On The Buses

[Del Boy]

Very true Arthur.
When I tell my kids about how the BBC channels would shut down with a test card for an hour or so here and there, they don't understand why. What we had is completely different to now.
Personally I liked the three or four channels compared to the spread out digital world of today.

[Charles Bronson]

May 4, 2017 22:12:11 GMT Del Boy said:

Very true Arthur.
When I tell my kids about how the BBC channels would shut down with a test card for an hour or so here and there, they don't understand why. What we had is completely different to now.
Personally I liked the three or four channels compared to the spread out digital world of today.

I agree with you completely Del. There are far too many channels showing mediocre programmes, repeats or just total garbage.

I often say, if they'd put on the crap they show these days, in the 50s when TV was taking off. A lot people would have continued to go regularly to the cinema.

People in those days just wouldn't have put up with it, but the people running television at that time, like Lew Grade etc. gave the viewers what they wanted.

I've also noticed in the last several months that there are now a few of the American "Holy Roller" channels on Freeview. ( Which is all we need.)

The amount of channels we have now are far too many. If they showed decent entertainment it wouldn't be so bad
I suppose some of them must be draining advertising revenue from the main ITV channels too.

If they have nothing worthwhile to show why don't they just go off the air for several hours and show a testcard like the old days.

Charles.

[Cartman]

The only real benefit I can see from the increased channels is the +1 channel, which shows programmes at a different time, to avoid clashes, I find this can be useful.

Otherwise its just a case of rubbish expanding to fill the airtime available.

[Dirty Epic]

Pretty much those American Pickers/Swamp Loggers/Pawn Stars/Axe Men/Housewives of... Etc. shows are about as crap as they get at the moment.

ITV4 seems to have increased its output of these cheap and nasty shows too at the expense of some half decent retro shows they used to run say 10 or so years ago too.

As for ITVBe FFS I'd sooner see the testcard!

[Arthur Pringle]

Some OTB related smudges-

Actor Bob Grant And Bunny Girl Kim Benwell After Their Wedding At Caxton Hall Registry Office. 1 Oct 1971


Bob Grant at the BBC for an appearance on 'Wogan' in 1990



Bob Grant in 1981


Actor Bob Grant As George Brown M.p. In Theatrical Play 'Mrs Wilson's Diary'. 17 Mar 1968.


Bob Grant played the Sheriff Of Nottingham & James Booth was Robin Hood in Lionel Bart's musical 'Twang!!' directed by Joan Littlewood. It opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 20th Dec 1965 & closed after 43 performances on 29th Jan 1966, at the time it was the biggest flop in West End history. Also starred Barbara Windsor, Bernard Bresslaw & Ronnie Corbett.


L to R Jilly Johnson as Grindle and Bob Grant as Raymond Burton in 'Keeping Down With The Joneses' Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Surrey, Aug 1983


'Keeping Down with the Jones's' play, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Surrey, UK - Aug 1983. L to R Bob Grant and Kenneth Connor


(l-r) Stephen Lewis Amanda Redman And Sam Kelly Who Appeared In The Musical Swan Esther At The Young Vic In 1984.


'ITV Television Playhouse - Fiddlers All' TV Programme - 1962 Ronald Fraser and Stephen Lewis.



'Mike and Bernie Winters All Star Comedy Christmas Carnival' TV Programme - 1971 Stephen Lewis and Bernie Winters.



'The Fosters' TV L-R.Norman Beaton, Stephen Lewis and Lenny Henry 1977.


'The Fosters' Series 2 TV Isabelle Lucas, Norman Beaton, John Lyons and Pat Ashton 1977




Bob Grant's own pet cat 'Tiberius' was featured in the last OTB episode 'Gardening Time'.


Stars From The Tv Programme 'on The Buses' On Stage At The Weekend Dance. L-r: Doris Hare Reg Varney Anna Karen And Stephen Lewis.
1970


Actors Reg Varney (left) And Stephen Lewis At The Weekend Mail Ball 1970. 5 May 1970.


Actors Doris Hare Stephen Lewis And Reg Varney Of The Tv Series 'on The Buses' Signing Autographs At The Weekend Mail Dance 1970


Actor Reg Varney's Home In Enfield. 17 Jun 1970


Actor And Comedian Reg Varney And Daughter Actress Jeanne Varney At Home In Enfield 22 Apr 1971


Actor Reg Varney Playing Golf. 25 Mar 1971


Actor Michael Robbins With His Actress Wife Hal Dyer Daughter Sara And Son Benedict. 25 Nov 1977


Actor Michael Robbins And Wife Actress Hal Dyer At Their Home. 25 Nov 1977.



'Turn Out the Lights' - 'A Big Hand for a Little Lady' - Michael Robbins, Ivor Salter and Trevor Bannister. 1967.


'Turn Out the Lights' - 'A Big Hand for a Little Lady' - Yootha Joyce and Michael Robbins. 1967


Michael Robbins Georgina Moon And Arthur English Arm Wrestling. 21 May 1974.


'The Avengers' Series 2 - TV Programme. - 1962 Patrick Macnee and Michael Robbins.


Actress Hal Dyer Marries Actor Michael Robbins In Pimlico. 5 Nov 1960

[Del Boy]

Great post Arthur, enjoyed those. These guys were so popular in their heyday and made so many public appearances. 
Probably made a fortune off that side gig and good on em if they did 

[Steve Austin]

May 5, 2017 19:09:20 GMT Del Boy said:

Great post Arthur, enjoyed those. These guys were so popular in their heyday and made so many public appearances. 
Probably made a fortune off that side gig and good on em if they did

Todays stars by comparison seem a little stand offish.  They are some tremendous pictures Arthur, I especially like the ones of "our own" John Lyons.

[D.C. Burtonshaw]

Indeed terrific photos, a real time capsule and nice to see candid photos like that from the era!

[Sam Tyler]

Excellent pictures Tiger

Thanks for taking the time to research and post them up here, there's some classics among them.

Sam.

[Charles Bronson]

Thanks for putting these pictures up Arthur. It's been a pleasure looking at them all.
Reg Varney and the rest of the cast gave us so much laughter and fun. A hell of a lot.

Charles.