Archery (lost early televised toxophily; 1937-1938)

Jasmine Bligh being coached on archery.

Status: Lost

On 18th March 1937, a television program concerning archery was broadcast on BBC Television Service. This, alongside another broadcast on 13th July 1938, are some of the earliest instances of televised toxophily.

Background

Televising of archery was conceptualised during the early days of BBC Television Service, which was looking to broadcast a variety of sports like darts, ju-jitsu, and snooker. Indeed, this was during a time period when archery was becoming more popular in England.

Thus, on 18th March 1937, a 15-minute segment known simply as "Archery" was broadcast. It involved Captain M. G. Hogg demonstrating toxophily in the grounds of Alexandra Palace, with the range being approximately 27 yards. Captain Hogg had clear credentials for this sport; aside from being a member of the Royal Toxophilite Society, he also captained England's archery team during the 1936 World Archery Championships, with the team ultimately finishing fifth. Issue 702 of Radio Times also stated an archery match in progress would be shown at the Palace. It has not been confirmed by any official sources on whether this broadcast was the first instance of televised archery, although it has a high likelihood considering the televised 1936 Summer Olympics lacked any archery events. The broadcast also attracted a crowd at Alexandra Palace itself. Indeed, a producer noted during the transmission that one individual remarked "Yes, I do understand the television cameras all right, but how do they get the films to travel along that cable?".

At least one other instance of televised archery occurred prior to the Second World War. According to Science & Society, a BBC broadcast occurred on 13th July 1938, featuring television announcer Jasmine Bligh being coached in archery. However, issue 771 of Radio Times, which covered broadcasts from 8th-16th July 1938, claims that a showcase of archery occurred on the 16th instead. It is perhaps possible that the BBC made the decision to film the occasion earlier than expected, especially since it relied upon Roehampton Club, who for whatever reason might have been unable to fulfil the 16th July obligation. Regardless, the broadcast did occur during July 1938, with transmission relying on an Emitron television camera being situated on a three-wheeled trolley.

Availability

Like all early television transmissions, the archery demonstrations were televised live and there were limited viable means of recording television prior to the Second World War, with recording seldom having occurred until video tape was perfected in the late-1950s. Thus, all footage from both demonstrations is likely permanently missing. Nevertheless, a photo of Bligh's demonstration, as well as Radio Times issues, helped to document the broadcasts.

Gallery

Image

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  Issue 702 of Radio Times detailing the 1937 broadcast.

See Also

Early BBC Sports Television

• 1931 Epsom Derby (lost televised footage of horse racing event; 1931)
• 1937 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1937)
• 1937 International Imperial Trophy Race (lost footage of motor race; 1937)
• 1937 Wimbledon Championships (partially found footage of tennis tournament; 1937)
• 1938 Ashes Series (partially found footage of international test cricket match; 1938)
• 1938 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1938)
• 1939 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1939)
• 1947 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1947)
• 1953 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One race; 1953)
• 1955 Scottish Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1955)
• Arsenal 7-1 Hibernian (lost footage of charity football match; 1952)
• Arsenal vs Arsenal Reserves (lost footage of early BBC televised football match; 1937)
• Barnet 3-2 Wealdstone (lost footage of Athenian League football match; 1946)
• The Boat Race 1938 (partially found footage of rowing race; 1938)
• Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling (lost early BBC televised professional wrestling matches; 1938-1939; 1946-1947)
• Charlton Athletic 1-0 Blackburn Rovers (lost footage of FA Cup match; 1947)
• Darts and Shove Ha'penny (lost early BBC televised darts matches; 1936-1939)
• England 0-1 Scotland (partially found international football match; 1938)
• England 1-1 Scotland (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)
• England 16-21 Scotland (partially found footage of rugby match; 1938)
• England 3-0 France (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)
• England 3-0 Rest of Europe (partially found footage of international football match; 1938)
• Falkirk 3-2 Newcastle United (lost footage of football match; 1953)
• Horace Lindrum vs Willie Smith (lost footage of televised snooker; 1937)
• Scottish Universities 1-1 English Universities (lost footage of international football match; 1952)
• Woods and Jack (lost early televised lawn bowls; 1937; 1946)

Early BBC Television

• Alexandra Palace's wartime television demonstrations (lost footage of private television transmissions; 1943, 1945)
• An Inspector Calls (lost television adaptation of play; 1948)
• Ann and Harold (lost early BBC drama television series; 1938)
• BBC Election Night (lost coverage of British general elections; 1950-1951)
• The Care of Your Car (lost early BBC motoring show; 1947)
• Cook's Night Out (lost early BBC cooking show; 1937)
• Craftsmen at Work (lost early BBC documentary show; 1938, 1946)
• Dish of the Month (lost early BBC cooking show; 1937)
• First Aid (lost early BBC medical show; 1937)
• Foundations of Cookery (lost early BBC cooking show; 1939)
• Marcel Boulestin television shorts (lost early BBC programs; 1937-1939)
• Masks through the Ages (lost early BBC history talk show; 1937)
• Opening of the BBC Television Service (partially found coverage of inaugural day of high-definition television service; 1936)
• The Orchestra and its Instruments (lost early BBC music talk show; 1937)
• RCA recording of BBC Television Service (found footage of pre-Second World War BBC television broadcast; 1938)
• Sea Stories (lost early BBC talk show; 1936-1937)
• Spelling Bee (lost early BBC game show; 1938)
• Telecrime (lost early BBC crime drama; 1938-1939; 1946)
• The Wasp's Nest (lost early BBC television adaptation of Agatha Christie short story; 1937)
• Weaponless Self-Defence (lost early ju-jitsu television program; 1936-1937)
• The World of Women (lost early BBC talk show; 1937)

Early Sports Television Media

• 1934 Philo T. Farnsworth broadcasts (lost early television demonstrations; 1934)
• 1936 Summer Olympics (lost television coverage of Berlin Games; 1936)
• 1938 Pennsylvania Quakers football season (lost early televised college football games; 1938)
• 1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)
• Bill Longson vs Whipper Billy Watson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1947)
• Brooklyn Dodgers 2-5 6-1 Cincinnati Reds (lost footage of MLB doubleheader; 1939)
• Brooklyn Dodgers 23-14 Philadelphia Eagles (lost footage of NFL game; 1939)
• Columbia Lions 1-2 Princeton Tigers (partially found footage of college baseball game; 1939)
• Fordham Rams 34-7 Waynesburg Yellow Jackets (lost footage of college football game; 1939)
• Indianapolis 500 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)