RTS Orchestra - Rufino Soliano

George Favacho sent in a picture of 

Talentime-Xmas-1967-POST-PRODUCTION-FAMILY-PIC

which was produced at the Caldecott Hill Studios.

I recognise Steven Lee and George and Rufino  Soliano and Ahmad Jaffar in the picture. For those who are viewing this picture please write in and tell me more of the others in the picture.
For information Rufino who was also leader of the RTS Orchestra celebrates his 80th Birthday this week. Happy Birthday. Those were the Days!

DAB switch off

 MediaCorp's Digial Audio Broadcasting (DAB) service switch off from 1 Dec

 News from Channel News Asia. For more click
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1162810/1/.html
"Digital radio services over MediaCorp's airwaves are set to end.

Come December 1, MediaCorp will discontinue its Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) service which was widely seen as the "replacement technology" for FM radio more than a decade ago.

MediaCorp was the first broadcaster in South East Asia to offer digital radio, which was launched in November 1999.

However, the effectiveness and reach of DAB was soon overtaken by technology which offered listeners a wider range of convenient access to radio alongside the FM services such as online streaming as well as mobile phone apps.

In a statement, MediaCorp also noted that the growth in DAB listenership remained stagnant against the rapid uptake for Internet radio and the MeRadio phone app....."


Comment:  For those cars and homes equipped with DAB only set, you may sell it on the internet. Countries such as United Kingdom and Australia have adopted different verson of DAB

Old TV Show Clips

JUST CLICK ON A DATE AND SIT BACK AND ENJOY..
This is great for those who lived through the 50’s here are old TV shows to bring back memories.
It is kind of nostalgic to see old videos with golden oldies. Some of the TV shows were on RTS (now MediaCorp) channels in the early 60s and 70s from  black and white to colour TV days. The shows were telecast from the play-out studios at Caldecott Hill.


1.  JACKIE GLEASON ON THE ROCKY MARCIANO SHOW THE MAIN EVENT (1960)
2.  JAMES DEAN: HIS FINAL TV APPEARANCE (1954) 
3.  ELVIS SINGS BLUE SUEDE SHOES (1956) 
4.  A TRIBUTE TO ELVIS PRESLEY, THE KING OF ROCK & ROLL (1959-62) 
5.  THE EDSEL INTRODUCED ON NBC (1957) 
6.  BOBBY DARIN'S "MACK THE KNIFE" (1959) 
7.  WESTINGHOUSE DEBUTS HI-TECH "ADVANCED TV" (1951)
8.  WILLIAM BENDIX AS LOVABLE CHESTER A. RILEY (1956) 
9.  ICONS I: WHAT MADE 50'S TV GOLDEN (COMPILATION, (1952-60) 
10.  THE PATTI PAGE SHOW (1958)
11. BLOOPERS FROM THE HONEYMOONERS (1957-58)
12.  THE CENSORED JERRY LEE LEWIS HERE UNCENSORED! (1957-59)
13.  A TRUE 50's DOO WOP TV CLASSIC (1958)
14.  FAMILY AFFAIR (1966)
15.  ALAN FREED'S BIG BEAT DANCE PARTY DANCERS (1959)
16.  THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW (1957)
17.  The Inventor Of TV Sketch Comedy ERNIE KOVACS (1954)
18.  THE RED SKELTON SHOW (1959)
19.  ICONS: THE DELINQUENCY RAMPAGE! (COMPILATION, 1957-60)
20.  FATHER KNOWS BEST (1953)
21.  PETTICOAT JUNCTION (1962)
22.  OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST BOB MATTHIAS (1956)
23.  DANCES OF THE 1950's: THE HAND JIVE (1957)
24.  GROUCHO MARX YOU BET YOUR LIFE (1959)
25.  DRAGNET (1959)
26.  THE IMMORTAL MUSICAL COMEDY OF VICTOR BORGE 1951
27.  EDDIE FISHER SINGS A MEDLEY OF HIS BIGGEST HITS 1953
28.  ABBOTT & COSTELLO: WHO'S ON FIRST? 1951
29.  MORE DANCES OF THE 1950's THE JITTERBUG 1958
30. THE HONEYMOONERS ... IN COLOR! 1969
31.  THE ORIGINAL FLASH GORDON SERIAL theatres-1939; TV-1960's
32.  THE LONE RANGER 1955
33.  THE ENDEARING GRIMACES OF EDDIE CANTOR 1952
34.  BOBBY DARIN NERVOUSLY HOSTS A BEAUTY CONTEST 1957
35.  MORE DANCES OF THE 1950's: THE LINDY HOP 1959
36.  SHAKE, BABY, SHAKE!  IT'S THE KILLER AGAIN! 1958
37.  THE DANNY THOMAS SHOW 1958
38.  SID CAESAR: YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS 1957
39.  HERE COMES TOBOR! 1954
40.  THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN 1954
41.  THE ADVENTURES OF FLIPPER 1964
42.  SPIKE JONES 1951
43.  CAPTAIN VIDEO & HIS VIDEO RANGERS 1950
44.  THE LIBERACE SHOW 1952
45.  MEDIC 1954
46.  THE BIG VALLEY 1965
47.  THE ROOTS OF TV BASEBALL 1950-57
48.  Mc HALE'S NAVY 1962
49.  HOPALONG CASSIDY 1952
50.  DARK SHADOWS 1966
51.  FADS & FANCIES OF THE 50s &     60s
52.  I LOVE LUCY 1952
53.  THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW 1962
54.  THE BEATLES FIRST TELEVISION APPEARANCE 1963
55.  BAT MASTERSON 1958
56.  MARTY ROBBINS ON THE JOHNNY CASH SHOW 1964
57.  FRANK SINATRA SPEAKS CANDIDLY 1954
58.  PASSWORD 1962
59.  STAR TREK TV ON DEMAND 1966-present
60.  MORE DANCES OF THE 50's: THE SWINGBACK 1958
61.  THE LIVE TV FRIDGE COMMERCIAL CATASTROPHE 1954
62.  THE ARTHUR GODFREY SHOW 1957
63.   BUILDING THE 1958 DODGE 1957
64.  FIGHT CLASSIC: ROCKY MARCIANO vs. JERSEY  JOE WALCOTT 1952
65.  AND MORE GREAT ICONS OF THE 50's VOL III 1952-59
66.  ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS 1959
67.  SATURDAY NIGHTLIVE~~ BEFORE SNL 1954-58
68.  FELIX THE CAT 1959
69.  THE DONNA REED SHOW 1958
70.  THE GOLDBERGS 1952
71.  LUCILLE BALL & CAROL BURNETT 1965
72.  THE LITTLE RASCALS 1955
73.  HIGHWAY PATROL 1956
74.  LOST IN SPACE 1966
75.  BEULAH 1951
76.  BEWITCHED 1966
77.  I DREAM OF JEANIE 1966
78.  SEA HUNT 1957
79.  DYNAMITE JOE RINDONE 1954
80.  THE MILTON BERLE SHOW 1957  




The above info is contributed by TT Goh

Rest in Peace Ananda

Below is information from CNA and a note from George Favacho (writing from Perth) on the sad news that Ananda Perera has passed away.

"Dear COT Friends,

It is indeed very sad to hear of the Passing of our Dear Colleague Ananda Perera last Wednesday.

I personally will miss a very dear work colleague. I will always treasure the many Laughs and Fun we had together at our BBC TV Training in Shephards Bush, UK in 1972.

Ananda came to our COT Gathering on 23rd February 2011 ...  and it was especially lovely to re-new our contact there after a lapse of 35 odd years! Below is my last photo taken of Ananda, see here with CHAN HENG WING, LIM BENG HOON & DAPHNE HONG

If any of you will attend his Funeral this Sunday, please convey on behalf of COT our sincere condolences to Lalitha, his Children and Family.

Rest in Peace Ananda!"

 George Favacho

From Channel News Asia

"Ex-news director Perera leaves behind wealth of memories
By S Ramesh | Posted: 30 September 2011 1840 hrs 

SINGAPORE: He is known as someone who would not miss his TV news bulletins - this best sums up the passion that the former Director of News of the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Ananda Perera, had for his craft.

Mr Perera died on Wednesday after a battle with lung cancer.

As friends and former colleagues paid their respects, the family requested for privacy - a wish of Mr Perera, the private man.

But for the many who had worked with him, he leaves behind a wealth of fond memories.

"He is very approachable and whenever I was outdoor shooting at location, he will make it a point to come talk to me about all the problems," said Aminuddin Abu, principal cameraman, MediaCorp.

Lee Foong Ming, Chief Editor of Radio News, and VP of 938LIVE, MediaCorp, said: "He had very high standards for the newsroom and as a rookie broadcast journalist, he was the standard I was familiar with. But what I remember of Ananda is his very resonant beautiful broadcaster's voice, and whenever he spoke I would automatically listen - not because he was the boss, but his voice has a lot of authority and he was the embodiment of the power of what the spoken word can be, the impact of that voice."

Others remember him for his ready smile and ability to tell a good story that touches the heart.

"His laughter, his joy for life, his incredible ability to capture the human condition in film - that is something Ananda was very strong at," said Chan Heng Weng, a former TV producer who worked with Mr Perera.

"Ananda was working at a time when News and Current Affairs was very different from now. We saw ourselves as trying to explain the development polices of a new government to a population and try to help the government to bring these ideas, very complex ideas, asking people to make sacrifices in the 70s when challenges abound."

Mr Perera's documentaries have bagged the Asian Broadcasting Union's awards three times. One of them, Addiction - Three Experiences in 1974, was a touching story of drug addicts.

"In particular, he observed and asked to film the cremation of one of the addicts who died from his addiction. It was very important to him because it always reminded him the death of his mother. For him, it was very personal to watch the process, he filmed it. That became a very dramatic ending to this documentary film," said Chan.

Mr Perera's funeral will be held on Sunday."

Ananda (third from right)showing the Sri Lanka President the Auto-Cue System

 Ananda rose from the rank and file starting as a floor manager and to the top job in the news division. I worked with him when he was producer for the National Day Parades and the Prime Ministers Speech and Rally. He was very professional in his field of work and his relationship with those who worked with him was always cordial and jovial. Ananda gave a short speech during the COT gathering in Febuary this year and he was cheerful and looked healthy. It is very sad to hear of his passing. Rest in Peace Ananda. 
-philip tay

Some pictures of yesteryears

George is in town for the Formula One! He has asked Auntie Lucy to organise a COT get-together. It will happen on Monday 12 noon. As we do not want uninvited guests please call Lucy for details or you can email me at tay.philip@gmail.com or George at gfavacho@gmail.com.
Meanwhile George has sent the materials below to let us remember  "those were the days" 

MediaCorp's New Complex

News from CNA MediaCorp

“SINGAPORE: The Republic's leading media company MediaCorp announced on Friday that it has selected DP Architects and Maki and Associates as the architects of its new campus, which will be located at Mediapolis@one-north.

MediaCorp first announced its relocation to a 1.5ha site in Mediapolis@one-north in December last year.

Following a selection process, the design presented by Singapore-based DP Architects and Tokyo-based Maki and Associates was chosen "for their ability to meet operational needs, the seamless public engagement connectivity and their experience in designing media facilities around the world", MediaCorp said in a press release.

Collectively, the team has built iconic structures including Resorts World Sentosa, Republic Polytechnic, Japan's TV Asahi Headquarters, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Arts and Sciences Building (MIT Media Lab), as well as the upcoming New York World Trade Center Tower 4.

MediaCorp CEO Shaun Seow said: "Beyond building an efficient and functional working environment, our vision for the new campus is to incorporate fun, collaborative and exciting spaces for staff and members of the public to enjoy. We want the new complex to act as a catalyst to the cultural and media development of Mediapolis." ..For more please see http://channelnewsasia.com
- At last it is happening . The project to move started 20 years ago. I remember Cheng Tong Fatt, Albert Hong, Mrs Wong and Management Team made study tours to Canada, Japan and USA to look at how others plan and build their new complexes. The current building in 1966 was not that old then but the decision was taken to free the land possibly for good class bungalows and the location of a broadcasting complex on Caldecott was somehow a misfit. Over the years many sites were explored including the old World Trade Centre, Bugis Junction area and Changi Business Park as well as Bukit Batok. Chairmen came and went and eventually with Teo Ming Kian on board a firm decision was made to move to Mediapolis instead of Bukit Batok as earlier announced.

75 Years of Radio

RADIO

info from ChannelNewsAsia

"It was a night of glitz and glamour at the Capella on Sentosa on Tuesday as MediaCorp Radio celebrated its 75th anniversary with a gala dinner.

And, it was nothing short of a starry night with radio's biggest personalities - past and present - celebrating the diamond jubilee.

MediaCorp Radio started out with just one radio station at Empress Place in 1936.

Today, MediaCorp operates 13 FM stations.

Overall, there are 18 FM stations in Singapore now.

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister of Information, Communications & the Arts, who graced the event, paid tribute to Radio saying it has stayed resilient all these years.

And he's confident that in tandem with the changing media landscape, Radio will adapt and stay exciting to listeners.

Dr Yaacob said: "I believe MediaCorp has done a good job in reinventing Radio .

"Stations and deejays have built up a faithful following and even have presence across media platforms and live shows, giving an added boost in reaching out and keeping the conversation alive even after the music fade."

Mr Shaun Seow, CEO of MediaCorp, said: "American songwriter Bob Dylan once said radio makes hideous sounds. The (late) 38th US president Gerald Ford remarked he listened to a lot of baseball onradio.

"So whether you're a radio fan like Ford or a hater like Dylan, guess what, radio is alive and kicking at 75 years.

"75 long years and radio rocks!"

Mr Seow also paid tribute to those who have contributed to Radio 's success.

"I value even more very special people who have made this all possible, my dedicated radio team........................................................." for more read at CNA

(In my 43 years there I spent most of my time in the TV Engineering Department but had opportunity to manage the radio engineering facilities for a few years. During these few years i met with nice people like Brian Richmond and the late Steven Lee and Vernon Palmer. During the later years when they were about to call it day at Caldecott Hill Vernon and Steven were our regular lunch kakis. I missed the jokes (original ones) from both of them which never failed to make my day.....)

Note: Picture shows a visit 42 years ago by VIPs at the early short wave and medium wave radio broadcasting station in Jurong. In subsequent years transmission technology was replaced by FM and the site at Jurong given way to HDB estate.