The Woodentops is a children's television series first shown on BBC Television in 1955.[1][2] Created by Freda Lingstrom and Maria Bird, it featured on the Friday edition of Watch with Mother and regularly repeated until 1973.[1] The main characters are the members of a family living on a farm. The aim of the programme was to teach pre-school children about family life.[2][3]
The Woodentops was filmed in a tin shed at the BBC's Lime Grove Studios.[1] The narrator/storyteller for all episodes, who also provided the dialogue for Mummy Woodentop, was Maria Bird who spoke with Received Pronunciation, as was typical of BBC presenters of the time. Daddy Woodentop, being a farmer, spoke with a noticeable West Country accent.
Although set on a farm, at an unspecified location, each episode began with the whole family being introduced as they sat in front of a tall curtain, apparently on a stage. Episodes closed with the family grouped in the same pose, with the word "GOODBYE" superimposed above.
The music at the beginning and end of each story is taken from the 22nd piece ("So lokka me over den myra") of the set of 25 Norwegian folk songs and dances for piano, Opus 17 by Edvard Grieg. This music, which is quite short in duration, is called "Kulokk", which translates to "Cattle-Call". It is divided into two sections, the first of which is used for the introduction and the second part for the end of each story. It occasionally appears as a leitmotif in the stories, hummed by Mummy Woodentop from time to time.
In 1983, the original puppets were stolen from the BBC. They were spotted a year later in an auction room in London and returned.[1] The puppets are now in the Museum of London's permanent collection.[4]
The Official BBC Children in Need Medley
In 2009, The Woodentops appeared in The Official BBC Children in Need Medley music video[5] which reached No.1 in the UK Singles Chart. Daddy and Mummy Woodentop appeared in the video; Jenny appears on the front cover of the CD and DVD but not in the music video.
References
^ abcdBFI Screen Online: The Woodentops (1955-1957)
^Children in Need: Stars help charity to raise £20.3m
External links
More information
May 20, 2023
woodentops, series, woodentops, children, television, series, first, shown, television, 1955, created, freda, lingstrom, maria, bird, featured, friday, edition, watch, with, mother, regularly, repeated, until, 1973, main, characters, members, family, living, f. The Woodentops is a children s television series first shown on BBC Television in 1955 1 2 Created by Freda Lingstrom and Maria Bird it featured on the Friday edition of Watch with Mother and regularly repeated until 1973 1 The main characters are the members of a family living on a farm The aim of the programme was to teach pre school children about family life 2 3 The WoodentopsThe Woodentops opening titlesGenreChildren s television seriesPuppet showCreated byFreda LingstromMaria BirdNarrated byMaria Bird Eileen Browne Josephina Ray Peter HawkinsCountry of originUnited KingdomOriginal languageEnglishNo of episodes26ProductionRunning time15 minutesReleaseOriginal networkBBC TelevisionPicture format4 3Original release9 September 1955 1955 09 09 2 March 1956 1956 03 02 Contents 1 Puppet characters 2 Cast 3 Episodes 4 Production 5 The Official BBC Children in Need Medley 6 References 7 External linksPuppet characters EditDaddy Woodentop Mummy Woodentop Jenny Woodentop Willy Woodentop Baby Woodentop Spotty Dog the very biggest spotty dog you ever did see The children Jenny and Willy were twins They spoke walked and did many things together Other characters included Mrs Scrubbitt who comes to help Mrs Woodentop Sam Scrubbitt who helps Daddy Woodentop with the animals Buttercup the CowCast EditScripts and music Maria Bird Puppeteers Audrey Atterbury Molly Gibson and Gordon Murray Voices Eileen Browne Josephina Ray Peter Hawkins Designs Barbara JonesEpisodes EditIntroduction 9 September 1955 Boats and Pigs Horse Spotty s Paw Spotty s Sheep Spotty s Joke Dog Washing Injured Bird Bird Set Free Twins Holiday Soap Box Baby s Bath Surprises Show Party Buttercup Belling the Cow Hayfield Horse Shoe 14 March 1958 Steam Roller Geese Ducks Pram Dinner Bell Sacks Paper HatsProduction EditThe Woodentops was filmed in a tin shed at the BBC s Lime Grove Studios 1 The narrator storyteller for all episodes who also provided the dialogue for Mummy Woodentop was Maria Bird who spoke with Received Pronunciation as was typical of BBC presenters of the time Daddy Woodentop being a farmer spoke with a noticeable West Country accent Although set on a farm at an unspecified location each episode began with the whole family being introduced as they sat in front of a tall curtain apparently on a stage Episodes closed with the family grouped in the same pose with the word GOODBYE superimposed above The music at the beginning and end of each story is taken from the 22nd piece So lokka me over den myra of the set of 25 Norwegian folk songs and dances for piano Opus 17 by Edvard Grieg This music which is quite short in duration is called Kulokk which translates to Cattle Call It is divided into two sections the first of which is used for the introduction and the second part for the end of each story It occasionally appears as a leitmotif in the stories hummed by Mummy Woodentop from time to time In 1983 the original puppets were stolen from the BBC They were spotted a year later in an auction room in London and returned 1 The puppets are now in the Museum of London s permanent collection 4 The Official BBC Children in Need Medley EditIn 2009 The Woodentops appeared in The Official BBC Children in Need Medley music video 5 which reached No 1 in the UK Singles Chart Daddy and Mummy Woodentop appeared in the video Jenny appears on the front cover of the CD and DVD but not in the music video References Edit a b c d BFI Screen Online The Woodentops 1955 1957 a b Toonhound The Woodentops The Historical Association String puppet Mother Woodentop Children in Need Stars help charity to raise 20 3mExternal links EditMore information Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Woodentops TV series amp oldid 1150790861, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
