OTD in early British television: 10 May 1939
John Wyver writes: The evening of Wednesday 10 May 1939, just before a programme of Spanish music by Albeniz and Granados, offered the first programme in a series called Sunday in the Country. This was ‘a walk in the country described by Russell Muirhead, with the aid of photographs, maps and diagrams’. Plus a squirrel, of which a little more a little later.
By early 1939 the television service was looking beyond London and beginning to take an interest in country matters. The monthly outside broadcast Down on the Farm was a substantial rural offering, but otherwise the service was restricted, thanks to opposition from the unions, in not making film programmes.
Hence this curious studio hybrid, hosted by the travel writer who had edited the Blue Guides to parts of England and Italy through the 1920s, and who in spring 1939 had just overseen the publication of the first six Penguin Guides to English counties.
In a 25-minute programme, Muirhead took the looker-in on a virtual perambulation from Wendover in the Chilterns to Pulpit Hill and Beacon Hill, and then back to Wendover. Along the way, he encountered his studio guests ‘woodman’ Jack Rixon and Farmer Langston. And the squirrel, of course, which had been loaned by the Royal Zoological Society, along with Keeper Flewin.
There were four subsequent trips before the war interrupted this touring including actor Wyndham Goldie (and husband of Grace) motoring around the lanes of Kent, and journalist S.P.B. Mais, who we have just seen in Salute to America exploring hidden corners of Suffolk.
In this 25-minute transmission he outlined a walk from Wendover in the Chilterns to Pulpit Hill and Beacon Hill and then back to Wendover. With him in the studio were two characters who the looker-in might meet should they follow in their guide’s footsteps: ‘Woodman Jack Rixon’ and “Farmer Langston’. And then there was the squirrel, loaned by the Royal Zoological Society and accompanied by Keeper Flewin.There were four more virtual outings before the service shut down on 1 September, with later ones featuring actor Wyndham Goldie (husband of Grace) motoring, as it were, through the lanes of Kent, and S.P.B. Mais, who we saw recently in Salute to America, introducing his favourite corner of Suffolk.
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