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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · 16h

#OTD 16 October 1958 - First edition of #BluePeter was televised.
The first two presenters were #ChristopherTrace, an actor, and #LeilaWilliams, winner of #MissGreatBritain in 1957.
#BiddyBaxter became editor of the programme and until her final show in June 1988, after nearly 26 years.

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · 1d

#OTD 15 Oct 1951:
The UK held its first party election broadcasts. Viscount Samuel spoke for the #LiberalParty, #AnthonyEden for the #ConservativeParty on 16 Oct, and #SirHartleyShawcross for the #LabourParty on 17 Oct.
The #GeneralElection on 25 Oct saw #WinstonChurchill return to office.

APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · 5d

#OTD - 11 October 1958
Grandstand is first broadcast from Lime Grove Studios with #PeterDimmock as the presenter. He presented the first two editions & three weeks later, he was replaced by sports commentator #DavidColeman.
The last edition was tx'd 28 January 2007.

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · 6d

#OTD 10 October 1955
Start of colour television test transmissions (405 VHF NTSC) from #AlexandraPalace.
#SylviaPeters took part in many of these experimental broadcasts.
The first live studio scenes were tx'd from Studio A at Alexandra Palace on 3rd April 1956, as seen here.

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · 15d

#OTD 1 October 1958 -
Ampex video recorder VR1000 used by BBC for first time.
The first broadcast was a trailer for the opera "A Tale of Two Cities", it was not long before it was being used for complete programmes.

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · 16d

#OTD 30 September 1938
Neville Chamberlain returned to Heston airport following his meeting with Hitler in Munich. His speech was broadcast live on radio and seen on television.
Seen in the photograph is a Super Emitron camera.
World War 2 commenced 11 months later.

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · 18d

#OTD 28 September 1923 Radio Times was first publishd.
At a cost of 2d, it listed programmess for six BBC stations (2LO, 5IT, 2ZY, 5NO, 5WA, and 5SC). Newspapers boycotted these listings, fearing a drop in sales.
Radio Times also became the world's first TV listings magazine.

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · 20d

#OTD 26 Sep 1954 Television Goes to Sea
On 26 Sep 1954, the BBC in arrangement with British Railways, made history by broadcasting from the SS Lord Warden ferry, marking the first TV programme transmitted from a moving ship at sea.

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · 24d

#OTD - 22 Sep 1955
The first ITA contractor to begin broadcasting was the London weekday contractor Associated-Rediffusion, on 22 September 1955 beginning at 7.15pm.

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Illuminations @illuminations.bsky.social · Sep 16

OTD in early British television

On Friday 16 September 1938 a television OB unit was among newsreel cameras at Heston Aerodrome to provide live coverage of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s return from meeting Adolf Hitler at Berchtesgaden.

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...

OTD in early British television: 16 September 1938 - Illuminations

John Wyver writes: On Friday 16 September 1938 a television OB unit was among newsreel cameras at Heston Aerodrome to provide live coverage of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s return from meeting ...

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk

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wwwheritagetrust.bsky.social @wwwheritagetrust.bsky.social · Sep 15

Using archive images, we'll showcase the evolving architecture of Derby and its surroundings.
Heritage Open Days - Fri & Sat (19 & 20 Sep 2025).
Booking essential.
FULLY BOOKED - THUR 18th
#HOD2025 #HeritageOpenDay #HeritageOpenDays #DerbyHODs #Winters1852 #WWWinterHeritageTrust #WWWinterLtd

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wwwheritagetrust.bsky.social @wwwheritagetrust.bsky.social · Sep 14

Using archive images, we'll showcase the evolving architecture of Derby and its surroundings.
Heritage Open Days - Fri & Sat (19 & 20 Sep 2025).
Booking essential.
FULLY BOOKED - THUR 18th
#HOD2025 #HeritageOpenDay #HeritageOpenDays #DerbyHODs #Winters1852 #WWWinterHeritageTrust #WWWinterLtd

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · Sep 11

#OTD - 11 September 1935
Last 30-line Baird experimental television broadcast transmitted by the BBC.
Desmond Campbell can be seen operating the scanner situated in the control room, looking into the studio.

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · Sep 10

A fantastic opportunity to help shape and build a sustainable future for the UK's oldest still operational photographic studio.
W. W. Winter can trace is roots back to 1848, and is still operating today!
winterheritagetrust.org/applications...

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · Sep 5

A fantastic opportunity to help shape and build a sustainable future for the UK's oldest still operational photographic studio.
W. W. Winter can trace is roots back to 1848, and is still operating today!
winterheritagetrust.org/applications...

APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · Sep 4

#OTD 5 Sep 1949.
The moon was televised for the first time from a balcony at Alexandra Palace.
A complicated arrangements of telescope & mirrors was required which directed the image into the television camera.
Produced by #AndrewMillerJones
#BBCTelevision #BBCTelevisionService

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Illuminations @illuminations.bsky.social · Sep 1

OTD in early British television

On the morning of Friday 1 September 1939, AP broadcast an edition of Come and Be Televised from Radiolympia. Among Elizabeth Cowell’s guests were Mr J. McIntyre giving ‘impressions of English life as a West Indian’...

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...

OTD in early British television: 1 September 1939 - Illuminations

John Wyver writes (just after midday): On the morning of Friday 1 September 1939, AP broadcast an edition of Come and Be Televised from Radiolympia. Among Elizabeth Cowell’s guests were Mr J. McIntyre...

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · Sep 1

#OTD - 1st Sep 1939
BBC Television Service closed for duration of World War II, for reasons of national defence.
Only 20,000 households had TVs, & since TV programmes were costly to produce, resources were redirected to more critical wartime needs.
Fifty engineers were reassigned to radar projects

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Illuminations @illuminations.bsky.social · Aug 31

Absolutely delighted that Dan Briggs, son of the BBC's first official historian Asa Briggs, has written to The Observer supporting the need for on-request vetting to re-instated at the BBC Written Archives Centre (p.29; not I think online).
Letter's wording is in the .alt element.

#waccampaign

Letter text reads:

History written off

'I agree that the BBC’s decision, apparently a fait accompli, taken without prior consultation to refashion the BBC Written Archive Centre in Caversham (re Vanessa Thorpe’s article “Historians dismayed by ‘scandal’ of BBC cutting access to written archives”, News, last week), is very disappointing. It appears to run counter to the BBC‘s compact with the public, Our BBC,Our future, and arguably the broadcaster’s charter itself.
This would have deeply disturbed my father, Asa Briggs, the first official historian of the BBC who played a key role in setting up the archive. As Adam Sisman writes in his new biography, my father rescued countless papers, broadcasts and artefacts. The archive has since provided a valuable and rich seam of research material. The plan to step up the release of material in themed batches, rather than as now, respond to specific research enquiries clearly ‘dumbs down’ the value of the archive as an open and accessible resource.'

Dan Briggs
Lewes, Sussex

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · Aug 31

#OTD - 31st Aug 1936
First appearance of Elizabeth Cowell, the BBC Television announcer on screen.
Also this day saw British Movietone & Paramount newsreels filming at Alexandra Palace. The British Movietone Newsreel was issued on 3rd September 1936.

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Illuminations @illuminations.bsky.social · Aug 25

OTD in early British television

Having noted the first activity in at Alexandra Palace in 1936 yesterday, today we make a jump on a year on to an article that marked what was claimed as television’s ‘first birthday’.

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...

OTD in early British television: 25 August 1937 - Illuminations

John Wyver writes: Having noted the first activity in at Alexandra Palace in 1936 yesterday, today we make a jump on a year on to an article that marked what was claimed as television’s ‘first birthda...

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · Aug 25

#OTD 25 Aug 1937
Electronically generated television test signal "Art Bars" were transmitted for the first time.
Prior to this a test signal was generated using an image on a board in front of an Emitron camera.

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Illuminations @illuminations.bsky.social · Aug 23

OTD in early British television

Late August means it’s time for the annual trade show Radiolympia. Manufacturers and consumers gathered for a week in west London to look at the latest radio and television receivers and to be entertained by the BBC.

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...

OTD in early British television: 23 August 1939 - Illuminations

John Wyver writes: Late August means it’s time for the annual trade show Radiolympia. Manufacturers and consumers gathered for a week or so in west London to look at the latest radio and television re...

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk

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APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · Aug 22

#OTD - 22nd Aug 1961 - The first BBC demonstration of colour television to the public at Earls Court Radio Show.
Footage by Dicky Howett captures the 1961 Radio Show, showcasing the BBC NTSC colour demonstration on 405-line and 625-line monitors.

The National Radio Show Earls Court 1961 Colour Tv demonstration

This footage, which I shot (16fps) on 'high speed' 16mm Anscocolor (100ASA!) shows the first UK public demonstration in 1961 of colour tv from the BBC. Sitting in a special glass fronted studio, two…

buff.ly

APTS Archive @aptsarchive.bsky.social · Aug 22

Great photograph of Desmond Campbell operating the scanner looking through a plate glass window into the television studio.
The studio was in darkness & the reflected lights from the scanning beam was picked up by photo electric cells, which took the place of lights.

Illuminations @illuminations.bsky.social · Aug 22

OTD in early British television

At just after 11pm on Monday 22 August 1932, the BBC began a television service using Baird company 30-line technology. Baird Television Ltd had been broadcasting since November 1929...

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/otd-in-early...

OTD in early British television: 22 August 1932 - Illuminations

John Wyver writes: At just after 11pm on Monday 22 August 1932, the BBC began a television service using Baird company 30-line technology. Baird Television Ltd had been broadcasting since November 192...

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk

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