[TV] Largely Forgotten TV Personalities of the 60s, 70s and 80s

[marlowe]

I was sure you were my age at least and yet this is twice you have referred to something I remember as being before your time. I smell a rat.

My TV viewing memories probably begin around 1965. I don't remember ever seeing him on TV although I had the Annual, and a subsequent post by [MENTION=1200]Harry Wilson's tackle[/MENTION] reminded me of a personal appearance I was taken to by my mum at about age 3 which I thought I had managed to erase from my memory.

 

[Gwylan]

Only the third season survives, alas, but they’re all on this DVD.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ace-Wands-...1&keywords=Ace+of+wands&qid=1587505053&sr=8-1

Thanks for that - although IIRC. Series 3 was the weakest (or maybe I was getting older)

 

[marlowe]

James Montgomery, presenter of Southern TV in the 70s and 80s.

I know you would probably all prefer a pic of his "punching above his weight" partner of the time Fiona Richmond but this post is not about her so hard luck.

Just learnt he died in December 2019. I don't remember a James Montogomery RIP thread.

https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.u...n-television-presenter-james-montgomery-dies/



Edit: Oh go on then, just a little one..
..

 

[jabba]

I would happily sit through a re-run of Dream Team. Doesn't seem to have been repeated or released on DVD!

 

[Super Steve Earle]

and Jonny Quest - apparently I'm the only person alive who remembers it!

It came out on Blu Ray last year if you’d like to see it again: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Jonny-Quest-The-Complete-Original-Series-Blu-ray/210723/

Thank you. I might just be tempted by that, particularly with excellent reviews to match my memory.

 

[Boys 9d]

Johnny Morris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAILTQLI5oY

 

[bobbab5]

Doesn't need the cash.

In the silly 90s (when money was sloshing around in TV) he was creating and selling on production companies that don't exist anymore.

His made more money from TV than he ever made as a musician.

His company Planet 24 made The Big Breakfast which was sold to Carlton. Bob's share was 5 million.

He's had other TV production companies ( did Castaway I think) since then and probably has his fingers in a few pots.

Jasper Carrot ( remember him ) was a major shareholder in Celador who made Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Sold his shares for 10 million in 2006.



Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk

Geldoff just recently released the 1st Boomtown Rats album in 40 years, it's ok...ish

 

[marlowe]

Tony Russell wasn’t it? I’m a big On the Buses fan.

Bob Grant who played Jack committed suicide in 2003. When the series ended he struggled to find work after finding himself typecast. He suffered years of depression and mounting debts. It was his third suicide attempt.

 

[marlowe]

If we're talking about series that I'd like to see again, my favourite programme when I was kid was Ace of Wands.

I've never seen it repeated but I'd love to catch it again. The main actor was a guy called Michael Mackenzie who I thought had vanished from the scene but he's been very busy... just in a lot of programmes that I don't watch,

It had a terrific theme song too

You might enjoy this. It's a half hour overview of the programme. Obviously made by a fan...

https://youtu.be/LlxZI4Rezqo

Plus a short snippet of one of the episodes

https://youtu.be/rFnurH2NQFk

 

[drew]

My first-ever boss was a definite member of this club.

View attachment 122596

Ring any bells?!

By the time I worked for him, in 1990, his TV glory days were over and he was running a production company in Maidenhead – which was an epicentre for has-been 70s TV stars, who all seemed to live in nearby places like Bray. Frequently the likes of Ernie Wise and other cronies (including the aforementioned Rolf Harris on one occasion) would wander into our office for an afternoon 'reminisce' over a glass of whisky, and we'd enter a timewarp where comments such as "It's one of the big regrets of my life that I've never made love to a black woman" would be uttered by one of these individuals (naming no names).

Unsurprisingly it wasn't for me, I only stuck it for a year!

Didn't he crash and burn when he had an affair with Dilys Powell, also of Nationwide fame?

 

[marlowe]

Michael Gothard. Although Oliver Tobias was the star of the early 70s series Arthur of the Britons I always prefered the character of Kai played by Michael Gothard. He went on to play a Bond villain in "For Your Eyes Only".

He commited suicide in 1992 after suffering years of depression..

 

[Weststander]

Michael Gothard. Although Oliver Tobias was the star of the early 70s series Arthur of the Britons I always prefered the character of Kai played by Michael Gothard. He went on to play a Bond vilain in "For Your Eyes Only".

He commited suicide in 1992 after suffering years of depression..

View attachment 122613

I quite liked that prog.

Sad about the guy’s mental illness. Covered far less then, it’s always been prevalent. RIP.

 

[Knocky's Nose]

Ha, my neighbour wrote the theme tune

I keep getting royalty cheques through to one of my rental flats for the Son of the man who wrote the theme tune to "Shelley" (sorry - after about 5 years I started opening them)... I've owned the flat for about 10 years now and I have no idea who he is. It's only about £40 a year, but it adds up!!

If anyone knows who he is, get him to register his new address with the bloody royalties people!!

 

[marlowe]

I quite liked that prog.

Sad about the guy’s mental illness. Covered far less then, it’s always been prevalent. RIP.

I remember coming home from school on my first day of secondary school and using it as an excuse not to get on with my history homework. I told my mum it was educational as it was about a part of English history so I needed to watch it to help me with my homework.

 

[marlowe]

Francoise Pascal : The French English Language student of the 70s series "Mind Your Language".

Another of my schoolboy crushes. I struck lucky yet again, just as I had previously done with Crossroads' Barbara Hunter when years later, thanks to the gift of the internet, I discovered that young Francoise had once flirted with porn.

I was also delighted to discover that unlike Barabara Hunter, Francoise displayed more than just her nips. I'm afraid you will have to use your imagination as I have had to censor her to conform with NSC rules regarding smut...

If any of the youngsters are confused by the size of the blue triangle it's because in those days domesticated feline pets and river dwelling, dam building rodents were actually covered in fur...

 

[marlowe]

I keep getting royalty cheques through to one of my rental flats for the Son of the man who wrote the theme tune to "Shelley" (sorry - after about 5 years I started opening them)... I've owned the flat for about 10 years now and I have no idea who he is. It's only about £40 a year, but it adds up!!

If anyone knows who he is, get him to register his new address with the bloody royalties people!!

His name is Ron Grainer. He died in 1981 in Cuckfield, which might explain his lack of urgency in collecting his cheques.

The most famous theme music he wrote is the iconic Dr Who theme tune. He also did the theme tunes for "Steptoe and Son" and "Tales of the Unexpected" amongst many others.

Edit: Just realised its the son of Ron Grainer to whom you referred. I'm afraid I can't help you with that one other than his son is called Damian, but you probably already know that.

Although I think this might be him. Same name and was a local lad. Mentions Brighton and Sussex in his linkedin profile. I think he lives in Warrington now:
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/damian-grainer-214a1050

You can also contact him via Facebook

https://m.facebook.com/loveflourishandsucceed/?locale2=en_GB

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Grainer

 

[vegster]

My first-ever boss was a definite member of this club.

View attachment 122596

Ring any bells?! [emoji38]ol:

By the time I worked for him, in 1990, his TV glory days were over and he was running a production company in Maidenhead – which was an epicentre for has-been 70s TV stars, who all seemed to live in nearby places like Bray. Frequently the likes of Ernie Wise and other cronies (including the aforementioned Rolf Harris on one occasion) would wander into our office for an afternoon 'reminisce' over a glass of whisky, and we'd enter a timewarp where comments such as "It's one of the big regrets of my life that I've never made love to a black woman" would be uttered by one of these individuals (naming no names).

Unsurprisingly it wasn't for me, I only stuck it for a year!

Is that/was that Michael Barrett?

 

[OzMike]

I used to like the detectives series', Randall and Hopkirk, Cannon, Colombo, etc. and especially The Persuaders, which had the best TV theme tune ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbA7q3AVYyQ

 

[Dick Swiveller]

Before Bob Ross, there was Paint Along With Nancy



Before Nigella, there was Grace Mulligan

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

and Jonny Quest - apparently I'm the only person alive who remembers it!

Jonny Quest was brilliant!