TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 -
A weekly dance band presentation with regulars The Cyril Stapleton Orchestra, Joe 'Mister Piano' Henderson and singer Jo Shelton. Every week the show would be on location in a ballroom, and the band would play while the audience dances.
Stapleton's band had been created after World War II, but he would later became leader
of the BBC Show Band backing the likes of Frank Sinatra, leading to regular appearances
on BBC TV's The Show Band Show in the mid-
The second series began 3rd November 1959 with the show broadcast from Majestic Ballroom,
Finsbury Park, London. Stapleton and his 16-
Due to the show not having a script Stapleton's introductions for each song had to
be ad-
A TV Times article on the show published in February 1960 suggested that the show
had less rehearsal time than most due to the setting up of all the necessary broadcast
equipment, leading to only 90 minutes in front of camera rehearsal time. However,
between 7.00 and 10.30 pm the cast and crew would have to vacate the dancefloor to
allow the regular patrons and dance band to use the ballroom. When they have left
the cameras and band move back in to present the live show from 11.00 pm onwards.
"Our great problem," said show director Michael Style, "is to keep the ballroom atmosphere
going in the half-
THE MELODY DANCES
ATV
2nd January 1959 -