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'Oh Boy!' Diary
MARCH 1959

SATURDAY  7th
'OH BOY!' SHOW # 26  (Compered by Tony Hall)
ABC CATALOGUE SHOW NUMBER 1. (OF 13)

RESIDENT WEEKLY BAND & PERFORMERS:
Lord Rockingham's XI,  Red Price, The Dallas Boys,
Neville Taylor & The Cutters, Cherry Wainer, The Vernons Girls.

THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL GUESTS:
Cliff Richard & The Drifters
Marion Ryan
Marty Wilde
Mike Preston
Vince Eager

A crucial showcase for Jack Good- as this was the first of 13 shows to be telerecorded for broadcast on ABC in the United States later in the year.
On the requests of  U.S. ABC television executives back in January, Jack had attempted to secure some big American names in seven short weeks to star in this first American broadcast of  7th March, but their was insufficient

Jack was to have more success in the latter shows, when he netted big names like The Inkspots,  'Little Miss Dynamite’ Brenda Lee and Conway Twitty for broadcasts in April and May.
due to many major artists prior commitments.
Denied access to American artists, Good marshalled the cream of British talent such as Cliff Richard and the Drifters, Marion Ryan and Marty Wilde to appear in this milestone broadcast.
His intention was to make a big impact on the fresh American audiences by getting the best of the English rockers to perform their major hits in a fast paced action packed show.

A number of these American telerecordings are known to survive in private hands in the United States , including tMove It” among others, to introduce them to this huge new overseas audience. time to clinch any deals for the first few weeks his first show, in which it is believed Cliff and the Drifters performed “
If ever found this will become the earliest Cliff and the Drifters performance ever discovered on celluloid.
To promote the series and ensure maximum publicity and exposure in the United States many photographs from this show were taken and sent out to the media in the USA.

Jack was a keen follower of  true American rock ‘n’ roll and he was quick off the draw in flying to the USA again in early May to secure some big name artists for the new series of “Oh Boy!” envisaged to begin in mid September 1959.
However when the new series did return its name was changed  to “Boy Meets Girl” . More noticeably and to its detriment the genuine atmosphere of excitement was lost as the cast had to move from the live Hackney Empire to the sedate and reserved setting of Manchester’s ABC studios in Didsbury. Reviews of the new series said it had lost the excitement and edge so characteristic of the live “Oh Boy!"
shows!

SEE ALSO………………

“Where Have The Shows Gone?” page and the NME article “JACK GOOD SEEKS AMERICAN ROCKERS” from 23RD JANUARY in the JANUARY 1959 DIARIES for more details of the American “Oh Boy!" broadcasts.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FRIDAY 13th
The news that “Oh Boy!” has been sold to America belatedly makes the headlines in NME:
          Later this year telerecordings of the "Oh Boy!" series are likely to be shown regularly in America, the first British musical TV show to be so honoured. Films of recent shows have already been shown to executives of U.S. networks. ABC expect to sign contracts very shortly.
          Programmes would not be transmitted there for some time. A big snag is artists' contracts and musical copyrights which, though valid in Britain, might not necessarily apply in America. When the new series starts in September provision will be made for American repeats.
          Tommy Steele appears again on "Oh Boy!" on April 4, with Lonnie Donegan scheduled for a fortnight later as part of Jack Good's policy of booking big stars.
          Steele was the first star producer Jack Good introduced to guest on the show, when he debuted on November 1. Donegan's only previous appearance in the series was during February.
          Also booked for the April show is Dean Webb, a new rock singer being managed by John Foster, who was associated with Cliff Richard's early career.
          Two MDs - Bill Shepherd and Harry Robinson - have been attending "Oh Boy!" rehearsals this week. ABC-TV announce that Shepherd and John Barry will be among the arrangers for the show in future.
          The company has failed to name Robinson's successor as musical director of the series at press time.
          In the High Court on Tuesday, the dispute between Harry Robinson and Jack Good over the name "Lord Rockingham" was put back a week.
          Good's counsel, Mr. Neil Lawson, Q.C., told Mr. Justice Vaisey the parties had come to terms in principle.

SATURDAY 14th
'OH BOY!' SHOW # 27  (Compered by Jimmy Henney)

ABC CATALOGUE SHOW NUMBER 2. (OF 13)

RESIDENT WEEKLY BAND & PERFORMERS:
Red Price, The Dallas Boys,
Neville Taylor & The Cutters, Cherry Wainer, The Vernons Girls.

THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL GUESTS:
Bill Forbes
Billy Fury
Chris Andrews
Don Lang
Peter Elliott
Teddy & Freddy
Tony Sheridan

This is the second show of 13 recorded for export to the United States. It is probable that this original telerecording, once catalogued with ABC at Teddington, Middlesex until 1968, may be in the private hands of someone in the United Kingdom.
Also some of the 13 copies sent to America are known to exist and in the possession of a private collector in Arizona or New Mexico.

Billy Fury and Tony Sheridan both make their second of six appearances in the series.
Newcomer Chris Andrews makes his debut appearance. He would also appear in show 30 (4th April 1959) singing a cover of Cliff Richard’s “Move It.”  This 4th April edition is the first surviving show of two found in a search of the British archives.
Teddy and Freddy make their one and only appearance in the series.

FRIDAY 20th
The NME reveals that Marty Wilde loses out to Cliff Richard in the starring role in the new film “Expresso Bongo.” :
CLIFF RICHARD has secured a starring role in the screen version of "Expresso Bongo." Cliff edges out Marty Wilde, who was also considered for the leading part of Bongo Herbert. Instead, Marty has a new screen role lined up in another big feature film - "Paradise for Baby."
The screen version of "Expresso Bongo" will greatly differ from the successful stage satire. Producer Val Guest told the NME: "A complete new score is being written and will incorporate only three of the original numbers."
Cliff's own famous accompanying group, The Drifters, join him in the film. A number of other big beat personalities, not yet chosen, will also be featured.
Before making a final decision between the two rock singers, producer Guest saw both Cliff's film " Serious Charge," now awaiting release, and rushes of Marty's current picture, "Jetstream," which is still in production.
"I chose Cliff because I saw him as the most likely of the two to fit the part," Guest said. "I thought they were both excellent on the screen."
"Expresso Bongo" filming is expected to begin on location in Soho on August 10, followed by interior shooting at Shepperton Studios.
No contracts have actually been signed yet, but Peter Sellers and Diane Cilento are expected to co-star with Cliff.
Marty Wilde is to star in "Paradise for Baby" for Hughie Green Productions. Shooting is set to begin on June 1. This film is about rival dance halls and has been under discussion for many months.
Now both terms and script have been approved by Marty's agent, Larry Parnes. Tomorrow(Saturday) a final script conference is to be held. It is expected that other top name signings will be announced next week.

SATURDAY 21st
'OH BOY!' SHOW # 28  (Compered by Tony Hall)

ABC CATALOGUE SHOW NUMBER 3. (OF 13)

RESIDENT WEEKLY BAND & PERFORMERS:
Red Price, The Dallas Boys,
Neville Taylor & The Cutters, Cherry Wainer, The Vernons Girls.

THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL GUESTS:
'Cuddly' Dudley
Dickie Valentine
Gerry Dorsey
Marty Wilde
Tony Sheridan

This is the third show of 13 recorded for export to the United States. It is probable that this original telerecording, once catalogued with ABC at Teddington, Middlesex until 1968, may be in the private hands of someone in the United Kingdom.
Also some of the 13 copies sent to America are known to exist and in the possession of a private collector in Arizona or New Mexico.

Cuddly Dudley returns for his 15th appearance in the series. His beaming smile and exuberant dancing made him an all-time favourite with “Oh Boy!” viewers. In total he would make 19 appearances (just one less than Cliff!) in addition to the two trial broadcasts back in June 1958.

Gerry Dorsey (Engelbert Humperdink) returns for his second and final time. He had first appeared on the 21st February edition.

SATURDAY 28th
'OH BOY!' SHOW # 29  (Compered by Jimmy Henney)

RESIDENT WEEKLY BAND & PERFORMERS:
Red Price, The Dallas Boys,
Neville Taylor & The Cutters, Cherry Wainer, The Vernons Girls.

THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL GUESTS:
Cliff Richard
The Drifters
The Marino Marini Quartet
Pierce Rodgers
Ronnie Carroll

This is the fourth show of 13 recorded for export to the United States. It is probable that this original telerecording, once catalogued with ABC at Teddington, Middlesex until 1968, may be in the private hands of someone in the United Kingdom.
Also some of the 13 copies sent to America are known to exist and in the possession of a private collector in Arizona or New Mexico.
Ronnie Carroll with the Marino Marini Quartet

The Marino Marini Quartet make their one and only appearance.
Pierce Rodgers makes the first of  four guest appearances in the series.
Crooner Ronnie Carroll, who had appeared in the first six shows of the series during September and October 1958, makes a final return visit for tonight’s show.

This is Cliff Richard and the Drifters last appearance for five weeks, not returning until 2nd May.

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