Collection of Ephemera from BBC children's television series 'Play School', c 1977. Includes art work, records, annuals and a copy of the script for the first and last episodes.
'Play School' was broadcast every weekday morning on the BBC from 1964 to 1988. Its format, aimed at pre-school children, remained almost unchanged: songs, dances, dressing up, pets, films of the outside world 'seen' through one of three windows, and the real stars of 'Play School' - the toys.
The 'Play School' toys were Humpty (a plush version of the nursery rhyme character Humpty Dumpty), teddies Big Ted and Little Ted, ragdoll Jemima, and plastic doll Hamble (replaced by Poppy in the mid 1980s).
BBC TV 'Play School' poster, showing toys and puzzles, red background
BBC TV 'Play School' metric studio plan TC7, 1:50 scale, including designers notes and other handwritten details:
Production date 15.6.86
Director Jane Tarleton
Designer and plan drawn by Owen Evans
Sun AM Recording, Wednesday's Programme, project no. 1/ICHP772T
BBC TV Design Department 'Play School' stock set drawing, including drawings of 'Playschool' windows and other set furniture, handwritten notes on construction of items and lists of materials, 1/2" - 1'0" scale. Other handwritten details include:
Director Anne Goby
Designer and drawn by V Warrender, B Gosnow
Production number 3351/3028
BBC TV Design Department 'Play School' set furniture drawing with instructions for refurbishment of various items, including drawings of 'Play School' windows, frame, pen, stock blocks and four poster bed, with handwritten painters notes, 1/2" to 1'0" and 1" to 1'0" scale. Other handwritten details include:
Date drawn 11/12/70
Director Michael Cole
Designer Louise Vanson
Drawn by Mary Spencer
Production number 3350/3151
Photograph of a clock from BBC TV programme 'Play School'. The clock is comprised of a white box with white clock face mounted on a green cog, a yellow cog underneath and a platform with a grass base and a toy soldier.
Photograph of presenters and toys from BBC TV programme 'Play School'. The five presenters are stood behind white and multi-coloured piece of scenery in the form of the word 'PLaY', with five toys sat on top of the letters 'L' and 'a'.
Photograph of presenters and toys from BBC TV programme 'Play School'. The five presenters are stood behind white and multi-coloured letter scenery which are mostly out of shot, with five toys sat on top of the letters. Four strips of hook-and-loop fastener applied to the reverse.
BBC records "Bang on a Drum, Songs from Play School & Play Away" in sleeve, REC 242, 33 1/3 RPM. Sleeve design shows Play School toys with a drum kit.
BBC records "Play School, Stories Old and New from BBC TV's daily programme for younger children" in sleeve, RBT 10. Sleeve design shows Play School logo in red on orange background.
BBC records "Play School, The Tale of a Donkey's Tail and other stories" in sleeve, REC 232. Sleeve design shows a red house with a pond and a tree, a hill in the background and various animals and other characters.
Photograph of set from BBC TV programme 'Play School', folded, with piece of lined paper with handwritten note: 'Previous Play School set/ photo'
BBC 2 'Play School' leaflet, with text and images describing the programme, the weekly schedule and the presenters, black and white with some text in pink. Image on the front shows 2 children playing.
Script for BBC 'Play School' programme telerecorded on 14 April 1964 for transmission on 21 April 1964, 11.00 - 11.30am on BBC2, telerecording no. 16/6T/22380, project no. 31/64/1706/7, on light blue paper, stapled top left.
Script for BBC 'Play School' programme telerecorded on 14 April 1964 for transmission on 21 April 1964, 11.00 - 11.30am on BBC2, telerecording no. 16/6T/22380, project no. 31/64/1706/7, on light blue paper, stapled top left.
Script for BBC 'Play School' programme telerecorded on 14 April 1964 for transmission on 21 April 1964, 11.00 - 11.30am on BBC2, telerecording no. 16/6T/22380, project no. 31/64/1706/7, on light blue paper, stapled top left.
Script for BBC 'Play School' programme telerecorded on 14 April 1964 for transmission on 21 April 1964, 11.00 - 11.30am on BBC2, telerecording no. 16/6T/22380, project no. 31/64/1706/7, on light blue paper, stapled top left.
Script for BBC 'Play School' programme telerecorded on 14 April 1964 for transmission on 21 April 1964, 11.00 - 11.30am on BBC2, telerecording no. 16/6T/22380, project no. 31/64/1706/7, on light blue paper, stapled top left.
Letter from Assistant, Young Children's Programmes Television, BBC to Deputy Keeper, Museum of Film Photography & Television, dated 22 November 1988 regarding delivery of plans and photographs of 'Play School' windows, and other photographic material.
Camera script for BBC 'Play School' programme dated 2 March 1988 for transmission on 11 March 1988, 10:30 - 10:50 on BBC1, on light yellow paper, fastened with split pin style paper fastener top left.
Photograph of a studio camera and the clock from BBC TV programme 'Play School', mounted on orange card. The photograph shows a black studio camera pointed at the clock which is comprised of a white box with white clock face mounted on a green cog, a yellow cog underneath and a platform with a grass base and a toy soldier. Printed text at the bottom left of the photograph: 'The Play School Clock'.
Photograph of presenter and set/pieces of scenery from BBC TV programme 'Play School'. The presenter is stood holding a red flag in front of a white and multi-coloured piece of scenery in the form of the word 'PLaY', with green and yellow cubes and two more flags on the presenter's right hand side. Four circles of hook-and-loop fastener applied to the corners on the back.
Photograph of Little Ted from BBC TV programme 'Play School'. Little Ted is seated, wearing a red collar with a bell and holding a wand with a silver star. Next to him is a cut out of a white hat, with pink, orange and green spirals. Five circles of hook-and-loop fastener applied to the back.
BBC TV Play School Annual, hardback. ISBN 0-86227-394-3
BBC TV 'Play School' sheet music book. BBC/EMI Music, 'Bang on a Drum, Songs from Play School and Play Away, From the BBC TV Series, Easy to play Piano Arrangements', published 1973, reprinted 1975. ISBN 01 563 12456 3. Cover shows 'Play School' toys with a drum kit.
Photograph of presenter with an inflatable boat/tent and the set from BBC TV programme 'Play School'. There are white and multi-coloured pieces of scenery in the background in the form of the word 'PLaY' and a clock.
Photograph of three window pieces of scenery from BBC TV programme 'Play School', black and white. The windows are in the shape of a circle, an arch and a square.
Print showing 22 photographs of the set from BBC TV programme 'Play School', black background.
Photograph of set from BBC TV programme 'Play School', black and white, with two holes punches on the left hand side.
Photograph of set from BBC TV programme 'Play School', black and white. The set shows a kitchen space with a sink and pans hanging on the back wall in the centre. On the right there are musical instruments on the wall, and on the left, a clock and the 'Play School' toys sit on a ledge.
Photograph of three windows from BBC TV programme 'Play School', black and white. The windows are in the shape of an arch, a circle and a square with rounded top corners. Inscription on the reverse states BBC copyright photograph.
Photograph of a clock from BBC TV programme 'Play School', black and white. The clock has a circular face set within a house shaped structure, which is on top of a base decorated with circles, semi-circles and triangles. The clock face has protrusions at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 points, each connected to a smaller clock face. There are 2 columns on either side of the house shape, with a track(?) spiralling around each one, meeting in the centre.
Photograph of set from BBC TV programme 'Play School', colour. The set shows a wooden chair in the centre. A display of drawings and paintings is on the wall in the background, with a yellow cabinet below.
Photograph of a clock from BBC TV programme 'Play School', colour. The clock has a white circular face surrounded by transparent/gold leaf shapes. The clock face is on a stem, rising from a grassy platform. On the grassy platform is a toy horse made from rope. Two toys sit on the horse's back.
Photograph of piece of scenery in the form of a pencil pot from BBC TV programme 'Play School', colour. The pencil pot is cuboid in shape and is white with multi-coloured details, containing four pencils. The floor is red and white, the backdrop is blue.
Photograph of piece of scenery in the form of a house shape with a circular window and a rectangle from BBC TV programme 'Play School', colour. The shapes are white with multi-coloured details.
Photograph of scenery in the form of the letters 'P' and 'L' from BBC TV programme 'Play School', colour. The letters are white with multi-coloured details. The floor is red and white, the backdrop is blue. Letters 'a' and Y' appear partially in the background.
Photograph of scenery in the form of a house shape with four windows from BBC TV programme 'Play School', colour. The house shape is white with multi-coloured details. The windows are circular, semi-circular, triangular and square in shape. The floor is red and white, the backdrop is blue.
Photograph of scenery in the form of a window from BBC TV programme 'Play School', colour. The window is red, set within a white and multi-coloured shape. There are some flowers on the right. The floor is red and white, the backdrop is blue.
Three pieces of Kodak Safety Film showing images from BBC TV programme 'Play School', in colour. Each piece of film shows a different view of a dolls house. Each piece of film is in a small paper sleeve, each sleeve is annotated with various handwritten notes. The three sleeves are enclosed within a paper house-shaped folder with 'Play School' and an image of a house printed on one side, 'Time for' and a clock printed on the other. All joined with a paperclip.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a horse and cart on a path, with a man sitting on the cart. They are surrounded by hills and there is a town in the background.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a red and yellow bus with a flat tyre, with three people gathered around it. A man with a horse and cart approaches the bus from the bottom left.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a red and yellow bus with a flat tyre in the background, with three people gathered around it. A child pets a horse with a cart in the foreground.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a horse and cart with lots of children riding in the back of the cart. There are hills and a tree in the background.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a horse and cart at a car garage/petrol station. There are lots of children riding in the back of the cart. Two characters are having a conversation in the foreground.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a horse and cart outside a football playing field, "United Football Club" is written on a sign. There are several children stood around the cart and characters playing football on the field. There are houses, a hill and a tree in the background.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows two characters shaking hands in front of a football playing field and a small red building. Two more characters are going into the building and two others are stood in the goal behind. There are more buildings and a hill in the background.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a football player stretching in front of a goal on a football playing field. Three characters stand nearby, one smoking a pipe. A horse grazes in a field in the background and another character gestures towards the horse. There is a cart behind the horse in the field.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows three characters seated on a bench, the central figure is shouting. Two more characters stand in the background, also shouting. There is a fence behind the characters and a row of houses is in the background.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows various characters playing football on a playing field. There is a goal at the lower left corner. There is another goal and various spectators stood in front of a fence in the background.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows three characters standing in front of a football playing field. Various characters are playing football. The score board says 'United 0 Rangers 0". There is a tree and two houses in the background.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a playing field with various characters and a horse playing football. Various spectators stand behind. In the background there are two buildings and a cart on top of a hill.
Two colour illustrations on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The upper illustration shows a character holding the reins of a horse. In the background are various spectators stood in front of a fence. The lower illustration shows three characters seated on a bench, with a horse stood on the right hand side.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows various characters playing football. There is a goal at the top left of the illustration.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a football player falling to the ground. Two other players stand behind, one holding a cloth to their head. In the background there is a referee blowing a whistle, with two spectators standing either side.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows two characters running across a playing field. There are various spectators and a horse behind. In the background there is a hill and several houses.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a football player lying down on the ground surrounded by various other characters and a horse. One character holds the player's leg and another reaches for the player's head. Another stands behind writing in a notebook.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a football player scoring a goal. A referee is stood on the right blowing a whistle. The goalkeeper dives for the ball in the background. There is a spectator stood beside the goal.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a football player being awarded with a trophy by two charaters. Various other characters and a horse look on from behind. There is a hill, some buildings and a tree in the background.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a group of characters celebrating, including several football players and a horse. One character holds up a trophy.
Colour illustration on grey card from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly from a story called Farmer Parsnip Football Trainer. The illustration shows a horse and cart on a path, with a man sitting on the cart. There is a field on the left with two sheep and a house in the distance. There is a tree and a robin on the right of the image.
Watercolour scene on board showing a farmyard scene with five separate magnetic animals from BBC TV programme 'Play School'. The left of the watercolour shows the setting during the daytime, the right at night. The magnetic animals show a dog, a rooster, a badger, a fox and an owl.
Illustration in two parts of a skyline scene showing a kite and chimneys from BBC TV programme 'Play School', possibly related to a song called 'Chimney Pot Song', with an associated memo on lined paper. The left half of the picture shows a red, yellow and green kite flying above various chimneys. The right half of the picture shows more chimneys, with a bird sat atop one of them.
