'In vision' Continuity announcers.

To quote a well known saying “I dont belieeeve it”, whilst trying to locate a certain CD for a relatives Xmas gift, I came across several CDs that are made up totally of music from the testcard! I seem to remember from ‘sickie days’ as a child being curious as to why there was never any pop or rock tunes. Do any of the wise sages here know why? After all the Beeb broadcasted pop/rock on the radio stations at the time.

Yep. After the testcard and before total digital, there was a spell with hand-held oscilliscopes (sp?).

Can you ruin a modern telly with a magnet?
This takes me back…..you could have warped fun with a B&W telly and a magnet, by moving the magnet near the screen. This left a large black circle near the magnet and distorted an area around it to much amusement of us 9 year olds.
However, if you did this to an original Colour set, it ruined the RGB guns or something, and could not be repaired. Resulting in no spends for 2 months and no treats.

I also remember that the test card was the only way to tune the telly! “Set” as it was called. Remember trying to get the Horizontal and Vertical hold right LoL!! You could also get the colour perfect by using BBC news, the newsreader was perfectly lit. If you had colour that is!

I’ve really let the Genie out of the bottle now. My next door neighbour apparently used to be a ‘telly’ repair guy some years ago and proceeded the other day to explain what parts of that test pattern was used for checking different functions of the set. He told me that back in the 60s, 70s and early 80s that the pattern was very necessary for setting up the TV in peoples homes and for checking in the workshop! Apparently nowadays engineers have small gadgets to check these things without an on screen pattern. Thats the very last time I tell a non forum person about what topics crops up on here! Was interesting info I guess;)

I understand so. Apparently her name is Carol Hersee, now in her 50s and working in the costume dept. at the BBC. She holds the official world record for the face most seen on TV. Her father, who was a senior engineer at the BBC, designed the pattern. Rumour has it that she still possesses the toy! Please believe me I’m not an ‘anorak, but once I started searching on this I couldn’t stop!;)

I also remember that the test card was the only way to tune the telly! “Set” as it was called. Remember trying to get the Horizontal and Vertical hold right LoL!! You could also get the colour perfect by using BBC news, the newsreader was perfectly lit. If you had colour that is!

Perhaps someone will give the correct reason for the shrinking of the credits to advertise the next programme, but I think it is because of the remote control and so many channels to change to that the BBC/ITV wants to beat the channel flicker and let them know whats on next before they flick channels.
It does not make it good practice though.

This makes a lot of sense.
A lot of the time, no point flicking these days, most of the programmes on Sky have ads at the same time. Especially the sky stuff I watch……Discovery/History/Eden…all that lot up there past 520. And NOT the GodSquad terrorist Church stuff from America.

Sylvia Peters and Mary Malcolm,who I believe died only recently,are two presenters I remember from my far-off youth.
This site has some videos of the little interlude films that used to appear between BBC programmes in the 50s,including my favourite,the white kitten.

http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/index.htm

Thanks for the info I will check it out.

Perhaps someone will give the correct reason for the shrinking of the credits to advertise the next programme, but I think it is because of the remote control and so many channels to change to that the BBC/ITV wants to beat the channel flicker and let them know whats on next before they flick channels.
It does not make it good practice though.

But that does make you an anorak.:D

Oh ‘eck noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo;)

Back in the 70’s I think HTV West used to have an announcer who was very good at his job, but the major problem was, he couldnt tell the time from the clock. When the station closed down at night, he used to break out in a cold sweat shake and fumble about in his chair and eventually guesses the time after many attempts, normally getting it wrong.
Ian

Please believe me I’m not an ‘anorak, but once I started searching on this I couldn’t stop!😉

But that does make you an anorak.:D

I understand so. Apparently her name is Carol Hersee, now in her 50s and working in the costume dept. at the BBC. She holds the official world record for the face most seen on TV. Her father, who was a senior engineer at the BBC, designed the pattern. Rumour has it that she still possesses the toy! Please believe me I’m not an ‘anorak, but once I started searching on this I couldn’t stop!;)

And who could forget the test pattern with the girl and the cuddly toy! Is that ever on now btw?

I’m sure I’ve seen it at 3am (ish) during the text type broadcasts.
They tracked that girl down last year didn’t they?

Not a chance. I think the BBC is in denial that it can’t have adbreaks so every spare microsecond is taken up with trailers for future programmes – often the same programme ad nauseam.:(

And who could forget the test pattern with the girl and the cuddly toy! Is that ever on now btw?

I remember th continuity announcers from my youth as well. I would prefer them to thannoying habit of advertising the next or upcoming programmes at the bottom of the screen whilst the current show is still going,or even the habit of shrinking the end credits to advertise the next show just as i want to see the cast list.:mad::(

Bang on, that man!

I go back to the days of Diddy David Hamilton doing this on Granada TV in the 60’s.

Sylvia Peters and Mary Malcolm,who I believe died only recently,are two presenters I remember from my far-off youth.
This site has some videos of the little interlude films that used to appear between BBC programmes in the 50s,including my favourite,the white kitten.

http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/index.htm

Sylvia – Mary was the Northern Irish Olympic pentathlete….:)

MacDonald Holby and was it Silvia Peters or Mary Peters? I can remember the Interval between programmes. There was a windmill, a potters wheel or a horse drawn plough ploughing a field.
I am positive that we have not progressed in a civilised way. I agree with all the complaints mentioned above re at the end of programmes.

Many thanks for your kind words Misha and for that link, its frightening the TV memories that its kicked off!

I know – you can get lost in there for days!

I remember th continuity announcers from my youth as well. I would prefer them to thannoying habit of advertising the next or upcoming programmes at the bottom of the screen whilst the current show is still going,or even the habit of shrinking the end credits to advertise the next show just as i want to see the cast list.:mad::(