Hello again!
Since I last wrote there have been a few more things that have been found, and I’ll tell you about those first …
Firstly, there was the arrival of a new Tiswas clip on YouTube (03/11/79), and soon after I had it confirmed that the two Engelbert Humperdinck shows that I found in the UCLA archives were missing from the UK. I also ascertained the dates of brief performances that are included on a BBC promotional sales film in the same archive. These are probably no more than a minute long each, but I have confirmed that clips of Ringo Starr on the Cilla show (13/02/71), Ray Stevens on It’s Lulu (11/07/70) and Jerry Lewis on the Rolf Harris Show (31/10/70) exist on this film.
Two TOTP clips from missing shows, both featuring Pan’s People routines, appeared on YouTube. These are from 03/09/70, dancing to Bread, and 06/08/70, dancing to Stevie Wonder.
I found an audio recording of part of ‘Yes, It’s the Cathode Ray Tube Show’ (dated as 18/03/57) in the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. I have notified Tim Disney, the Associated-Rediffusion expert, of the find.
Readers of the column will recall the Clapperboard that I and another missing episode hunter almost simultaneously found in the Huntley archive, an excellent private archive founded by the brilliant film historian and archivist John Huntley.
I did some more research via their online archive, and I have found Dave Allen’s missing show Eccentrics at Play (30/12/1974).
In addition, I have also found partial clips of the following lost shows in the archive: the Frankie Howerd Show (18/12/64), Sunday Night at the London Palladium (01/12/57), ‘the Billy Cotton Band Show (12/04/62) and This Is Your Life (11/05/59), featuring a distant relative of mine, Tommy Trinder!
Bear in mind that these last four shows are excerpts only, but it is still fantastic to see these works preserved and in existence. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Huntley Archive for their speedy and courteous response to my enquiries.
I am delighted that many archives respond quickly and politely to enquiries I have. The BBC and Huntley are two archive holders in particular who have been fantastic.
Several others have also been a great help to me, including many of the regional and overseas archives.
It’s a shame not all archive holders and companies are like that. I have a few stories I could tell, but I’d better not.
Oh, go on then. Here’s one.
In the early days, I would often phone archive holders, and with one such company I called to say I believed I’d found some lost footage.
I was eventually put through to the Programme Sales area, and I told the gent on the other end of the phone about my find, which I was offering to return to him.
All the time he was tapping on a PC, very easily audible in the background.
After I had finished talking, the tapping noise stopped and he informed me that the programme did not exist (which I already knew) in their archives. I was just about to speak when he said “I’m really sorry that you won’t be able to buy a copy of it after all”.
Until next time,
Ray
Wiped News 
Excellent! Keep up the good work! x
I have observed that wise real estate agents all over the place are warming up to FSBO Promoting. They are realizing that it’s more than simply placing a sign in the front property. It’s really with regards to building relationships with these retailers who someday will become customers. So, while you give your time and energy to supporting these dealers go it alone — the “Law of Reciprocity” kicks in. Interesting blog post.
How do you do?
I have recently ressurected my old Akai open reel tape recorder and have found many reels of tape.
I have a radio serial ‘A Walk in the Dark’ originally broadcast on radio 2 in the ’70s, I think. Any use?