ABC Television - Teddington

ABC Teddington - 1960

On the set of "Steamboat Shuffle", a Mississippi riverboat on the Thames, moored at the back of ABC Television Studios, Teddington. As an 11-year old I was invited to join the crew for a 'taping' of the show. I think the girl, lower deck and right of the camera, is Elaine Delmar - waiting for her cue.
But who is the cameraman?

UPDATE! Please see bottom of page

The photo above has come to light after some cupboard clearing out!

I was desperate, at the age of 11, to become a TV cameraman. A short bike ride away was ABC Television Studios at Teddington and I had seen an old Mississippi River boat moored at the back of the studios. It was used for a Saturday evening series called "Steamboat Shuffle". As I was so keen, I went over on the following Saturday, to watch proceedings from the opposite bank of the river. Imagine my disappointment to find nothing happening! I wrote to ABC, to find out when the show was recorded. The letter was posted on Sunday afternoon and by return, on Tuesday, I received a letter from a guy called George Spackman. It was inviting me to a "..taping.." of the show that afternoon. I was to report to ABC reception at 2:30 and was given to the above camerman to look after me. I was SO excited!

That visit confirmed my wish to be a cameraman, a wish that, a few years later, came true - for a while! I just became the right age as ABC and Rediffusion 'merged' so my letter to ABC came to nothing. I also wrote to Southern Television and ATV - still no joy. A year later, and with almost suitable GCEs under my belt, I was accepted by BBC TV as a Technical Operator on Cameras. That lasted a short while but I was no good at 'Dolly Operating' (Crane driving to the too young to remember!) and I also found Sound much more interesting. I changed over and spent the rest of my career working my way up to Senior Sound Supervisor at TV Centre.

A question - does anyone know the name of the cameraman in the picture? On Usenet I have seen notes from people who were at ABC around that time so maybe someone knows who it is. I was very young when we met on the backlot at ABC and probably didn't fully appreciate the effect that visit had on this little boy, even though ABC/Rediffusion later rejected me! He allowed me to take the picture on my 'Brownie 127' and I'd quite like to thank him for taking the time and trouble to explain the job to me. The picture was taken 45 years ago so I would guess that he has now retired. Did he stay in the business? If you can name him or provide contact details, I'd be glad of an e-mail to:

The excellent website www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk also included my picture and a name has been confirmed. It turns out to be Ronnie Baxter, later to be the Producer/Director of a large number of the great ITV comedies, including "Rising Damp". The photo was seen by his son. Little did I know at the time.....! Thank you Ronnie.