Forum for former BBC staff

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http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> History >> The Fools On The Hill - Uploaded to YouTube http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1297247257 Message started by Simon Vaughan- APTS Archivist on Feb 9^th, 2011, 10:28am

Title: The Fools On The Hill - Uploaded to YouTube
Post by Simon Vaughan- APTS Archivist on Feb 9^th, 2011, 10:28am

The Fools On The Hill has been uploaded to the Alexandra Palace Television Society’s YouTube Channel.

Our 216th upload also coincides with the ability to upload longer videos to YouTube, therefore we are both pleased and proud to be able to upload The Fools On The Hill. This fictionalised account of the formation of the BBC Television Service in 1936 was written by Jack Rosenthal.

The characters portrayed in this drama are both real and fictional, mixing the actual events concerning the setting up of the BBC Television Service with a fictional romance between two employees – a “dolly pusher” and a temporary secretary.

The drama was produced to mark the 50th anniversary of the Television Service in 1986.

The programme was repeated in 1987 as a tribute to Cecil Madden (featured in the programme), who was Programme Organiser and responsible for producing the trial programme to RadiOlympia in August & September, before the regular service began on 2nd November 1936.

A mock-up of an Emitron camera used in this production can still be seen today in Studio A at Alexandra Palace, where the Alexandra Palace Television Society and the Alexandra Palace Television Group, have mounted a display of the formation of the BBC Television Service. The exhibits on display tell the story of British television, you can see “Joan Miller” at her “Picture Page” switchboard, a scene set out before the television cameras, lights and microphone, and ultimately how television changed people’s lives. Also on display are a collection of vintage television receivers – the oldest being from 1938. There is even a shop-window replica of a Baird Televisor.

The upload can be viewed by following this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SREEaOrtaJE