Television's First Robin Hood

Last week I posted an article about the very earliest television version of Robin Hood. It starred the late British actor Patrick Troughton (1920-1987) and only one episode, The Abbot of St Mary’s, survived from those early pioneering days. Neil has now pointed me in the direction of a wonderful website www.bbctv-ap.co.uk/robinhd.htm which covers the early days of the BBC when it was broadcast from Alexander Palace. The period covered is post-war from 1952 to 1963 and is constructed from the personal recollections and memoirs of Arthur Dungate. In addition there are some experiences of Lime Grove and Riverside Studios in the mid-1950s. His web site is worth a visit.

I hope Arthur doesn’t mind me copying part of his fascinating recollections of finding part of a Robin Hood  episode from the very first series:

"Until the late 1970s the BBC was not an archiving organisation and thus had no requirement to keep material for posterity. While at Alexandra Palace in the early 1950s, I had a key to the film vault, and often I would go and see what was to be thrown away. Amongst several things, one item I found was part of an episode of Robin Hood, a serial for children shown in March 1953.

This was a half-hour programme eminating from Studio G (I think) at Lime Grove. No film location material was used, the whole of the action taking place live in the studio.

What I had found was a 16mm reduction print of Episode 2, The Abbot of St Mary's which Kays Labs at Finsbury Park had produced from the 35mm telefilm recording made while the programme was being transmitted.

However, only the beginning two sequences and the end sequence were there. The main story sequence had been removed for some reason, leaving only 8 minutes of the programme. Thus, although the episode is titled The Abbot of St Mary's, we never get to see the Abbot himself!

I spliced the two parts of the print together and since then it had remained in my loft for about 47 years, practically forgotten.

It was not until the autumn of 1999 that I came to realise that this is probably the earliest surviving example of a BBC Television drama series as it predates The Quatermass Experiment shown in July 1953 (of which only the first two episodes were recorded) by 4 months. Thus its historical significance is greater than I had thought, and I believe a Digi-Beta copy is now in the BBC archives."

Arthur Dungate's web site is at
http://www.bbctv-ap.co.uk/bbctvp1.htm

Elton Hayes Songlist

Elton Hayes (1915-2001) played the part of the minstrel Allan-a-Dale in Walt Disney’s live action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

Today he is sadly almost forgotten, but Hayes was very well-known to radio and television audiences of the 1950’s as ‘the man with the small guitar’ and Paul McCartney recollects that it was his song Whistle My Love from Robin Hood that influenced the Beatles composition Little Child in 1963. There is also a belief by some that a certain Reginald Kenneth Dwight of Pinner, Middlesex, changed his name to Elton John in respect of the actor and guitarist.

Recently I posted a list of Elton Hayes’s songs that have been released on record down the years. I knew it was incomplete and asked for help. Luckily I was contacted by our regular visitor Geoff Waite.

A while ago Geoff sent me a wonderfully detailed obituary of Elton Hayes by Evelyn Branston which is available to be read on this blog. Geoff is a fan of the film and has extensively researched Elton Hayes’s back catalogue. He has now very kindly helped me update my list of Elton’s recordings and sent some interesting facts to go with it.

Many of my readers have complained that there is no CD collection of Elton’s songs available and Geoff agrees:

“Except for two tracks, none of Elton’s recordings ever made it from 10 inch 78rpm and 45 rpm vinyl to CD. ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ continues to feature on an EMI ‘Hello Children Everywhere’ compilation CD whilst ‘Whistle my Love’ the only other Elton Hayes track to reach CD (again on an earlier ‘Hello Children Everywhere’ compilation) has not been available for some years now to my knowledge.

When I contacted them about the possibility of an Elton Hayes compilation, EMI told me that they now only own these two recordings, so a CD release of Elton’s Parlophone songs is sadly out of the question. It really is a great shame that his recorded music which amounts to some forty plus songs, not including the Robin Hood album, should be so shabbily overlooked by the CD generation.”

It certainly is a great shame that today’s children are unable to hear the wonderful songs of ‘the man with the small guitar.’ Surely something could be done to put some of his music onto CD!

ELTON HAYES SONGLIST

THE TABLE AND THE CHAIR / THE JUMBLIES

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1950

THE WILD COLONIAL BOY/ BACK TO HILO

78 RPM Melodisc Records 1950/51

JUST A WEARYIN’ FOR YOU/ THE PHANTOM

STAGE-COACH

78 RPM Melodisc Records 1950/51

‘Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood’

78 RPM 2LP Capitol US Released 1952

(Included 20 page colour story book)

(Included songs by Elton Hayes)

WHISTLE MY LOVE / RIDDLE DE DIDDLE DE-DAY

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1952

THE MILLER'S DAUGHTER / SPINNING WHEEL

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1952

I PASS ALL MY HOURS / COURTIN' IN THE KITCHEN

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1952

THE BROOM, THE SHOVEL, THE POKER AND THE TONGS / THE QUANGLE WANGLE'S HAT

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1952

THE LITTLE BLACK HORSE / NOT THE MARRYING KIND

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1953

LITTLE MOHEE / THE PHANTOM STAGE-COACH

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1953

THE DUCK AND THE KANGAROO / THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1953

ALL AROUND MY HAT/ THE UNQUIET GRAVE

78 RPM HMV B1052 Released 1953

(Recorded under the auspices of the English Folk Dance and Song Society)

A FROG HE WOULD A WOOING GO/OH THE CUCKOO SHE’S A PRETTY BIRD

78 RPM HMV B1053 Released 1953

GREENSLEEVES / JOE THE CARRIER LAD

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1953

I HAD A HIPPOPOTAMUS / ADELPHI ARCHES

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1954

MY HEART IS LIKE A NIGHTINGALE / BOLD BLACK KNIGHT

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1954

‘FOR THE CHILDREN’

EP Parlophone UK Released 1955

The Table and the Chair/ The Jumblies/The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs/ The Quangle Wangles Hat / The Duck and the Kangaroo / The Owl and the Pussycat.

JAQUELINE / LITTLE BRIDGET FLYNN

78 RPM Parlophone UK Released 1956

‘Folk Songs’

EP 45 World Record Club 1956/57

SWEET MAID IF YOU MARRY / OH GOOD ALE / I PASS ALL MY HOURS/ THE LONDON BEAU/

’TISS TRUE I NEVER WAS IN LOVE/ THE VAIN DREAMER

‘Songs for Children’

EP 45 World Record Club 1956/57

THE CUCKOO CLOCK / THE SOLDIER /THE HOUSEWIFE AND THE HIGHWAYMAN / TWO PIRATES

‘Elton Hayes Sings to his Small Guitar’

EP 45 Parlophone UK Released 1959

JOE THE CARRIER LAD / THE MILLER’S DAUGHTER

THE PHANTOM STAGE-COACH / RIDDLE DE DIDDLE DE DAY

‘The Story of Robin Hood’

LP 33 RPM EMI Music for Pleasure MFP 1285

UK Released 1963

(Movie Soundtrack)

RIDDLE-DE-DIDDLE-DE-DAY

COME SING LOW, COME SING HIGH

‘The Story of Robin Hood’

LP 33 RPM Disneyland DQ-1249 USA Released 1963

(Alternative Cover)

(Movie Soundtrack)

RIDDLE-DE-DIDDLE-DE-DAY

COME SING LOW, COME SING HIGH

‘Disneyland Doubles’

45 RPM Disneyland Doubles UK Released 1971

THE BALLAD OF ROBIN HOOD

(Reverse side was the Ballad of Davy Crocket)

‘Hello Children Everywhere Volume 4’

(Various Artists)

CD Disc EMI Released 1991

WHISTLE MY LOVE

‘Hello Children Everywhere’

(Various Artists)

CD 3 Discs EMI 6999605 Released 2005

THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT

If you see any errors or have any more information that can be added to the Elton Hayes Songlist please get in touch and if you are a CD producer how about releasing some of these gems!


Please click on the Label Elton Hayes to read more about his life.

Disney's 'Story of Robin Hood' Letter Heading

I was interested to see this letter heading (above) on Ebay a while ago. I am not sure if it is authentic-I did feature last year, what was described as ‘News Flash Lettering’ (below) for Disney’s Story of Robin Hood which certainly looked more genuine.

Is the coloured one original? What do you think?

Patrick Troughton as Robin Hood

Neil recently reminded me of the earliest television serial of Robin Hood. It was written by Max Kester and broadcast over six weeks, in 30 minute live transmissions from the Gaumont-British Studios in Lime Grove, London, between the 17th March and April 21st 1953.

Fans of the recent BBC series of Robin Hood might be surprised to read that it was Sam Troughton’s (Robin’s manservant, Much) Grandfather Patrick, who was the very first actor to play the part of the legendary outlaw on the television of the 1950’s. Sam was ten years old when his Grandfather died.

Patrick Troughton (1920-1987) is probably best remembered for being the second Dr Who in the cult Sci-Fi series, which was his favourite role. But he was one of Britain’s most versatile, recognisable and finest dramatic actors, with a career that lasted 40 years in films and television. Which incidentally included a short part in Walt Disney’s Treasure Island (1950) as a pirate called Roach.

Television was Troughton’s favourite medium and as a very fine swordsman, this made him an ideal choice for the part of Robin Hood. Alongside him was Kenneth Mackintosh as Little John, Wensley Pithey as Friar Tuck, Philip Guard as Will Scarlet, John Brestin as Alan A Dale and Dudley Jones as Much. An interesting choice for the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham was David Kossoff, with Maurice Jones as his evil side-kick Guy of Gisbourne.

Sadly it has been reported recently that only one episode of this historic series has survived. At that time, most live shows were broadcast and discarded, with most of them being lost forever. But fortunately the BBC was starting to experiment with a specially adapted monitor that recorded televised material. As a result of this experimentation, an entire episode of Robin Hood, (Episode 2, The Abbot of St Mary’s) survives in the BBC Archives. This is probably the earliest example of those pioneering ‘telerecording’ experiments.

Rusell Crowe on making Robin Hood

The internet is buzzing lately with interviews and snapshots of the filming in England of the latest Russell Crowe movie, Robin Hood. We all have to wait until May for its release, but here is another interview with the man himself on his decision to make the film and his opinions on earlier productions. The interview is split into two parts.




I would be interested to read your opinions.

Joan Rice

One of the main pleasures of ‘blogging’ is receiving feed-back from readers; otherwise it can get quite a lonely pursuit. Thankfully I do have some who continually leave messages of encouragement and often send information to help with research. Neil is without doubt an important member of my ‘merrie band’ and regularly submits some fantastic material.

Joan Rice with her son Michael in December 1953

Last week I posted a press photo of Joan Rice in 1953, taken shortly after the birth of her son Michael. But the date puzzled me because her pregnancy seemed to coincide with her filming of His Majesty O’Keefe with Burt Lancaster, which was released on 16th January 1954. Thankfully Neil was at hand to put me right and explained that His Majesty O’Keefe had been filmed two years earlier.

Joan Rice in 'His Majesty O'Keefe' in 1952

Neil said:

“His Majesty O Keefe commenced filming in Yap, Fiji on July 21st 1952 and finished on 3rd November 1952 - this is from the Burt Lancaster book, Against Type.

I just wanted to reinforce what I have said before in that Joan Rice's major films were made between 30 April 1951 and 5 November 1952 which is such a short time span when we look back. There does seem to have been a long delay before His Majesty O Keefe was finished and released - in the book it says that Jack Warner of Warner Bros. has become increasingly irritated by Burt Lancaster and his partner at the time Harold Hecht, bringing in the films they produced well over budget.

His Majesty O Keefe cost 1.55 million dollars to make. Also The Crimson Pirate had been released a year or so before again a film that went over budget.”

Joan and David Green were married on Monday February 16th 1953 at Maidenhead Register Office and their son Michael was due to be born on Christmas Day, 1953, in London.

There will be more on the life of Joan Rice soon, in the meantime please click on the label below, for more information.

Robin Hood Playsuit

So how many of you had a Robin Hood outfit like this in the 1950’s? Above is an American children’s playsuit in superb condition from about 1956. The make is unknown, but it was made to accompany the groundbreaking British made TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood.

From 1955-1959, CBS were showing The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Richard Greene, Archie Duncan and Alexander Gauge on Monday evenings and then in re-runs on Saturdays. The show was one of the few non-westerns popular with children of the era.

It was also on the 2nd November 1955, during the second series of Disneyland that The Story of Robin Hood was first aired. The feature film had been edited, like many at that time, into a two part television presentation, with the second part broadcast during episode 9 on the 9th November 1955. During Walt Disney Presents on ABC, The Story of Robin Hood was shown again in two parts, on 26th December 1958 and 2nd January 1959.

Disney’s live-action film The Story of Robin Hood had a significant influence on TV’s Adventures of Robin Hood with some of the actors and even occasionally the props re-appearing. But that simply added to the magic of children experiencing and re-enacting the legend of Robin Hood in the 1950’s.

Robin Hood Conference

A four day conference on the outlaw hero of Sherwood Forest finished just over a week ago. The International Association for Robin Hood Studies Seventh Biennial Conference was held at the University of Rochester and drew an audience of 100 people.

"Every generation gets the Robin Hood they want and the Robin Hood they deserve," says Thomas Hahn, professor of English at the University of Rochester and the organizer of this year's theme: "Robin Hood: Media Creature." Various scholars examined the ways in which the outlaw hero has been reshaped over the past 700 years, and look at the evolution of Robin Hood through stage, song, literature, memorabilia, and more.

It was a series of workshops, lectures, films, and concerts which included an exhibit called The Americanization of Robin Hood, 1883-1923, An Impression of the Middle Ages, (an exhibit that draws from Eastman House negatives), an operetta, a concert of early lute music, and the East Coast premiere of the earliest-surviving film featuring Robin Hood .

Even today Hollywood can't leave the legend alone, as it prepares for the 2010 release of Robin Hood, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, not to mention the start of the third and final season of Robin Hood on BBC America.

IMDb Review

Below are some interesting comments made on the IMDb site by tobisteiner72 about Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). I intend to show a few more reviews from various sources in the future.

“A winner in every way. Lush Technicolor costumes and sets (featuring matte work by Peter Ellenshaw), crisp pacing, convincing--i.e., non-hammy--acting, all highlighted by vivid dialogue.

Now, as to specifics, here are some of my favorite aspects of this undeservedly overlooked classic. First (and most obvious, but hey, it's pretty important): Richard Todd's Robin. I fell in love with him when I saw the movie on Wonderful World of Disney (I was born the year it was released, 1952), and have followed his career with interest ever since. His archery and other swashbuckling actions are persuasive but not gimmicky, his romantic aura is compelling but not slick, and his leadership qualities are authoritative and incisive but not overbearing. And he has a sense of humor!

Some of the less obvious reasons I rate this film a "10": The framing device of Allan-a-Dale (and the lovely singing/playing of Elton Hayes); within that, I love the small, unassuming, sweet-natured dog who follows the minstrel wherever he goes. The dialogue and business shared by the Archbishop of Canterbury (Anthony Eustrel, I believe), Prince John (Hubert Gregg), and Queen Eleanor (Martita Hunt). The childhood friendship of Robin and Marian that gradually ripens into romance. Thus, when she disguises herself as a page in order to seek out Robin Fitzooth to prove his loyalty to king and country, her emotional stake lends sympathy and believability to her actions. The economical scene-shifting that takes Robin from his quarterstaff skirmish with Little John to his brook-side battle with Friar Tuck--which in turn leads, seamlessly, to an ambush by the Sheriff of Nottingham and his goons. Spoiler Alert (in case another is needed)! Check out the grisly but tastefully handled demise of the Sheriff--getting squashed and/or bisected between an inexorably closing drawbridge and the castle wall! No matter how many times I see this film (and it's been quite a few), this scene always makes me rub my hands and cackle gleefully.

I could cite many other reasons why I love this film, but if you ask for one quality that sets it apart from every other Robin Hood film I've seen--including one very famous (and in my opinion, vastly overrated) supposed classic--I would say: Heart. As in warm, true, and loyal. And it will warm the hearts of viewers not jaded by overblown yet hollow swashbucklers and pompous, pretentious epics.”

I hope tobisteiner72 does not mind me posting this review or for that matter IMDb, but it is a good example of the general agreement- felt I am sure amongst our loyal band, The Whistling Arrows- that Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men deserves recognition as one of the best films to come out of England during the 1950’s.

If you would like to add your review or memories of seeing the movie, just send it to disneysrobin@googlemail.com and I will be pleased to post it. Please click on the Reviews Label to see previous postings.