Dear Octopus 1959

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Dear Octopus was transmitted on BBC television on 10th January 1960. It was produced at Gosta Green in Birmingham. The drama is set at a reunion of the Randoph family.

Joyce Hawkins worked on the costumes for the drama. Thanks to her for sharing this publicity photograph of Michael Denison, from the production.

Chloe Gibson was the director, and the play was written by Dodie Smith.

Michael Denison played Nicholas Randolph and Gwen Ffrangcon Davies played Dora Randolph.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Colin Pierpoint: I think I do remember it. Each of the characters was a bit weird in some way or other. Now I think of it the son ends up behaving like a baby at the end, with the parents encouraged by this, even though he is about 40. It was so way out, I thought it worthy of a Pebble Mill drama!’

Mary Sanchez: ‘I worked with Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray on Howard’s Way too- lovely almost regal like couple! They didn’t mind being driven around locations in my massive mini bus and were always very appreciative!! Climbing in and out …They invited me to their house in Amersham for tea, I never did go but they were very sweet indeed!’

Jane Green: ‘Ah! Michael was married to Dulcie Gray who played Kate Harvey in Howards Way. When we were filming near Southampton they gave me a lift back to my hotel in their car – which he proudly told me he’d bought off Princess Diana’s dad.(Dulcie was friends with the Queen Mum and used to go to Clarence House a lot for tea) The Denisons were a lovely, giggly, fun couple. Photo is of AFM Alison Symington and me on location standing infront of ‘Jan Howard’s’ car. About 1986.’

Waiting For Godot 1961

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This publicity still is from Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett, it was transmitted on BBC television on 26th June, 1961, at 21.50. The drama was produced in Birmingham’s Gosta Green studios.

Thanks to Costume Designer, Joyce Hawkins for sharing the photo.

Prometheus: The Life of Balzac

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Prometheus: The Life of Balzac, by Andre Maurois, was transmitted in autumn 1975 on BBC2. The interiors would have been recorded in Studio A.

Below is the entry from the Radio Times, from the BBC Genome project:

‘The BBC2 serial: written for television in six parts by DAVID turner starring Nicky Henson as Balzac 1: Apprenticeship of a Genius Honore Balzac , ablaze with vitality, determined to embrace greatness as a writer, embraces instead the first great love of his life.

Costume designer, Joyce HAWKINS; Script editor Lennox PHILLIPS; Designer, Margaret PEACOCK; Producer Richard Hevnon; Director Joan CRAFT

Contributors

Mme Balzac: Helen Ryan
M Balzac: William Squire
Laure Balzac: Rosemary McHale
Laurence Balzac: Elizabeth Romilly
Père Dablin: Leslie French
Eugene Surville: Tim Woodward
Comtesse de Berny: Elizabeth Spriggs
Comte de Berny: Barry Sinclair
Emilie de Berny: Rosie Kerslake
Augustine de Berny: Phoebe Nicholis
Jeanne de Berny: Kate Lock
Victorine de Berny: Tracey Childs
Raisson: Jeremy Clyde
Peasant girl: Vanessa Millard
Buisson: Paul Imbusch’

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f0762eee12e34531a98afebdf8888018

The photos were originally posted on the Pebble Mill Engineers Facebook group, and I suspect they are probably from costume designer, Joyce Hawkins.

Costume and make-up, probably ‘Shakespeare or Bust’

Photo by Graham Pettifer, no reproduction without permission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gwen Arthy, Joyce Hawkins and Annie Doling, from costume and make-up, probably on location for Shakespeare or Bust, which was filmed to the canal between Birmingham and Stratford Upon Avon. Mike Williams was DOP, and it starred Brian Glover. Tara Prem was the script editor.

The Nightwatchman 1959

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The Nightwatchman was a six part series of stories by W. W. Jacobs, adapted by Donal Giltinan, and produced by Peter Dews at the BBC Gosta Green studios. It starred Wally Patch as Bill, the Nightwatchman,  and Marjorie Rhodes as Mrs Gibbs. The series was transmitted in January and February 1959.

Here is the list of participants, from the Radio Times entry:

Author: W.W. Jacobs
Adapter: Donal Giltinan
Producer: Peter Dews
Music for the concertina composed and played by: Alfred Edwards
Designer: Stewart Marshall
Director: Terence Dudley
Bill: Wally Patch
Joe Gibbs: Victor Platt
George Brown: Hal Osmond
Bob Kidd: Douglas Ives
Landlord: Norman Pierce
Mrs Atkins: Hilda Barry
Mrs Joe Gibbs: Marjorie Rhodes
Mrs Briggs: Vi Stevens
First Customer: Charles Lamb
Second Customer: Anthony Sagar
Docker: Frank Sieman
Police Constable: Stanley Beard

Thanks to Costume’s Joyce Hawkins for sharing the photo.