1970s - Have we changed ? Or Has Culture Changed ? Or Both ?

Have you noticed that when you watch TV from the 70's you can hear every word that proper, stage-trained actors and actresses say? And I thought I was going deaf.

There's a lot of terrific stuff from long before that too. A rummage on Youtube reveals all sorts of treasures from the 60's, 40's, even from the 20's and 30's.

A lot of it is "irreverent" humour but that was once considered part of OUR cultural identity - yes, white British people had a culture too which is now almost entirely erased by lacksparkle PC "thinking" from the U.S.

Edited by Photowallah

If anyone is looking for some old school British comedy, may I suggest "I didn't know you cared". A much underestimated series in my opinion. Including a cast of ,   Robin Bailey, John Comer, Liz Smith and a young Stephen Rea. Some  quite dark northern humour and fantastic female characters who'd have readily chewed up todays "liberals" and spit out the pips. 

Attempted comic elements survive better and also foreign cultures combined with comedy are more palatable because we never understood it fully during the time anyway, and now understand even less.

HarryT said

If anyone is looking for some old school British comedy, may I suggest "I didn't know you cared". A much underestimated series in my opinion. Including a cast of ,   Robin Bailey, John Comer, Liz Smith and a young Stephen Rea. Some  quite dark northern humour and fantastic female characters who'd have readily chewed up todays "liberals" and spit out the pips. 

  

Great to watch this episode.  As you wrote much underestimated - pardon.

Growing up in the 70's we had an array of talented tv programs as well as tat.  For me, the one I used to look forward to was The Big Match.  Not only for the London bias but you had a chance to see your team (win as well).  The only live football was the F A Cup and some internationals. Poland vs England was one memorable game for all the wrong reasons. I used to tell my Son that School is the most important years of your life.  He ignored me mainly but so do I to my Dad.  As for TV programmes.

Land of the Giants

Time Tunnel

Garrisons Guerrillas 

Custer

High Chaparral

Lancer

The Virginian (Men from Shiloh)

Bionic Woman (Man has been mentioned but Jaimie Summers eh)!

Hogans Heroes

F Troop

British Greats have already been mentioned here a few more

Last of  The Summer Wine.

That's Your Funeral

Billy Liar

The Goodies (I wasn't old enough to watch Monty Python till 1974)

The Sweeney and the Professionals have already been mentioned however one Series which I thought was really good was Villians.  6 episodes that starred the likes of William Marlowe, Martin Shaw and A jovial Bob Hoskins.  Brilliant.

https://purpleport.com/portfolio/carpetcrawler/ - Ah yes - Magnum PI wonderful entertainment - just avoid the remake. And odly the only reason the original Magnum P.I existed was to use the crew and studio built in Hawaii for the then cancled 1970's to 80's original "Hawaii Five 0"

Liver Birds

At the end of the 70s: Blake's Seven - I know someone in real life who could be Servalan. (Plenty of clips on YouTube).

P.S. Nothing like it before or since

Edited by Richard Bradford

Richard Bradford said

At the end of the 70s: Blake's Seven - I know someone in real life who could be Servalan. (Plenty of clips on YouTube).

Loved Blakes Seven, even if the cardboard props moved in the breeze

Wonder Woman 

It was a far more innocent time and culture than it is today.

But I am sure that could be said of the previous generation to that, who would have looked at TV shows like The Sweeney in the 70's with shock and horror.

All very tame by today's standards.

I love catching those old shows every now and again. I do remember liking and being impressed by those 'edgy' type cop shows like The Professionals.

I also liked Minder and when I see it now on telly, I'll have a quick look in, take in the locations in mostly West London that I recognize, and reminisce about those places and those times.

I, also remember liking Tales of the Unexpected, The Twilight Zone and for some reason I recall that Friday night was, not sure if was the Beeb or ITV- could have been both- but it Hammer horror night on TV.

Shame we don't have a film industry anymore.

Someone mentioned Porridge earlier.

I'd also throw in Rising damp.

Leonard Rossiter and Ronnie Barker were both comedy Legends that are not really talked about anymore.

Shame, because there was nobody better than those two.

I would imagine that most of these shows would be awful and unwatchable on so many levels for a younger modern audience.

And I guess that is how it should be.

Edited by 3RDi

Photowallah said

Have you noticed that when you watch TV from the 70's you can hear every word that proper, stage-trained actors and actresses say? And I thought I was going deaf.

There's a lot of terrific stuff from long before that too. A rummage on Youtube reveals all sorts of treasures from the 60's, 40's, even from the 20's and 30's.

A lot of it is "irreverent" humour but that was once considered part of OUR cultural identity - yes, white British people had a culture too which is now almost entirely erased by lacksparkle PC "thinking" from the U.S.

Edited by Photowallah

Yes, very true. At that time, many film and TV actors were also successful stage actors and had therefore learned how to use their voices. Many of today's actors mumble.

HarryT said

If anyone is looking for some old school British comedy, may I suggest "I didn't know you cared". A much underestimated series in my opinion. Including a cast of ,   Robin Bailey, John Comer, Liz Smith and a young Stephen Rea. Some  quite dark northern humour and fantastic female characters who'd have readily chewed up todays "liberals" and spit out the pips. 

  

Yes, "I didn't know you cared" was a great sitcom.

Not 1970's but 80's Bread was a classic.