The Strange World of Gurney Slade
Encyclopedia
The Strange World of Gurney Slade is a British six-part television series made by ATV
which was transmitted by the ITV
network between 22 October and 26 November 1960. A surreal series devised by Anthony Newley
, who also starred, it was written by Dick Hills
and Sid Green
. Unusually for a comedy show, the series was shot entirely on 35mm film; the first three epiodes (bar the opening scene of the series) were shot on location, while the rest of the series was studio-bound.
The series was produced by Alan Tarrant, who directed the series with Newley.
Newley explained at the time: "There is no rhyme or reason for what I do, I merely take life and turn it upside down. We hope to achieve humour without setting out to be deliberately funny." A reputed influence on the early career of David Bowie
, the surrealism of the series was considerably ahead of its time for a 1960 television comedy and it soon proved insufficiently popular with the mainstream audience, resulting in it being moved from primetime to a late-night 'graveyard' timeslot by ITV. Some sources claim that it was moved after the first episode had been broadcast, but the published television schedules of the time indicate that the first two episodes were broadcast at 8.35pm, while episodes 3 through 6 were broadcast at 11.10pm.
An arrangement of the show's theme tune by composer Max Harris
was released on a 7" single together with the "Gurney in Wonderland" theme from episode 1. The single version was later utilised for the "animated clock" sequence on the BBC children's show Vision On
, and may be better known today than the series itself. The piano figure prominent in the recording was lifted (unacknowledged) from Mose Allison
's song "Parchman Farm
".
The Strange World of Gurney Slade was repeated in 1963, and the first episode turned up as part of Channel 4
's TV Heaven
series in 1992. The whole series was released as a Region 2 DVD by Network DVD in August 2011, in spite of a fire at the distribution centre.
The name Gurney Slade is taken from the name of a district (and limestone quarry
) in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England, not far from the city of Wells.
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
which was transmitted by the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network between 22 October and 26 November 1960. A surreal series devised by Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley
Anthony George Newley was an English actor, singer and songwriter. He enjoyed success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting.-Early life:...
, who also starred, it was written by Dick Hills
Dick Hills
Richard Hills was the writing partner of Sid Green , both of whom wrote extensively for Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, for their first starring show Two Of A Kind , for ATV and subsequently the first series of The Morecambe & Wise Show for the BBC...
and Sid Green
Dick Hills and Sid Green
Richard Michael Hills, , and Sidney Green, , were a British partnership of comedy writers, most notable for their work on TV in the 1960s...
. Unusually for a comedy show, the series was shot entirely on 35mm film; the first three epiodes (bar the opening scene of the series) were shot on location, while the rest of the series was studio-bound.
The series was produced by Alan Tarrant, who directed the series with Newley.
Newley explained at the time: "There is no rhyme or reason for what I do, I merely take life and turn it upside down. We hope to achieve humour without setting out to be deliberately funny." A reputed influence on the early career of David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, the surrealism of the series was considerably ahead of its time for a 1960 television comedy and it soon proved insufficiently popular with the mainstream audience, resulting in it being moved from primetime to a late-night 'graveyard' timeslot by ITV. Some sources claim that it was moved after the first episode had been broadcast, but the published television schedules of the time indicate that the first two episodes were broadcast at 8.35pm, while episodes 3 through 6 were broadcast at 11.10pm.
An arrangement of the show's theme tune by composer Max Harris
Max Harris (composer)
Max Harris was a British film and television composer and arranger. He played the piano and piano accordion....
was released on a 7" single together with the "Gurney in Wonderland" theme from episode 1. The single version was later utilised for the "animated clock" sequence on the BBC children's show Vision On
Vision On
Vision On was a British children's television programme, shown on BBC1 from 1964 to 1976 and designed specifically for deaf children. It was conceived and developed by BBC producers Ursula Eason and Patrick Dowling to replace a monthly series For the Deaf, a programme paced slowly enough for...
, and may be better known today than the series itself. The piano figure prominent in the recording was lifted (unacknowledged) from Mose Allison
Mose Allison
Mose John Allison, Jr. is an American jazz blues pianist and singer.-Biography:...
's song "Parchman Farm
Parchman Farm (song)
"Parchman Farm" is the title of a number of songs about Mississippi State Penitentiary, known as Parchman Farm, a hard time prison because of the Trusty system which was later outlawed....
".
The Strange World of Gurney Slade was repeated in 1963, and the first episode turned up as part of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's TV Heaven
TV Heaven
TV Heaven is a series of 13 theme nights shown on Channel 4 in early 1992, celebrating the best of archive British television. Each programme focused on a particular year....
series in 1992. The whole series was released as a Region 2 DVD by Network DVD in August 2011, in spite of a fire at the distribution centre.
The name Gurney Slade is taken from the name of a district (and limestone quarry
Gurney Slade quarry
Gurney Slade quarry, is a limestone quarry near Gurney Slade between Binegar and Holcombe, on the Mendip Hills, Somerset, England.Gurney Slade quarry exhibits pale to very dark grey Carboniferous Limestone overlain by red and purple-coloured Triassic breccias and marls with a small faulted block...
) in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England, not far from the city of Wells.