126-662: Stanley Dorfman (born 24 November 1927) is a South African-born British music television director, producer, and painter. He is known as the co-creator and original producer and director of the world's longest running music television series, Top of the Pops . His work on the program contributed to the development of music videos . During his tenure at the BBC, Dorfman created the BBC music television series In Concert , where he served as director and producer. He provided many notable musicians with their debut television opportunities. Dorfman played
252-420: A Superfund site, on the east side of Rome, New York . Woodstock '99 was one of the most significant music events of the 20th century, featuring over 100 top artists of that era. With an attendance of approximately 400,000 people, it was the second large-scale music festival held after Woodstock '94. The festival was financially successful, with reports indicating a gross take of $ 28,864,748". Dorfman directed
378-516: A production designer for the BBC on programs such as An Evening with Nat King Cole, Meet Sammy Davis Jr ., and Margot Fonteyn: Birthday of a Ballerina . He later received training on production through the BBC Television Training course in 1963. This training equipped him for his subsequent roles as a producer and director for the music television series Top of the Pops, starting in 1964. In 1964, Dorfman and Johnnie Stewart co-created
504-757: A 75-minute television special celebrating the decade's significant pop hits. Co-produced with Johnnie Stewart, his collaborator on Top of the Pops, the show had a similar aesthetic and style. Featured artists included the Who , Adam Faith , the Bachelors , Sandie Shaw , the Marmalade , the Kinks , the Hollies , Tom Jones , the Rolling Stones , Cilla Black , the Shadows , Cliff Richard ,
630-583: A Filmmaker , that the background, the camera motion or even the sound effect is considered well-done if the viewer does not notice their appearance. In the United States and British Columbia , production designers are represented by several local unions of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). Local 800, the Art Directors Guild , represents production designers in
756-570: A broad range of genres such as folk jazz, folk pop, protest songs, and occasional poetry. Felix's performances on these shows were accompanied by renowned and emerging talent of the era. This included musicians like Billy Preston , the Kinks , Tim Buckley , the Hollies , the Incredible String Band , Fleetwood Mac , and the Four Tops , as well as comedians like Peter Cook and Spike Milligan . Led Zeppelin lead guitarist Jimmy Page gave
882-524: A change which placed the programme up against the soap opera Coronation Street on ITV . This began a major decline in audience figures as fans were forced to choose between Top of the Pops and an episode of the soap. In 1997, incoming producer Chris Cowey phased out the use of celebrities and established a rotating team of former presenters from youth music magazine The O-Zone including Jayne Middlemiss and Jamie Theakston , as well as existing Radio 1 DJs Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball . The team
1008-504: A different guest presenter each week, such as Rufus Hound or Richard Bacon . On a number of occasions, however, Reggie Yates would step in, joined by female guest presenters such as Lulu , Cyndi Lauper and Anastacia . Viewing figures during this period averaged around 1 1 ⁄ 2 million. Shortly after the move to BBC Two, Peters resigned as executive producer. He was replaced by the BBC's Creative Head of Music Entertainment Mark Cooper, while producer Sally Wood remained to oversee
1134-434: A female performer. Dorfman opted for a straightforward format for the show, focusing on Springfield's performances without the inclusion of sketches or gimmicks. Springfield was backed by a thirty-two-piece orchestra, directed by accompanied by Johnny Pearson , a collaborator of Dorfman from their time together on Top of the Pops . Accompanying Springfield with backing vocals were soul singer Madeline Bell , who later became
1260-516: A member of Blue Mink , Lesley Duncan who provided vocals to Pink Floyd 's The Dark Side of the Moon , and Maggie Stredder , founding member of the Ladybirds . The BBC commissioned a second series of Dusty , introducing special guests who often appeared in non-musical appearances, including Warren Mitchell and the then-rising American comedian Woody Allen . Unfortunately, due to the common practice at
1386-563: A monthly basis until May 1991. Ciani had to step down due to illness in 1991, when Hurll returned as producer to cover for two months (and again for a brief time as holiday cover in 1992). From 1967, the show had become closely associated with the BBC radio station Radio 1, usually being presented by DJs from the station, and between 1988 and 1991 the programme was simulcast on the radio station in FM stereo (that is, until BBC's launch of NICAM stereo for TV made such simulcasts redundant). However, during
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#17330845171561512-441: A pivotal role in advancing the careers of women in television during the late 1960s, including by directing and producing three of the first television series on the BBC that were hosted by female performers. He also produced and directed jazz and big band series for the BBC, and series around John Denver , Mary Travers , and Jack Jones . Dorfman's also directed and produced television specials such as Frank Sinatra In Concert at
1638-458: A rare solo performance, playing " White Summer " and " Black Mountain Side ". The BBC wiped most of the master tapes of the series. As a result, only selected excerpts of varying quality remain, which can be found on platforms like YouTube. Despite the loss of much of the original footage, a few memorable segments survive. These include Felix's duets with Leonard Cohen , marking his television debut, and
1764-460: A segment in which Felix joins the Incredible String Band in singing and playing guitar on their song "Paintbox". In 1968, after featuring folk singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry on an episode of his series In Concert , Dorfman produced and directed the television series Bobbie Gentry , making Gentry the first female songwriter to front a series on the BBC network. Bobbie Gentry was broadcast from 1968 to 1971. The series featured musicians from
1890-577: A stance against the prevalent racial segregation laws of the time by organizing concerts named Township Jazz for the African Musician's Union. These concerts provided a platform for African jazz musicians to perform for multiracial audiences, featuring artists like Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela . However, this defiance of the status quo drew the attention of the police, leading to raids and increased scrutiny of his activities. A lawyer affiliated with Nelson Mandela 's party advised Dorfman to leave
2016-647: A supergroup for some of Clapton's songs. Other performers included the Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts , Andy Fairweather Low , Steve Winwood , and the Faces' Kenney Jones . In 1998, Dorfman directed the three-hour television special of The Struggle Continues , a human rights concert in Paris supporting Amnesty International , the Nobel Peace Prize -winning human rights organization . The concert took place at Bercy Stadium on 10 December 1998, commemorating
2142-520: A year before its release on her album Blue , Elton John performed " Your Song " three days before its release which later became his first top ten hit in both the UK and the US, and Carole King performed her influential album Tapestry on an episode shortly after its release, gaining significant recognition. In Concert also served as a crucial platform for numerous other artists. The Carpenters were featured, as
2268-482: Is "a clear demonstration of what we are missing elsewhere". As of 2023, episodes of In Concert continue to air on BBC networks . In 1974, six years into Dorfman directing and producing his single singer-songwriter-per-episode series In Concert at the BBC, Dick Clark asked him to direct an American series featuring rock acts, which was also called In Concert , for ABC Television Center , which led Dorfman to relocate to Los Angeles. Clark had previously envisaged
2394-459: Is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and broadcast weekly between 1 January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most of its history, it was broadcast on Thursday evenings on BBC One . Each show consisted of performances of some of the week's best-selling popular music records, usually excluding any tracks moving down
2520-501: Is considered the best-selling music DVD in history. In 2022, Led Zeppelin released three official music videos featuring this footage: " How Many More Times ", " Dazed and Confused ", and " What Is and What Should Never Be ." In October 1971, Dorfman produced and directed a taped studio concert titled The Carpenters In Concert (a.k.a. Carpenters: Live at the BBC ), featuring the American musical duo Karen and Richard Carpenter . This
2646-457: Is often seen as the inception of glam rock , and David Bowie 's performance of " Starman " inspired future musicians. In the 1990s, the show's format was sold to several foreign broadcasters in the form of a franchise package, and at one point various versions of the show were shown in more than 120 countries. Editions of the programme from 1976 onwards started being repeated on BBC Four in 2011 and are aired on most Friday evenings – as of 2024
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#17330845171562772-406: The BBC that the show was going to move, again, to Sunday evenings on BBC Two , thus losing the prime-time slot on BBC One that it had maintained for more than forty years. This move was widely reported as a final "sidelining" of the show, and perhaps signalled its likely cancellation. At the time, it was insisted that this was so the show would air immediately after the official announcement of
2898-547: The Count Basie Orchestra , the Modern Jazz Quartet , Oscar Peterson , Richie Havens , the 5th Dimension , Jan Hammer , Thelma Houston , Roberta Flack , Harry James and His Orchestra , Doris Troy , Stan Kenton , Buddy Rich , Alan Price , Kenny Wheeler , Johnny "Guitar" Watson , Harry James , Osibisa , Rick Laird , Herbie Flowers , John Lewis , and many others. In 1972, Dorfman directed and produced
3024-661: The Eagles , the Kinks , Buddy Rich , the Pointer Sisters , Gordon Lightfoot , Mason Williams , Martin Mull , and the Mahavishnu Orchestra , Jonny Mercer , Stomu Yamash'ta , Sonny Terry , Brownie McGhee , Oscar Peterson , among others. Between 1968 and 1974, Dorfman directed and produced over 200 episodes of In Concert . The Guardian hailed the series as the only music television program that "produced television ideas" and
3150-535: The Royal Albert Hall . Dorfman brought on Peter Whitehead , a cameraman who had worked for him on Top of the Pops , and together, using handheld Bolex cameras, they filmed the concert on 16 mm film . Dorfman and Whitehead later edited the footage together. This footage was eventually released in 2003 as Disc One of the Led Zeppelin DVD , which became RIAA certified 13 times multi-platinum that year and
3276-779: The 'Year Zero' revamp was quickly undone and the arrival of Ric Blaxill as producer in February 1994 signalled a return to presentation from established Radio 1 DJs Simon Mayo , Mark Goodier , Nicky Campbell and Bruno Brookes . Blaxill expanded the use of "via satellite" performances, taking the acts out of studios and concert halls and setting them against landmark backdrops. As a consequence, Bon Jovi performed Always from Niagara Falls and Celine Dion beamed in Think Twice from Miami Beach. Blaxill also increasingly experimented with handing presenting duties to celebrities, commonly contemporary comedians and pop stars who were not in
3402-534: The 50th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights . The concert showcased performances from acclaimed artists including Bruce Springsteen , Peter Gabriel , Radiohead , Robert Plant , Jimmy Page , Tracy Chapman , Alanis Morissette , and Shania Twain . World leaders like the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela spoke about human rights . The event
3528-584: The American double Grammy Award winning singer and actor Jack Jones signed on to do The Jack Jones Show for the BBC, he stipulated that it should be produced by Dorfman, who directed and produced the series between 1973 and 1978. Hosted by Jones, the show featured the British female dance troupe Pan's People and vocal backing by the Ladybirds . Special guests included: the Welsh singer Shirley Bassey , American conductor, keyboard player and musicologist Joshua Rifkin ,
3654-589: The American jazz saxophonist Stan Getz , American musician Bruce Johnston , British pop artist Allen Jones , and American actor Martin Mull , the American lyricist, songwriter, singer and record executive Johnny Mercer , the English jazz singer and actress Cleo Laine , the American jazz and classical singer Sarah Vaughn , and others. Dorfman played a significant role in the early television career of John Denver , an American singer-songwriter. In 1973, Dorfman produced and directed The John Denver Show , which aired on
3780-498: The American music scene with Jonathan King was introduced in November 1981, and ran every few weeks until February 1985. In January 1985, a Breakers section, featuring short video clips of new tracks in the lower end of the Top 40, was introduced, and this continued for most weeks until March 1994. Although the programme had been broadcast live in its early editions, it had been recorded on
3906-574: The BBC did not have a formal policy for archiving footage and routinely wiped and reused tapes to create additional storage space. Consequently, the only surviving footage of Happening for Lulu features Jimi Hendrix 's appearance on the show in January 1969, considered by Time magazine as one of his most memorable moments. On the day of the recording, the band Cream had just announced their disbandment. According to bass player Noel Redding 's autobiography, he, Hendrix, and drummer Mitch Mitchell arrived at
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4032-532: The BBC on a DVD entitled Dusty Springfield Live at the BBC . Dorfman also directed and produced Once More With Felix , the first color television series entirely dedicated to a female performer, which aired on the newly established BBC2 . The series established Julie Felix as one of the top television performers in the United Kingdom. Dorfman also produced and directed the successor to Once More With Felix , titled The Julie Felix Show . Both series encompassed
4158-550: The BBC, later taking up a new contract at MTV. The show continued to be hosted by Reggie Yates and Fearne Cotton (usually together, but occasionally solo) on Friday evenings until 8 July 2005. On 30 July 2004, the show took place outside a studio environment for the first time by broadcasting outside in Gateshead . Girls Aloud , Busted , Will Young and Jamelia were among the performers that night. Figures had plummeted to below three million, prompting an announcement by
4284-612: The BBC. At the time, Denver was just making a name for himself in America. His manager Jerry Weintraub , took a calculated risk by agreeing to a series of shows in England under Dorfman's direction, potentially foregoing income from personal appearances in the United States. Denver first appeared on the Mary Travers episode of Dorfman's In Concert series, prior to Dorfman inviting him to have his own In Concert episode. This eventually led to
4410-615: The BBC; Top of the Pops went out of production between 29 May and 7 August 1980. During the Musicians' Union strike, BBC1 showed repeats of Are You Being Served? in the regular Top of the Pops Thursday night time slot. Following the strike, Nash was replaced as executive producer by Michael Hurll , who introduced more of a "party" atmosphere to the show, with performances often accompanied by balloons and cheerleaders, and more audible audience noise and cheering. Hurll also laid off
4536-523: The Beatles , and Dusty Springfield , among others. Pop Go The Sixties! was a co-production between the BBC and West Germany's ZDF . It first aired in color on the BBC on 31 December 1969, and subsequently on ZDF and other European stations under different titles. The end titles were presented in both English and German. Despite re-airing on BBC Four and the Yesterday channel , more recent broadcasts often exclude
4662-490: The Beatles' performances due to rights changes. On 16 November 1970, Dorfman also produced and directed Sinatra In Concert at the Royal Festival Hall for television. Frank Sinatra, introduced by Grace Kelly and accompanied by jazz pianist Bill Miller and drummer Irving Cottler , requested a camera to always be focused on his face. Dorfman implemented this method in all his future productions. Sinatra In Concert
4788-587: The British chart music television series Top of the Pops at a time when rock music was gaining mainstream acceptance . The show introduced the format that would become synonymous with chart rankings in the UK. With continuous weekly broadcasts, the show enjoyed a 42-year run and reached audiences in over 120 countries. Dorfman and Stewart served as alternating directors for the show, starting from its inception on 1 January 1964, and worked together as producers. This partnership continued until 1969, after which Mel Cornish took over from Stewart. Dorfman continued as
4914-772: The Harvest Period." The series also holds a special place in the career of Harry Nilsson . Despite his success as a recording artist, Nilsson rarely performed live. His appearance on In Concert stands as the only complete concert performance of his career, making it a unique piece of music history. Other singer-songwriters who appeared on In Concert include Randy Newman , Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young , David Bowie , Harry Nilsson , Ravi Shankar , Bill Withers , Neil Diamond , Paul Williams , James Taylor , Al Green , Glen Campbell , Bobbie Gentry , James Taylor , Laura Nyro , Mary Travers , Jim Webb , Donovan , Ronnie Wood , John Denver , America , John Prine , John Williams ,
5040-487: The Mississippi countryside, as well as guests such as Glen Campbell , James Taylor , Randy Newman , Elton John , Alan Price , Billy Preston , and Pan's People . John Cameron was the music arranger and Flick Colby was the choreographer. Bobbie Gentry garnered widespread recognition and was syndicated globally. In 1970, Dorfman and Gentry were engaged to be married. In 1972, Dorfman created, directed, and produced
5166-430: The Pops had solidified the importance of music videos as a tool for promoting new releases and emerging acts. Dorfman, with his significant influence on the show's content, was considered capable of making or breaking a music group. His pivotal role in expanding the show's format cemented Top of the Pops as a top-rated program on the BBC and the premier platform for launching new music during that period. Dorfman created
Stanley Dorfman - Misplaced Pages Continue
5292-565: The Pops 2 , which began in 1994 and features vintage performances from the Top of the Pops archives. Though TOTP2 ceased producing new episodes from 2017, repeats of older episodes are still shown. The Official Charts Company states that "performing on the show was considered an honour, and it pulled in just about every major player". The show has seen seminal performances over its history. The March 1971 appearance of T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan wearing glitter and satins as he performed " Hot Love "
5418-680: The Royal Festival Hall , and the televised performance of Rudolf Nureyev in Giselle , which stands as Nureyev's sole documented performance of the unabridged ballet. Dorfman was the director of televised live music events like the A.R.M.S. benefit concert in London in 1984, the Amnesty International Human Rights Concerts between 1986 and 1998, and the Woodstock '94 and Woodstock '99 music festivals. Dorfman's work extends to
5544-487: The Top of the Pops Orchestra, which was introduced at this time to provide live instrumentation on some performances (previously, acts had generally mimed to the records). In November 1969, with the introduction of colour, the show moved to BBC TV Centre , where it stayed until 1991, when it moved to Elstree Studios Studio C. For a while in the early 1970s, non-chart songs were played on a more regular basis, to reflect
5670-523: The U.S., with the exception of New York City and its vicinity. Those members are represented by Local 829, the United Scenic Artists . In the rest of Canada, production designers are represented by the Directors Guild of Canada . In the United Kingdom, members of the art department are represented by the non-union British Film Designers Guild . The production design credit must be requested by
5796-523: The UK Singles Chart earlier in the day. The show ended with Savile ultimately turning the lights off in the empty studio. Fearne Cotton , who was the current presenter, was unavailable to co-host for the final edition due to her filming of ITV 's Love Island in Fiji but opened the show with a quick introduction recorded on location, saying "It's still number one, it's Top of the Pops ". BARB reported
5922-482: The Year Zero revamp were replaced on 2 February 1995, when a new set, title sequence, logo and theme tune were introduced (the logo having first appeared on the new programme Top of the Pops 2 , which had debuted five months previously in mid-September 1994). TOTP was traditionally shown on a Thursday night, but was moved to a Friday starting on 14 June 1996, originally at 7 pm, but then shifted to 7.30 pm,
6048-474: The air. Despite the apparent chaos this caused on set, Redding recounted that the segment became one of the band's most frequently used pieces of film. Contrary to popular legend suggesting that Hendrix was banned from the BBC for life, Redding clarified that Dorfman appreciated their performance and even invited them for a drink afterwards. Dorfman later described Hendrix as a quiet and kind person, unaware that he'd done anything wrong. Although Hendrix passed away
6174-486: The art director lead a team of individuals to assist with the visual component of the film. Depending on the size of the production the rest of the team can include runners, graphic designers , drafts people, props makers, and set builders. Productions Designers create a framework for the visual aesthetic of a project and work in partnership and collaboration with the Set Decorator & Set Decorating department to execute
6300-485: The artists' chart positions. As such, the series played a pivotal role in establishing singer-songwriters as capable of carrying an entire television episode without any distractions. In Never a dull moment: 1971—the year that rock exploded , British music journalist and author David Hepworth writes that a few singer-songwriters had performed sitting down prior to Dorfman's programs, and the shows presented more than just performances; they created an intimate atmosphere where
6426-573: The audience felt they were invited to eavesdrop. Dorman's contributions to the show were acknowledged in the British Press as having provided modern music with "its only serious outlet on TV" and elevating pop music to a cultural level. In Concert episodes often marked significant firsts for the artists featured. This includes debut television or concert appearances, or instances where they unveiled new songs before their official release. For instance, Joni Mitchell performed " California " on an episode
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#17330845171566552-435: The bale of hay Dorothy leans on and the animals around, as well as the typical wooden fence. In the scene in which Dorothy's dog is taken away, we know that it happens in her aunt and uncle's house, which adds more tension because her beloved friend, Toto is not killed, lost or kidnapped on the street, but is forced to leave by an outsider, Ms. Gulch, who enters Dorothy's private and safe zone (her home). Jane Barnwell states that
6678-655: The best-selling singles of the year and the Christmas number one . Although the weekly show was cancelled in 2006, the Christmas special continued annually. End-of-year round-up editions have also been broadcast on BBC1 on or around New Year's Eve, albeit largely featuring the same acts and tracks as the Christmas Day shows. In a change of format, the festive specials did not return in 2022 or 2023 and were replaced by an end-of-year review show on BBC Two. It also survives as Top of
6804-655: The broadcast. These songs included " And When He Smiles ", "That on the Road Look", "Lust for Earl and the Married Woman", and "I Fell in Love with You". In March 1973, Dorfman directed and produced the BBC television special Harry Nilsson: A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night . The show, which first aired on 10 June 1973, on BBC Two , coincided with Nilsson's album recording of the same name at Wembley Studios in London. Dorfman, who
6930-514: The chart the following weeks, to ensure that each weeks top 20 would be able to appear on the show. At the BBC in the 1960s and early 1970s, producers and directors did both jobs simultaneously. From 1964 to 1969, Stewart and Dorfman took it in turns to produce and direct, but each spent five days a week getting the show together. At the end of 1969, Stewart left, and was replaced in early 1970 by Melvyn Cornish, Stewart returned as an executive producer in 1971 until 1973. Dorfman directed and produced
7056-402: The chart, including a rundown of that week's singles chart. This was originally the Top 20, though this varied throughout the show's history. The Top 30 was used from 1969, and the Top 40 from 1984. Dusty Springfield 's " I Only Want to Be with You " was the first song featured on TOTP , while the Rolling Stones were the first band to perform, with " I Wanna Be Your Man ". Snow Patrol were
7182-485: The charts at that time. In an attempt to keep the links between acts as fresh as the performances themselves, the so-called "golden mic" was used by, amongst others, Kylie Minogue , Meat Loaf , Chris Eubank , Damon Albarn , Harry Hill , Jack Dee , Lulu , Björk , Jarvis Cocker , Stewart Lee and Richard Herring . Radio 1 DJs still presented occasionally, including Lisa I'Anson , Steve Lamacq , Jo Whiley and on one show only Chris Evans . The last remnants of
7308-468: The charts were featured more regularly, possibly as a response to the changing nature of the Top 40 (in the late 1990s and early 2000s climbers in the charts were a rarity, with almost all singles peaking at their debut position). When the programme's format changed in November 2003, it concentrated increasingly on the top 10. Later, during the BBC Two era, the top 20 was regarded as the main cut-off point, with
7434-511: The concept of pre-recorded music videos, then referred to as "promotional films" or "filmed inserts". One of the earliest notable examples was a video Dorfman directed in October 1964 for Roy Orbison 's " Oh Pretty Woman ". This practice allowed the show to feature acts even if they could not physically be there due to tour schedules. An example of such an act was The Beatles, who would often pre-record exclusive videos for their songs. By 1970, Top of
7560-689: The country immediately as he was being actively perused by the authorities under the General Law Amendment Act , also known as the 90-Day Detention Law . This law enabled South African police officers to detain individuals for up to 90 days without a warrant, cause, or access to legal representation, and it could be indefinitely repeated. In response to this advice, Dorfman departed for Europe, leaving his wife and children in South Africa until he could safely arrange for them to join him. Dorfman began his television career in 1959, initially working as
7686-667: The creation of The John Denver Show . By 1974, Denver had become one of America's top-selling performers, and his popularity continued to surge. His involvement in television and the recording of multiple RCA albums, in conjunction with his ongoing hit songs and performances in larger venues, led to a significant increase in his fan base. Dorfman's guidance and the platform he provided helped Denver hone his skills and build confidence in his on-camera presence, proving invaluable in Denver's later television appearances. In 1969, Dorfman directed Pop Go The Sixties! (also known as Pop Go The 60s! ),
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#17330845171567812-573: The day before transmission for many years. However, from May 1981, the show was sometimes broadcast live for a few editions each year, and this practice continued on an occasional basis (often in the week of a bank holiday, when the release of the new chart was delayed, and for some special editions) for the rest of the decade. The programme moved in September 1985 to a new regular half-hour timeslot of 7 pm on Thursdays, following wider reforms to BBC TV scheduling by then-controller Michael Grade . With
7938-462: The description "own half the county" more reliable in portraying Ms. Gulch, and also supports the reason why Dorothy cannot rebel against Ms. Gulch by making the dog stay. However, this does not mean that the setting or costume should be extremely detailed and cluttered with information. The goal is to not let the viewer notice these elements, which, however, is how production design works. Jon Boorstin states in his book, Making Movies Work Thinking Like
8064-405: The desired look. Production design plays an essential role in storytelling, for instance, in the movie Titanic , when the characters Jack and Rose are in the cold water after the ship sank, we know that they are cold because of the setting: it is nighttime and there is ice on their hair. A more specific example is The Wizard of Oz , in which we know the story takes place on a farm because of
8190-433: The director and producer of the series until 1971, during which he directed 156 episodes over a six-year period. Following this, he transitioned into the role of executive producer for an additional five years. Through his work on Top of the Pops , Dorfman established himself as a pioneer in the music video industry. To accommodate the numerous anticipated top 20 acts on the chart each week, Dorfman and Stewart introduced
8316-454: The exception made for up and coming bands below the top 20. Singles from below the top 40 (within the top 75) were shown if the band were up and coming or had a strong selling album. If a single being performed was below the top 40, just the words "New Entry" were shown and not the chart position. The show was originally intended to run for only a few programmes but lasted over 42 years, reaching landmark episodes of 500, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 in
8442-528: The exception of special editions, this saw the end of its longer episodes, which had ranged between 35 and 45 minutes in previous years. Coupled with an emphasis on video clips via features such as the aforementioned Breakers section, fewer studio acts could appear due to this, leading to renewed general criticism from both viewers and performers, and occasionally putting the show at a slight disadvantage to other music television programmes (alongside later dedicated channels for music videos) such as The Tube and
8568-418: The final show's viewing figures as 3.98 million. As the last episode featured no live acts in the studio, the last act to actually play live on a weekly episode of TOTP was Snow Patrol , who performed " Chasing Cars " in the penultimate edition; the last act ever featured visually on a weekly Top of the Pops was Girls Aloud , as part of the closing sequence of bands performing on the show throughout
8694-465: The first edition premièred to improved ratings, the All New format, hosted by MTV presenter Tim Kash , quickly returned to low ratings and brought about scathing reviews. Kash continued to host the show, but Radio 1 DJs Reggie Yates and Fearne Cotton (who had each presented a few shows in 2003, before the revamp) were brought back to co-host alongside him, before Kash was completely dropped by
8820-466: The first of the two shows was broadcast prior to Christmas Day, airing on 23 December, followed by the traditional Christmas Day show two days later. The 1978 Christmas Day show was disrupted due to industrial action at the BBC, requiring a change in format to the broadcast. The first show, due to be screened on 21 December, was not shown at all because BBC1 was off the air. For Christmas Day, Noel Edmonds (presenting his last ever edition of TOTP ) hosted
8946-569: The first three years Alan Freeman , David Jacobs , Pete Murray and Jimmy Savile rotated presenting duties, with the following week's presenter also appearing at the end of each show, although this practice ceased from October 1964 onwards. The show was taped 52 weeks a year with no breaks. The chart came out on Tuesday mornings and the show aired live on Thursday evenings. This led to a process of difficult weekly planning, rescheduling, booking, and rebooking, as well as pre-recording of acts, particularly of American artists who might be advancing up
9072-439: The following year, his performance on Happening for Lulu remains a significant moment in rock and roll history. In the late 1960s, Dorfman played a crucial role in bringing the talent of Dusty Springfield to television. In 1967 and 1968, he directed and produced two TV series for the British pop star, known as Dusty (also referred to as The Dusty Springfield Show ), making it one of the first shows of its kind to be hosted by
9198-633: The history of the show were included in between acts performing in the studio, which included Cliff Richard , Engelbert Humperdinck , Lulu , the Four Tops , David Essex , Mud , Status Quo , Shakin' Stevens , the Tremeloes and from the very first edition, the Swinging Blue Jeans . Sandie Shaw , the Pet Shop Boys and Wet Wet Wet were billed in the Radio Times to appear, but none featured in
9324-428: The last act to play live on the weekly show when they performed their single " Chasing Cars ". Status Quo made more appearances than any other artist, with a total of 87 (the first was with " Pictures of Matchstick Men " in 1968 and last with " The Party Ain't Over Yet " in 2005). Special editions were broadcast on Christmas Day (and usually, until 1984, a second edition a few days after Christmas), featuring some of
9450-461: The last few years of the 1980s the association became less close, and was severed completely (although not permanently) in a radical shake-up known as the 'Year Zero' revamp. Following a fall in viewing figures and a general perception that the show had become 'uncool' (acts like the Clash had refused to appear in the show in previous years), incoming executive producer Stanley Appel (who had worked on
9576-446: The new top 40 chart on Radio 1 , as it was thought that by the following Friday, the chart seemed out of date. The final Top of the Pops to be shown on BBC One (barring Christmas and New Year specials) was broadcast on Monday 11 July 2005, which was edition number 2,166. The first edition on BBC Two was broadcast on 17 July 2005 at 7.00 pm with presenter Fearne Cotton . Following the move to Sundays, Cotton continued to host with
9702-416: The number one record, which was the only record that could appear in consecutive weeks. The show would include the highest new entry and (if not featured in the previous week) the highest climber on the charts, and omit any song going down in the chart. Tracks could be featured in consecutive weeks in different formats. For example, if a song was played over the chart countdown or the closing credits, then it
9828-449: The orchestra, as the Musicians' Union was loosening enforcement of the 1966 miming ban. Guest co-presenters and a music news feature were introduced for a short while, but had ceased by the end of 1980. The chart rundown was split into three sections in the middle of the programme, with the final Top 10 section initially featuring clips of the songs' videos, although this became rarer over the next few years. An occasional feature showing
9954-451: The perceived growing importance of album sales; there was an album slot featuring three songs from a new LP, as well as a New Release spot and a feature of a new act, dubbed Tip for the Top . These features were dropped after a while, although the programme continued to feature new releases on a regular basis for the rest of the decade. During its heyday, it attracted 15 million viewers each week. The peak TV audience of 19 million
10080-416: The place the characters exist in gives information about them and enhances the fluency of the narrative (175). Imagine Dorothy's home was dirty and everyone in her house were dressed untidily, the viewer would have supported the outsider instead, perhaps thinking that the outsider in a way, rescued the dog from an unhealthy environment. Additionally, the characters' clothing, especially that of Ms. Gulch, makes
10206-416: The programme proper always (with very few exceptions) finished with the best-selling single of the week, although there often was a separate play-out track over the end credits. Later in 1964, the broadcast time was moved to one hour later, at 7:35 pm, and the show moved from Wednesdays to what became its regular Thursday slot. Additionally its length was extended by 5 minutes to 30 minutes. For
10332-450: The programme since 1966 as cameraman, production assistant, director and stand-in producer ) introduced a radical new format on 3 October 1991, in which the Radio 1 DJs were replaced by a team of relative unknowns, such as Claudia Simon and Tony Dortie who had previously worked for Children's BBC , 17-year-old local radio DJ Mark Franklin, Steve Anderson, Adrian Rose and Elayne Smith, who
10458-404: The realm of music videos for artists that include David Bowie , John Lennon , Yoko Ono , Ringo Star , Harry Nilsson , Jefferson Starship , and Blondie . He directed Led Zeppelin 's Royal Albert Hall concert on film in 1970. Led Zeppelin used this footage to release three official music videos: " How Many More Times ", " Dazed and Confused ", and " What Is and What Should Never Be ." Dorfman
10584-405: The repeat run has reached 1996. Episodes featuring disgraced presenters and artists such as Jimmy Savile , Dave Lee Travis , Jonathan King , Rolf Harris , and Gary Glitter are no longer repeated. Bill Cotton devised the name Top of the Pops . Cotton, Johnnie Stewart and Stanley Dorfman devised the rules which governed how the show would operate: the programme would always end with
10710-457: The revived Whistle Test (though both would end in 1987). The end of 1988 was marked by a special 70-minute edition of the show broadcast on 31 December 1988, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first show. The pre-recorded programme featured the return of the original four presenters (Savile, Freeman, Murray and Jacobs) as well as numerous presenters from the show's history, anchored by Paul Gambaccini and Mike Read . Numerous clips from
10836-399: The roles have similar responsibilities. Production designers decide the visual concept and deal with the many and varied logistics of filmmaking including, schedules, budgets, and staffing. Art directors manage the process of making the visuals, which is done by concept artists , graphic designers , set designers , costume designers , lighting designers , etc. The production designer and
10962-449: The schedule, but initially regularly on 26 December. The first was shown on 26 December 1965. In 2022, the Christmas show was moved to BBC Two and broadcast on 24 December, with no usual studio-based live performances included in the broadcast. In 1973, there was just one show, airing on Christmas Day. In place of the traditional second show, Jimmy Savile hosted a look back at the first 10 years of TOTP , broadcast on 27 December. In 1975,
11088-441: The series Sounds for Saturday , the first jazz music television series on the BBC. Each 55 minute episode showcased a leading artist of the day from the world of jazz and featured a single artist, and afforded American soul artists with their first serious platform in the UK, and illustrating how varied music was becoming. The series aired weekly, and included episodes featuring Duke Ellington and his Orchestra , Johnny Dankworth ,
11214-421: The series from 1964 until 1971, then continued for five years thereafter as an executive producer . In the first few editions, Denise Sampey was the "disc girl", who would be seen to put the record on a turntable before the next act played their track. However, a Mancunian model, Samantha Juste , became the regular disc girl after a few episodes, a role she performed until 1967. Initially acts performing on
11340-423: The show from the 'TOTP Production Office' with clips taken from various editions of the show broadcast during the year and new studio footage performed without an audience. The format was slightly tweaked for the Christmas Day edition in 1981, with the Radio 1 DJs choosing their favourite tracks of the year and the following edition on 31 December featuring the year's number 1 hits. The second programme
11466-441: The show on a weekly basis. On 20 June 2006, the show was formally cancelled and it was announced that the last edition would be broadcast on 30 July 2006. Edith Bowman co-presented its hour-long swansong, along with Jimmy Savile (who was the main presenter on the first show), Reggie Yates , Mike Read , Pat Sharp , Sarah Cawood , Dave Lee Travis , Rufus Hound , Tony Blackburn and Janice Long . The final day of recording
11592-522: The show on air in Germany, France, the Netherlands , Belgium and Italy by 2003. Finally, the programme returned to its previous home of BBC Television Centre in 2001, where it remained until its cancellation in 2006. On 28 November 2003 (three months after the appointment of Andi Peters as executive producer), the show saw one of its most radical overhauls since the ill-fated 1991 'Year Zero' revamp in what
11718-412: The show other than Shaw in compilation clips. Paul Ciani took over as producer in 1988. The following year, in an attempt to fit more songs in the allocated half-hour again, he restricted the duration of studio performances to three minutes, and videos to two minutes, a practice which was largely continued until May 1997. In July 1990, he introduced a rundown of the Top 5 albums, which continued on
11844-453: The show would mime (lip-sync) to the commercially released record, but in 1966 after discussions with the Musicians' Union , miming was banned. After a few weeks during which some bands' attempts to play as well as on their records were somewhat lacking, a compromise was reached whereby a specially recorded backing track was permitted, as long as all the musicians on the track were present in
11970-513: The show's format on Savile's Teen and Twenty Disc Club on Radio Luxembourg . The first show featured (in order) Dusty Springfield with " I Only Want to Be with You ", the Rolling Stones with " I Wanna Be Your Man ", the Dave Clark Five with " Glad All Over ", the Hollies with " Stay ", the Swinging Blue Jeans with " Hippy Hippy Shake " and the Beatles with " I Want to Hold Your Hand ", that week's number one. Throughout its history,
12096-459: The show's format to highlight a number of rock acts per episode, but Dorfman simplified it to mirror his UK series by featuring only one act each episode. Episodes directed by Dorfman included performances by Black Sabbath , Electric Light Orchestra , David Bowie , Fleetwood Mac , Dolly Parton , Linda Ronstadt , Steve Miller Band , Barry White , Ray Stevens , Tammy Wynette , Bo Diddley , Chet Atkins , James Brown , and many others. Dorfman
12222-411: The song's instrumental introduction. Short informal interviews were also conducted on stage with the performers, and initially the Top 10 countdown was run without any voiceover. Rules relating to performance were altered, meaning acts had to forcibly sing live as opposed to the backing tracks for instruments and mimed vocals for which the show was known. To incorporate a shift towards USA artists, more use
12348-507: The studio and decided to smoke some hash in their dressing room. When they accidentally dropped the hash down the drain, they persuaded a BBC maintenance worker to dismantle the drain to retrieve it. During the show, Hendrix interrupted a performance of Hey Joe to dedicate a song to Cream. He then performed an extended, impassioned instrumental of the Cream classic " Sunshine of Your Love ". He played for so long that Dorfman had to pull him off
12474-467: The studio. As a result, Stewart hired Johnny Pearson to conduct an in-studio orchestra to provide musical backing on select performances, beginning with the 4 August 1966 edition. Later, vocal group The Ladybirds began providing vocal backing with the orchestra. With the birth of BBC Radio 1 in 1967, new Radio 1 DJs were added to the roster – Stuart Henry , Emperor Rosko , Simon Dee and Kenny Everett . Local photographer Harry Goodwin
12600-517: The televised performances on the main "East stage". The line up included a mix of rock, pop, and hip-hop artists such as Sheryl Crow , Live , James Brown , DMX , Korn , Kid Rock , Alanis Morissette , Rage Against the Machine , Metallica , Dave Matthews Band , Willie Nelson , Elvis Costello , Jewel , and Red Hot Chili Peppers , among others. Top of the Pops Top of the Pops ( TOTP )
12726-579: The television series In Concert , which he directed and produced from its inception until 1974. The series followed the success of Dorfman's television special, Leonard Cohen sings Leonard Cohen, Cohen's debut television concert. Dorfman conceptualized to showcase modern popular music as a fusion of blues, jazz, classical, and folk. According to Melody Maker , Dorfman introduced artists such as Leonard Cohen , Randy Newman , James Taylor , David Gates , Chuck Berry , Joni Mitchell , Kris Kristofferson and Harry Nilsson , and his choices were not governed by
12852-595: The television series Mary: Rhymes and Reasons, which first broadcast on the BBC on 20 August 1972. The series was hosted by the American singer-songwriter Mary Travers , who was known for being in the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary . The series consisted of six episodes and explored "living and loving through song and conversation". Special guests included comedians Spike Milligan and Peter Cook , actor and screenwriter Colin Welland , and singer-songwriters Georgia Brown , Don McLean , and Paul Williams . In 1973, when
12978-452: The time of reusing tapes for storage purposes, all of the original tapes of Dusty Springfield's BBC show were erased in the 1970s. In the following years, the BBC attempted to retrieve the erased recordings from overseas stations where the series had been sold. This effort resulted in the recovery of several tapes, including three from the first series and all six from the second series. These retrieved recordings were subsequently released by
13104-510: The viewers a sense of the time period, the plot location, and character actions and feelings. Working directly with the director , cinematographer , and producer , production designers have a key creative role in the creation of motion pictures and television. The term production designer was coined by William Cameron Menzies while he was working on the film Gone with the Wind . Production designers are commonly confused with art directors as
13230-518: The years 1973, 1983, 1992 and 2002 respectively. The first edition of Top of the Pops was broadcast on Wednesday, 1 January 1964 at 6:35 pm. It was produced in Studio A at Dickenson Road Studios in Rusholme , Manchester. The first show was presented by Jimmy Savile , with a brief link to Alan Freeman in London to preview the following week's programme. The producer Johnnie Stewart based
13356-454: The years. They were shown performing " Love Machine ". The magazine and TOTP2 have both survived despite the show's axing, and the Christmas editions also continue. However, the TOTP website is now no longer updated. Production designer In film and television , production designer is the individual responsible for the overall aesthetic of the story. The production design gives
13482-476: Was the Carpenter 's first television special . The US audience would have to wait five more years later before a special titled The Carpenters' Very First TV Special was aired. The Carpenters In Concert first aired on BBC1 on 6 November 1971. The concert was later broadcast for American audiences on VH-1 . However, due to the inclusion of commercial breaks and time constraints, several songs were omitted from
13608-577: Was 26 July 2006 and featured archive footage and tributes, including the Rolling Stones – the very first band to appear on Top of the Pops – opening with "The Last Time", the Spice Girls , David Bowie , Wham! , Madonna , Beyoncé , Gnarls Barkley , the Jackson 5 , Sonny & Cher and Robbie Williams . The show closed with a final countdown, topped by Shakira , as her track " Hips Don't Lie " (featuring Wyclef Jean ) had climbed back up to number one on
13734-481: Was Cat Stevens, who performed songs from his album Teaser and the Firecat on an episode three months before the album's official release. Another highlight was Neil Young 's performance of songs that would appear a year later on his critically acclaimed album Harvest . Biographer Jimmy McDonough , in his biography Shakey: Neil Young's biography , referred to Dorfman's footage of Young as "the great visual document of
13860-495: Was acceptable for the act to appear in the studio the following week. These rules were sometimes interpreted flexibly. It was originally based on the Top 20. By the 1970s, the Top 30 was being used and the show was extended from thirty to forty-five minutes duration and songs that were featured outside the charts were chosen according to Dorfman and his fellow producer's Melvyn Cornish's personal taste and judgement. The rules were more formally relaxed from 1997 when records descending
13986-724: Was born in Johannesburg , South Africa to a Jewish family. In 1946, he received a scholarship to study painting and fresco at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julian in Paris. After completing his studies, Dorfman relocated to St Ives in Cornwall , England. Here, he joined the Penwith Society of Arts and exhibited his paintings alongside abstract artists such as Barbara Hepworth , Ben Nicholson , Peter Lanyon and Sven Berlin . Upon his return to South Africa, Dorfman took
14112-434: Was broadcast in the UK on BBC on 22 November 1970, and on CBS in America on 4, February 1971 . Sinatra's respect for Dorfman was evident when he insisted on Dorfman being seated beside him during a dinner at Kensington Palace. On 22 November, Dorfman produced and directed Night of Nights , featuring Bob Hope , and introduced by Noël Coward . In 1970, Dorfman was hired by Led Zeppelin to direct of their performance at
14238-462: Was broadcast via pay-per-view in the U.S. in 1999 and released on DVD in 2013. In 1994, Dorfman directed the televised coverage of the Woodstock '94 music festival , also known as Woodstock '94. The event was broadcast live on MTV via pay-per-view in the U.S. and Canada from Friday 12–14 August, in Saugerties, N.Y . The festival celebrated the 25th anniversary of the original 1969 Woodstock and
14364-486: Was discontinued after 1984. The year 1980 marked major production changes to Top of the Pops and a hiatus forced by industrial action. Steve Wright made his presenting debut on 7 February 1980. Towards the end of February 1980, facing a £40 million budget deficit, the BBC laid off five orchestras as part of £130 million in cuts. The budget cuts led to a Musicians' Union strike that suspended operations of all 11 BBC orchestras and performances of live music on
14490-524: Was filmed in a single take, featuring Nilsson at the center of an orchestra at BBC Television Theatre , rather than in a booth. In 1994, Mojo magazine asserted, "There has been nothing better on music TV since." Notably, this TV special was one of Nilsson's rare television appearances and the only full concert he performed in his career. In 1983, Dorfman directed the television special of Eric Clapton & Friends - The A.R.M.S. Benefit Concert , held at London's Royal Albert Hall on 20 September. The concert
14616-515: Was hired to provide shots of non-appearing artists, and also to provide backdrops for the chart run-down. He continued in the role until 1973. After two years at the Manchester Dickenson Road Studios, the show moved to London (considered to be better located for bands to appear), initially for six months at BBC TV Centre Studio 2 and then to the larger Studio G at BBC Lime Grove Studios in mid-1966 to provide space for
14742-415: Was later augmented by Kate Thornton and Gail Porter . Cowey additionally instigated a wider set of 'back to basics' changes when he took over the show. On 1 May 1998, a remixed version of the classic "Whole Lotta Love" theme tune previously used in the 1970s was introduced, accompanied by a new 1960s-inspired logo and title sequence. Cowey also began to export the brand overseas with localised versions of
14868-424: Was made of out-of-studio performances, with acts in America able to transmit their song to the Top of the Pops audience "via satellite". These changes were widely unpopular and much of the presenting team were axed within a year, leaving the show hosted solely by Dortie and Franklin (apart from the Christmas Day editions, when both presenters appeared) from October 1992, on a week-by-week rotation. By 1994, much of
14994-526: Was marketed as "Two More Days of Peace & Music". 250,000 tickets were available. Over the three days, fifty bands and special guests played on two stages. Dorfman directed the performances on the main North stage, using the early analog HD 1125-line Hi-Vision system in a 16:9 aspect ratio . Artists on this stage included Sheryl Crow , Nine Inch Nails , Metallica , Aerosmith , Cypress Hill , Red Hot Chili Peppers , and Bob Dylan , among others. The footage
15120-500: Was organized by Faces bassist Ronnie Lane to fundraise for A.R.M.S. (Action into Research for Multiple Sclerosis ) and marked a turning point in Jimmy Page's career following the loss of drummer John Bonham and the disbandment of Led Zeppelin . Historically depicted as pop "rivals" Eric Clapton , Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck rarely collaborated with each other. However, at this concert, they each performed solo sets before joining as
15246-475: Was recorded in 1979, during the ITV strike , with only BBC1 and BBC2 on air. A year-end Christmas show featuring a review of the year's biggest hits was inaugurated on 24 December 1964, and has continued every year since. From 1965 until 2021, the special edition was broadcast on Christmas Day (although not in 1966) and from the same year, a second edition was broadcast in the days after Christmas, varying depending on
15372-456: Was replaced by Femi Oke in 1992. A brand new theme tune ("Now Get Out of That"), title sequence and logo were introduced, and the entire programme moved from BBC Television Centre in London to BBC Elstree Centre in Borehamwood . The new presenting team would take turns hosting (initially usually in pairs but sometimes solo), and would often introduce acts in an out-of-vision voiceover over
15498-411: Was the director and producer of the television series Happening for Lulu , a series of programs of music and comedy broadcast in a prime slot on the BBC between 1968 and 1969. The series was hosted by Scottish singer Lulu and featured guest performances by prominent musicians like the Beatles , comedians, and dancers. It was filmed weekly before a live studio audience of about 100 people. Before 1978,
15624-431: Was used for a theatrical documentary about the event, and HD footage was mixed live into standard definition 4:3 NTSC for cable TV broadcast. In 1999, Dorfman directed the television coverage of the Woodstock 1999 music festival, also called Woodstock '99, for MTV . The festival was broadcast live on pay-per-view and was held from 22 July – 25 July 1999. The location for the event was the former Griffiss Air Force Base ,
15750-524: Was watching the album recording in progress, persuaded Nilsson to recreate the recording session as a television special by the same name. After observing the recording session, Dorfman convinced Nilsson to replicate it as a TV special. The title came from a Shakespeare quote from Henry V Act IV, "Behold, as may unworthiness define, A little touch of Harry in the night," adapted at Dorfman's suggestion by replacing "Harry" with "Schmilsson", referring to Nilsson's prior album, Nilsson Schmilsson . The special
15876-410: Was widely reported as a make-or-break attempt to revitalise the long-running series. In a break with the previous format, the show played more up-and-coming tracks ahead of any chart success, and also featured interviews with artists and a music news feature called "24/7". Most editions of the show were now broadcast live, for the first time since 1991 (apart from a couple of editions in 1994). Although
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