UK Timeline : Vintage TV Discussion

Originally Posted by Chris

What a lot of classic TV suffers from, many years later, is their producers’ aversion to using extras and other tricks to make their worlds look populated. They typically filmed on location in mid-summer at stupid o’clock in order to get completely empty streets - better for controlling the composition of the shot - but then, for reasons of budget and time constraints, didn’t artificially refill the scene with passers by, other vehicles, etc. The result is that the worlds they created tend to look flat and artificial when compared to even fairly modest modern productions which are a lot better at adding texture to the finished product.

Not a problem in Callan. Most of the outdoor scenes are tightly shot on the main characters and there a lot of indoor scenes.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Not a problem in Callan. Most of the outdoor scenes are tightly shot on the main characters and there a lot of indoor scenes.

Shame they wiped a lot of the first 2 (b&w) series. Although I'm sure there.are.some available that TP haven't shown. Wonder why? Maybe not broadcastable quality, not that that usually stops them.

Originally Posted by Mr K

Shame they wiped a lot of the first 2 (b&w) series. Although I'm sure there.are.some available that TP haven't shown. Wonder why? Maybe not broadcastable quality, not that that usually stops them.

Where an episode of something is acknowledged to exist in archive, it is no guarantee that it is broadcast quality. Also broadcasters are often only interested in complete series runs - they won’t show a few episodes from one season and a few from the next.

A lot of Doctor Who stuff that has been recovered has only been able to get a DVD release because there’s a large and willing fan base that includes experts willing to do the restoration work for little or no reward. Other shows aren’t so lucky.

[Mr K]

Possibly, although TP did show a few isolated Callan episodes from the early b/w series. However the episodes are self contained stories, unlike DW.

---------- Post added at 11:58 ---------- Previous post was at 11:55 ----------

I'm just happy the Steptoe and Son writers had the foresight to record all their episodes on one of the earliest recorders, ensuring all episodes survive. Unusual for a series from that time.

---------- Post added at 11:59 ---------- Previous post was at 11:58 ----------

Maybe we should retitle this thread to 'vintage TV series' or something similar.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Possibly, although TP did show a few isolated Callan episodes from the early b/w series. However the episodes are self contained stories, unlike DW.

---------- Post added at 11:58 ---------- Previous post was at 11:55 ----------

I'm just happy the Steptoe and Son writers had the foresight to record all their episodes on one of the earliest recorders, ensuring all episodes survive. Unusual for a series from that time.

---------- Post added at 11:59 ---------- Previous post was at 11:58 ----------

Maybe we should retitle this thread to 'vintage TV series' or something similar.

A good idea methinks as there are plenty of us oldies on this forum.

Thread renamed

[RichardCoulter]

The trouble is that people might now think that it refers to the music channel called Vintage TV that closed fairly recently (but is said to be returning).

[denphone]

Not really Richard as people only have to start reading some of the contents of this thread to know what the discussion is all about.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

The trouble is that people might now think that it refers to the music channel called Vintage TV that closed fairly recently (but is said to be returning).

I think we’ll just accept that risk.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

The trouble is that people might now think that it refers to the music channel called Vintage TV that closed fairly recently (but is said to be returning).

Somehow I dont think so

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by denphone

A good idea methinks as there are plenty of us oldies on this forum.

You don't have to be old to appreciate good TV Den . All that glitters doesn't necessarily have to be in UHD, or indeed in colour. Content, actors and script are everything.

Sitcoms in particular, we just don't to be able to do any longer. Thats why Gold is so popular with Dad's Army, Steptoe, Only Fools, Fawlty Towers etc. The BBC has tried recently with Hold the Sunset (John Cleese), and Warren (Martin Clunes), but they've been awful.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Mr K

You don't have to be old to appreciate good TV Den . All that glitters doesn't necessarily have to be in UHD, or indeed in colour. Content, actors and script are everything.

l said that in jest Mr K.

---------- Post added at 09:27 ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 ----------

Originally Posted by Mr K;35990435[B

]Sitcoms in particular, we just don't to be able to do any longer. Thats why Gold is so popular with Dad's Army, Steptoe, Only Fools, Fawlty Towers etc.[/B] The BBC has tried recently with Hold the Sunset (John Cleese), and Warren (Martin Clunes), but they've been awful.

l totally agree.

---------- Post added at 09:31 ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 ----------

Originally Posted by Mr K

The BBC has tried recently with Hold the Sunset (John Cleese), and Warren (Martin Clunes), but they've been awful.

That is because the people the BBC have who are commissioning these new sitcom comedy series seem to think that what is funny and great comedy to them will then appeal to a large section of the TV populace.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by denphone

That is because the people the BBC have who are commissioning these new sitcom comedy series seem to think that what is funny and great comedy to them will then appeal to a large section of the TV populace.

At least they tried, most other channels seem to have given up on sitcoms. The only half decent one is maybe Trollied on Sky, still not a patch on the classics though.

Maybe they were of their time, can't be recreated and the quality of writer isn't around any longer. Also the danger of offending anybody these days doesn't help creativity.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Mr K

At least they tried, most other channels seem to have given up on sitcoms. The only half decent one is maybe Trollied on Sky, still not a patch on the classics though.

ITV used to do a lot of good sitcom series in the old days

---------- Post added at 09:43 ---------- Previous post was at 09:42 ----------

Originally Posted by Mr K

Maybe they were of their time, can't be recreated and the quality of writer isn't around any longer. Also the danger of offending anybody these days doesn't help creativity.

Yes there is probably a fair bit of truth in what you say there Mr K.

[RichardCoulter]

I find that the best channels for retro material to be Talking Pictures, ITV3 and Forces TV and all of them are Free To Air!

Talking Pictures will be showing a lot of programming made by Thames as they have bought their archive.