The Last BBC Transmission - 1939

There's a popular misconception that the BBC shut down in 1939 halfway through broadcasting a Mickey Mouse cartoon. So popular, in fact, that it's even recorded by the BBC as part of their history. This is the cartoon (or at least the last 26 seconds of it) - and here is the correct story: www.teletronic...

[@MrQuijibo]

I guess the 5 people who owned TV's were pretty annoyed at not being able to use their new toy

[@jynxyouowemeasoda5066]

It wasn't a huge luxury item you know

[@Cheeseburgerandfries2006]

@@jynxyouowemeasoda5066it is a big deal because back in the 1930’s because nobody except those who could afford one couldn’t afford a telly

[@billyh88uk]

For those wondering - this isn't the actual footage from 1939, just a clip of the Mickey Mouse cartoon that was shown that day. Almost nothing remains from television this early.

[@BigBadRon123]

This is most likely a recreation as that was probably what happened

[@twitchygiraffe4636]

Germans must’ve blown up the BBC building that contained any master tapes they had?!

[@BigBadRon123]

@@twitchygiraffe4636 no ghey mainly bombed housing and ammunitions stores

[@user-cvbnm]

@@BigBadRon123 likely

[@user-cvbnm]

@@twitchygiraffe4636 I guess

[@rjmcallister1888]

The Brits were correct; the Germans could use their TV and radio signals as homing beacons for bombers. The Japanese used Hawaiian radio signals the same way to find their way to Pearl Harbor two years later.

[@TheAutisticKeybladeWielder]

Hence why CONELRAD was implemented

[@pionelpessi1022]

I would have said “This is the BBC. We apologise for cutting the Mickey Mouse cartoon, but due to recent events which I’m sure you are aware of, television broadcasts will be temporarily suspended.”

[@scottpeacock5492]

Philip J Fry, Children would have been watching this cartoon and to avoid panicing the kids, I think it was fair the BBC decided to switch off tv transmitter half way through this cartoon and any way people would have listen to the BBC Radio service for the announcement of World War 2 against Germany.

[@barbaraannecortina7899]

What? and panic any fucking kiddies watching? I don't fucking THINK so!

[@televisionheaven8003]

@@scottpeacock5492 the cartoon wasn't switched off half way through. It played to the end. www.teletronic.co.uk/pages/history_of_the_bbc_7.html

[@cataclysmiceas]

@@barbaraannecortina7899 watch yo language

[@mango4606]

@@barbaraannecortina7899 Just, are you just a fucking trot or something? Shut the fuck up!

[@Drmoorman88]

Would freak out BBC watchers

[@barbaraannecortina7899]

Ohhh, yesss! I would definitely agree with you on that one

[@molotera8789]

There is something mytical about television oddities like this and the Turner doomsday video

[@betaman7988]

I was reading on Transdiffusion that this edit is incorrect. According to the Programme As Broadcast for that day the cartoon actually played out in full, then BBC TV went to some test patterns before going off the air at 12:35. There was no closedown message however

[@televisionheaven8003]

I believe this is what it says in the description of the video presented here and also on the website.

[@betaman7988]

Television Heaven So it does. In that case I apologise for stating the obvious

[@trevordance5181]

Interesting to note that presumably Walt Disney had no problem with his films being shown on BBC television pre war. As television in later years grew to be a mass medium and became a threat to cinema and its audiences film makers were often not as keen to have their films shown on tv.

[@marcoantoniodasilvabatista7203]

first test pattern was turning signals (1936)

[@thotsi]

@@televisionheaven8003 the link doesn't work - it took me to your homepage, not the article

[@dwho19951]

This is the actual footage of BBC Television's last airing before WWII. It indeed returned on 7th June 1945

[@cormacdoheny470]

Freaky as hell!

[@altfactor]

Supposedly, this cartoon, the last of the daytime programming that day, did air to conclusion. I once heard that there was a normal shutdown (sign off) of the BBC TV service, and that it simply didn't cone back on the air when it was supposed to that evening.

[@didiask4485]

Broadcast: 1 September 1939

[@martinnoyes8507]

The BBC was given until 12noon on September 1st to cease broadcasting and remained off air until June 1946.Preperations were begun in secret at Alexandra Palce in Febuary 1944, for the resumption of the television service.

[@didiask4485]

@@martinnoyes8507 Thanks.

[@michaelfortheloss292]

"Sorry, but that Mickey cartoon you saw there will be our last program until further notice"

[@bnelso2833]

I never quite understood when the BBC started running suggestive, adult programming and not shows fit for the whole family.

[@pegasusactua2985]

Not everything has to be for the entire family. Stuff for adults exist. Just be a responsible parent and your kid will never watch said content. Use comment sense people.

[@EasyOrigamiChannelUK]

Mickey's Gala Premiere is on youtube made in 1933. The full 7.21 Minutes.

[@user-le4xi6bl7u]

Cierre de BBC Televisión por la Segunda Guerra Mundial

[@gustavoceballos5327]

Film: “Mickey’s Gala Premiere”

[@esmeephillips5888]

Fun fact: Greta Garbo had been brought from Sweden and lifted to superstardom by Louis B Mayer of MGM. Mayer told Walt Disney not to make Mickey into a cartoon hero bc 'every woman is scared of a mouse'.

[@Itsembish.]

I would have said- This is BBC television we apologise for interrupting the programme but due to recent events as you probably aware of We regret to say we have to close down this service what a wonderful 3 years we have had so from me and the team here at Alexandra palace Goodbye and we hope to see you in the near future

[@jasonw9588]

These old Mickey Mouse cartoons are better than the Mickey we have now

[@miracleworld4694]

I hate Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! THE OLD CARTOONS ARE SWAG!

[@jasonw9588]

also i was called you is dumb but ive changed now

[@astonishingpatch]

I totally agree with you. This Mickey Mouse is way better than Mickey Mouse & The Roadster Racers!

[@didiask4485]

@Wubbzy, Driver of The Fire Scorpion Me too!

[@garfeldi_gaming]

The new Mickey shorts are pretty good tho

[@bnelso2833]

In 1938 the BBC had a TV movie on.

[@lynx353]

1 сентября 1939 года эфир телеканала BBC One стал последним перед его уходом на многолетний перерыв, вызванный эскалацией новой крупномасштабной войны в Европе. Телевидение прекратило свою работу по причине того, что передатчики УКВ-диапазона оказались очень уязвимыми перед вражеской авиацией, которая в то время уже имела хорошее оснащение радиолокационном оборудованием. Риск удалённого вторжения в эфир был весьма условным, но существовал. У правительства не было другого выбора, кроме как остановить работу всего телевидения ради недопущения проникновения вражеской пропаганды (посредством вторжения в эфир).

[@BigBadRon123]

I applauded you for all that 👏👏👏👏👏

[@tadc345fan]

Yeah, so that's because BBC is airing the Mickey Mouse short cartoon film called "Mickey's Gala Premiere (according to 1939 BBC TV schedule, the cartoon is premiered as Touchdown Mickey instead of "Mickey's Gala Premiere) 7 years later, after the war ended, BBC TV is relaunched.

[@mango4606]

BBC, you air Mickey Mouse?!

[@Wapak95]

Those were the days.

[@carlosmpsenyorcapitacollon6977]

Is it true that when they resumed broadcasting saying that "we apologize for this inconvenience, now back to normal programming".

[@racheln8563]

Allegedly, they had the same announcer from ‘39 say, “As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted...” which would have been a beautiful example of British understatement if true. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

[@Bobbyandmog]

Does anybody know the name of the Mickey Mouse cartoon before the BBC Turned off the transmission

[@alainrheault6579]

"Mickey's Gala Premier " (1933)

[@didiask4485]

Its also called touchdown mickey

[@didiask4485]

@AmongUsFan3845 yep

[@didiask4485]

@AmongUsFan3845 movie star mickey

[@jonhoughton372]

@@didiask4485 Different cartoon entirely.

[@therealcoreby]

After the cutting, there was probably a announcement about the country being in war, tell me if I was right.

[@dynamic202tvalt4]

There was one after the test cards

[@BillyBoy1235]

No there wasn’t.

[@BillyBoy1235]

It didn’t go to a test card. It all just went blank.

[@OmegaVideoGameGod]

Ohhhh boy!!!

[@73reider]

Can`t have been many TV`s around at that time..

[@martinnoyes8507]

There were 20,000 in use in Britain on September 1st, 1939.

[@tomimaticarrasco2471]

Yes from bbc 1939 for Mickey Mouse

[@jayhe1037]

R.I.P Mickey's Gala Premier

[@julianhanc8272]

BBC (now BBC One)

[@raypurchase801]

She looks a bit like Lois Griffin.

[@robertammann5086]

I think she's Greta Garbo.

[@dynamic202tvalt4]

@@robertammann5086 Yep you're right

[@didiask4485]

When The War Was About To Start

[@tadc345fan]

The war begins from 1 September 1939 when Germany is about to invade Poland.

[@IONTelevision-q4t]

Dude, BBC didn't shutdown

[@AnonymousMultimedia]

What Micky Mouse cartoon is this and did it have any involvement with Walt Disney?

[@didiask4485]

Touchdown Mickey

[@didiask4485]

From 1933

[@Lucius1958]

@@didiask4485 "Touchdown Mickey" was the selection published in the Radio Times; instead, the BBC actually broadcast "Mickey's Gala Premiere": see @Television Heaven's comments.

[@weridarchivething6407]

@@Lucius1958 oh

[@weridarchivething6407]

@@Lucius1958 and it's also called movie star mickey

[@svcwindowsgaming]

0:21 MICKEY MOUSE

[@samsum3738]

I maybe wrong , but i believe the first postwar tv broadcast was a Donald Duck cartoon .

[@jonhoughton6417]

The first to air in the UK was Mickey's Gala Premiere, exactly the same as the last to air before the war.

[@esmeephillips5888]

@@jonhoughton6417 Preceded by Jasmine Bligh, one of the pre-war announcers, saying 'Remember me?'

[@tadc345fan]

It is from 7 June 1946, 7 years after WWII ended.

[@samsum3738]

@@tadc345fan shome mishtake surely .

[@_unamp_]

It probably shut off because of a problem in the channel servers.

[@SpongeDan]

It actually shut because of World War 2, and the transmitter tower could be used as a bomber signal.

[@mattwolf7698]

Reminds me of Sonic '06...

[@MatthewPrower]

what if it wasn’t a dream?

[@themrl1657]

Why do you think this is freaky?

[@lisastarlove7429]

Mickey Mouse

[@p0werm3lon]

somebody toucha their spaghet

[@lulugamer8082]

why did it shutdown?

[@martinnoyes8507]

Because there was only one transmitter, at Alexandra Palace, it was considered that German bombers could use its frequency to home in on for attacks on London.It was actualy used in February 1941, in what was known as the battle of the beams, to deflect the navagation beam,that the German bombers used to find London in night raids.

[@eurapejskizviaz9893]

Началась Вторая мировая война:(

[@lynx353]

Кто бы мог подумать, что эта война будет надолго 😱

[@carlosmpsenyorcapitacollon6977]

@@lynx353 А у вас не была так долго, но была худжая :(

[@didiask4485]

@@carlosmpsenyorcapitacollon6977 what are you talking about

[@successinsight1]

1933

[@didiask4485]

Yep

[@didiask4485]

They cut the cartoon

[@tadc345fan]

Yeah

[@simonbone]

No they didn't. A common myth.

[@SpongeDan]

​@@simonboneI was dumb back then, ignore it

[@peterdilworth3110]

[@cineplexuk-fabian7976]

During the second World War

[@Pedro_Channel719]

*PiBbY gLiTcH*

[@skillchamp4208]

These graphics are bad

[@miracleworld4694]

But it’s 1939 and technology was still developing!

[@aboythatcommentsonvideos1364]

but this was in 1939 and technology was developing so what do you expect

[@Thomanory]

It was in 1939. You expect technology to look like today, in color, fast news? It was still developing back then!

[@flowerofthesouth]

Only a lucky few even had a TV then!

[@televisionheaven8003]

I could have uploaded a much clearer version, but was trying to illustrate how viewers in 1939 would have received the pictures.

[@bloomcow]

I like how it’s right for a woman to kiss a boy or a man, even if she is not in love with him.😊

[@SpongeDan]

It's not

[@tadc345fan]

So that's because the BBC is cutting the cartoon.

[@SpongeDan]

​@@tadc345fanNo, it's because of the war. (They didn't cut it either)