The blue glass thingy looking good with Leslie I watched the first episode of a two part series on Channel 4 on Saturday night called “It was alright in the 1970s”. The programme, narrated by Matt Lucas, examined seventies culture from the perspective of its portrayal through the popular television of the decade.
Regular visitors will appreciate that this was essential viewing for me - and I can report that I actually watched episode one twice (once at 9pm and then again at 10pm on Channel 4 + 1).
By way of a synopsis, the programme featured a series of commentators (from the media of the time) and celebrity observers of various ages reflecting upon what they were watching – Benny Hill, 321, Sale of the Century, Casanova 1973, Doctor in The House, Miss World etc. All those contributing were filmed in a studio surrounded by seventies stuff that would look thoroughly at home in my ‘things’ gallery (to be honest, I did covet a few of the items on display).
The broadcast material reviewed suggested that the attitudes of the time to racism, sexism, feminism, religion, equality, sexual orientation, violence, animal cruelty, the sexualisation of children and young adults, advertising, smoking and drinking were so far removed from politically correct (PC), that any enlightened sort would find themselves wincing in discomfort.
To be frank, some of the material reviewed from the decade was dark (even though it was supposed to be funny) and made worse by the observers reflecting that what was portrayed on telly probably made viewers of the time think that the kinds of behaviours that would land you in court these days, were acceptable. It was observed by more than one commentator that it was no wonder that deviants like Jimmy Saville could hide their perversions in plain sight.
The fact is that since the seventies, society has moved on in leaps and bounds and whilst one could argue that we are now too tolerant, too litigious, too PC, too health & safety; we are in a far better state than we were in then. And that’s a revelation for me; there’s a lot about the seventies that I am glad is history. Blimey!
Saturday’s programme showed footage from Miss World that even portrayed the legendary Terry Wogan in a fairly poor light (and so very soon after Children In Need too). What was socially acceptable in the seventies is simply unacceptable today but that leaves people like Dave Lee Travis (so recently persecuted and prosecuted) in a bit of a fix. I am not condoning his actions at all but being evaluated in court by judges and/or juries, via a legal system with no social references for the decade in which many of the “damned” behaviours took place, is a recipe for pain.
Returning to the seventies television programmes, I remember many of them from my childhood, albeit that I was young, innocent and completely oblivious to some of the undercurrents. I think it’s pretty safe though to assume my kids will never see the outdated shows and sitcoms – no TV channel would be brave enough to broadcast them.
During my viewing discomfort, there was one highlight that cheered me up; I have attached a shot from Casanova 1973 showing the wonderful Leslie Phillips – see that blue glass thing behind his head; I have one of those. No idea what it is (a punch bowl perhaps) but it will shortly have its own post in my seventies gallery. What better way to date it than to see it showcased in such a way.
Episode two of the series is aired on Saturday 22nd and I’ll be watching that for sure. You can catch up with the first programme on 4OD.
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Regular visitors will appreciate that this was essential viewing for me - and I can report that I actually watched episode one twice (once at 9pm and then again at 10pm on Channel 4 + 1).
By way of a synopsis, the programme featured a series of commentators (from the media of the time) and celebrity observers of various ages reflecting upon what they were watching – Benny Hill, 321, Sale of the Century, Casanova 1973, Doctor in The House, Miss World etc. All those contributing were filmed in a studio surrounded by seventies stuff that would look thoroughly at home in my ‘things’ gallery (to be honest, I did covet a few of the items on display).
The broadcast material reviewed suggested that the attitudes of the time to racism, sexism, feminism, religion, equality, sexual orientation, violence, animal cruelty, the sexualisation of children and young adults, advertising, smoking and drinking were so far removed from politically correct (PC), that any enlightened sort would find themselves wincing in discomfort.
To be frank, some of the material reviewed from the decade was dark (even though it was supposed to be funny) and made worse by the observers reflecting that what was portrayed on telly probably made viewers of the time think that the kinds of behaviours that would land you in court these days, were acceptable. It was observed by more than one commentator that it was no wonder that deviants like Jimmy Saville could hide their perversions in plain sight.
The fact is that since the seventies, society has moved on in leaps and bounds and whilst one could argue that we are now too tolerant, too litigious, too PC, too health & safety; we are in a far better state than we were in then. And that’s a revelation for me; there’s a lot about the seventies that I am glad is history. Blimey!
Saturday’s programme showed footage from Miss World that even portrayed the legendary Terry Wogan in a fairly poor light (and so very soon after Children In Need too). What was socially acceptable in the seventies is simply unacceptable today but that leaves people like Dave Lee Travis (so recently persecuted and prosecuted) in a bit of a fix. I am not condoning his actions at all but being evaluated in court by judges and/or juries, via a legal system with no social references for the decade in which many of the “damned” behaviours took place, is a recipe for pain.
Returning to the seventies television programmes, I remember many of them from my childhood, albeit that I was young, innocent and completely oblivious to some of the undercurrents. I think it’s pretty safe though to assume my kids will never see the outdated shows and sitcoms – no TV channel would be brave enough to broadcast them.
During my viewing discomfort, there was one highlight that cheered me up; I have attached a shot from Casanova 1973 showing the wonderful Leslie Phillips – see that blue glass thing behind his head; I have one of those. No idea what it is (a punch bowl perhaps) but it will shortly have its own post in my seventies gallery. What better way to date it than to see it showcased in such a way.
Episode two of the series is aired on Saturday 22nd and I’ll be watching that for sure. You can catch up with the first programme on 4OD.
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