Radio show collecting and preservation
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As a collector and enthusiast who seeks to preseve our radio heritage here in the UK, I feel it is important that some basic guide be available on the Internet as a resource for fellow collectors/ enthusiasts. It was last updated 31st May, 2007.
***THE BEGINNING***
- I've always been interested in broadcasting in general, and archive programmes in particular. The idea of being able to listen to a programme first heard in a very different world to today (back in the 1970s, 1960s, 1950s or even earlier) has always fascinated me. When I first started recording, it was anything that was 'old' (the words 'first broadcast...') that I looked for. As I myself got older, I became appreciative of the fact that there were institutions (like the BBC) that preserved the radio and television heritage of England and revived it from time to time when it felt like it.
Then, the crunch. It was one Christmas when I got a book about 'Doctor Who' that mentioned that not all episodes were known to exist. As I was a huge fan of the series, that came as a big shock. How come other people didn't keep every programme that they liked as I did? That got me interested in preservation. The impetus was a book on film, which referred to a 'race against time' to get existing material before it disappeared, either through ignorance, stupidity, or just plain bad luck.
Imagine the scenario- your uncle worked for the BBC. When he saw one day that some old reels of tape were to be 'junked' (ie.- thrown out/ destroyed, to make room for newly broadcast programmes or new acquisitions) he slipped them into his briefcase when no one was looking, and told his co-workers that he'd dealt with the 'junk' pile. No questions would be asked. Years later, and you come across the pile of moulding tapes in his garden shed. What do you do? HERE lies the question. Some people would throw them away as they were mouldy. Some people would try to sell them. Some would try to contact a local film society, find the number engaged, and give up. I would try to find someone who could restore the material so it could, again, be enjoyed. Above all, I would not panic. After all, unless we're talking boxes and boxes here, what's the big hurry?
Finding people who actually want these old recordings though isn't easy. With the demand for digital this and state of the art that, the temptation just to take old reels, tapes, discs and the like to the nearest dump is pretty big. HOWEVER, this site aims to provide a way to prevent material from disappearing forever and also to offer some advice as to what to do next.
*** NEXT STEPS ***
Broadly speaking, people who run across old tapes/reels/discs and the like fall into three categories:
A) The total novice, who has no knowledge whatsoever of what they are looking at.
B) The collector/enthusiast, who has some knowledge and awareness.
and
C) The total expert, who has access to professional equipment and colleagues in the industry.
I would place myself (modestly) in the region of C+ or B- (!). In other words, I have a working knowledge but know who to go to. I think that's the important thing. Without the Yellow Pages where would you go to if you needed a new tap fitted? It's that type of scenario but applied to radio (and TV) shows that's the issue here.
***THE FUTURE***
What is the future of preservation? Hard to say. As time goes by, material that has been horded for years will come to light, but the risk that it sees the light of a new day then promptly disappears into eternal blackness under the ground, buried beneath a pile of household refuse, is also great. Thus, some people pass away who managed to "rescue" programmes in the first place (which theoretically frees this material up for everyone to enjoy) but their estate might be dealt with swiftly by a family member who falls into category A above.
Also, whilst posting material to the BBC might seem the best step, realistically they are interested in excellent quality material suitable for re-broadcast . They are also fairly busy people!
The other reason for not sending it to them is that it may well vanish inside their huge archive never to be heard by the people that really love the programme in question. Without positing myself as a rival to the BBC, I would suggest that I can handle things they are not enthusiastic about handling, or do not have time to handle.
By contacting me (at either r7harris@ccn.ac.uk or richtharr@freenet.co.uk ) you can set the ball rolling and let me know what you have, and I can give FREE advice about what best to do with it.
I will update this site as time permits. NOTE- although most of what follows refers to radio programmes, this does NOT mean I am not interested in television programmes. ANYTHING that is on old video tape or studio film would most likely be of interest, especially if it falls into the latter category.
***MY MOST WANTED LIST***
Collectors, whether of stamps, coins- even cars- have a list of their requirements, the things they hope to find at a collectors' fair, that sort of thing. Radio show enthusiasts are no different, so here is a guide to what I am looking for- Richard's Most Wanted List! But first, it is perhaps judicious to present a FAQ on the sort of questions I and others get asked in relation to preservation.
FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
1. I have a lot of old radio programmes. Why shouldn't I just keep them to myself?
>>> Well, it's better to share and share alike. They will give lots of people lots of pleasure, they will NOT be sold for financial gain, and.....you will get something back! As well as a digital copy (or copies), you may find somebody has something YOU have been looking for- whatever your hobby!
2. Would anyone be interested in my recordings?
>>> Quite possibly, but it depends on what they are. People miss things they would otherwise have liked to hear, so someone who actually recorded the broadcast would capture their interest. Even if I'm not that interested I'll keep an archive programme in case someone I meet in the future is. It's also down to what's worth keeping- what I would regard as unmissable someone else might feel was disposable and vice-versa.
3. What format will recordings be in? And what is 'off-air' recording anyhow?
>>> 'Off-air' recording means that the programme was recorded as it was being broadcast. It will probably be a first generation recording, not one that has been copied and copied. It is likely to be in very good to excellent sound quality. Recordings may exist on disc (vinyl record- unlikely, and probably 78 RPM so that means super fragile!), cassette tape or reel to reel in the main.
As a rule of thumb, if it's pre. 1970, chances are that it will be on reel to reel. I have top notch equipment and can play any format back and get the best possible results. Again, if I can't do it I know people who can! My own collection is stored on disc, reel to reel, cassette, Mini Disc, CD, video tape and DVD!
4. Will you want to keep my original? I don't want to part with it!
>>> No- I don't want your original. All I need is to borrow it briefly and make a digital copy.
5. If I saw a box of reel to reel tapes at a local auction labelled up with broadcast dates from the 1960s and early 1970s, would you buy them from me?
>>>YES!
If you have any of the 'Most Wanted List' I will be especially pleased to hear from you!
General-
* Off-air recordings of any nature made prior to 1975.
Even if you have editions of programmes not listed here it would be good to hear from you. Sometimes upgrades are sought, and these programmes are those where the recording as a whole is missing from my radio collection.
Specific editions of popular series. NB- Dates given are BBC radio broadcast dates.
* HANCOCK'S HALF HOUR radio episodes as follows:-
- 'The Diamond Ring' 9/11/54
- 'The Hancock Festival' 30/11/54
- 'The Department Store Santa' 14/12/54
- 'Christmas At Aldershot' 21/12/54
- 'The Christmas Eve Party' 28/12/54
- 'The Marriage Bureau' 8/2/55
- 'A Holiday In France' 19/4/55
- 'The Crown Jewels' 26/4/55
- 'The Racehorse' 3/5/55
- 'A Visit To Swansea' 10/5/55
- 'Prime Minister Hancock' 31/5/55
- 'The Three Sons' 21/6/55
- 'The Matador' 5/7/55
- 'The New Neighbour' 9/11/55
- 'The Winter Holiday' 16/11/55
- 'The Red Planet' 30/11/55
- 'A Visit To Russia' 14/12/55
- 'The Trial Of Father Christmas' 21/12/55
- 'Cinderella Hancock' 28/12/55
- 'The New Year's Resolutions' 4/1/56
- 'The Breakfast Cereal' 25/1/56
- 'The Newspaper' 8/2/56
'WHACK-O!' radio episodes as follows:-
- Series One, Show 2 30/5/61
- Series Two, Show 4- 22/3/62
- Series Three, Show 1- 'Madison Avenue' (?)- 29/4/63
- Any very good or better recordings of most episodes.
'I'M SORRY, I'LL READ THAT AGAIN!'
- 'Little Martin Copperwick' 1/11/65
- 'Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jibe' 11/4/66
'I'M SORRY, I HAVEN'T A CLUE!'
- Especially editions from the 1970s.
'JUST A MINUTE!'
- Editions recorded off-air here in the UK pre. 1990.
OTHER SHOWS
- Amongst others, I am looking for certain editions of 'The Men From The Ministry', 'Beyond Our Ken' 'Parsley Sidings' and 'The Betty Witherspoon Show'
NON-COMEDY MATERIAL
- 'Jennings' radio programmes 1970s or earlier. There were several programmes done in the 1970s which I need, and I'm after some earlier programmes.
- Many Radio Plays esp. 'Double Entry' from 1970.
- 'Ralph McTell Presents....Melanie' (Folk concert, circa. 1992, Radio 2)
- BBC programmes in general, like 'Saturday Club', 'Top Gear' radio show, features etc. Basically, ANYTHING pre. 1980 I'd at least consider, and the earlier it is the better. That said, I have (and have friends who have) great collections of 'vintage' radio programmes already.
Thanks for looking- and please keep your eyes open at car boot sales, village fetes, jumble sales, auctions etc.- you never know what will turn up, and how grateful you could make some of your fellow human beings!
Email: richtharr@freenet.co.uk
