Dick Barton programme

[padlock man]

Do you remember "Dick Barton, Special Agent," and Dick's two buddies, Jock and Snowy? Did you rush indoors at the first few notes of "The Devil's Gallop"?
There's a half hour programme tomorrow (Thursday 15th July) on BBC Radio 4 looking back at the series.
I'll catch it if I can.

[ralph]

I don't know whether you ever listen to BBC 7 on digital radio, but you still get programmes like Dick Barton repeated quite regularly. Just champion man for we older sand-dancers who wallow in nostaglia!

[Mr Smith]

I take it that it's the "radio" series of "Dick Barton Special Agent"
you are talking about, there was a TV series made a few years
later.

Used to listen to it every day after I got in from school
and had my tea. I listened to it from when it first started
in 1948, Don Stannard played Dick Barton, in 1948 George
Ford played Snowy but Bruce Walker took over the part in
1949. Jock was played by Jack Shaw.

Other radio favourites at the time were "The Goon Show"
"Round The Horn" and "Much Binding In The Marsh" (at least
I think that's what it was called)

[Delilahcat]

As I read the thread title I started whistling the theme music thinking it was called something like the Devil's Gallop.
Mr Smith I remember all those wonderful radio programmes but you missed out Journey Into Space. I followed the exploits of Jet Morgan avidly. It stared Andrew Faulds who later became an MP and David Kossof dad of rock legend Paul.

[brian c]

There was also PC49 and Journey into Space.

[ralph]

There was also PC49 and Journey into Space.

Well, all of those programmes keep getting repeated on BBC 7 digital radio - its a real journey into the past. A few months ago, I was lucky enough to be a guest a 'Literary Lunch', where June Whitfield was launching her memoirs, and we talked about all those old radio programmes. She did a few of her sketches as 'Eth' in the 'Glums' and she was brilliant! She is still lovely to look look at and he talent to entertain is undimmed by the years.

[Mr Smith]

There was also "Rays A Laugh" with Ted Ray, a line in nearly all of the
sketches was "what's your name little girl" and the response would be
"my name is Monica"

He was also an accomplished violinist, he used the violin is most of
his shows. He would start playing some serious music then pause after
a few bars to crack a joke or two.

There's a photo of my oldest daughter taken with Ted Ray, around the
house somewhere.

[ralph]

I remember listening to 'Ray's a Laugh'. Kenneth Connor was one of the radio stars on that show, and like a lot of other people I suspect, who had heard them, but never seen them, I had a very firm picture in my mind, of how I thought they looked. When TV started to arrive in our houses (and for many, that was to watch the Coronation), I was quite taken aback to see they looked nothing like how I had imagined them. It quite spoilt my enjoyment of some of those programmes, until I had time to acclimatise!

We did not get a TV in our house for a year or two after that, and so I was to be found visiting a great aunt, who had one of those 12" screen jobs, to watch 'Wells Fargo', the first programme that I can remember.

[Mr Smith]

I remember "Tales Of Wells Fargo" with Dale Robertson, did
you notice that he was left handed when using his gun?
He's still going strong and aged about 87 I think.

[ralph]

I hope he is, it would be great to think that someone who gave such enjoyment to me as a lad, was still going strong. Speaking of which, I watched a programme last night called: 'Forever Young'. It was all about those pop stars gave such a lot of pleasure in the 60's. It showed them performing in their heydays and also some of their recent performances. I was amazed to see Mick Jagger still being able to gyrate around the stage like a teenager! A close up on his face reminded me of the painting in the attic in the story 'Dorian Grey' - closeups should not be encouraged! Eric Burdon of 'The Animals' was there too - grey now, but feisty as ever. Joe Brown, still with lots of hair was there, but, looked like someones nice old grandad. I found that the programme brought back all those wonderful old memories, but at the same time filled me with a wistful sadness. I avoided looking in the mirror as I made my last trip to the bathroom before going to bed

[Mr Smith]

I avoided looking in the mirror as I made my last trip to the bathroom before going to bed

The wife has to drag me away from the mirror, I can't resist it.

[Delilahcat]

ralph I watched that programme a few weeks ago.Used to be a big fan of Eric Burdon back in the Club a'Go Go days. Lad I work wIth was at a blues festival in New Orleans recently and who should be standing next to him watching the acts but Eric.

[Mr Smith]

Before he went to the States Eric Burdon was engaged to my mates sister.
He even recorded a song about her "Letter To Miss Caulker" I think it was
called, she was a Shields lass.

[brian c]

There was also PC49 and Journey into Space.

Well, all of those programmes keep getting repeated on BBC 7 digital radio - its a real journey into the past. A few months ago, I was lucky enough to be a guest a 'Literary Lunch', where June Whitfield was launching her memoirs, and we talked about all those old radio programmes. She did a few of her sketches as 'Eth' in the 'Glums' and she was brilliant! She is still lovely to look look at and he talent to entertain is undimmed by the years.

June Whitfield lives not far from me.

There was also Educating Archie.

[Mr Smith]

There was also Educating Archie.

Peter Brough and Archie Andrews, Peter is dead but Archie
is still alive, in some suitcase somewhere.

Anyone can be a ventriliquist of the radio.

[ralph]

Yes, it was great having such talent in our own area. For me, the Animals 'House of the Rising Sun' will never be beaten, and epitomises what I thought was the very best of the 60's music. Sadly, there was little of the rebel about me in the early 60's. I was serving an apprenticship as a plumber, a job I loathed, and instead of wearing fashionable gear, you were more likely to find me in a sober suit (though not necessarily sober myself), I did let myself go a bit at weekends!

As soon as I was 21, I went to work for Port Line, joining my first ship at Hull, then sailed for London. After a month relieving on ships in the Royal Docks, I was given orders to join the 'Port Alfred' in Montreal. It was a 'whole crew' changeover, and we were to fly to Montreal on a chartered 'Whispering Giant' Britannia aircraft. we were bussed to Luton Airport, only to find there was a problem with one of the plane's engines, and the flight was delayed for 24hours. I was going as Junior Refrigerating Engineer, so all we officers were taken to spend the night at The Randolf Hotel in Oxford, where I shared a suite with the Radio Officer. To someone who had never dined anywhere more splendid than the Happy Garden Chinese Restaurant (one of three names it had after various close downs by the health authorities) I was about to embark on a whole new life which in truth was all a bit scary at the time!

I have never really lived in South Shields since that time, but I have returned constantly, visiting my family, and it will always be home to me. I was delighted to stumble on this site, it's great to share in everyones memories - there will always be a special bond between Geordies, regardless of where we end up.

[padlock man]

Well, I listened to the Radio 4 programme, and it was a bit disappointing. Half an hour was too short, really. I'd have liked to hear more about the characters of Dick, Jock and Snowy; about the nature of the villains they confronted; and the plots of the series.
-----------------------------

ralph: A close up on his [Mick Jagger's]face reminded me of the painting in the attic in the story 'Dorian Grey' -

[Mr Smith]

Hancocks Half Hour was one of my all time favourites.

[brian c]

Plus "The Navy Lark" and "Round the Horn"

[Mr Smith]

Plus "Round the Horn"

Already mentioned that one, in one of my posts above,
and it's Horne" with an E.