Opinions: The Stage and Television Today, June 1974; August 1979
Thursday, 20 June 1974 08:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
arthur_of_the_britonsThere seem to have been widely conflicting opinions regarding "Arthur of the Britons" among the writers for "The Stage and Television Today."
On 6 June 1974, an article includes this apparent endorsement:
"All children's programmes have been fully networked for the past four or five years and any company, network or regional, that has tried seriously to contribute something to the pool has been welcome. For instance, while TWW brought almost nothing to children's programming, Harlech has come up with Arthur of the Britons."
However, on 20 June 1974, an article complaining about the state of children's programming says:
"HTV's Arthur of the Britons, popular though it may have been, had too much violence and too little action, entertainment or information content."
This makes little sense. How could it have too much violence, without having sufficient action? And if it was popular, how can its entertainment content be denied?
Then on 1 August 1979, Michael Campbell, writing in "The Stage ..." and wearing his rose-tinted spectacles, once more bemoans the current state of children's TV:
"Children's programmes are at a low ebb. One yearns for the days of Tarot and Arthur of the Britons, but in vain, since the highlight of this year's schedules is apparently the truly awful Grange Hill (BBC-1)."
On 6 June 1974, an article includes this apparent endorsement:
"All children's programmes have been fully networked for the past four or five years and any company, network or regional, that has tried seriously to contribute something to the pool has been welcome. For instance, while TWW brought almost nothing to children's programming, Harlech has come up with Arthur of the Britons."
However, on 20 June 1974, an article complaining about the state of children's programming says:
"HTV's Arthur of the Britons, popular though it may have been, had too much violence and too little action, entertainment or information content."
This makes little sense. How could it have too much violence, without having sufficient action? And if it was popular, how can its entertainment content be denied?
Then on 1 August 1979, Michael Campbell, writing in "The Stage ..." and wearing his rose-tinted spectacles, once more bemoans the current state of children's TV:
"Children's programmes are at a low ebb. One yearns for the days of Tarot and Arthur of the Britons, but in vain, since the highlight of this year's schedules is apparently the truly awful Grange Hill (BBC-1)."