Televising the London 1948 Olympic Games
This video shows how the London 1948 Olympic Games looked to viewers at the time - take a tour of the Palace of Arts at Wembley where the 麻豆社 set up its international broadcast centre, and see how the 麻豆社 exploited the latest television equipment to the full to make this the first truly televisual Olympic Games.
Recording 麻豆社 Television Service programmes on tape was not possible before 1956. Prior to this, the only way of making a permanent record of a live television programme was by making a 鈥榯ele-recording鈥� of it. This involved placing a film camera in front of a flat TV screen and making a film of the transmission.
For many, the results are unsatisfactory, leaving the viewer with the impression of looking at the programme through a pane of glass. Many early programmes have been preserved in this way, so at least we do have a record of how television actually looked in its earliest years.
When the London 1948 Olympic Games were televised, even tele-recording was in its infancy. Only a few minutes of actual transmission as viewers saw it in 1948 exist at 麻豆社 Archives, and have only been seen once on television since 1948. The footage is taken from a 1982 麻豆社 documentary. With thanks to John Craven.
The 麻豆社 Olympic Newsreels
Throughout the London 1948 Olympic Games, news of the day's events were summarised in specially prepared Olympic Newsreels. Two of these explore how the 麻豆社 bought new equipment for the coverage, and the Corporation's radio and TV operation at Wembley Stadium.
On the radio
A bright sunny day on 29 July was the setting for the opening ceremony and athletes' parade at the London 1948 Olympic Games.
Lord Burghley, an athletics gold medal winner at the London 1928 Olympic Games, had the honour of commencing proceedings, followed by the official opening by His Majesty King George VI. The 麻豆社's Rex Alston provided the linking commentary for 麻豆社 Radio.
In print
From a special on sports commentators, to a guide to the 麻豆社鈥檚 new techniques for televising the London 1948 Olympic Games, the Radio Times of 25 - 31 July 1948, was something of a celebration.
We also have a downloadable copy of the 麻豆社's official handbook for the 1948 Games.
-
麻豆社 Genome Project
-
麻豆社 staff handbook for the 1948 Olympic Games
-
How to stage the Olympics on a shoestring 麻豆社 News Magazine article (2010)
The 麻豆社 and the 1948 Olympic Games
-
The Birth of TV: London 1948 Olympics
The '100 Voices that Made the 麻豆社' project unearth unique oral histories from the team who made the biggest outside broadcast ever attempted. -
Broadcasting the 1948 Games
How the coverage looked, sounded and how it was promoted by the 麻豆社 in 1948. -
Staging the 1948 Olympic Games
Senior television engineer Norman Green recalls the preparation for the biggest outside broadcast yet attempted -
Working on the London 1948 Olympic Games
Producers, camera operators, and others recall how they coped with a tiny budget and pre-war equipment.