Television of the 1930s & 40s - as seen through the lens by Desmond Campbell

Desmond Robert Campbell "Cam" began work with the Baird Television Company in 1929. When the BBC took over responsibility for television programmes in August 1932 Cam became a member of the BBC staff. He created many lighting effects with the primitive equipment at the time. While the performer sat in complete darkness Cam was able to adjust the outputs from the various photo electric cells to create shading and effects. With this knowledge he transferred to Alexandra Palace in early 1936 to prepare (along with many others) for the opening of the BBC Television Service in November of that year. During the early years at Alexandra Palace Cam gained the unofficial title of "Father of television lighting", due to his masterly techniques. Cam took these films as a record of his own studio work. Sadly a fire in his garden shed destroyed much of his collection, therefore what remains is even more precious. These films offer a unique insight into the formative years of the BBC Television Service. 0:00 Intro to Films of Television From 1930s & 1940s. 0:13 Station Opening Announcement by Jasmine Bligh. 0:22 PICTURE PAGE featuring Marietta Serle. Transmitted on 25th November 1936. 0:39 STARLIGHT featuring Frances Day. Transmitted 18th December 1936. 0:45 INTERNATIONAL CABARET: The Knife Throwing Denvers. Transmitted 16th March 1937. 1:35 Radio Times Trailer by Jasmine Bligh. Transmitted 17th March 1937. 3:22 THE FUN OF THE FAIR featuring Leslie Mitchell. Transmitted 29th March 1937. 3:42 OLD TIME MUSIC HALL. Transmitted 29th Mach 1937. 4:42 STARLIGHT featuring Jane Carr. Transmitted 10th May 1937. 4:48 Music Hall Cavalcade. Transmitted 12th May 1937. 5:44 STARLIGHT featuring Argentinita & DH Munro (Televisions Production Manager). Transmitted 19th June 1937. 5:55 HOW HE LIED TO HER HUSBAND. Featuring Greer Garson. Transmitted 8th July 1937. 6:07 DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT: Television's first grand Pantomime. The sequence begins with Pamela Randall as Fairy Bow Belle and ends with Cyril Fletcher as Emperor of Morocco. Transmitted on 27th December 1937 6:56 ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENCE OF LONDON. Transmitted 18th April 1938. 8:32 EASTERN CABARET. Featuring Reine Paulet. Transmitted 30th May 1938. 9:00 RADIOLYMPIA - August/September 1938. 9:18 RADIOLYMPIA - IN THE GARDEN. Featuring Elizabeth Cowell & CH Middleton (the radio and television gardener), during his talk on growing dahlias. Transmitted 3rd September 1938. 9:38 RADIOLYMPIA - JACK HYLTON AND HIS BAND. Featured in this sequence are; Jack Hylton, Bruce Trent, Peggy Dall, Feddie Schweitzer, the Henderson Twins and Maureen Potter. Transmitted 3rd September 1938. 10:32 RADIOLYMPIA - QUEUE FOR A SONG. Featuring a host of music hall, theatre and radio performers. The final revue, shown here, featured; Graham Payne, Joyce Winn, Queen Leonard, Edward Cooper, Jackie Billings, Diana Chase and Douglas Byng. Transmitted 3rd September 1938. 11:27 RADIOLYMPIA - CABARET CRUISE - GALA FANCY DRESS NIGHT. Shown in this sequence are Walsh & Baker (performing songs at the piano), Madga Fun & Steve Geray (performers of dialogue and song), and the Five Lai Found (Chinese jugglers & acrobats). 12:09 CABARET: Truda Binarona, Miss Czechoslovakia, (who only made two films in her short career) & Raphael Medina (the Spanish dancer). 12:41 Leslie Mitchell & DH Munro (Programme Productions Manager) before the Emitron camera. 13:02 Wardrobe Tests. Shown here are Elizabeth Cowell, Jeanne Bradnock (Head of Wardrobe) and Isabel Winthrop (Wardrobe Assistant). 13:48 Unknown dance sequences. 14:51 Programme Trailer by relief announcer Olga Edwardes. Transmitted 3rd August 1939. 15:16 THE BALLET NEGRES. Britain's first black ballet company under the direction of Berto Pasuka. The performed two ballets "They Came" and "Market Day". Transmitted 12th July 1946. 16:49 FELIX MENDELSSOHN AND HIS HAWAIIAN SERENADERS. After this appearance on television Felix was banned from performing on the Stoll-Moss theatre circuit for three month - such was the fear of television on theatre audiences. Transmitted 12th July 1946. 17:28 GALA VARIETY. Programme to commemorate the opening of Studio G at Lime Grove studios. Featured during the programme are: Bill Fraser (Compere), The Keynotes, The Three Regitas, The Mandos Sisters and the earliest surviving appearance of Tommy Cooper on television. Transmitted 23rd December 1950. 20:35 Credits