Granada TV startup 1960s
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
- I finally managed to get the recording of the Granada March from the 1960s. The sound is slightly "saturated" in parts as the recording was made on a reel-to-reel using an external microphone. I used a Winter Hill slide for the ITA "part" of the startup, changing to a "from the North Granada" at 3 mins 50 - the usual amount of time for the handover. Enjoy. I've not found this anywhere before, that's why I made it.
I remember this tune very well. Living in Shropshire at the time I could also receive ATV ,Granada and Harlech TV. (Channels 8,9 and 11 if I remember correctly!) It is certainly bringing back lots of memories as I have not heard this music since 1970. Yes there was a countdown clock which used to read "Granada Starts in...." and the clock would tell you how long until programmes started.
24 hour TV has obliterated this type of thing from our screens but we still have our memories..just about!
The Countdown clock was used from when the new ITV contracts were Issued on 31st July 1968 till Colour transmissions Commenced on 15th November 1969
This is the tune if I remember well,was used when Granada went into colour in 1969,and it had a 2-minute countdown clock when they went out of the ITA logo-I'm a Midlander,but we had one of those old TV sets with the VHF channels,and I could get ATV and Granada here in Wolverhampton.
Yes,you used to get ATV from Lichfield on Ch 8,Granada from Winter Hill on Ch 9,and whatever HTV Ch 11 was,oh for the days of start-ups,and these great tunes no longer heard,but thanks to You Tube,our memories flood back!
HTV on Ch 11 was from the Moel-Y- Parc Transmitter
I have a recording of the original music by Lowry. Recorded at the Winter Hill transmitter when I visited there in 1963. I also have an original Picasso tuning slide with the name Winter Hill, as well as 171 more from All manned ITA transmitters
They continued using the Tony Lowry piece (The Granada March) until November 1967, in most cases the William Walton piece (which was modified as "March for Concert Band" by Gilbert Vinter) would be used as a substitute for the Lowry piece.
I'd LOVE a great audio copy of this - but this EXACT 'Granada' version.... reminds me of being little!
"Granada March" was by Tony Lowrie, (some references spell it Lowry). It was the original Granada start up music which preceded the use of Walton's Prelude.
I've found it impossible to find a copy, or indeed anything much about Tony Lowry.
Great opening music.
I suspect this was a case of "money for old rope" as far as Walton was concerned; it sounds like a rework of Orb and Sceptre (with added castanets - presumably a reference to Granada in Spain).
No Don Murray Henderson?
It is indeed: "Prelude For Orchestra" by William Walton, but was modified for TV into "March For Concert Band", arranged by Gilbert Vinter - thanks to Dean for that info :-)
@kifbowdensmith1
Thanks for your input, much appreciated. I decided to do the recreation as the 60s Granada start-up was nowhere to be found and I had the music on reel-to-reel. I looked high and low for the ITA card for the period, but to no avail, so used what material was available. I'm a frequent visitor to transdiffusion which is a great site - so many memories :-)
It was the "Granada March" by Tony Lowrie from1956 up to them using Walton's Prelude in the 1960s.
I have both recordings of the Granada music recorded at the Winter Hill Transmitter in the 1960s
They used use this for close down back in the early 70s
@spitfireJEJ
This music was certainly used from the mid-60s onwards. Don't remember if they had something different from 1956 until then...
I'm going to have this at my funeral!
Remember this from when I went to Blackpool on holidays,isn't it a piece by William Walton?
Thanks fo responding. Maybe others might be more lucky.
Didn't Granada in the early 70s on a Sunday afternoon show ships going up and down the Mersey, and I remember also a group playing in the middle of a river on a small island? I really would like to know the name of the group and what they were playing. From the background to the small island it looked like it was in the States.
Thames had the best start up - No contest (and yes, I will meet you outside the pub to fight about it))
PS Class of 63 here.
Thames was good, yes, (will you buy my sweet lavender), but also LWT, Rediffusion, Southern, Westwood, ABC, ATV...
Actually, most of them when I come to think of it !!!
i'll be there
Didn't Granada use a different start up tune in the sixties? Somewhat quicker tempo and altogether more like British Light Music?
Did you use PowerPoint to make this startup?
No. Just got the slides from Transdiffusion, I think, then 'cobbled' them together to match the timing for the original startup 🙂
I e-mailed Transdiffusion telling them that I had it, but no-one has got back to me... I am quite willing for them to use it. If anyone on here is a member, just e-mail me telling me what to do...
Why the hell they replaced Tony’s music with this is beyond me I detest it