Part 1In the 1960s radios certainly played music but they also provided more news and entertainment and a greater range of programming than radios do now.
They were also seen as an important information source. Television was still new, not all homes had one and the information and entertainment programs on TV started much later in the afternoon. So the radio was still the main day-time news and information source. We are looking at a typical Sunday on the Light Program from the mid 1960s. The Light program was the station that in a few years would be divided to become both Radio 1 and Radio 2.
Looking at the listings, last week we finished at 2.30 in the afternoon but we will pause a moment to look at the Sunday comedy hour in a little more depth.
The BBC used to to alternate comedy shows in this hour and a glance at two other copies of the Radio Times reveal these programs that you might have heard after Sunday dinner.
Emery At Large
This program starred Dick Emery, a comedian and entertainer. This particular one starred Deryek Guyler along with Norma Ronald and with music by Nat Temple and his Music and Kim Bond.
Dick Emery, of course, had a colourful life both on and off stage and there is an interesting page of the characters he created here.
Deryek Guyler (note the spelling) is well known to everyone but if you want more information there is a page here.
The Navy Lark
Following that is another classic comedy program of the time and one that is still listened to by many people today since it is still, I think, on radio 7 (which reminds me to set my recorder so that I can listen to it myself!).
Again, I could write a book about the Navy Lark and if you don’t know it or want to get up to speed there are a host of websites on the internet of which the ones below just scratch the surface. There are also numerous recording as audio CDs and I have included some of those at the end.
On that day the hour was followed by the George Mitchell Minstrels.
Appreciation Society
Navy Lark
BBC
The Ken Dodd Show
The next Sunday had ‘Round The Horne’ which I covered last week followed by the Ken Dodd Show.
Again, Ken Dodd needs no introduction from me but he was assisted on this day by well known John Laurie and equally well known Patricia Hayes with Alan Curtis and Judith Chalmers. Music was by the Yardbirds and ‘Doddy’s Diddy Orchestra’ (that’s what it says!) conducted by Malcolm Lockyer.
At that time Ken Dodd, with his own brand of odd and sometimes strange humour, was a frequent visitor to the radio set and he appeared regularly with his show at that time.
Again the hour was followed by the George Mitchell Minstrels.
Catch It Again
I had a look on Amazon UK for these program so that you can see what is on offer. (I have to admit that I don’t have a great number of these CDs (yet) and I was unaware that a lot of them existed but many are now in my wish list for Christmas!)
Dick Emery
Unless I have missed it there are no recording of the radio programs but, since there are many Dick Emery fans, here is a link to a DVD of TV clips. Before rushing out and buying this you might like to read the comments left on this page on Amazon. I have say that I am surprised that there isn’t more of him.
Dick Emery – The Best Of Dick Emery [DVD]
This is more of a personal note than anything but I noticed, while I was looking for Dick Emery, that he appears, of course, in Educating Archie which is more 1950s. However some of this series is available as an MP3 download and I just wanted to share the link with you and make myself a reminder.
Navy Lark
There are so many Navy Lark audio CDs that it’s hard to know which links to show you. The first link is to a CD that is a personal favourite, ‘Women In The Wardroom’ which is in the ordinary series of shows.
The “Navy Lark”: Women in the Wardroom v. 21 (BBC Audio)
This link is to one of ‘The Very Best Episodes’ of which there are more.
“Navy Lark”, the Very Best Episodes: v. 1 (BBC Audio)
There are also whole collections of a complete series and, at the time of writing this, the series below was a very tempting half price.
The “Navy Lark”: The Collection Feat. the TV Lark: Series 5
Ken Dodd radio shows
There are not quite so many Ken Dodd radio shows audio CDs but here is a link to the one that I could find.
There is, of course, a lot more Ken Dodd and if you want more then just click the link above and search in the box at the top of the page for ‘Ken Dodd’.
