Web Page No 2588

8^th June 2019

1st Picture. Workers Playtime CD

2nd Picture. Elsie and Doris Waters

3^rd Picture. Workers Playtime Cartoon

4^th Picture. Workers Playtime at Huntley and Palmers

Workers Playtime

After Last weeks page the logical follow up is Workers Playtime. On May 31st. 1941 a new show had been meticulously planned and organised but no-one knew where it was to be based and no-one knew who was appearing in it. It was a secret and it was happening live. It was Workers Playtime

This simple comedy and music programme became part of the national fabric, serving Britain from the Blitz to the Beatles. It was one of the very first touring variety shows on the BBC and was scheduled to run for 6 weeks but went on broadcasting for a staggering 23 years. It was one of the longest running radio shows in history.

The programme started out on the BBC Home Service and was broadcast live from a factory canteen "Somewhere in Britain". The programme had the total support of the Government because the shows were needed to support the war effort on the Home Front. Worker's Playtime was a touring show, with the Ministry of Labour choosing which factory canteens the show would visit.

Throughout the War, Ernest Bevin the Minister of Labour and National Service, would appear on these shows from time to time to congratulate the workers and exhort them to greater efforts. When the War ended it was realised that the show had worked, and that meant that Ernest Bevin wanted Worker's Playtime to continue to raise the morale of the workers, whilst the Government rebuilt Britain and the British economy. Little did anyone know at the time that the programme would continue until 1964.

The BBC, for their part, were happy to continue with a show which had proved a national success even if it did mean transporting crew, cable, microphones, two pianos, a producer, two pianists and a bunch of variety artists up and down the country three times a week. On 1st. October 1957 the programme switched to the Light Programme and for all 23 years of its existence, the producer was Bill Gates and he would always finish each programme by wishing "Good Luck All Workers!".

Many famous variety, vocal and comedy artists appeared over the years such as Charlie Chester, Peter Sellers, Tony Hancock, Frankie Howerd, Ann Shelton, Betty Driver, Eve Boswell, Dorothy Squires, Julie Andrews, Morecambe and Wise, Peter Cavanagh, Janet Brown, Bob Monkhouse, Peter Goodwright, Percy Edwards, Ken Dodd, Ken Platt, Elsie and Doris Waters, Peter Sellers, Tony Hancock,  Terry-Thomas, Anne Shelton, Eve Boswell, Dorothy Squires, Arthur English, comedian George Martin,  Roy Hudd, harmonica player Paul Templar, The Stargazers and many, many more including the ‘Odd Odes’ of Cyril Fletcher.

In November 1940 a predecessor programme called 'Works Wonders' took to the air. It was a series of mid-day programmes staged in factory canteens, and was described as 'A lunch-time concert presented to their fellow workers by members of the staff of a large munition works "Somewhere in England". Arranged by Victor Smythe.' The compere was a very young Bob Monkhouse.

Even today it is popular enough for a selection of original recordings from the show can be heard on the audiobook CD Workers' Playtime published by CD41 in 2008.

Peter

gsseditor@gmail.com

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Re last weeks page and the composer Eric Coates, Paul emailed me to tell me that he also wrote the music for the Dam Busters film.

News and Views:

On this day 8th June 1960-1965

On 08/06/1960 the number one single was Cathy's Clown - Everly Brothers and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Wagon Train (ITV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 08/06/1961 the number one single was Surrender - Elvis Presley and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was No Hiding Place (AR) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 08/06/1962 the number one single was Good Luck Charm - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 08/06/1963 the number one single was From Me To You - The Beatles and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 08/06/1963 the number one single was From Me To You - The Beatles and the number one album was Please Please Me - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 08/06/1965 the number one single was Long Live Love - Sandie Shaw and the number one album was Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.