The Blood Donor episode of Hancock was broadcast in its television version on the 23rd June 1961, about fifteen years before I was born. But the key punchline "A pint? That's half an armful" entered my personal lexicon even before I'd be old enough to enjoy the repeat in 1986. My Dad used to also be a blood donor, enough to be collecting
the various badges of honour you used to receive depending on the number of visits.
When I'd grown to the age when you begin to notice things, I asked him about the badge, which he'd wear on the lapel of the jacket he'd wear for work and he explained to me the plot of the Hancock episode including that phrase and what strikes me now is the vividness with which he was able to describe what happened at least twenty five to thirty years after he'd seen it (although its possibly he caught the 1976 repeat in the meantime).
Its was broadcast last Tuesday on BBC Four (
and is available on the iPlayer for a month) but I miss how television like this used to only exist in the memory, like a piece of oral history to be passed down through the generations. The media that we truly enjoy stays with us and lodges itself in our consciousness no matter how ephemeral it is. I'm sure if I was to ask Dad now about it now he'd still be able to describe everything just as vividly even though he's still terrible with faces.
Hancock's Half Hour
"James Naughtie on life of the ‘Hancock's Half Hour’ star epitomising the little man's struggle against the world. From 2012."
[BBC Sounds]
"Ray Galton and Alan Simpson met while both confined to a TB sanatorium in the late 1940s - an experience turned into sitcom Get Well Soon by Galton and John Antrobus in 1997."
[BBC Genome Blog]
"With two celebrated Hancock's Half Hour episodes restored, colourised and due to air this weekend on Gold, we spoke to lead colouriser Clayton Hickman about the project."
[British Comedy Guide]
"Sid James and Bill Kerr star in a clip from skit marking the Empire and Commonwealth Games."
[The Guardian]
Archive
"A partial recording of an edition of Exhibition Choice live from the National Radio Show at Earl's Court in London. Presented by George Elrick. George "talks to visitors to the Show and challenges the BBC Gramophone Library to find their choice in record time". Recording made by Eric Bartington and digitised by Gerard de Roo to whom I extend my thanks."
"On the night of the broadcast, heavy clouds made stargazing impossible, and the programme quickly descended into farce. For 20 minutes Patrick Moore and Mr Hole - showing consummate professionalism, unflappable determination and unwavering enthusiasm - tried again and again to find a clear patch of sky."
[BBC Archive]
"Science and Life is a series of programmes for schools that illustrates the history of science and technology. In this edition, David Ingram explains the processes that make television possible. Originally broadcast 15 March, 1961."
[BBC Archive]
"In 1940, Coventry became famous as the victim of World War II bombing. Today, it is famous as an experiment in post-war planning under democracy. Robert Reid reports on the progress the city has made."
[BBC Rewind]
Places
"Queen visits BBC television centre at White City, London."
[AP]
"Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, paying a visit to the BBC Television Centre at the White City, was received by Sir Arthur Fforde, Chairman of the BBC. After watching a programme, 95-year-old expert embroiderer Miss Maud Anderson was presented. Ron Moody was another, as were Sir Ralph Richardson and Peter Hall. Her Majesty went round the studios, and after the rehearsal of a programme, she had a talk with Hugh Sinclair and George Cole."
[AP]
"Fourteen local Government officials from Northern Nigeria paid a visit to the British Broadcasting Corporation studios at Plymouth, Devon, May twenty-three."
[Pathe]
Politics
"The year under review had its quota of conspicuous events in which broadcasting played its part; among them the wedding of HRH Princess Margaret to Mr Antony Armstrong-Jones, the Presidential Election in the USA, and the Olympic Games in Rome."
[hathitrust]
"This handbook appears at a time when many people are waiting for important further advances to be made in broadcasting.
[World Radio History]
