Snapshots of Missing Doctor Who - The Tele-Snap Documentary

Tele-Snaps are an oddity in the Lost Media space. Screenshots of broadcasts missing from the archive, a last glimpse at what once was.
Today, we discuss John Cura, and his Tele-snaps, off screen photographs that were taken of a variety of programmes in the 1950s and 1960s.
For many Doctor Who stories, this exists as one of the few visual records of it's missing episodes.
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Thanks for being nice to me :)

[@RossParker1877]

Thank you for all you do for the missing episodes. It's been fascinating

[@JamesWho1]

Another brilliant video 🙂

[@paulaburrows8660]

I have to confess to being more of a Pertwee and Baker fan. However, I have loved these fascinating documentaries on older Who ever since the missing episodes features.

[@billsilver6429]

Thank God for John Cura and his "telesnaps". Thanks to him, we got to see the unseeable . Albeit only tantalising moments. It's just a pity there are a few gaps in his outstanding work at preserving missing episodes. Like, "Mission to the Unknown" and "Daleks' Master Plan". If we only had these. And we would finally get to see Edward De Souza as Marc Cory. It's so strange that no photos of him in the role were ever taken. After all, he was the star of "Dr Who". If for one week only.

[@rch6]

Don't worry about Mission to the Unknown. We have the recreated one now!

[@ineedausername124]

I think it's cool that you did this entirely in black and white but for extra authenticity you need to make your next video a slideshow of like 20 images and record the audio from a built in phone mic

[@JoshSnares]

😂😂

[@5SSS]

This is proof of why physical media is so important, especially since things like classic doctor who aren’t on britbox anymore

[@bongoman9578]

Classic who is still on britbix (atleast in the UK)

[@bjgandalf69]

As far as I know, Classic DW is also on the American version of BritBox.

[@5SSS]

@@bjgandalf69 not in Australia

[@Texaslawhorn]

​@@bjgandalf69 I have been watching a lot of old episodes lately on Britbox here in the US. Sorry to hear that's no longer possible in Australia.

[@ParakoEPC]

Josh can time travel, he was on the BBC in the 60s :0

[@ClintBandito]

I'm pretty sure if he could he'd be retrieving the missing episodes before they were lost.

[@ParakoEPC]

@@ClintBandito it’s a fixed point in time, he can’t recover them because of that.

[@ClintBandito]

@@ParakoEPC but he doesn't have to change it then, many we still don't know the exact details of how they were lost , he could steal them at the right moment then bring them to today and claim they'd been recovered.

[@mythghost]

I wonder since he’s able to do that if he plans on messing with time by taking a VCR back and recording the missing eps. 🤔 Hopefully that won’t bring time wraths , or cause a paradox

[@MadmanWthABox]

Random thing, but I love how on some of this looks like it's on a TV, and the test looks like classic DW, i wonder what font it is?

[@verdiguy]

I have the three volume set of John's telesnaps with a brief plot point to accompany each photo and they are a marvellous way to remember these lost episodes. I'm old enough to have seen the Troughton era and still hope that I'll be able to see them again before I shuffle off this mortal coil. Filming this in beautiful Black & White made it even more enjoyable so Bravo Josh!

[@yfrontsguy]

100% agree with you !

[@whovian59]

As someone who recalls the show from it’s earliest stories, this provoked lots of conflicting emotions in me; happiness, anger, despair, but mostly gratitude to John Cura for the Telesnaps that do exist. I enjoy watching the Telesnap story recons that form part of the animation releases as much as the animations themselves. Josh, your informative and excellently produced video was a fitting tribute. Thank you for the variety and consistent quality of your contributions to the Whoniverse!™️©️❤

[@rch6]

I've gotten over the missing episodes greatly! I think it's natural to always want to find something like in Tutankhamen's tomb. We always desire something as human beings, but I've gotten over it. I am glad I am at rest with myself. I hope you'll over come those negative emotions like me. Cura's telesnaps helped greatly and other off air pictures. Some animations helped (but some of them had disappointing quality.) I had the audio CDs as well and just imagining it helped as well. Telesnaps were the best. The recreation of MIssion to the Unknown was great! All these things and being appreciative of them helped along the way! I know the stories pretty well and there's no need to miss them as much anymore. I've accepted there gone but we always want surprises (because that's the nature of being a human being.)

[@whovian59]

@Roy T I didn't mean to sound negative. I'm reconciled to the situation and appreciate how lucky we are to have such a huge backlog of stories to watch or listen to. The animations may they continue, are a joy and a bonus for me. 🤞😊

[@JamSwoosh]

I love all the work you're doing on the early years of Doctor Who, it's fascinating to see all these preserved fragments of it's history!

[@TrentonBlessWrestlemania489]

I’m so glad you’re doing a video on John Cura. There are so many videos on the missing episodes, but tele-snaps are so important to Doctor Who and nobody really talks about Cura at length. A great tribute to someone who is an unsung hero in the world of Doctor Who.

[@mohammadghailan1807]

Thank you josh. I really love this videos and everything you do for these wonderful episodes that have tragically been lost to time :)

[@smithpm81]

seriously mate, i am a DW fan since 1967, and your videos are among the very best ever made, please never stop

[@jimcook1161]

Great doc there Josh! A touching tribute to Cura, someone who certainly has helped to restore some of the missing episodes.

[@Arachn3rd]

Josh, your hard work has been so influential in educating people about the misjudgements the BBC made and how dedicated fans helped make the Doctor Who archive what it is today. So a massive thank you to you (and to those people).

[@francisorielly9698]

Lovely summing up at the end. Very passionate, and so very true. I mean they are even starting to tamper with archival programmes, as 'Woke' goes mental. How soon are we to be denied watching old classics because some idiot claims they are offensive. Worst recently, Gary Russell bleating on about 'diversity' and representation in an animated reconstruction!?Madness, we should not be pushing today's 'values' on historical content. Once again' well said' Josh.

[@lewisfrisby5673]

Great video absolutely fascinating

[@johnlarro6872]

Beautiful work, Josh. I'm a fantasist, and whenever my brain goes post apocalyptic, I always picture myself there in the ruins of our once great (?) society, with my hard drive full of every episode of Doctor Who - and no technology available to play it. :)

[@Kriv]

I still don't understand why Josh isn't commissioned for The Collection boxed sets. These videos are gold.

[@JarrodCook93]

Apparently they just recovered the telesnaps from 1965’s The Might of the Daleks. It’s awesome we have that because the only existing photos were some behind the scenes shots of the time destructor and the only footage was 3 seconds of censored material found in Australia when the guy shoots himself in the head.

[@andrewlawless9796]

4:54 oof

[@mtaimry]

This is a really lovely tribute to a person I probably never would have heard of if it wasn't for this.. Also you really cleared up the meaning of the phrase tele-snap for me. GREAT WORK JOSH!

[@tonyparker7349]

Hey I know a guy whose grandpa has all the missing Troughton episodes, and his archive is NOT dusty. Source: dude trust me.

[@JoshSnares]

I believe it

[@PirateNovelist]

Thank you for helping me appreciate Tele-Snaps even more than I did!

[@paulvcooke]

Thank you Josh (and John Cura). Brilliant as usual. Your passion for the topic is admirable. So much stuff lost and not being looked after, it's sad.

[@dennisjansson6239]

I do hope more episodes will be found & restored 1 day. All 97 even though its kinda doubtful. 1 of the reasons i wish time-travel was possible.💙🙏

[@BobbyDazzler440]

One of your finest videos yet. Your passion for this subject shines, and I echo everything you said about the value of art not being monetary. Thank you and, of course thanks John Cura.

[@andriygriffin4782]

You know you've achieved it when your filming yourself off a vintage 1960s TV

[@rch6]

Additional comment, if I had a lot of money, I'd hire someone like you Josh to make very serious reconstructions of Doctor Who episodes! And maybe other projects if you were in the mood and if I kept paying you! I'd pay you a lot!

[@mdatkinson92]

He'd be so honoured to know you'd made this.

[@Timmymantwo]

The return of the youngest 60s Dalek director. What a great video

[@MednaTheFox]

I like the way you say "Doctor Who"

[@Michael-Madrid]

would be interesting to see what an AI could do with the tele snaps and the audio recordings

[@mikepitt242]

Enjoyed the flash frame.😀

[@SamLowryDZ-015]

FYI - the book uncovered the BBC written archive in the 90s was titled Telesnaps Book 2. And there appears no record of what happened to Book 1 or what it contained. But given it is verified many production stills went 'walkies' it is possible that was the fate of that book too. It's also ironic for the BBC to say they were moving forward, as they initially would not allow the scanning of the snaps and professional photographer had to be hired to take contact sheets of the pages, which were then enlarged for publication. (PS you also missed that snaps for ep 4 For Enemy of the World are missing.)

[@TheManInBlueFlames]

Can the writers of Dr Who do an episode about this man!? Thanks!

[@stefanlipinski9432]

John Cura 🫡🫡🫡

[@jonahvenables8917]

Amazing video as always josh! So interesting to hear about. And I love that television set with the doctor who titles playing on it too! It's all really enjoyable

[@Ningy909]

your documentaries helped inspire me to apply to a cinema studies MA program with a thesis centered around lost media and fan preservation efforts. as of a few weeks ago, i got in. thank you and keep up the good work ❤❤

[@JoshSnares]

Love!

[@Ilikemc_donalds]

​@@JoshSnares Hi josh what do you think of the animations for the 60th anniversary and colour 60s episodes

[@SimonButler-ft2sq]

Josh, I feel that your excellent coverage in missing episodes will one day lead to a recovery. Keep up your awesome work 😊

[@grahamwilson4053]

Commision an actual animated show called The Missing Adventures. Reanimate lost episodes while also doing new ones with past Doctors Big Finish style. Get that Disney money.

[@costelinha1867]

"Cura's exact method is lost to time" Now that's the definition of irony lmao, the guy who was essential to preserving the history of Doctor Who, and many other BBC productions.... did not have his methods preserved.... irony indeed....

[@geoffjoffy]

Excellent research. Very interesting video you made.

[@paulohagan3309]

'... are lost forever' ... or unless someone builds a time machine ... or at least a time scanner.

[@jeffhall9761]

Great Video, Thanks Josh.

[@idavid42]

I love the back-lighting you did in this episode.

[@JohnMarston-rt5kr]

The quality of these videos is just a chef’s kiss. Keep up the great work.

[@AlexArtsHere]

Man's already getting his money's worth from that vintage TV

[@EsotericArctos]

So many programs were lost, same way Doctor Who has been, but for some reason Doctor Who became the one that they would try to recover. I am not sure that any other program has had the resources put in to trying to recover every episode the way it has been with Doctor Who.

[@JoshSnares]

I think we’re lucky that Who fans recorded the audios on broadcast, and having such a large and dedicated community means there is an audience for such reconstructions. Dr Who’s longevity also plays a role. Out of the Unknown hasn’t been rebooted etc

[@EsotericArctos]

@@JoshSnares Agree. Doctor Who seems to be a unique part of BBC History

[@mjfouldes6822]

Oh that was wonderful! Thank you Josh for another great video! That was super interesting. What a shame so many telesnaps were lost from so many programmes that are long gone. We were lucky with Doctor Who

[@69hehehe]

Thank you on making this video!

[@MrRatherDashing]

Good work on those interlacing lines

[@nessi4933]

Wake up babe, new Josh Snares documentary just dropped

[@TheHylianBatman]

What a shame that John's hard work was destroyed. His legacy, butchered. At least we still have any of it at all. I hope we find more Doctor Who.

[@ddw1272]

Your new TV looks good in this little doc

[@danielcox3152]

Excellent work

[@alexfletcher5192]

Uh, why are you not more common on an 'official release'? I suspect I know, but I would like your view.

[@JoshSnares]

I’ve never been asked haha, I think being in Australia is a big issue. I’m just a youtuber anyway, no need for me to be on an official release.

[@illmissu3]

3rd comment also nice video :)

[@Sthunderrocker]

Facts!

[@smithpm81]

well said i completley agree mate

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

John Cura was a hero, I am so glad to learn about him

[@TempusWare]

Awesome video! It's amazing how many individual people are involved in keeping old episodes alive. John Cura creating telesnaps, fans recording the audio, Loose Cannon combining them into reconstructions, and they weren't even part of the BBC.

[@fadikhoory5350]

'Forwards, not backwards.'? That came back to bite them. It's like that moment in the mid-90s when Marco Polo was in a batch of Nigerian episodes and the BBC worker refused. That ending speech was GOLD.

[@shoestringscifi]

Thank you for this closer look at John Cura!

[@rammy3879]

The quality of the videos you produce are really something to be proud of. I can see this channel blowing up during the 60th Anniversary

[@quickflash2studios232]

I loved the “parasite in chief” reference!

[@JoshSnares]

I’m so proud that my username comes up as someone who liked the post haha, Chris is an icon

[@DoctorWhoHome1]

Another absolute belter of a video! Great stuff thank you :)

[@Dwarfboysim]

A fascinating insight into something I knew little about.

[@ExoplanetaryMedia2516]

Another goodie. Particularly appreciated the dire warnings at the end.

[@darrenhale2351]

Jeepers Josh you content is brilliant. BBC don’t even come close on their content. Time to support the official Josh Snares Channel. 😊

[@shaunasimpson7689]

JOSH!!!! YES . I been waiting for new video from you

[@williamwood7338]

Excellent video. I despair at the loss of our history. Primarily through a continuing lack of imagination on the part of corporations on how media could be used in the future.

[@daniledrake4137]

Very touching, well presented and as always addictive.

[@paulsamfreya785]

The BBC should be paying you to have your work included in the blu ray collections

[@HarlotEffect]

I've been told by someone I know that Patrick Troughton was a really nice guy and he was fun to work with on Doctor Who back then.

[@harrymcsherry5272]

Amazing video as per Josh like the little bit you did with the Queen as well 😉

[@ChrisKeziahHyde]

Another fascinating documentary! I love learning about these topics and you make them available in such an easily digestible manner!

[@AnthonyP73]

Fascinating Josh! Tele-photographer to the Queen, eh? I had no idea of all this history. Thank you!

[@THIRV]

Can’t wait to watch this later today. Thanks as always Josh. ❤. If it’s all about the mighty John Cura and the telesnaps, I can’t wait. He made the dream come true, for us to see via loose cannon rebuilds, the telesnaps and audio soundtracks, to enjoy the sixties stories, before any animations were done. And for me at least, they remain superior anyway, as they show what was really on the screen, rather than a cartoon approximation. Will write again later once I’ve viewed this video. 😊

[@DokkaChapman]

Love how you're getting your monies' worth out of that old TV.

[@jamiepring179]

This is Wonderful content.

[@etardisdemais]

Fantastic vídeo 💙🤗

[@petefischer3820]

Another great video about an unsung hero. Thank you!

[@frostedY1]

It’s always a good day when josh uploads

[@guynewmountain1909]

Great video Josh!

[@akshaytrayner1960]

Great analysis mate

[@SeanerCullen]

Another great one Josh

[@ronaldwilson9525]

Great job Josh!

[@terrestrialchannel4103]

4:55 hahaha

[@smithpm81]

brilliant mate

[@rogeregerton8531Gorton-Red]

Wonderful work Josh, I have always known about John Cura and his contribution to lost Who, I didn't know so much detail about his method. I found it fascinating as I too used to take pictures off my TV screen in the early 1970's, mine were also with a Pentax camera a Pentax ME super to be exact. Mine were on colour slides and of Bruce Lee in The Green Hornet, his guest appearances in TV series like Batman and films like Marlowe with James Garner. Thanks again, you're a credit to Classic Doctor Who. Personal Regards Roger Egerton. P.S. I loved the recent Dalek story you made.

[@edith2002100]

Thank you John Cura, very cool! (and thank you "Johusa", for teaching me so much about media preservation and for helping me appreciate what we have, also very cool!)

[@DiM2404]

If you do have any media that you feel may be lost to time, as well as making several hard drive backups, have it written to LTO tape. This is the industry standard for data archiving due to its relatively low cost and because an LTO tape is physically small relative to the amount of data it can hold. LTO readers are always backwards compatible, so it will always be able to be read. Obviously they can be corrupted, and being magnetic tape based they are not impervious to accidental wiping, but they are the best backup option

[@DiM2404]

This is also why I’ve never bought Davies’s excuse for the lack of S1 bloopers and deleted scenes, there is just no way on god’s green earth that all the footage wasn’t transcoded several times and LTOed.

[@DiM2404]

Maybe the DV tapes were wiped, that’s standard practice. But it wasn’t edited from tape, it would have been digitised twice, once for online masters and once for Avid. Maybe one of those got wiped as well. Super unlikely and coincidental but I suppose possible. But for all three main instances of the footage, from the tapes to the digital masters to the offline MXFs to be mysteriously deleted and not backed up would be the most egregious post workflow clusterfuck that it really, really strains credulity. I don’t know why nothing’s been released, it’s very odd, but they can’t have just deleted everything. So many people would have lost their jobs.

[@derianimp]

12:00 based Josh

[@gigteevee6118]

Thank you for making this, had no idea one man was responsible despite watching tele snap lost episodes. The destruction of his archive after the BBC rejected it is like the destruction of the library of Alexandria 😢

[@lepterfirefall]

So...not a royalist then Josh?

[@ireallydidntwanttomakeanac575]

It's a sad reality that the BBC never truly cared about keeping their work, Doctor Who or otherwise, and so much has been lost of their comedy, music, and drama series. If it wasn't for fans audio recording, Australian fans placing their 8mm cameras near the TV, or John Cura telesnapping, so much would just be gone. Unfortunately, this loyalty to lost media is still lost on channels like the BBC.

[@stevenmcnicoll5060]

Wonderful piece Josh. Thank you.

[@LukeNyul]

Excellent Documentary Josh! Without Cura we'd not have a glimpse into so much of Doctor Who (and other programmes) lost history! It's a shame that so much of his work got destroyed in the end due to those at the BBC not knowing the value of these snaps :/

[@rch6]

I don't know why people can't recreate lost episodes in the Grand Theft Auto V type way? I've been playing Playstation games lately and have thought the graphics and animation are quite remarkable. I think that's the answer. I don't know how expensive it would be and getting actors and all that kinda thing... I am not entirely happy with the reaniminated episodes that have been made. The lost episodes use to upset me greatly, but I don't worry about it that much anymore. I still desire for more epiosdes to be found and GREATLY ANIMATED EPIOSDES in a GTA type way.... But people like Josh Snares are great people and have helped fill in the gaps of our TV history.

[@elizawulf8180]

Kinda why I hate that there's no DVDs of later She-Ra, Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and Infinity Train 3/4