Les Dawson on Parkinson (1974)

Back in the 1970s Michael Parkinson was the King of the Chat show hosts! Parkinson possessed a style and technique sadly missing from today's rather crap chat show hosts. Back in 1974 Parkinson had the pleasure to interview one of the greatest comics around at the time and indeed, ever. The late, great Les Dawson with his dead pan delivery and superb Northern humour was a joy to watch. Check out the video below and enjoy the magic from this Golden period yourselves and I'm sure you'll agree, they just don't make them like this anymore!.

Radio Times: 2nd-8th September 1967

This edition of the Radio Times originates back to September 1967 and gracing the cover are The Cybermen from early Doctor Who.

Olympic Games - London (1948)

With the Olympic Games taking place in London next year I thought it only right to remind my readers that London has already hosted the Games, Back in 1948 as the poster above shows!

Joe 90 Top Secret (No 9)

Joe 90 Top Secret magazine No 9 was published on 15th March 1969 and comprised of the following articles. Fotofile (readers photographs) Joe's Hobbies (The Story of Space Travel as told in Stamps No.9) a competition to win 100 Corgi 'Safari' VW's, World Intelligence Network (Information & Jokes) Champions of Sport - Harvey Smith. The B.I.G. R.A.T. Tells the story of controlling the weather, and Top Ten No.9 - BRM V12.

Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) - Episode Eighteen: Could You Recognise the Man Again?

"Could You Recognise the Man Again?" was the eighteenth episode of the classic 1969 ITC televisoin series, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) starring Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope and Annette Andre. The episode was first broadcast on 16 January 1970 on the ITV Network and was Directed by Jeremy Summers.

When Jeff and Jeannie find a dead body in their car unknown to them at the time that the man they met outside was a killer, Jeannie is held hostage to keep Randall from confessing to the police and giving a testimony in court. Jeff is beaten up quite violently in this episode by the gang leader's and killer's henchmen (brothers) to keep quiet about the murder. Seeing that Randall is tougher than they thought, they hold Jeannie unbeknownst to them in the flat above Jeannie's and is only discovered in the last minute by Marty's powers of concentration.

In this episode Jeannie is on the verge of being raped by a nasty looking henchman (above)of the killer. The culprits are a family and his mother and brother are also part of the gang. He finds an excuse to get them to leave and attempts to thrust himself on the attractive Jeannie, with Jeannie showing more resilience than normal throwing a vase hard at his curly head.

When Love was in the air!

"Love Is in the Air" was a 1977 Disco hit sung by John Paul Young. The song was written by George Young and Harry Vanda. The song became his only worldwide hit during 1978, peaking at No. 2 on the Australian charts and No. 5 in the UK Singles chart. In the United States, the song peaked at No. 7 on the pop chart and spent two weeks at No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart, his only US top 40 hit.

"Love Is in the Air" was covered in Canada by Quebec artist Martin Stevens (born Roger Prud'homme), and had the distinction of sharing Toronto's CHUM (AM) Top 30 chart, the premier pop chart in Canada, with John Paul Young's version.

Stevens' version debuted on the October 7, 1978, chart at No11, six weeks after John Paul Young's version which was No12 at that point. Next week they shared the 10th place position, and were listed at the same position for the remainder of both versions' run of the CHUM chart. Both versions stayed on the chart until the end of November.

"Love Is in the Air" was covered by Tom Jones in 1979 and by Gary Barlow under the stage name of Kurtis Rush in 1989. "Love Is in the Air" was the theme song to Baz Lurhmann's 1992 debut feature film Strictly Ballroom. In 1997, the song was covered by Krush featuring Simon Green. In 2007, the song was also covered by Rupert Everett and Colin Firth for the movie St. Trinians.

The song is regularly sung at football matches by supporters of Dundee United, who have adopted it as an unofficial anthem for their club.

TV Action - The Protectors (Part Three)

Houdini Whodunnit!

Part One: 4th August 1973

Suki is typing reports in Harry Rule's London office when she is disturbed by a tap on the door and a cloud of smoke reveals, 'Magnus the Magnificent, Master Magician' who wishes to hire their services. 50 years ago the Great Houdini was the only performer to escape from the 'Chinese Water Torture Chamber' but he took the secret of how with him to the grave - until now. Magnus wants Harry Rule to protect him until his performance that night as he has been threatened by a rival performer called, 'Mystic Chang.' Despite believing this, Harry thinks all of this could just be a publicity stunt. Harry & Suki escort Magnus to the empty and locked Gaiety Theatre where he will reveal some of his secrets, but Chang has arrived and uses a flock of his trained birds to distract the doorman and gain entry.

Part Two: 11th August 1973

Magnus shows Harry and Suki Chang's 'message' - a parrot in a cage delivered that morning which warns, "Beware, Magnus - Houdini's secrets are not for you." Harry wants to find Chang first but Suki is still curious about how Magnus makes people disappear on stage and volunteers for a demonstration. Harry is aware of the trapdoor method, but when Suki falls on to a mattress in the cellar, Chang is waiting for her! Another trained bird delivers a ransom note to Harry & Magnus. Magnus takes Harry to Chang's flat in the East End, where they find Chang is waiting for them, with Suki hung upside down in a glass booth, about to undergo the Chinese Water Torture trick herself.

Part Three: 18th August 1973

Chang demands the secret from Magnus, with Suki only perhaps having just sixty seconds to live. Harry pulls out a gun to blast the glass but Magnus warns him the water pressure could explode the chamber like a bomb! With no choice, Magnus explains that Houdini used a special double chamber with mirrors, but Suki will drown before he can convince Chang. When Harry pleads that Chang can not murder Suki the Mystic seemingly relents and tossers him the key - but a special whistle brings one of his trained hawks to snatch it back! Magnus has a counter-trick and releases a rabbit, which the Hawk flies after. dropping the key. As Harry effects a rescue, Magnus stops Chang, however, the Suki in the chamber is just a clever dummy and Chang uses a whistle for ne last trick.....

Part Four: 25th August 1973

The real Suki is held in a large hanging cage with eagles trained to attack at Chang's signal. With no choice once again, Magnus writes out the secret - Chang exchanging the key to the cage for Harry's gun. Harry, Suki & Magnus make their exit as Chang discovers the secret was written in vanishing ink. The eagles are released in pursuit with Harry, Suki & Magnus heading for the docks & diving for cover in the river. The eagles return to Chang and the Mystic harnesses himself to the birds and they carry him over the river - but, too low as a boat knocks him into the water, only to be caught by Harry!T