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on selected small images for larger versions of the same image or a large different image from the same programme 1960 TV Viewing Ratings Television Westerns Television Swashbucklers Cult TV Main Page |
| 77
Sunset Strip ITV Warner Brothers |
 |
American
private detective series originally created in 1958 which starred Efrem
Zimbalist Jr (Stuart Bailey), Roger Smith (Jeff Spencer) and Edd Byrnes
(Kookie). No doubt that the West Coast hot-rodding, quiff-combing, jive
talking Byrnes was the main interest of the series for teenage females on
both sides of the Atlantic. Bailey and Spencer were the freelance private
eyes who, along with their secretary Suzanne (Jacqueline Beer), were assisted
in their enquiries by local 'head', Kookie. Kookie, Kookie, lend me your comb.... and the theme tune was pretty snappy too |
Coronation
Street GRANADA 1960- |
 |
What can I possibly say in a few lines that would do justice to what started as a twice-weekly soap opera about the lives of North-western city folk and has since turned into a British institution. It was originally intended to be a 13 part series, written by creator Tony Warren, to be called 'Florizel Street'. Original series main characters included Ena Sharples (Violet Carson), Martha Longhurst (Lynne Carol), Minnie Caldwell (Margot Bryant), Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix), Len Fairclough (Peter Adamson), Dennis Tanner (Philip Lowrie), Albert Tatlock (Jack Howarth), Ken Barlow (William Roache) and the masters of 'The Rover's Return' Annie and Jack Walker (Doris Speed and Arthur Leslie) |
| All
Our Yesterdays GRANADA 1960-73 |
 |
20 minute (later 30 minute) nostalgia documentary programme which showed newsreels from 25 years ago on that week. These were made up from the twice-weekly cinema Pathe newsreels which were shown at the time, later to include television news archive footage and studio guests. First narrated by James Cameron and later narrated and introduced by Brian Inglis | A
Life Of Bliss BBC 1960-61 |
 |
George Cole starred in the successful carry-over of this 30 minute comedy series from radio to television, playing the part of David Bliss, a gullible young bachelor prone to verbal gaffes and jumping to incorrect conclusions. His pet dog, Psyche, was 'voiced' by animal impersonator Percy Edwards. Sheila Sweet starred as his girlfriend, Isabel Dean as sister Anne and Colin Gordon as his brother-in-law. Two series were made, written and produced by Godfrey Harrison |
| Bonehead BBC 1960-62 |
 |
Slapstick 25 minute comedy series produced and written by Shaun Sutton which featured Bonehead (Colin Douglas), Happy (Douglas Blackwell) and Boss (Paul Whitsun-Jones) as the 'silliest and least successful gang in the underworld' | Biggles GRANADA 1960 |
 |
28 x 30 minute episodes featured the adventures of Air Police Inspector Bigglesworth based on the stories by Captain W.E.Johns. A children's action series with very definite goodies and baddies. The goodies were Biggles (Nevil Whiting), Ginger (chart-topping pop star John Leyton) and Bertie (David Drummond) |
| Bonanza ITV 1960- NBC 1959 |
 |
Huge, long-running blockbuster American western series featuring the life and adventures of the Cartwright family, owners of the Ponderosa ranch, and citizens in nearby Virginia City during the wild west of the 1860s. Ben Cartwright was played by Lorne Greene and his three sons, Hoss, Little Joe and Adam were played respectively by Dan Blocker, Michael Landon and Pernell Roberts. Very much a 'moral' series with the Cartwrights demonstrating the best traits of human nature, usually with a happy ending despite nature's setbacks and gun-toting baddies of all types. Immensely popular series still showing on various channels today. Also see 'Westerns' | Four
Feather Falls GRANADA 1960 AP Films |
 |
39
x 15minute episodes were made of one of Gerry Anderson's early puppet-based
adventure/fantasy shows. Sherrif Tex Tucker saves the life of Makooya, the
son of indian chief Kalamakooya and is rewarded with four magic feathers
which, among other things, enable his guns to fire by themselves and allow
his dog, Dusty and horse, Rocky to be able to talk to him. The series villains
are bandits Pedro and Fernando. Other characters included Martha Jones,
Grandpa Twink and Little Jake. Also see Gerry Anderson Productions pages Also see 'Westerns' |
| Citizen
James BBC 1960-62 |
 |
This 30 minute comedy series was essentially a spin-off of the character played by Sid James in Hancock's Half Hour. The first series, written by Galton and Simpson, presented the character as a layabout, aided and abetted by Bill Kerr and girlfriend Liz Fraser. The second series, written by Sid Green and Dick Hills transformed him into a well-meaning but bungling do-gooder aided by pal Sydney Tafler | The
Strange World of Gurney Slade ATV 1960 |
 |
Weird and surreal, this short series starred Anthony Newley as an over-imaginative young man prone to fantasising about his ideal female and frequently finding himself in conversation with trees and similar objects. The 6 x 30 minute episodes were written by Sid Green and Dick Hills and produced by Alan Tarrant. Max Harris's music was conducted by Jack Parnell |
| Danger
Man ATV 1960-61 1964-67 |
 |
Cult action / adventure espionage series created by Ralph Smart which featured Patrick McGoohan as John Drake, a top agent for the NATO secret service (British Intelligence M9 in the second series) who, unlike his American counterparts, rarely resorted to gunplay, preferring to slug his way out of trouble. The first series consisted of 39 x 30 minute episodes produced by Ralph Smart and the second series of 45 x 60 minute episodes produced by Aida Young (64/65) and Sidney Cole. Two 60 minute episodes (1967) were made in colour - 'Koroshi' and 'Shinda Shima' which were recombined into a 93 minute telefeature called 'Koroshi'. The programme was networked in the U.S. by CBS under the title 'Secret Agent' | Four
Feather Falls GRANADA 1960 AP Films |
|
39
x 15minute episodes were made of one of Gerry Anderson's early puppet-based
adventure/fantasy shows. Sherrif Tex Tucker saves the life of Makooya, the
son of indian chief Kalamakooya and is rewarded with four magic feathers
which, among other things, enable his guns to fire by themselves and allow
his dog, Dusty and horse, Rocky to be able to talk to him. The series villains
are bandits Pedro and Fernando. Other characters included Martha Jones,
Grandpa Twink and Little Jake. Also see Gerry Anderson Productions pages Also see 'Westerns' |
| Here's
Harry BBC 1960-65 |
 |
A very popular and long-running comedy series starring the genius of Harry Worth whose bumbling attempts at do-gooding landed him in all sorts of hot water and strange situations. The series followed on from the earlier BBC sitcom 'The Trouble With Harry'. Writers included Vince Powell and Harry Driver and the shows, like the earlier series, were produced by John Ammonds | International
Detective ITV 1960 |
 |
A
series of action / drama detective stories based on the actual files of
the William J.Burns international detective agency. 39 x 30minute episodes
were made, directed by Eddie Sutherland and featuring Arthur Fleming as
private investigator Ken Franklin Delry - A.Edward Sutherland Associated British - Pathe |
| It's
A Square World BBC 1960-64 |
 |
A long-running series of satirical comedy shows masterminded by Michael Bentine of Goon Show fame. Notable for the unusual variety of means employed to convey the very visual gags, including cartoons and silent-movie techniques. The series, produced by John Street and G.B.Lupino also featured many other famous comedians including Benny Lee, Clive Dunn, Frank Thornton, Dick Emery, John Bluthal and the possibly less well-known Leon Thau, Anthea Wyndham, Louis Mansi and Janette Rowselle | Maigret BBC 1960-63 Winwell Productions |
 |
51 episodes x 45/55minutes over four seasons featured Rupert Davies in the title role as Georges Simenon's famous fictional character after the BBC acquired worldwide rights to the creation. The thoughtful, highly observant French detective was supported by assistant Lucas (Ewen Solon) and Mme Maigret, played by Helen Shingler. Giles Cooper wrote and edited the series scripts and Ron Grainer composed the music which accompanied Eileen Diss's atmospheric French settings. Davies reprised the character for a one-off 90 minute programme in 1969 for the 'Play of the Month' series |
| Police
Surgeon ABC 1960 |
 |
The series starred Ian Hendry as Doctor Geoffrey Brent in this lightweight straight crime drama series. Other regular participants were John Warwick as Inspector Landon and Ingrid Hafner as Amanda Gibbs. Michael Crawford appeared in one episode - 'Easy Money' - as a juvenile delinquent. As it was essentially insipid, the show was cancelled after one season but the character of Geoffrey Brent, still played by Hendry, was revived 12 months later, having gained a partner, as one of the two main parts in the first series of 'The Avengers' | Our
House ABC 1960-61 |
 |
Very
much in the 'Carry On' mould, this 13 episode x 55minutes and 7 episodes
x 45 minutes two season series was written by Carry On writer Norman Hudis.
Nine inherently incompatible people (Season one: Charles Hawtrey, Hattie
Jacques, Norman Rossington, Joan Sims, Frank Pettingell, Trader Faulkner,
Ina de la Haye, Frederick Peisley and Leigh Madison) club together to purchase
and inhabit a run-down house. The disasters and belly laughs continued into
season two with the addition of Hylda Baker and Bernard Bresslaw. The series
was produced by Ernest Maxim. Also see 'Carry On' pages |
| Target
Luna Pathfinders In Space Pathfinders To Mars ABC 1960-61 |
 |
6 x 30 minute episode childrens science fiction series written by Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice. Sydney Newman's production style was reminiscent of a comic-style approach and featured children in the lead roles. This was the first of seven series and starred David Markham, Michael Hammond, Sylvia Davies and Michael Craze in a story revolving a trip to the moon.The series was followed by Pathfinders In Space (1960 - 7 x 30mins), Pathfinders To Mars (1960/61 - 6 x 30mins), Pathfinders To Venus (1961 - 8 x 30mins), Plateau Of Fear (1961 - 6 x 30mins), City Beneath The Sea (1962 - 7 x 30mins) and Secret Beneath The Sea (1963 6 x 30mins) | Sykes
and a ....... BBC 1960-65 |
 |
Superb long-running situation comedy series which starred Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques as brother and sister who lived at 24 Sebastopol Terrace next door to long-suffering neighbour Charles Brown, played by Richard Wattis. The .... of the title each week was the object, situation or latest weird obsession which was the cause of that episode's mayhem and disaster, frequently attended by local beat policeman PC 'Corky' Turnbull (Deryck Guyler). 60 x 25-30 minute episodes were made in black and white, written by Eric Sykes, Johnny Speight, Spike Milligan and John Antrobus. Occasional guests on the series included Peter Sellers, Joan Sims and Les Dawson. One episode was remade in 1967 by Associated London Films as a 54 minute classic comedy film called 'The Plank' |
| The
Flying Doctor ABC 1960-61 |
 |
Hands up who thought that this was an Australian show! 39 x 30minute episodes of stories based on the adventures of the Royal Flying Doctor Service were made on location in Australia (plus a lot of stock footage) and at the Associated British Studios in Elstree. The lead character, Dr. Greg Graham (an American medico) was played by Richard Denning, carted around by pilot Charley Wood (Alan White) and assisted by nurse Mary Meredith (Jill Adams). Series producer was David MacDonald | The
Charlie Drake Show BBC 1960-62 ATV 1963 BBC 1967-68 |
 |
30 minute comedy series which followed on from the 1959-60 series 'Charlie Drake' and featured slapstick-style sketches and situations which brought out the pathos and genius of this much underrated comedian.Scripts were written by Charlie Drake and Richard Waring. Ronald Marsh produced. Most, if not all of the slapstick stunts were undertaken by Drake himself, causing him to be badly injured on more than one occasion. The 1963 ATV series was scripted by Drake and Lewis Schwarz and produced by Colin Clews |
| The
Dickie Henderson Show AR 1960-65 AR 1968 |
 |
Although British-made, this Bill Hitchcock-directed 30 minute domestic sitcom series had a very American feel. Featuring the multi-talented Dickie Henderson as 'himself' with long-suffering wife June Laverick, 10 year old son John Parsons and musical manager friend Lionel Murton as the other main characters, plus weekly guest stars | On
Trial GRANADA 1960 |
 |
A series of 10 x 60minute authentic docu-dramas which chronicled and re-enacted famous historical British trials such as those of Oscar Wilde and Sir Roger Casement (Peter Wyngarde). The shows included factual narration by Andrew Faulds and an explanatory commentary by Brian Inglis. The series producer was Peter Wildeblood |
| The
Splendid Spur BBC 1960 |
 |
Adventure / drama series set during the English Civil War in 1642 starred Patrick Troughton as cavalier Captain Luke Settle in this 6 x 30 minute episode serial. David Goddard produced, based on a story by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. Also appearing were Victoria Watts, Michael Balfour and Kenneth Farrington | Overland
Trail NBC 1960 |
 |
17 x 60 minute episodes of this imported western series starred Doug McClure as Frank 'Flip' Flippen and William Bendix as Fred Kelly in, at times, fairly light-hearted 'cowboy soap opera' tales of the Overland Stage Company whose owner (Bendix) and youthful sidekick take on any job coming their way that will make a few dollars. Having to deal with indian attacks, stage robbers and outlaw gangs, life wasn't easy for guys trying to make an honest living in the old west. Also see 'Westerns' |
| Whiplash ATV / ITC 1960-61 Artransa Park |
 |
34 x 30 minute shows were made of this Wild West style action series which was set in 1850s Australia. Peter Graves (Mission Impossible) starred as stagecoach company owner Chris Cobb and featured his adventures in the constant struggle against outlawry and competitors during the continent's formative years. Anthony Wickert featured as his helper, Dan. The 'baddies' in the series included George Wallace Jr and Belfast-born Chuck Faulkner, who had actually been Australia's first newsreader and weatherman back in 1956 for Channel 9. Did you know that Peter Graves and James Arness of 'Gunsmoke' were brothers? Also see 'Westerns' | The
Untouchables Desilu Productions |
 |
114 (possibly 118) 60 minute episodes were made of this classic gang-busting series starring Robert Stack as F.B.I. agent Eliot Ness, featuring the American establishment's fight against organised crime and the likes of Al Capone during the prohibition period. Although fairly mild by today's standards, it was considered to be one of the most violent TV shows of all time. The stories were essentially taken from F.B.I. files up to the end of prohibition. The later storylines continued into the Forties although the real 'untouchables' disbanded in 1932. Other agents were played by Nick Georgiade (Enrico Rossi), Abel Fernandez (Bill Youngfellow), Paul Percerni (Lee Hobson), Jerry Paris (Martin Flaherty) Steve London (Agent Rossman) and Anthony George (Cam Allison). Narration was by Walter Winchell |
| The
Sunday Night Play BBC 1960-63 |
 |
A series of new plays specially written for television production, and starring some very famous names, which were shown periodically under this umbrella title between 1960 and 1963. The first one to be seen was 'A Walk In The Desert' by John Whiting which starred Lawrence Harvey, Tracy Lloyd and Nigel Stock. One of the productions - David Mercer's 'A Suitable Case For Treatment' - was later made into a feature film | Torchy
A-R 1960-61 AP Films / Pelham Productions |
 |
Another
early Gerry Anderson-directed puppetry series, this time aimed at a slightly
younger audience. Torchy, a clockwork toy with a battery-powered light on
his hat, travels in his space rocket to and from Topsy-Turvy Land, where
all the neglected and mistreated toys live and come alive to join in his
adventures. 3-Dimensional
sets were introduced for the first time on this series and puppets were
fitted with moving mouths and eyes. Creator Roberta Leigh went on to make
a second series of Torchy with Associated British Pathe Also see Gerry Anderson Productions pages |
| The
World of Tim Frazer BBC |
 |
18 x 30 minute episodes were made of this drama intrigue series which were actually three individual 6-part stories although shown consecutively. Jack Hedley starred as Tim Frazer, a structural engineer who gets recruitede as an undercover agent by a government intelligence department. The whole series came under the general heading of 'Francis Durbridge Presents', Durbridge collaborating with three different writers for the three 'series' which were produced byRichmond Harding | Monitor
BBC 1958 - 1965 |
 |
Monitor was a British arts television programme that was launched on 2nd February 1958 and ran until 1965. Huw Wheldon was the editor from 1958 to 1962. He was also the principal interviewer and anchor until 1964. The role as editor of the series was passed to Humphrey Burton in July 1962, lasting a year. He was succeeded by David Jones who had worked on the series since the beginning. The theme tune was 'Marcia' by Dag Wirén. The 100th programme, made in 1962, was Elgar, a film directed by Ken Russell and written by Wheldon. |
 |
Some other 1960 television shows that you may have forgotten... |
| An Age Of Kings - BBC - Shakespeare's historical dramas - 15 x 60minutes | Deadline Midnight - ATV - Fleet Street drama - 39 x 60mins | Glencannon - Gross-Krasne Ltd - Seafaring comedy - 39 x 30 mins |
| How Green Was My Valley - BBC - Serialised novel - 8 x 30mins | Siwan - BBC - 13th Century drama - 90mins | Concentration - ITV - Game show |
| Soldier Soldier - BBC - Social drama - 60 minutes | Rolling Stones - ATV - Comedy series | Somerset Maugham Stories - AR - Drama series - 11 episodes |
| Bootsie and Snudge - Granada - Army sitcom | Mess Mates - AR - Shipboard sitcom starring Sam Kydd & Dermot Kelly | Kipps - Granada - 8 part Drama series |
| Our Street - AR - 7 part documentary | Twenty Questions - ITV - Celebrity panel quiz show | Pinky and Perky's Pop Parade - BBC - Puppet music series |
| Knight Errant 60 - Granada - Action adventure series (see pre 60 ) | Knight Errant Limited - Granada - Action adventure series ( see pre 1960 ) | A to Zoo - Granada - 26 x 30minute wildlife series |
| Animal Story - Granada - London / Whipsnade Zoo animal series | Great Captains - BBC - Biographical documentary series | Adventure - BBC - Hans and Lotte Hass underwater documentary series |
| Leave It To Mr Pastry - BBC - Children's comedy | Stagecoach West - 38 x 60 mins US western series starring Wayne Rogers Also see 'Westerns' | Bourbon Street Beat - ITV - U.S. Detective series similar to 77 Sunset Strip |
| Surfside Six - ITV - U.S. Detective series similar to 77 Sunset Strip | Bernard Delfont's Show - ITV - Variety series | TV Playhouse - ITV - Drama series |
| Hippodrome - ITV - Variety series | Candid Camera - ABC - Camera hoaxes hosted by Jonathan Routh and Bob Monkhouse - 30 minutes | |
1960
Television Ratings ( millions of homes )
|
1
|
Royal
Variety Show
|
ITV
|
8.06
|
11
|
Bernard
Delfont's Show
|
ITV
|
6.81
|
|
2
|
Armchair
Theatre
|
ITV
|
7.70
|
12
|
Knight
Errant Ltd
|
ITV
|
6.58
|
|
3
|
Take
Your Pick
|
ITV
|
7.46
|
13
|
Double
Your Money
|
ITV
|
6.51
|
|
4
|
No
Hiding Place
|
ITV
|
7.18
|
14
|
TV
Playhouse
|
ITV
|
6.40
|
|
5
|
Wagon
Train
|
ITV
|
7.18
|
15
|
Emergency
Ward 10
|
ITV
|
6.37
|
|
6
|
The
Army Game
|
ITV
|
7.15
|
16
|
Hippodrome
|
ITV
|
6.37
|
|
7
|
Bootsie
and Snudge
|
ITV
|
7.12
|
17
|
Dickie
Henderson
|
ITV
|
6.18
|
|
8
|
Sunday
Night at The London Palladium
|
ITV
|
7.04
|
18
|
Concentration
|
ITV
|
6.17
|
|
9
|
The
Larkins
|
ITV
|
6.99
|
19
|
Candid
Camera
|
ITV
|
6.17
|
|
10
|
The
Arthur Haynes Show
|
ITV
|
6.89
|
20
|
The
Moscow State Circus
|
ITV
|
6.08
|
|
UK
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