From en.wikipedia.org:
[BBC TV series] [the 1956–57 TV series] [date=October 2022] {{Infobox
television | image = | image_alt = | caption = | alt_name = | genre = |
creator = | showrunner = | writer = | screenplay = | teleplay = | story = |
director = | presenter = | starring = | theme_music_composer = | music = |
open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = | country = United Kingdom | language
= English | num_seasons = | num_series = | num_episodes = | list_episodes = |
runtime = 60 minutes | company = British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |
network = | first_aired = | last_aired = }} _PICTURE PAGE_ is a British
television non-fiction programme, broadcast by the BBC Television Service from
their studios at Alexandra Palace from 1936 to 1939, and again after the
service's hiatus during the Second World War from 1946 until 1952. It was the
first British television series to become a long-term and regular popular
success.[1] The series proved to be very popular with viewers. A BBC survey
in 1939 showed the series to be second in popularity behind plays.[2]
** Format
The programme had a magazine format with two hour-long editions broadcast each
week including a range of interviews with well-known personalities, features
about a range of topics and coverage of public events. The main presenter
during the pre-war era was Canadian actress Joan Miller who played the role of
a "switchboard operator" similar to that of a telephone exchange, "connecting"
the viewers to the particular guests and items being featured that week.
Miller was nicknamed "The Switchboard Girl" in the popular press and became
one of the first television celebrities.[3] She would be assisted by Leslie
Mitchell and Jasmine Bligh, two of the BBC's three continuity announcers (the
other being Elizabeth Cowell).
_Picture Page_ celebrated its 200th edition on 15 December 1938 with a "huge
birthday cake". At that time the show had welcomed "1,450 items in which have
taken part over 1,500 men, 660 women, the ghost of Alexandra Palace and a
large number of animals of all kinds, including goats, snakes, lions and
mice."[4][5]
After the reinstatement of the programme during 1946, Joan Gilbert assumed
presenting duties until 1952. Mary Malcolm presented some shows in 1949 and
1950.[6]
** Preservation
_Picture Page_ was produced live by the BBC from their Alexandra Palace
television studio for the entirety of its run. The first episode was actually
broadcast on 8 October 1936, some three and a half weeks before the official
opening of the service on 2 November, as part of the ongoing test
transmissions during the prelude to the initiation date. Until 1949 the
series was not recorded and thus none of the pre-1949 programmes exist
anymore. Four shows from 1951 have survived in the form of telerecordings.[7]
** Theme tune
The theme tune _Shopping Centre_ was composed by Philip Green.[8]
** References
[Reflist]
** External links
- [0250910]
Category:1936 in British television Category:1936 British television series
debuts Category:1952 British television series endings Category:1930s British
television series Category:1940s British television series Category:1950s
British television series Category:BBC Television Service (TV network)
original programming Category:Lost BBC episodes Category:1936 establishments
in the United Kingdom Category:British non-fiction television series