The Ceremony at the Guildhall (Original title)ITV Opening Night (London Scenes) (Archive title)ITV Opening Night at the Guildhall (Archive title)ITV Opening Night - The Orchestra at the Guildhall (Archive title)ITV Opening Night (Help search title)The Ceremony at the Guildhall (Help search title)
Date: 22 September 1955 (Television)Country: United Kingdom
Synopsis: Thursday, 22 September 1955. "Gala Night! British Independent Television makes its bow this evening. First the cameras scan the face of London; then they fix upon historic Guildhall, where the official inaugural ceremony takes place." (TVTimes) 19.15 The guests arrive. commentator: John Connell 19.30 The Halle Orchestra overture: "Cockaigne" (In London Town) by Sir Edward Elgar The National Anthem 19.45 Inaugural Speeches by The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of London, Sir Seymour Howard The Postmaster General, Dr the Rt. Hon. Charles Hill, MP The Chairman of the Independent Television Authority, Sir Kenneth Clark (20.00)Shotlist: The Archive holdings are incomplete and are separated onto different films as follows: 205003A The prologue to Independent Television's opening ceremony from the Guildhall, acquired as ITV Opening Night (London Scenes): Skyline of London with narration "tonight 7.15 September 22nd 1955, we add another sentence to the long history of London" (23). Shots of London landmarks - Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Temple, Lincoln's Inn, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park Corner, The Mall, various statues, London Docks and the Thames, Monument, a bomb site, St Paul's Cathedral, housing, Greenwich Observatory, Whitehall (228). Still photograph of Marconi (236). Transmission masts and rooftop aerials (250). Distant shot of Alexandra Palace and a close shot of its mast (267). Television aerials on chimneys (282). The Palace of Westminster at night (294). Shots of the 1954 Television Act (325). Headed notepaper of ABC, Granada and Rediffusion (333). Exterior of the Rediffusion building under construction (339). Meeting of Rediffusion staff seated around a table (344). HAS of studio with cameras (350). MS of television presenter (?) wearing headphones and reading from a script [dialogue not heard] (353). Television camera moving towards the camera (361). Rising shot taken from a lift on the outside of Big Ben with scaffolding in view, over which the narrator talks about Redifussion's ideals of "free speech, fair play, deceny, tolerance, humour and common sense". The shot ends on the face of the clock (404). Aerial shot of the Palace of Westminster and the Thames with the narration, "Ready the OB vans at Guildhall. Ready the vision mixers, sound mixers, cameramen, directors. Ready all those who have made this possible. Ready our friends you citizens of London. Wish us God speed. Over to Guildhall. Good luck all. Here we go. Take it master control". During the latter part of that narration the shot changes to one of the upper exterior of the Guildhall. The last four feet of that shot have bells chiming on the soundtrack without any narration (451). No image with the bells on the soundtrack (482ft). Note: The narration which accompanies the prologue film talks about the long history of London and the momentous events it has witnessed; how history is still in the making; the rise of telecommunications; the onset of television from 1936 [the BBC is not mentioned by name, only Alexandra Palace]; the rise in popularity of television sets; the 1954 Television Act, when "a challenger was admitted to the lists to question this twenty year monopoly"; and how "a miracle of organisation and design has been accomplished". 200434A Acquired as "ITV Opening Night at the Guildhall" Footage of the speeches only, by the Lord Mayor, Sir Harold Walter Seymour Howard, the Postmaster General, Charles Hill, and the chairman of the ITA, Kenneth Clark, from the opening ceremony of ITV held at the Guildhall. A brief extract featuring the Hallé Orchestra is at the end of the print. The Lord Mayor, H.W.S. Howard, makes the opening speech of welcome, stressing the private financing of ITV and the role of the ITA in upholding standards (108). The Postmaster General, Charles Hill, talks about the power of television as a medium; compliments the BBC on its achievements; talks of the benefits of competition; viewers' choice; the need for quality advertising and the confinement of advertising to "natural breaks"; and the role of the Postmaster General (300). The chairman of the ITA, Sir Kenneth Clark, also talks about the power of television; the speed with which the organisation of the new independent channel has been achieved, joking about having "kidnapped" the staff [a reference to the employment of former BBC staff]; the role of the ITA, which he likens to that of a doctor, only having to be called in those cases of serious complaint; and that free television will not be controlled by any council or committee but by two factors: the television companies own sense of responsibility and the good sense of the British people (487). Shots of guests at dinner (514). The guests standing while the top table guests enter the hall and take their places (558). Sir John Barbirolli conducting the Hallé Orchestra (638ft, 16mm). Notes: The footage between 514ft and the end of the film are out of sequence and should precede the speeches. All of the footage is taken from a high vantage point in the hall looking down on the guests, the shots of those making speeches varying between ELS, LS and MS. The footage of the orchestra is also taken from a similar high position, with Barbirolli only seen in ELS and from the rear. Both of the above films are also available on the VHS compilation ITV OPENING NIGHT (8032369A) (Package number C0033YIW) , which also includes PREVIEW OF REDIFFUSION AND ABC PROGRAMMES. Film 200434A is also available on u-matic tape 8000218A, albeit with some of Kenneth Clark's speech missing. NOTE: The Archive also holds ITV OPENING NIGHT - THE ORCHESTRA AT THE GUILDHALL which may hold more footage of the Hallé in performance, but there is no viewing copy at present.
TV Transmissions
Date: 22 September 1955Broadcast channel: RediffusionCountry: United KingdomTransmission time: 19:15-20:00Slot duration: 45 minsLocal - Language: English - Black and White - Sound
Date: 22 September 1955 (Television)Country: United Kingdom
Synopsis: Thursday, 22 September 1955. "Gala Night! British Independent Television makes its bow this evening. First the cameras scan the face of London; then they fix upon historic Guildhall, where the official inaugural ceremony takes place." (TVTimes) 19.15 The guests arrive. commentator: John Connell 19.30 The Halle Orchestra overture: "Cockaigne" (In London Town) by Sir Edward Elgar The National Anthem 19.45 Inaugural Speeches by The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of London, Sir Seymour Howard The Postmaster General, Dr the Rt. Hon. Charles Hill, MP The Chairman of the Independent Television Authority, Sir Kenneth Clark (20.00)Shotlist: The Archive holdings are incomplete and are separated onto different films as follows: 205003A The prologue to Independent Television's opening ceremony from the Guildhall, acquired as ITV Opening Night (London Scenes): Skyline of London with narration "tonight 7.15 September 22nd 1955, we add another sentence to the long history of London" (23). Shots of London landmarks - Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Temple, Lincoln's Inn, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park Corner, The Mall, various statues, London Docks and the Thames, Monument, a bomb site, St Paul's Cathedral, housing, Greenwich Observatory, Whitehall (228). Still photograph of Marconi (236). Transmission masts and rooftop aerials (250). Distant shot of Alexandra Palace and a close shot of its mast (267). Television aerials on chimneys (282). The Palace of Westminster at night (294). Shots of the 1954 Television Act (325). Headed notepaper of ABC, Granada and Rediffusion (333). Exterior of the Rediffusion building under construction (339). Meeting of Rediffusion staff seated around a table (344). HAS of studio with cameras (350). MS of television presenter (?) wearing headphones and reading from a script [dialogue not heard] (353). Television camera moving towards the camera (361). Rising shot taken from a lift on the outside of Big Ben with scaffolding in view, over which the narrator talks about Redifussion's ideals of "free speech, fair play, deceny, tolerance, humour and common sense". The shot ends on the face of the clock (404). Aerial shot of the Palace of Westminster and the Thames with the narration, "Ready the OB vans at Guildhall. Ready the vision mixers, sound mixers, cameramen, directors. Ready all those who have made this possible. Ready our friends you citizens of London. Wish us God speed. Over to Guildhall. Good luck all. Here we go. Take it master control". During the latter part of that narration the shot changes to one of the upper exterior of the Guildhall. The last four feet of that shot have bells chiming on the soundtrack without any narration (451). No image with the bells on the soundtrack (482ft). Note: The narration which accompanies the prologue film talks about the long history of London and the momentous events it has witnessed; how history is still in the making; the rise of telecommunications; the onset of television from 1936 [the BBC is not mentioned by name, only Alexandra Palace]; the rise in popularity of television sets; the 1954 Television Act, when "a challenger was admitted to the lists to question this twenty year monopoly"; and how "a miracle of organisation and design has been accomplished". 200434A Acquired as "ITV Opening Night at the Guildhall" Footage of the speeches only, by the Lord Mayor, Sir Harold Walter Seymour Howard, the Postmaster General, Charles Hill, and the chairman of the ITA, Kenneth Clark, from the opening ceremony of ITV held at the Guildhall. A brief extract featuring the Hallé Orchestra is at the end of the print. The Lord Mayor, H.W.S. Howard, makes the opening speech of welcome, stressing the private financing of ITV and the role of the ITA in upholding standards (108). The Postmaster General, Charles Hill, talks about the power of television as a medium; compliments the BBC on its achievements; talks of the benefits of competition; viewers' choice; the need for quality advertising and the confinement of advertising to "natural breaks"; and the role of the Postmaster General (300). The chairman of the ITA, Sir Kenneth Clark, also talks about the power of television; the speed with which the organisation of the new independent channel has been achieved, joking about having "kidnapped" the staff [a reference to the employment of former BBC staff]; the role of the ITA, which he likens to that of a doctor, only having to be called in those cases of serious complaint; and that free television will not be controlled by any council or committee but by two factors: the television companies own sense of responsibility and the good sense of the British people (487). Shots of guests at dinner (514). The guests standing while the top table guests enter the hall and take their places (558). Sir John Barbirolli conducting the Hallé Orchestra (638ft, 16mm). Notes: The footage between 514ft and the end of the film are out of sequence and should precede the speeches. All of the footage is taken from a high vantage point in the hall looking down on the guests, the shots of those making speeches varying between ELS, LS and MS. The footage of the orchestra is also taken from a similar high position, with Barbirolli only seen in ELS and from the rear. Both of the above films are also available on the VHS compilation ITV OPENING NIGHT (8032369A) (Package number C0033YIW) , which also includes PREVIEW OF REDIFFUSION AND ABC PROGRAMMES. Film 200434A is also available on u-matic tape 8000218A, albeit with some of Kenneth Clark's speech missing. NOTE: The Archive also holds ITV OPENING NIGHT - THE ORCHESTRA AT THE GUILDHALL which may hold more footage of the Hallé in performance, but there is no viewing copy at present.
TV Transmissions
Date: 22 September 1955Broadcast channel: RediffusionCountry: United KingdomTransmission time: 19:15-20:00Slot duration: 45 minsLocal - Language: English - Black and White - Sound
Credits
(3)
Production Company: Associated-Rediffusion, Music: The Hallé Orchestra, Conductor: John Barbirolli
Cast
(4)
John Connell (), H.W. Seymour Howard, Charles Hill, Kenneth Clark (Inaugural speech by)