Kaleidoscope (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Kaleidoscope was a British
television
programme, transmitted on the BBC Television Service
from 1946 until 1953. A light entertainment
show, it was one of the most popular programmes of the immediate post-war
era.
The first episode was transmitted on 2 November 1946, and thereafter it was usually transmitted at 8.30pm on Friday evenings. Initially it was a thirty-minute show broadcast every other week, alternating with the early sitcom Pinwright's Progress
, but later in its run the running time increased to an hour.
The programme had a variety of different features, including 'Collector's Corner', in which antiques
expert Iris Brooke would show various items of interest; 'Word Play', a charades
game performed by young actors and actresses from the Rank Organisation
's "Company of Youth", also known as the "Charm School"; the 'Memory Man' (Leslie Welch
) and 'Be Your Own Detective', a series of short thrillers designed to test the viewers' powers of observation, written by Mileson Horton in a similar style to his earlier series Telecrime
. There were also various comedy sketches – Tony Hancock
had his first regular television role on the programme, appearing for four episodes in 1951.
Kaleidoscope was transmitted live
from the BBC's studios at Alexandra Palace
. McDonald Hobley
acted as the presenter, and it was initially produced by John Irwin
. The final episode was shown on 26 June 1953.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programme, transmitted on the BBC Television Service
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
from 1946 until 1953. A light entertainment
Light entertainment
Light entertainment is a term used to describe a broad range of usually televisual performances. These include comedies, variety shows, quiz/game shows, sketch shows and people/surprise shows.-Light entertainment in Britain:...
show, it was one of the most popular programmes of the immediate post-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
era.
The first episode was transmitted on 2 November 1946, and thereafter it was usually transmitted at 8.30pm on Friday evenings. Initially it was a thirty-minute show broadcast every other week, alternating with the early sitcom Pinwright's Progress
Pinwright's Progress
Pinwright's Progress was a British sitcom that aired on the BBC Television Service from 1946 to 1947 and was the world's first regular half-hour sitcom. The ten episodes, which aired fortnightly in alternation with Kaleidoscope, were broadcast live from the BBC studios at Alexandra Palace...
, but later in its run the running time increased to an hour.
The programme had a variety of different features, including 'Collector's Corner', in which antiques
Antiques
An antique is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age , beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection, and/or other unique features...
expert Iris Brooke would show various items of interest; 'Word Play', a charades
Charades
Charades or charade is a word guessing game. In the form most played today, it is an acting game in which one player acts out a word or phrase, often by pantomiming similar-sounding words, and the other players guess the word or phrase. The idea is to use physical rather than verbal language to...
game performed by young actors and actresses from the Rank Organisation
Rank Organisation
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities....
's "Company of Youth", also known as the "Charm School"; the 'Memory Man' (Leslie Welch
Leslie Welch
Leslie Welch was a British radio and television entertainer known as the Memory Man.- Early life and career :Leslie was born in Edmonton...
) and 'Be Your Own Detective', a series of short thrillers designed to test the viewers' powers of observation, written by Mileson Horton in a similar style to his earlier series Telecrime
Telecrime
Telecrime was a British drama series that aired on the BBC Television Service from 1938 to 1939 and in 1946. One of the first multi-episode drama series ever made, it is also one of the first television dramas written especially for television not adapted from theatre or radio...
. There were also various comedy sketches – Tony Hancock
Tony Hancock
Anthony John "Tony" Hancock was an English actor and comedian.-Early life and career:Hancock was born in Southam Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, England, but from the age of three was brought up in Bournemouth, where his father, John Hancock, who ran the Railway Hotel in...
had his first regular television role on the programme, appearing for four episodes in 1951.
Kaleidoscope was transmitted live
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
from the BBC's studios at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
. McDonald Hobley
McDonald Hobley
McDonald Hobley, born Dennys Jack Valentine McDonald-Hobley, was one of the first BBC Television continuity announcers, appearing from 1946 to 1956.-Childhood and early career:...
acted as the presenter, and it was initially produced by John Irwin
John Irwin (producer)
John Irwin is a television producer and president of Irwin Entertainment, Inc., a television production company most well-known for its comedy, reality and live entertainment programming.-Career:...
. The final episode was shown on 26 June 1953.