sure they treated you with total respect and gratitude for doing so.

I know from previous reports and interviews that many collectors have loaned or given them rare or missing material and the best thing is, like you say, they broadcast it for everyone to enjoy.

I was very worried for the survival of TPTV when the lockdown started but according to the BBC report, they are doing pretty good.

Long may the channel continue!