1961-12-23 — Page 1

MANY ‘ORDINARY' PROGRAMMES MAKE WAY FOR FESTIVE PRESENTATIONS

BUMPER CROP OF CHRISTMAS FEATURES

The Queen's FEAST OF SPECIAL He saw Ist atom-bomb

message

The

her

Queen's message to all over the propie world is something with- out which a Commonwealth Christmas would hardly be complete.

Her Majesty will be heard over Radio Hong- kong this Christmas Day

pm.

at 6

The message will be re broadcast after the 9 o'clock news the same eve- ring, and at the same time on Boxing night.

Rediffusion will carry the broadcast at 6 pm. on Christmas Day, repeat- ing it at 11 pm that night.

DICKENS

WROTE A

PERFECT TV SCRIPT

Among Television's special: Christmas programmes is

a musical version of Dic- kens' famous story "A Christmas Carol.” Basil Rath- bone, who stars in the produc-

tios

as Mar-

ley's Ghost says of it: "It's all pure Dickens,

and

presented

very few diff- culties. The great Victorian novelist wrote a perfect tele- vision script within

story.

the

ick

Freder- March plays Scrooge, and

both he

and

Rathbone

Images of their characters,

are

PRODUCTIONS

Hongkong's four broadcasting stations are put- ting final touches to some of the most elabor- ate and varied Christmas-season programmes

ever.

This is going to be a music broadcasters Bob Williams and laden festival for our listeners," Kit Masters to tour Colony has- sors Rediffusion's Mike Ellory.pitals to cheer up patients who Be speaks, uninterntionally, for are unable to be at home with producers of Radio Hongkong, their families a show of fun and Television and Commercial favourite musical Items. Radio. No Christmas complete

Starting tomorrow. Many without a pantomime, and Com- "ordinary" programmes have mercial radio presents one o): gone by the board to be replaced Christmas day specially written with carols, plays. variety shows for the occasion by Frank Mitton. anthologies, pantomirnes, ап Rediffus,on's Blue Network opera and many special musical launches its presentations at 10 pm tomorrow with a two-hour

presentations. programme. "The night Before Christmas." in which its disc jockeys are joined by top per- sonalities of the film atra musical world in musical greetings programme. Besides locally-written ano produced Christmas programmes Radio Hongkong has on its menu a wealth recorded material from overseas.

HIGHLIGHTS Television's Among special highlights have been included "The Sleeping Beauty," a visit to the Moscow State Circus, the Sammy Davis Show and mas Carol. musical version of "The Christ-

a

Commercial Radio tomorrow night broadcasts a programme of carols by the choir of the Royal Monday, this station

Warwickshire Regiment

BIG

a

destroy Nagasaki

Group Captain Leonard Cheshira, VC, DSO, DFC, won distinction for his career as a bomber pilot in World War II.

teils

Un Thursday night he Radio HK's Timothy Birch why he joined the RAF, his view: on Allied bombing in the War, bis feelings during the dropping of the atomic bomb on Naga- saki (he was present as official British observer), effect on his attitude of mind and how it indirectly led to the the

of Cheabire

founding

On

senda

Homes.

the

ls

It has become a tradition at this time cf the year for pet- sonalities of this station to go He was convinced by when around the Colony's hospitals he saw th we should do om and to visit ships of the Royal utmost to prevent the dropring SHOW N to talk to patients and of another atomic bomb, and navel personnel about themselves that the only way to do this and to invite them to choose a was for the Allies to

FOR piece of music to go on the air. This year, Patricia Penn and strong. J: mes Duthie met the sailors and TEENAGERS were joined by June Armstrong- Wright for a tour of the bas- pitals.

ATTENTION

be

r.70.11

Magnificent

Obsession

-לח

chapter of One of the world's best-selling vels will be presented in dramatic form over Redifio- sion on Tuesday night at

This afternoon Studio 'A' at Re- diffusion House will be the Special attention should

scene of a fast-moving musical show staged as port of Redif- paid to this station's presenta- Clab's tion of the Festival of Lessons fusion's Tecn Scene and Carols from King's College: Another

weekly Saturday party. Chapel tomorrow, the several Special guests at this Christ stories and plays with a Christ- mas party will be the Fabulous mas favour the performance of Echoes and Los Caballeros Handel's Messiah tomorrow night comperes will be Maureen Sey- and the festive season's editions mour, Barry Haigh and Tony of such BBC favourites as "My Myatt (who himself

Kas a World." "The Goons. member of the Echoes seme- Beyond Our Ken." time back). One hundred invitations have ringing been sent out to memberg and respective their friends who will have a chance of participating in the quizzes and games that form a part of the show.

Murch wears two pounds of make-up for his role, and Rath- bone, as the ghost, carries 125 pounds of rusty metal chain to which are attached purses boxes aud cobwebs,

Those not Tucky get tickets this time the broadcast at 4.30

noon.

Enough to can hear

this after-

SOMETHING SPECIAL

The

and novel 15 C. Dou- glas's "Magni- ficent Obses-

A Christmas variety show, something very special producet by Nick Demuth and introduced by Nick Kendall. Music, melody and laughter all combined in thirty minutes of entertainment from Commerical Radio at 8.30 on Christmas Day.

Top stars' greetings to you! Christmas with Mona

Throughout Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, top stars of the music and movie worlds will be greeting Rediffusion Ilsteners from their homes in Hollywood and New York, Over 25 stars have sent in recorded messages, including Bob Hope, Fred Astaire, Fabian, Peggy Lee, William Holden, Rosemary Clooney, Joni James, David Rose, Rock Hudson, George Shearing, Pat Boone, Kay Starr and Tony Martin. If you'd like to hear your favourite actor, actress, musician or singer wishing YOU a “Merry Christmas" then sean the Rediffusion programme listings on the next page of this supplement for details.

Mcna. Fong is one of Hong- kong's most popular singers ard this 15-minute Radio HK programme on Christmas Day, 0.45 pm of well-known carols and songs will be welcomed by those who already know her warm and friendly voice.

sion,"

twice

filmed by Hol- lywood — most recently star. ring Rock Hud- son in the romantic role of Dr Wayne Hudson.

Picture shows Richard Davies. who plays the lead in Rediffusion's version.

CHRISTMAS

PANTO

No Christmas is ever com- plete without Q pon- tomime, and Commercial Radio present their biggest and best ea Christmas day at 4 pm.

w a s

ci

I t specially writ ! ten by Frar & Mitton in true style traditional par tomime, Every- one at Com- mercial Radio, has a part in it and the

pro-

ducer is John Wallace. The

cast Includes children from St George's School.

A show for the children, and one that all adults will enjoy. "The Battle for Christmas"

a real old time Pantomime,

SIGNS IN THE

DARK

This anthology on Radio HRİ tonight, 10.10 for Christmas Ere was first broadcast a year ago. It tells the story in verse end rousic from"all over the world 0% the arrival

Christ

On earth. Richard Marquand reads the Bible

6.30

ge.

quences, while the other read- are Derek Hogg, Ted Thomas and the producer of the serialised programmes Patricia Penn..

Double quartet

SERVICES

Radio Hongkong is broadcast- the Midnight Mass from the Ro- man Catholic Cathedral on Christmas Eve, and on Christ- mas Day itself the Service from the Anglican Cathedral of St.

At 7.30 pm on Boxing Day, Mr Donald Fraser directs a vocal recital by a double quarte, The programme, on Commerical kadio, is a viled one or not well-known Christmas Music. John

ANYBODY HERE SEEN CHRIST?

Christmas, they say, is not what it used to be, what with all this commercialism and the mani- fold pressures of 20th century life which oblige as year after year to bay bigger and better presents, to send more and more cards, to more and more people-many of whom we hard- ly know and could care about even less.

What has happened to Christ- mas? Is it less 'Christmas than It used to be? How far down, under all the holly and the ivy, the tinsel, the food and drink and the endless round of 'gay' parties we'd really rather not have been asked to how

far

"Anybody

under all this lie the vestiges Tonight at 8.30 in of a Christian religious festival? Here Seen Christ?" you'll hear Radio HK's Patricia Penn the views of a Methodist munts- has been around with a tapeter, a Jesuit recorder priest, a non-

inviting Hongkong for their observations teacher, people in Christian Chinese, a mother, a and: the Anglican on Christmas in the context Bishop of Hongkong, the of 20th century materialisın. Rev. R. O. Hall,