OTD in early British television: 21 August 1938

21st August 2025

John Wyver writes: In 1938 and 1939 there were only two regular commentators on television's output from Alexandra Palace. Anonymous writers for The Times contributed reviews, as on occasion did L. Marsland Gander for the Telegraph and Jonah Barrington for more

OTD in early British television: 20 August 1937

20th August 2025

John Wyver writes: Somewhat distracted today, so only a very brief and late OTD. The afternoon of Friday 20 August 1937 saw a 'local OB' from Alexandra Park titled Sheepdog Trial. Billed as 'a demonstration of canine intelligence', the 20-minute more

OTD in early British television: 19 August 1939

19th August 2025

John Wyver writes: On Saturday 19 August 1939, two weeks and a day before the declaration of war, one of the BBC's OB units was at the Oval for the first day's play (of just three) in the final Test more

OTD in early British television: 18 August 1939

18th August 2025

John Wyver writes: Looking back to the programmes of August 1939 you can't escape the sense of the impending war, now (as it were) little more than a fortnight away. And yet AP copntinued to turn out intriguing transmissions, including more

OTD in early British television: 17 August 1939

17th August 2025

John Wyver writes: 'Television set for £23', promised a 17 August 1939 Daily Telegraph article penned by the paper's well-informed radio correspondent L. Marsland Gander. He was writing ten days ahead of the popular trade fair Radiolympia which attracted thousands more

OTD in early British television: 16 August 1937

16th August 2025

John Wyver writes: After a three week break. a full schedule began again from AP on the afternoon of Monday 16 August 1937. Two afternoons of Davis Cup tennis and some test broadcasts had been the only offering for more

OTD in early British television: 15 August 1938

15th August 2025

John Wyver writes: Late on the evening of Monday 15 August 1938 (well, late for AP, in fact 10.12pm), Marjan Rawicz and Walter Landauer gave a short recital on two pianos. They were also studio guests the following afternoon, presumably more

OTD in early British television: 14 August 1939

14th August 2025

John Wyver writes: Late evening on Monday 15 August 1939 saw a mobile control unit in Hammersmith for an hour-long outside broadcast from the Palais. Viewers saw dancing including the 'Palais Glide', 'Big Apple', , 'Jitter Bug', and 'Boops-a-Daisy', as more

OTD in early British television: 13 August 1939

13th August 2025

John Wyver writes: The evening schedule of Sunday 13 August 1939, with the war little more than a fortnight away, was taken up with a production of James Bridie's fantasy Tobias the Angel. Frank Napier's production for the Regent's Park more

OTD in early British television: 12 August 1939

12th August 2025

John Wyver writes: The afternoon of Saturday 12 August 1939, three weeks before the declaration of war, saw one of the BBC's mobile control units in Kensington Gardens for a leisurely hour-long outside broadcast from the edges of the Round more