"Two Way Family Favourites"

Hosted by Jean Metcalf & Cliff Mitchelmore, seen here in a 1950 photograph.

It was set up by the BBC during the Second World War to allow our Forces posted overseas to keep in touch with loved ones at home in England.

It had a weekly audience of many millions worldwide and some 16 million listeners in Britain alone. It was Broadcast at 12 noon on Sundays. The broadcast station was the BBC "Light" program on 1500 mtrs (long Wave)

Short messages were read out and music requests played to service personel stationed in various B.F.P.O. base numbers scattered all over the world to boost their morale. (British Forces Posted Overseas)

"Listen with Mother"

Childrens entertainment and stories, an aid to a busy mother who had few mechanical aids to help her with the daily chores of looking after her family. The preparation of food and keeping an eye on the cooker (no microwave ovens then!) meant that this "interlude" in her day was more than welcome.

It provided the opportunity to leave the children unattended for while.

The picture on the right is of Julia Lang, one of the many presenters.

"Workers Playtime"

An entertainment program designed to keep up spirits during a time of shortages and long working hours. Many entertainers became household names after apperaing in these broadcasts.

"Music While you Work"

A daytime entertainment program designed to keep factory production at a maximum. The content was strictly controlled to avoid playing slow or dreary music. This tactic was found to significantly increase output in factories and the workplace both during and after the Second World War.

"Take it From Here"

This program introdused us to a variety of comedy from the team of people who included June Whitfield, Jimmy Edwards, Dick Bentley. They introduced us to "The Glums" (Ron & Eth), "The Huggets" (Joe & Ethel) and a whole host of very colourful characters from the variety of weekly sketch series.

The series was broadsast from 1948 to 1958. During that period a lot of social change was taking place, the economy was improving. Plastics were becoming available in the home. A lot of different foods were being imported. Cars were becoming affordable, the shows reflected the changing face of Britain during that period just after the Second World War.

Charles Maxwell, the producer, holds the microphone in a heavily posed publicity photograph with Denis Norden and Frank Muir (front row), with the stars, Jimmy Edwards,June Whitfield,Alma Cogan and Dick Bentley

There were so many that come to mind, a few I remember well include "Journey into Space", "The Navy Lark", Down your Way, "Have a Go" (with Wilfred Pickles), "Top of the Form" (school quiz program), "Educating Archie"  a comedy sketch with many famous names. Have a listen to the "extracts" from BBC broadcasts and relive the everyday sounds of Radio during the years of my childhood, before I went off to school in 1953.

We didn`t have a Television before I went to School. A lot of the Childrens programs that could be seen at that time were known to us kids, but unless you knew someone with wealthy parents, the radio was all you had.

This short "clip" of pictures shows screen images of the more famous programs of thet era.

Apart from staying in to watch the Queens Coronation in 1953, most children would be out doors during the day. Moving pictures (for most) were confined to Saturady Matinees at the local picture house. Ours was the "Scala" cinema at the bottom of Third Avenue where we lived.

Sometimes as a special treat we would be taken by our parents to the Beau Nash or Little Theatre (nicknamed the Bug House). Both were in the Westgate area of Bath. One film I remember was "Carmen" (an opera).

These publications were essential reading during the 1950s. They gave in great detail what set you could buy and how to build suitable equipment for good reception of the new Television services available at that time.

Use Browser "Back" Button to return to previous page - to Pre School