Reopening the box : The return of BBC's Television Service after WWII shutdown
Jen Macro
Digital Content Producer, About the BBC
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At 12.35pm on Friday 1 September, 1939, amidst fears that enemy air forces could use signals for navigational aid, the BBC Television Service ceased to transmit from Alexandra Palace. The last programme to be shown was a Disney cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse called Mickey's Gala Premiere.
The Television Service remained dormant until, after a request from the Government in October 1945, it reopened on Saturday 7 June, 1946.
Garro Jones MP
Before the transmission at 3pm, MP and Chairman of the Television Advisory Committee, Garro Jones spoke at the re-opening of the Television Service after its suspension.
Although he had now moved on to Movietone News, renowned BBC announcer, Leslie Mitchell returned to act as Master of Ceremonies in the Variety Show.
Leslie Mitchell
It was announcer Jasmine Bligh who was charged with greeting audiences when programmes resumed at 3pm. The schedule, as published in the May 31, 1946 edition of the Radio Times was as follows:
15.00 Reopening of the BBC Television Service
by The Postmaster-General, the Earl of Listowel
The programme includes:
"Pas seul": Margot Fonteyn
(By permission of the Administrator of the Covent Garden Opera Trust)
John Cockerill (harp)
David Low talks and draws
"Mickey's Gala Premiere": This cartoon film was the last item transmitted before the Television Service was interrupted on Friday, September 1, 1939
"Variety Party"
introducing
Mantovani and his Orchestra
Jackie Hunter (the Canadian Comedian)
Kay Cavendish ('Kay on the Keys')
Jean Cavall (Singer, formerly R.C.A.F.)
Peter Waring (in comedy) (Peter Waring broadcasts by permission of the Windmill Theatre)
Beryl Orde (in impressions)
Gwen Catley (soprano)
The Three Admirals
"The Dark Lady of the Sonnets"
By George Bernard Shaw.
A visit to the Mall for the preparations for tomorrow's Victory Parade
Contributors
Ballerina (Pas Seul): Margot Fonteyn
Harp (Pas Seul): John Cockerill
Producer (Pas Seul): Philip Bate
Speaker/Artist: David Low
Musicians (Variety Party): Mantovani and his Orchestra
Comedian (Variety Party): Jackie Hunter
Pianist (Variety Party): Kay Cavendish
Singer (Variety Party): Jean Cavall
Comedian (Variety Party): Peter Waring
Impressionist (Variety Party): Beryl Orde
Soprano (Variety Party): Gwen Catley
Comic singers (Variety Party): The Three Admirals
Producer (Variety Party): Eric Fawcett
Writer (The Dark Lady of the Sonnets): George Bernard Shaw
Producer (The Dark Lady of the Sonnets): G. More O'Ferrall
Shakespeare (The Dark Lady of the Sonnets): Henry Oscar
The Dark Lady (The Dark Lady of the Sonnets): Lesley Deane
Queen Elizabeth (The Dark Lady of the Sonnets): Dorothy Black
Beefeater (The Dark Lady of the Sonnets): Alban Blakelock
Announcer (Victory Parade): Jasmine Bligh
Announcer (Victory Parade): Winifred Shotter
Announcer (Victory Parade): McDonald Hobley
Master Of Ceremonies: Leslie Mitchell
20.30: Film
Geraldo and his Orchestra performing at Alexandra Palace
20.40: Geraldo and his Orchestra
Geraldo and his Orchestra, with Sally Douglas, Carole Carr, Archie Lewis, Sid Bright, Dick James, Three Boys and a Girl
Contributors
Musicians: Geraldo and his Orchestra
Singer: Sally Douglas
Singer: Carole Carr
Singer: Archie Lewis
Pianist: Sid Bright
Singer: Dick James
21.10: The Silence of the Sea
A television play of the story by 'Vercors,' "Le Silence de la Mer." Translated by Cyril Connolly.
The story is set in a small country house in France during six months from the winter of 1943 to the spring of 1944
Contributors
Author: Vercors
Translated By: Cyril Connolly.
Dramatised for television and produced by: Michael Barry
The uncle: J.H. Roberts
The niece: Antoinette Cellier
The German officer: Kenneth More
Servant girl: Tamara Chahverdian
German NCO: Denis McCarthy
German trooper: John MacKwood
German trooper: Tom Ravnor
Nazi officer: Douglas Vine
Nazi officer: Alan Lawrence
22.00: News Maps: 1939-1946
J.F. Horrabin returns to illustrate the news with maps. diagrams, and pictures.
Contributors
Presenter/Illustrator: J.F. Horrabin
Presented By: Mary Adams
22.15: Pouishnoff
(piano)
Contributors
Pianist: Leff Pouishnoff
22.30: News (sound only)
BBC programmes continued to transmit from Alexandra Palace until it eventually closed in the 1980s.
Jen Macro is digital content producer for the About the BBC website and blog.
- Find out more about the history of BBC studios.
- Read BBC Alumni member Sally-Anne Thomas' blog 'Bush House Newsroom - The Great Dictators'.
- Take a tour of our current BBC studios.
- Find out more about the role of the BBC in the Second World War on the History of the BBC website.
- Read Hannah Khalil's blog, 'Remembering Lime Grove Studios'.
- See more archive TV and Radio listings from the Radio Times at the BBC Genome Project website.
