Clothes-Line
Encyclopedia
Clothes-Line was an early BBC
television programme broadcast live in six parts between 30 September and 3 December 1937. It is notable for being the first television programme dedicated to the history of fashion. It was produced by Mary Adams
, and co-presented by the fashion historian James Laver
and Pearl "Polly" Binder
.
Episode 4 was broadcast on the Tuesday that week rather than the Thursday due to Remembrance Day
falling that Thursday.
.
, and had to stand further back from her easel, the noticeability of her condition caused consternation amongst the BBC. Binder's daughter Josephine was not born until 6 January 1938, almost a month after the last episode aired on 9 December 1937.
which was filmed from the back, giving the illusion of nudity. Binder recollected in her diary that viewers were outraged by this, and wrote in to complain.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television programme broadcast live in six parts between 30 September and 3 December 1937. It is notable for being the first television programme dedicated to the history of fashion. It was produced by Mary Adams
Mary Adams (broadcaster)
Mary Grace Agnes Adams [née Campin] , television producer and programme director, was a producer and administrator in the BBC. She was instrumental in setting up the BBC's television service both before and after World War II....
, and co-presented by the fashion historian James Laver
James Laver
James Laver CBE FRSA was an author, art historian, and museum curator who acted as Keeper of Prints, Drawings and Paintings for the Victoria and Albert Museum between 1938 and 1959...
and Pearl "Polly" Binder
Pearl Binder
Lady Elwyn-Jones née Pearl "Polly" Binder . Author, playwright, stained-glass artist, lithographer, sculptor and a champion of the Pearly Kings and Queens, she was a legendary character who had a lifelong fascination with the East End of London where she settled in the 1920s...
.
Broadcast times
- Episode 1: Clothes-Line, broadcast at 21.20 on Thursday 30 September 1937
- Episode 2: The Sporting Woman, broadcast at 21.20 on Thursday 14 October 1937
- Episode 3: Fossilized Clothes, broadcast at 21.15 on Thursday 28 October 1937
- Episode 4: Hats and Headgear, broadcast at 21.15 on Tuesday 9 November 1937
- Episode 5: Influences at Work, broadcast at 21.15 on Thursday 19 November 1937
- Episode 6: Grandmamma Looks Back, broadcast at 21.10 on Thursday 9 December 1937
Episode 4 was broadcast on the Tuesday that week rather than the Thursday due to Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
falling that Thursday.
Concept
Clothes-Line illustrated the development of fashion history through live models in original costumes from C. Willett Cunnington's collection. Laver provided verse commentary on the garments, while Binder drew lightning sketches and illustrations at an easelEasel
An easel is an upright support used for displaying and/or fixing something resting upon it.-Etymology:The word is an old Germanic synonym for donkey...
.
Pregnancy on the show
In addition to being the first television programme to deal with fashion history, Clothes-Line may well have been the first television programme to feature a heavily pregnant woman. Binder had been pregnant with her first child when discussions for the programme first began, and a conscious decision was made to have her as a presenter. As Binder got closer to her due dateDue Date
Due Date is a 2010 American comedy road film directed by Todd Phillips, co-written by Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland, and Adam Sztykiel, and starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Zach Galifianakis. The film was released on November 5, 2010...
, and had to stand further back from her easel, the noticeability of her condition caused consternation amongst the BBC. Binder's daughter Josephine was not born until 6 January 1938, almost a month after the last episode aired on 9 December 1937.
Controversy
The show's last episode, Grandmamma Looks Back, aired 9 December 1937 caused an unexpected national scandal. Micheline Patton, the actress playing the granddaughter to Nesta Sawyer's grandmother, appeared in a fashionable backless evening dressBackless dress
A backless dress is a dress designed to expose the wearer's back. A backless dress is most commonly worn on formal occasions or as evening wear or as wedding dresses and can be of any length, from a haltertop to a miniskirt-length to floor-length....
which was filmed from the back, giving the illusion of nudity. Binder recollected in her diary that viewers were outraged by this, and wrote in to complain.
Repeats (Clothes Through The Centuries)
The first series was, as with so many early BBC programmes, broadcast live. The controversy of the final episode notwithstanding, it was so well received that it was decided to repeat the programme in early 1938. Laver, Binder, Adams, Patton and Sawyer all returned to reprise their roles for the second (revised) version, which consisted of three parts, and was renamed Clothes Through The Centuries. The episode titles were:- Episode 1. Grandmamma Looks Back, broadcast at 21.10 on Sunday 10 April 1938
- Episode 2: The Sporting Girl, broadcast at 21.10 on Monday 2 May 1938
- Episode 3: Legendary Loveliness from Nefertiti to Lily Langtry, broadcast at 22.00 on Friday 3 June 1938