The 70's and 80's in Ireland

The Crowman · 29-12-2018 12:22AM

mzungu wrote: »

Does anybody remember a short programme called The Optimist. It used to be on for 10 or so minutes, maybe before the 6 O'Clock news on RTE 1?

Yes, I remember that. Yer man was a mime artist sort of. It was silent save for laughter track and incidental music.

The Crowman · 29-12-2018 12:28AM

branie2 wrote: »

I do; it was a series of short films, from the Netherlands, I think

No it was British, made by Channel 4. Enn Reitel is the actor in it. Cant link as on phone.

mzungu · 29-12-2018 01:10AM

The Crowman wrote: »

No it was British, made by Channel 4. Enn Reitel is the actor in it. Cant link as on phone.

Well played. Just looked that up and this is the Wiki entry..

The Optimist is a British television comedy series starring Enn Reitel and produced by Robert Sidaway.

Location shoot for pilot Sea Dreams in Cabo San Lucas (1981)
Each episode told a separate comic adventure in the life of an everyday man who, whether it turns out a success or a failure, always remains The Optimist. The stories made a feature of fantasy and dream sequences.

Citing the influences of Jacques Tati, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, as well as the character of Walter Mitty, the series was designed as a silent comedy, with original music and enhanced sound effects.

Shooting on 16mm, it was made on location in Cabo San Lucas, Los Angeles and London. A total of thirteen episodes were produced.

The series debuted on 14 April 1983 and the final episode was broadcast on 5 January 1985.

Episodes were 30 minutes long and I thought they were only about 10 minutes. I was a bit off the mark there!

29-12-2018 01:11AM

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Ooh - was just going to post about The Kids From Degrassi Street - which came before that one and was broadcast earlier in the day.

I remember that one, the kids were quite a bit younger.
Degrassi High was the third series in the franchise and was also great. It ran from 1989-1991.

Big Nasty · 29-12-2018 05:35AM

Once Upon A Time.........Life

The Crowman · 29-12-2018 09:49AM

Anyone remember a drama series shown on RTE mid 80's about a German spy in Ireland during WW2? Id say it was a co production with BBC or Channel 4.

29-12-2018 11:02AM

The Crowman wrote: »

Anyone remember a drama series shown on RTE mid 80's about a German spy in Ireland during WW2? Id say it was a co production with BBC or Channel 4.

Caught In A Free State.
It was shown in 1983. Think there was Channel 4 involvement - they broadcast it around Easter 1984 - one of our teachers recorded it and we saw it again in History class when I started secondary that year.

Two of the German spies that it was based on were still alive at the time of filming so their names were changed.

Would like to see again - RTE have absolutely no interest in releasing this stuff nor do they seem willing to allow anybody else do so - the likes of Network or Simply Media would be ideal if they could get access to the RTE back catalogue. The latter released The Price last year. Hard-hitting drama about an IRA kidnapping that hasn't been repeated since original broadcast in 1985. Really worth a purchase.

branie2 · 29-12-2018 11:22AM

Big Nasty wrote: »

Once Upon A Time.........Life

It had a great theme song as well

The Crowman · 29-12-2018 11:24AM

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

Caught In A Free State.
It was shown in 1983. Think there was Channel 4 involvement - they broadcast it around Easter 1984 - one of our teachers recorded it and we saw it again in History class when I started secondary that year.

Two of the German spies that it was based on were still alive at the time of filming so their names were changed.

Would like to see again - RTE have absolutely no interest in releasing this stuff nor do they seem willing to allow anybody else do so - the likes of Network or Simply Media would be ideal if they could get access to the RTE back catalogue. The latter released The Price last year. Hard-hitting drama about an IRA kidnapping that hasn't been repeated since original broadcast in 1985. Really worth a purchase.

The Price, there's a blast from the past. Another big RTE production from the time that's been buried is the Year Of The French. I haven't seen it since it was shown on RTE in 1982. They never repeated it or released it on video.

29-12-2018 11:56AM

The Crowman wrote: »

The Price, there's a blast from the past. Another big RTE production from the time that's been buried is the Year Of The French. I haven't seen it since it was shown on RTE in 1982. They never repeated it or released it on video.

That was a prominent production at the time - I remember an RTE Guide front cover - was shown in the run up to Christmas 1982. One of my childhood friends moved to Mayo in 1980 and when I met him in later years, he mentioned the filming that took place in Killala - seemed to be a big thing then.

You're right - not seen a sign of it since. I think RTE were challenged on their lack of DVD releases. Someone came up with a bullsh*t excuses about actors' contracts not allowing for releases on home video - but couldn't explain about that isn't a problem for UK or US companies releasing archive television from those countries.

This book came out a while ago but is a good read - it really shows that RTE produced lots of quality drama back then - nearly all of it is languishing in their vaults.
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49312010_10161410532705089_8082526661729320960_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ht=scontent.fdub2-1.fna&oh=401378fd6429fbb596640fd0197d222a&oe=5CD5DC20

mikemac2 · 29-12-2018 11:56AM

The Fugitives name is ...... Dr Richard Kimble

The Harrison Ford film in the 90’s was decent but the TV show was amazing. Black & white and was made back in the 60’s and they showed on Irish TV in the 80’s

Had a huge following. Was on quite late as I remember, maybe 10pm. Every episode our hero trying to track the one armed man, making friends with locals and keeping ahead of the Marshall

When the final espisode was to be broadcast the radio shows were hyping it up and people discussing what would happen. Twitter of the day I suppose

I loved that show and people of all generations watched it

Rubberlegs · 29-12-2018 12:32PM

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

Caught In A Free State.
It was shown in 1983. Think there was Channel 4 involvement - they broadcast it around Easter 1984 - one of our teachers recorded it and we saw it again in History class when I started secondary that year.

Two of the German spies that it was based on were still alive at the time of filming so their names were changed.

Would like to see again - RTE have absolutely no interest in releasing this stuff nor do they seem willing to allow anybody else do so - the likes of Network or Simply Media would be ideal if they could get access to the RTE back catalogue. The latter released The Price last year. Hard-hitting drama about an IRA kidnapping that hasn't been repeated since original broadcast in 1985. Really worth a purchase.

I can't remember how or if it was portrayed in the series, but when the spies landed in Wexford my Grandad who was a postman remembered a very confused German man coming out of a field calling out to him and asking him where he was. Years later the spy was on The Late Late Show and told the story of how he landed in Wexford and had to find out exactly where he was from the postman. I remember family members trying to persuade my Grandad to contact Gay Byrne with this bit of trivia but he was very old and crotchety by then and wouldn't

29-12-2018 12:49PM

Rubberlegs wrote: »

I can't remember how or if it was portrayed in the series, but when the spies landed in Wexford my Grandad who was a postman remembered a very confused German man coming out of a field calling out to him and asking him where he was. Years later the spy was on The Late Late Show and told the story of how he landed in Wexford and had to find out exactly where he was from the postman. I remember family members trying to persuade my Grandad to contact Gay Byrne with this bit of trivia but he was very old and crotchety by then and wouldn't

Nice one! I think there was one episode showing a spy that landed off the coast of Wexford - was of particular interest to us as I grew up there.

Rubberlegs · 29-12-2018 01:28PM

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

Nice one! I think there was one episode showing a spy that landed off the coast of Wexford - was of particular interest to us as I grew up there.

Yes, I remember there was great interest from my Dad's side of the family as they live near the Wexford coast

JupiterKid · 29-12-2018 04:10PM

Didn't the Nazis have an "Operation Green" plan at one stage early on in WW2 to invade Britain via Ireland, and we would have been invaded via a direct landing of German troops along the coast of Wexford?

The Crowman · 29-12-2018 04:20PM

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

Caught In A Free State.
It was shown in 1983. Think there was Channel 4 involvement - they broadcast it around Easter 1984 - one of our teachers recorded it and we saw it again in History class when I started secondary that year.

Two of the German spies that it was based on were still alive at the time of filming so their names were changed.

Would like to see again - RTE have absolutely no interest in releasing this stuff nor do they seem willing to allow anybody else do so - the likes of Network or Simply Media would be ideal if they could get access to the RTE back catalogue. The latter released The Price last year. Hard-hitting drama about an IRA kidnapping that hasn't been repeated since original broadcast in 1985. Really worth a purchase.

There's part of an episode of Caught In A Free State on Vimeo.

https://vimeo.com/259144490

Heroditas · 29-12-2018 11:26PM

The Crowman wrote: »

The Price, there's a blast from the past. Another big RTE production from the time that's been buried is the Year Of The French. I haven't seen it since it was shown on RTE in 1982. They never repeated it or released it on video.

The Price is on YouTube. It's dated badly but I remember watching it when it was first released and being horrified when I saw the severed finger!

Apparently Year of the French is buried in the RTE archives and we'll never see it on DVD due to copyright issues etc. It's a pity because I remember it being on TV and being fascinated by the detail and story behind it. It was a huge RTE production at the time
I've said it before and I'll say it again, we make bloody good TV here for the budgets that are available.

29-12-2018 11:32PM

Heroditas wrote: »

The Price is on YouTube. It's dated badly but I remember watching it when it was first released and being horrified when I saw the severed finger!

Apparently Year of the French is buried in the RTE archives and we'll never see it on DVD due to copyright issues etc. It's a pity because I remember it being on TV and being fascinated by the detail and story behind it. It was a huge RTE production at the time
I've said it before and I'll say it again, we make bloody good TV here for the budgets that are available.

What are the copyright issues, do you know?
As I said on previous page, RTE seem to have spurious (and untrue) excuses for not releasing archive material on DVD.

branie2 · 29-12-2018 11:37PM

The actress June Whitfield, who starred in two Carry On films in the 1970s, and in the sitcom Terry & June, passed away yesterday

Heroditas · 29-12-2018 11:41PM

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

What are the copyright issues, do you know?
As I said on previous page, RTE seem to have spurious (and untrue) excuses for not releasing archive material on DVD.

Not sure, apologies. I remember reading it somewhere but think it's due to disagreements over royalties with the author of the original book, French TV, the Chieftains etc.
I myself believe that they might actually not have decent recordings on file. For example, BBC recorded over a load of their old programmes and they're lost forever!

Sardonicat · 29-12-2018 11:44PM

branie2 wrote: »

The actress June Whitfield, who starred in two Carry On films in the 1970s, and in the sitcom Terry & June, passed away yesterday

Also Gran in Absolutely Fabulous!

Heroditas · 29-12-2018 11:46PM

Sardonicat wrote: »

Also Gran in Absolutely Fabulous!

That's what my wife knew her from. When she told me June had died, I said "oh June from Terry and June..." and was greeted with a blank face.
Kid born in 70s v kid born in 80s

branie2 · 29-12-2018 11:53PM

Terry Scott from Terry & June also appeared in the Carry On films

Sardonicat · 29-12-2018 11:56PM

It could be that or a testament to her broad appeal.
Carry On
Terry and June
Absolutely Fabulous
Last of the Summer Wine

That's a CV with the type of diversity last seen on TOTP in the 80s

Her last episode of Ab Fab, when she was 91 (!) she was sporting a Duran Duran t shirt, her character having confused a French chanteuse that Eddie was re-launching with Nick Rhodes because of the singer's bleached blonde hair and heavy eye - liner: "He loves his eye liner, that one." All delivered with a dead pan expression. She was a very funny lady.

29-12-2018 11:59PM

branie2 wrote: »

Terry Scott from Terry & June also appeared in the Carry On films

She's strangely sexy in Carry On Abroad.

30-12-2018 12:01AM

Heroditas wrote: »

Not sure, apologies. I remember reading it somewhere but think it's due to disagreements over royalties with the author of the original book, French TV, the Chieftains etc.
I myself believe that they might actually not have decent recordings on file. For example, BBC recorded over a load of their old programmes and they're lost forever!

I remember a good documentary on RTE drama was shown for their 40th anniversary in 2002 - lots of good clips on it - including The Year Of The French. Hopefully they're still preserved.

Hotblack Desiato · 30-12-2018 01:56AM

Heroditas wrote: »

I myself believe that they might actually not have decent recordings on file.

It was almost certainly shot on film.

branie2 · 30-12-2018 01:03PM

The quiz show Where in the World? first appeared in 1989, and its first presenter was Marty Whelan.

Raheem Euro · 30-12-2018 07:43PM

A couple of Australian mini-series that RTE showed in the summers of 85 and 86 I think. 'Return to Eden' and 'A Fortunate Life'. Both pretty good, for the time.

Ger Roe · 30-12-2018 07:50PM

Today, Dec 30th and tomorrow, 31st, mark 30 years since the pirate radio close downs in advance of the introduction of the 1988 broadcasting act.

The end of an era that existed right through the 70's and 80's.

The 70's and 80's in Ireland

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