ATV Midlands Archives - THIS IS ALPHA from Transdiffusion

ATV programmes and personalities – 1

Behind the Scenes — Thu, 01 Sep 1960 21:40:25 +0000

Godfrey Winn, who was born in Birmingham, returned to present his series of programmes “Godfrey Winn Speaking Personally”. His sincere approach to personal problems brought him a flood of letters from appreciative viewers.

Shaw Taylor {left) with the producer, John Irwin discuss a point during rehearsal of “Dotto” the popular quiz programme. Many Midland viewers have had an opportunity to join in this programme as members of the audience in the Television Theatre, Aston.

Bringing a tang of the sea to Aston, The Bosun (Gerald Cuff) appears each Monday in the childrens hour. He introduces the Popeye cartoon films and gives young viewers the answers to their queries about seafaring matters. Special films on lifeboats, the Royal Navy, Shipbuilding, the Merchant Navy and the launching of ships have been made for showing in these programmes.

One of the memorable television broadcasts was the concert given by the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy. Hilde Gueden, who was the soloist, congratulates the Leader of the orchestra, Jocob Krechnalnik.

Noele Gordon seated on a Canberra bomber at the R.A.F. Station, Gaydon in Warwickshire. This was during the last of the 1959 series of Outside Broadcasts of “Lunch Box”. Noele has been the star of this mid-day television show which has now been running for three years and which pioneered the way for T.V. at this time of the day.

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ATV programmes and personalities – 2

Behind the Scenes — Thu, 01 Sep 1960 21:30:01 +0000

Noele Gordon, star of “Lunch Box”, “Tea With Noele Gordon“, “Noele Gordon Takes the Air” and other T.V. shows. She is a qualified television producer and joined A.T.V. as Advisor on Woman’s Programmes. However, her wide show business experience soon brought her before the T.V. cameras and her popularity with Midland viewers grows every day.

Ward Bond and Robert Horton who, as Major Seth Adams and Scout Flint McCullogh, thrill Midland viewers each Monday night.

“Midland Montage” produced by Kit Plant, brings interesting people to the studios each week. Here, Leslie Dunn, who introduces the items, is chatting to Peters Sellars (centre) and film producer (right) John Boulting.

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ATV programmes and personalities – 3

Behind the Scenes — Thu, 01 Sep 1960 21:20:41 +0000

One of the items for “Midland Farming” is filmed in Herefordshire. This specialist programme for the farmer has a very large non-farming following. It is introduced by Leslie Thomas, the National Farmers Union Information officer in the West Midlands, who also acts as programme adviser.

Canon Charles Crowson of Yardley, Birmingham receives the expert attention of make-up girl Felicity Leadham-Green in preparation for the opening of A.T.V.’s daily programmes. Each day begins with “A Thought For The Day” from a clergyman of one of the three main denominations and the day closes with the “Epilogue.”

Patrick Astley, A.T.V’s announcer who also contributes to “Midland Montage”. He was selected for the post from 823 applicants.

Jean Morton. A.T.V.’s popular announcer. She was the first female T.V. announcer to be appointed in the Midlands and she has taken part in other programmes such as “Rainbow Room” and “Midland News”.

Patricia Cox is seen by Midland viewers * every evening when she reads the News. She has been the Newscaster since the beginning of “Midland News”, the first regular regional T.V. news service.

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Associated TeleVision

ITV 1963 — Thu, 01 Sep 1960 18:10:06 +0000

London (weekends); Midlands (weekdays)

ATV is a public company which, under agreement with the Independent Television Authority, provides the television programmes in London on Saturdays and Sundays and in the Midlands from Monday to Friday.

ATV House, 17 Great Cumberland Place, London W.1.
AMBassador 8040
ATV House, 150 Edmund Street, Birmingham.
BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL 5191


Area         ITA    Channel   Vision     Sound    Opening Date   Population ITA Homes
         Transmitter        Frequency  Frequency                   000's      000's
                               Mc/s       Mc/s

London     Croydon     9    194.75675   191.266   22nd Sep 1955   12,910     3,023
weekends

Midlands  Lichfield    8    189.75      186.25    17th Feb 1956    8,850     1,765
weekdays

Directors

Sir Robert Renwick, Bt, KBE (Chairman); Norman Collins (Deputy Chairman); Lew Grade (Managing Director); Edward J Roth (Deputy Managing Director); JAL Drummond (Finance); The Earl of Bessborough; Ellis S Birk; Hugh Cudlipp, OBE; RPT Gibson; Prince Littler, CBE; Val Parnell; Charles Orr Stanley, CBE, Ll.D

Officers

JM Barham, FCA (Secretary); B Bibby (Production Facilities Controller); P Dorté, OBE (Midlands Controller); JF Gill, FCA (Group Accountant and Treasurer); M Gumpel (Director of Business Affairs); PJ Henry (Sales Director); L Lewis (Administration Controller); TC Macnamara (Technical Controller); S Mitchell (Chief Press Officer); K Rogers (Operations Controller); W Ward (Productions Controller).

Religious Advisers

The Rev. John Bebb (Roman Catholic); The Rev. Stephan Hopkinson (Anglican); The Rev. Caryl Micklem (Free Church).

Education

Sir John Materman (Chairman, Education Advisory Committee); James Cochrane Wykes (Senior Education Officer); W Hemingway (Schools Liaison Officer).

Staff

Total members of staff 1,379 (excluding ATV’s subsidiary companies). Production 622, Administration 289, Engineering 213, Sales and Research 83, Operations (presentation and films) 89, Accounts 62, Press and Public Relations 21. In addition, ATV employs some 3,300 artistes each year, as well as musicians and scriptwriters.

Visits to Studios

A limited number of tickets are available for audience shows. Applications, enclosing stamped addressed envelopes, should be made to the Ticket Office Supervisor, ATV Studios, Elstree, Borehamwood, Herts. The minimum age is sixteen.

Enquiries

Enquiries about artistes and programmes should be addressed to Viewer’s Correspondence, at ATV’s London or Midlands offices.

Submission of Scripts

Material required: 60-minute plays. These should be complete dialogue script of first form. Six- or seven-part children’s serials: completed dialogue script of first episode and detailed synopses of the remainder must be submitted. Unless Associated TeleVision has knowledge or experience of the writer’s work, no other form of submission will be considered. 30-minute situation and domestic comedies and documentaries are also in demand. There is very little demand for short plays, musicals, quiz games, panel shows, short stories and talks. All submissions should be addressed to The Script Editor.

Programme Journal

TV Times publishes separate editions for the London and Midlands areas giving details of the available programmes.

The producer’s view of one of A.T.V.’s studios

Studios

ELSTREE STUDIO CENTRE, Borehamwood, Herts (Elstree 6100). This 340,000 sq. ft. development is one of the most up-to-date centres of television production, studio and technical facilities. The working floor area of the studios total 31,680 sq. ft. as follows: Studio A, 80′ × 80′; Studio B, 84′ × 80′; Studio C, 116′ × 80′; Studio D 116′ × 80′. The technical facilities directly associated with these four studios total 26,736 sq. ft. Other premises include Studio Facilities (75,790 sq. ft.), Technical Facilities (20,043 sq. ft.), Transport and Workshop Facilities (40,951 sq. ft.), Administration and Rehearsal Rooms (81,500 sq. ft.) and Restaurant (16,500 sq. ft.).

WOOD GREEN TELEVISION STUDIO, Wood Green Empire, N.22. Working floor area some 4,250 sq. ft. Particularly suitable for large-audience shows with seating for 600.

FOLEY STREET (Britallian House) London W.1, containing ATV’s Master Control centre and a small studio of 814 sq. ft. used for presentation and some discussion programmes.

ALPHA TELEVISION STUDIOS, Aston, Birmingham, are owned jointly by ATV and ABC Television Ltd. There are three studios of 3,000 sq. ft., 1,200 sq. ft. and 380 sq. ft.

Technical Development

A great deal of the equipment installed in ATV’s Studios is fully transistorised. This includes pulse and vision distributing equipment employing semi-conductors throughout, and fully transistorised sound equipment. The studios are equipped for 405, 525, and 625 line standards.

Outside Broadcasts

ATV has four mobile control rooms, each with four cameras, and an additional two-camera unit. One of these control rooms is used in conjunction with a video-recording vehicle to form the International Mobile Recording Unit.

Programmes

ATV Productions include: News and News Magazines: Midlands News; Midland Montage; On the Braden Beat. Talks, Discussions and Documentaries: The Warning Voice; Dinner Party; Midland Farming; Midland Profile; special documentaries; Meeting of Minds; Forum; Look Around the Midlands. The Arts: Sir Kenneth Clark series. Science and Natural History: Threshold; It Can Happen Tomorrow; The Wonder of Man. Religion: About Religion; Church Services; Epilogues; A Box of Birds (for children). Children: drama serials; Seeing Sport; I Am Going To Be… Schools: French from France, Ici la France, Summing It Up, Auf deutsch, Chemistry for Sixth Forms. Adult Education: Mesdames, Messieurs… Plays and Drama Series: Drama ’63; regular contributions to the Play of the Week and Television Playhouse series; Emergency Ward 10; Harpers West One; Deadline Midnight; The Plane Makers. Variety, Light Entertainment and Music: Sunday Night at the London Palladium; Bruce’s Show; Startime; Arthur Haynes Show; Hancock; The Morecambe and Wise Show; Tommy Steele Show; Roy Castle Show; A Golden Hour. Entertainment Films: many TV film series produced by or in collaboration with ATV. Sport: wide sports coverage, especially on Saturday afternoons.

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