Six-Five Special

Up until 1957, a closed period of television between 6-7pm called the "Toddler's Truce" was in place. This was formally ended on Saturday 16 February 1957 at 6pm, when the BBC broadcast a five minute news bulletin, followed by a new programme aimed at young people featuring live music and a live audience. "Six-Five Special" was born and a small piece of television and Rock n' Roll history was made.
Intended to run for only six weeks, the first show was presented by Pete Murray and co-producer Josephine Douglas and was played in and out by Kenny Baker and his Jazzmen. Michael Holliday contributed a couple of ballads and the Rock n' Roll was provided by Bobbie and Rudy and the King Brothers.

Pete Murray introduced the very first Six-Five Special like this:
'Welcome aboard the Six-Five Special. We've got almost a hundred cats jumping here, some real cool characters to give us the gas, so just get on with it and have a ball.'
Jo Douglas then translated hep cat Murray's words for 1950s parents:
'Well, I'm just a square it seems, but for all the other squares with us, roughly translated what Pete Murray said was: "We've got some lively musicians and personalities mingling with us here, so just relax and catch the mood with us.'

Six -Five Special November 1957
In studio including Jon Pertwee (three from left, back row), Josephine Douglas (striped blouse, middle row), and Pete Murray (bottom row)

Boxer Freddie Mills was later recruited to present a sports item featuring lesser known activities and a filmed feature was included such as bandleader Ray Anthony demonstrating the "Bunny Hop".
The show developed a particularly strong association with Skiffle (Lonnie Donegan, Chas McDevitt and Willie McCormick all made regular appearances) and Tommy Steele (Britain's first native Rock n' Roller) was an early guest as was Vince Eager.
The programme was able to influence record sales and The Diamonds' 'Little Darlin' was an early beneficiary. Jim Dale, a singer who subsequently became the show's presenter, and Marty Wilde both benefited in their careers from the programme.
There were also a string of Six-Five Special regulars such as the King Brothers, The Mudlarks and Don Lang who had recorded the theme tune.

An anecdote from Vince Eager

One of my favourite recollections of Six-Five Special is of the musicians having a pre-show pint! As I was a Coca Cola person, I perhaps remember more of the pre-show sessions than they did.

Directly opposite the Riverside Studios main entrance, was a pub. Immediately following the final dress rehearsal, which finished at approx 5:00pm, musicians such as Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott, Johnny Hawksworth, Ronnie Verrel, to name but a few, would head to the pub for a loosener.

Above the bar was a TV, tuned in and ready for the show. At the end of the news bulletin, and just as the weather report started, those musicians in the first number would stroll across to the studio leaving unfinished pints on the bar. As they reached the lobby entrance to the studio, to the strains of Don Lang singing, the titles would roll. Following the intro from Pete Murray or Jo Douglas there would always be a band number.

As the camera picked up the shot of the band, there would be sat the musicians who had two minutes earlier left the bar. Number complete, a cut to Jo or Pete for the next artist intro, and walking through the pub bar door would come the boys, ready to finish their unfinished drinks. As they strolled up to the bar it was difficult to take in that 3-4 minutes earlier they had appeared live on TV.

Sure enough they would repeat this ritual every time they had a number to play, which was sometimes three times during the show. They often received a phone call in the pub from the studio gallery reminding of some directional point. What fantastic characters, as well as musicians, they were.

		Click on the picture above for a Real Video clip of the actual title sequence!
		1957 Six-Five Special: Don Lang and the Frantic Five take a break during rehearsal