It was four days before opening night 1956. We were to put on a live
production "The Twelve Pound Look". I had been there two weeks trying
desperately to set up a small workshop. Ken Middleton came down and said
"Production need a caption roller for the play"... Bill Kennard having
freshly arrived from the BBC, was charged with creating the graphics for
the aforesaid rollers. The days that followed up to late in the afternoon
of opening night are somewhat of a blur but from tearing around looking
for a small shaded pole motor, to turning the rollers on the small lathe
from some 3 X 3 builders off-cuts, and then cutting a worm wheel to reduce
the speed of the assembly - to say nothing of building a stand for the
whole thing – a few days I will never forget.
Before the play, the evening got away with Michael Charlton to compere
the proceedings. This went off happily. The next event was a tour of the
Telecine area compered by John West. A slow walk by John down to Telecine
followed by a cumbersome tripod travelling over a semi-finished floor.
Don Owrid was the Telecine Operator closely attended by Super Tech. Don
Crowley. Don pressed the button, the projector wound up and pictures appeared
- but alas NO SOUND. The Techs struggled for 5 - 10 seconds but alas they
could not produce any sound. Apparently an amplifier tube had gone at
that precise moment.
(N.B. No - Don Crowley later advised it was a switching error on his
part).
Ken Middleton had previously invited us to have a drink "up at the Cottage"
after the show which I think most of us accepted. Ken said a few words
to thank all involved for their efforts. Mike Charlton stood and also
said he thought the evening went quite well but we will have to live WITH
THE BLOOD OF TELECINE ON OUR HANDS.
Merv Somers
Workshop Foreman 1956
Merv Somers joined the ABC as the Engineering Workshop Foreman in
October 1956 - he resigned in May 1965. During the next 10 years Merv
was involved in building TV OB Vans in different parts of the world. He
returned to Gore Hill in March 1975 and retired in September 1985.
