OTD in early British television: 17 March 1939

17th March 2025

John Wyver writes: After a concert from Jack Hylton and his band on the evening of Friday 17 March 1939, Alexandra Palace broadcast Animals, Anatomy, Artists, a talk by John Skeaping on 'the three main types of animal art - more

OTD in early British television: 16 March 1938

16th March 2025

John Wyver writes: The afternoon of Wednesday 16 March 1938 saw a reprise of Eric Crozier's production (above), first presented the previous September, of W.B. Yeats's supernatural drama The Words Upon the Window Pane. The cast was led by Jean more

OTD in early British television: 12 March 1938

12th March 2025

The 100th original post in this series. John Wyver writes: Closing out transmissions on Saturday 12 March 1938 was An Exhibition of Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling, featuring a bout in the studio between Earl McCready, heavyweight champion of the British Empire who more

OTD in early British television: 11 March 1938

11th March 2025

John Wyver writes: Across the winter of 1937-38, the Television service broadcast Pre-view on Friday afternoons and evenings. Featuring interviews, rehearsals and test sequences from the forthcoming attractions of the following week, the strand was an attempt to encourage more more

OTD in early British television: 9 March 1938

9th March 2025

John Wyver writes: The Spring 1938 Craftsmen at Work series featured demonstrations in the AP studio of a potter at work at a wheel, of whisket-making (constructing baskets from strips of oak), withy-weiving (working with willow) and, on 9 March, more

OTD in early British television: 1 March 1936

1st March 2025

John Wyver writes: Sunday 1 March 1936 saw The Observer splash an exclusive interview with BBC director of television Gerald Cock (above, in his Alexandra Palace office) eight months ahead of the offical opening of the service. The article, bylined more

OTD in early British television: 27 February 1939

27th February 2025

John Wyver writes: Before the war The Times did not employ a regular television critic, but occasional anonymous columns offered acute reflections on the development of the new medium. These included a piece published on Monday 27 February 1939 headed more