Ted Kotcheff was there when the worst possible thing that could happen in a live production happened. On 30th Nov 1958 during transmission of Armchair Theatre - Underground - actor Gareth Jones died. This superb Oliver Wake piece recounts what happened. www.britishtelevisiondrama.org.uk/?p=4313 - ThreadSky

waltydunlop.bsky.social • 7 days ago

Ted Kotcheff was there when the worst possible thing that could happen in a live production happened. On 30th Nov 1958 during transmission of Armchair Theatre - Underground - actor Gareth Jones died. This superb Oliver Wake piece recounts what happened. http://www.britishtelevisiondrama.org.uk/?p=4313

Comments

ianzpotter.bsky.social•6 days ago

I interviewed James Gatward some years ago and was amazed to learn he too was there along side Verity, fillowing the action like a football match.

waltydunlop.bsky.social•6 days ago

It's one of those things that exercises a horrible fascination, isn't it? I mean, how the hell everybody got through it...

ianzpotter.bsky.social•6 days ago

I've always thought there's a play in it. Can't remember now if it's Bowles or Mitchell who talked about having to tell the widow, which is the real horror.

dalesmithonline.com•6 days ago

It'd make damn good radio, I reckon. especially with the Who connection to give it that extra connection to now.

ianzpotter.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yeah. Thing is I'd feel duty bound to research old Manchester train timetables.

ianzpotter.bsky.social•6 days ago

My slightly askew take on it is that this being one of the biggest advertising slots might be what ensures they don't just understandably break off and fade to black. What's the network going to drop in to fill the gap and keep the audience?

oliver-wake.bsky.social•6 days ago

Can that interview be read anywhere? I'd love to see what he said about the incident.

ianzpotter.bsky.social•6 days ago

I'll dig out the minidisc. It may have been over lunch and so not recorded, or it may have been in one of the long recording sessions but not transcribed because it wasn't relevant to the book! Fingers crossed for the latter. He and Isobel Black were so generous with their time. Give me a few days.

oliver-wake.bsky.social•6 days ago

Kind of you, thanks. No hurry.

ianzpotter.bsky.social•4 days ago

Back home after a weekend away. First job- find the tin the minidiscs and the minidisc recorder are in. I have identified the room the tin's in...

ianzpotter.bsky.social•4 days ago

Oh boy, this took some finding! The dumping ground that claims to be a study... Fingers crossed the Underground chat is on one of the recordings!

oliver-wake.bsky.social•7 days ago

Kind of you, thanks.

tgebriggs.bsky.social•6 days ago

Also he directed Weekend at Bernie's 🤔

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply