ATV Midlands startup films and music 1974, Life Is a Beautiful Book

[@stephenwalton7811]

I'd imagine most of the industry has long gone . Real nostalgia.

[@savvageorge]

Great uplifting song. A simple appreciation of life which is badly lacking in today's world.

[@greenporsche1]

Part was filmed at the Chatau Impney in Droitwich, The children were me and my lovely sister, that dog was such a handful

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Bet that was fun!

[@jemima216]

hmmm. oh really. you and your sister eh,?

[@stickytapenrust6869]

@@jemima216 Given that there are about 60 million people in the UK, I would assume that 2 of those are capable of appearing in, remembering, finding and typing a comment out on, a startup film. After all, two children clearly appeared in it and it's a bit of an odd thing for someone to want to lie about! (Philistine!)

[@greenporsche1]

@@jemima216 yes you can look it up my name is Alan my sister is Donna, the producer was Sam Fairhall, who now lives with his wife Joan Palmer in NZ. She was a presenter on ATV. They were our next door neighbors in droitwich, Wedgberrow close.

[@23Daves]

Ha ha! I've just moved to the Midlands with my 18 month old Old English Sheepdog cross and thought it would be fun to take another look at the video. They usually are a little demanding, shall we say.

[@roberthorwat6747]

I never thought I'd see this again. Fabulous short film. Saturday mornings after finishing my paper round with everyone still in bed I'd turn the telly on and chill out to this feast for the eyes and uplifting sound for the ears. I never got bored of it and missed it when it was gone. Mind you the reason I turned the telly on wasn't simply to watch this... TISWAS was on!!!!! A joyous morning of bonkers entertainment that never ever failed to hit the spot. Kids these days don't know they are born, but this intro was a very welcome chill out while the anticipation and excitement of the best programme on telly built up beyond belief. I honestly can't remember the last time I simply just couldn't wait for the next episode of a TV programme like I just couldn't wait for TISWAS to start. Thanks for uploading! Gives me hope that some day someone will dig out the 1975 British Speedway Final race off between Martin Ashby of Swindon and Ray Wilson of Leicester, still hopefully buried deep in the ATV Midlands film archive.

[@Pragwo1f]

For me, great memories of getting up early on Saturday mornings to switch on the telly and watch Angling Today with Terry Thomas and Tiswas in its early days. The music stayed in my head, as did the heron and the woods. Happy days. Love the music, and thanks for the upload.

[@11carbuff19572011]

ATV could well have shot a Dulux advert in that location somewhere, seeing the big cuddly dog running towards the camera, even though it was 50 years ago.

[@djonshore]

I absolutely love nostalgia. Unfortunately I was born in 1981 in North Wales, so I never saw this until now. Thanks for the upload. ITV plc is nothing to what the regions were.

[@robmortimer4150]

Such a lovely tune. It really inspires and makes the area feel special, in contrast to the London studios etc that resulted in the change to Central. The second one in particular is great, and must inspire huge nostalgia in those who saw it as kids. I grew up with Central (literally, I was born in early 82), which I think was excellent - but they certainly didn't have as good a startup as this.

[@GeorgeASFTHM]

I wish I was 20 years older (not younger, please note). I wish it was a summer's weekday morning in the Midlands in about 1975 at about 10.00 am. The schools programmes are off for the summer. I switch the television on and after seeing the Testcard on BBC 1 and Open University on BBC 2, I press channel 3 and I watch this while waiting for programmes to start. I don't care that ATV had a Birmingham bias - it was a mistake to replace it with Central in 1982. Where did I put my brown flares?

[@karonsongs8271]

This was co written by songwriter and producer Ron Roker, the group Rain and the great lead vocal by Stephanie DeSykes was what makes it such a good theme.

[@leediffusion]

"Life is a beautiful book" as the camera pans over industrial chimneys and power station cooling towers. Love it though. Very nostalgic

[@andystreet4022]

I grew up with those chimneys and cooling towers. The music brought back wonderful nostalgic feelings. In these days of climate frenzy ,it's good to see how far we've come since those days. I would be surprised if you could find anything like that belching out pollution. It's a testament to our contribution and progress and something the extremists should be shown. My generation moved mountains to improve climate, it's just a pity that we are villified to this day as the generation that did nothing, despite only having one telephone, one TV and a Transistor Radio for entertainment.

[@scott72able]

A people proud of heavy industry, where many worked in those days…

[@robertexley5193]

How they managed to make the Midlands look so appealing is a masterpiece in itself

[@Pragwo1f]

@@robertexley5193 As an expat, there are few things I miss about life in the UK, apart from people. However, I do miss the gorgeous countryside of the Shropshire Hills, Dovedale and the Peak District, places like Broadway and Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds, I could go on...With all due respect, a monkey could make such places look appealing.

[@ianmcclavin]

Living in the London transmission area at the time, I never got to experience the ATV Midlands start ups, however, an edition of The Golden Shot (during Bob Monkhouse's original tenure) was cancelled one Sunday afternoon for some reason, and one of these start up films, complete with Rain/Odessey soundtrack was networked as a filler in between replacement programmes, and the theme just happened to stay at the back of my mind for all those years!! 😂😂😂

[@evertonporter7887]

That heron is still flying over the Midlands today 😃.

[@GeorgeASFTHM]

I was born in 1978, so I often wished that I around a few years before I was. I have an interest in old television listings (hence the accurate discription) and after seeing what was on back then, I often feel that I would have prefered to have lived back then than now.

[@radioredcat]

I remember the second one well and i only saw it once because it was unusual to see a startup like this in those days. As we live in the granada region we could receive ATV as well and preferred it than granada.

[@Candolad]

ATV Land was fantastic. The presentation and imaging really spoiled us Midlanders.

[@nowster]

Ladder Hill mast used to be ATV and it could be picked up in parts of the Manchester area. I think it was reassigned to Granada when the licence shake-up which created Central happened.

[@aidanlunn7441]

5:54 - even an aerial shot of the old ATV Birmingham studios!

[@simonjharrisson]

Fantastic!! I remember this from my schooldays, well, school holidays anyway!!

[@alisonhowes8498]

i remember these, usually about 9 am 74/75 ATV land was the best place.

[@dickturnipmarlboro]

WOW what a blast from the past!! Great memory from school summer hols--thanks for posting that...Incidentally, in my younger days as a steeplejack, I worked on the Sutton Coldfield transmitter-changing bulbs in the aircraft obstruction lights and lightning protection overhaul and painting I think?? If the wind was up a bit it would twitch and rock like a bean stick...

[@radioredcat]

@chrissy17169 I live 4 miles north of st helens,mersyside and could receive Sutton Coldfield,The Wrekin analogue and now the same with digital. I can also receive moel-y-parc/Llandonna/emley moor and of course our local WinterHill.

[@robertcomer2767]

And to think this breached the stupid rules of the pathetic IBA because it should have been an instrumental theme and not somebody singing.

[@TheMasterNo6]

@iosnick Don't knock it - its still far better than the shite logo of 'ITV-1' we have now...

[@GeorgeASFTHM]

I often read the forums on there. In fact, I used to be on the TV Cream forums a few years ago as well.

[@radioredcat]

@chrissy17169 The original mast has been raised and during that work all services was transfered to the temporary mast and when work was completed the services were moved back so the temporary mast will be taken down at some point.

[@TheMasterNo6]

Same here. I was born in the same year - I sometimes wish I was born a few years earlier too. Theres a forum I'm on called 'doyouremember.co.uk' great place for nostalgia about the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, maybe you should join up.

[@GeorgeASFTHM]

Seriously, I might think of signing up in the future, but I don't have plans to do so at the moment. Thanks anyway, :)

[@pak8606]

Was there two other startup themes, named "Midland Montage" and "Theme" by Stephanie De Sykes between 1970-74?

[@GeorgeASFTHM]

I might consider it.

[@bigyin2586]

So when was each version used? Ie the kids & animals v. the aerial shots. Does anybody know?

[@TheMasterNo6]

How old are you? You seem to remember a lot rightly.

[@darren2514fv]

Does these 2 films also exist with Midlands Montage replacing Life is a Beautiful Book

[@radioredcat]

@chrissy17169 If your interested i have put the analogue closedowns from Sutton/The Wrekin on my channel (radioredcat).

[@TheMasterNo6]

Up to you... ;)

[@dustycrophoppertv7421]

What's the stupid doll doing? How dare you after 7.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

That is a "China Girl". www.chicagofilmsociety.org/projects/leaderladies/ www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-forgotten-china-girls-hidden-at-the-beginning-of-old-films

[@dustycrophoppertv7421]

Stupid 3 at the bottom of the doll.

[@GeorgeASFTHM]

Ok, I won't then. :)

[@TheMasterNo6]

Naa, don't bother then....

[@Sameoldfitup]

Those were the days could be seen as racist in now madhouse Britain