Granadaland: Histories and Memories of Granada TV in the North West of England, 1954-1990

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Granadaland

1956-1990Stephen Kelly & Judith Jones

An Oral History

2016 is 60th

anniversary of

Granada

Working with

Manchester Centre for

Regional History at

MMU.

Grant from Granada

Foundation

Interviewing wide

range of staff and jobs

Building on our oral

history of Coronation

Street

Janice Finch

Researcher and

Producer, local

programmes and World

In Action, 1984-1999

‘How Granada got its

name’

‘Granada Television

is the finest TV

company in the

world,

New York Times.

Started by Sidney

Bernstein, transmitting in

1956 to whole of the north

Between 1956 & 1990

considered one of most

innovative TV companies in

world

After 1990 Broadcasting

Act, television fragments

No longer exists – just part

of ITV

Sandy Ross

Granada 1976-86

Started at GTV as a

Researcher, later

Producer

Later Programme

Controller and Managing

Director, Scottish

Television

‘The best television

company in the world!’

What has been

done so far

Recorded older

memories first

Looking at wide range

of roles

Conducted 12 detailed

interviews so far

Still many more to do

Keen to source other

memorabilia like

photos and scripts

Frank Clarke

Accounts Clerk

Joined Granada April 1956

and worked there until

1988

‘The start of Granada TV’

Major areas to emerge

The changing technology, nature and culture of television

Significance of ‘Northern-ness’ to Granada, and Granada’s importance to the region

‘Paternalistic’ nature of the company

Pride in unique programmes and talent

Management style encouraged innovation and was supported by generous budgets

Bonding/Canteen and Old School/Stables bars

Employment practices

The Concept of Granadaland

Regional identity and strong output.

Northern presenters: Bob Greaves, Tony Wilson, Brian

Trueman, Michael Parkinson, Roger Blythe, Anna Ford.

Quirky northern documentaries

Prominence of Quay Street building

Importance to the local economy

Brian Trueman

Granada Presenter, 1957

until 1983

‘Granadaland passports!’

Regional OutputStrong lineup of local programmes

Granada Reports (formerly Scene At Six Thirty) – daily half hour news/magazine programme

Reports Politics – weekly local politics half hour

Reports Extra – weekly local, quirky half hour

This Is Your Right – local consumer/rights programme

Kick Off – local Sunday football highlights

Religious service every Sunday

The

Company

Granada was a paternalistic

company - ‘Felt like a family’

Employees were well

rewarded - hours were long

‘Club’ atmosphere.

Production teams bonded

Left-wing & not ashamed of it

Employees proud of the

company and its

programmes

Many still talk of it as being

‘the best job and best

company in the world’

June Buchan

Secretary, London and

Manchester, 1975-1990

later Production Assistant

‘A family firm’

Respect for

Management

Sidney Bernstein,

Chairman of Granada

Group

Cecil Bernstein

Denis Forman,

Chairman of GTV

David Plowright,

Managing Director

Mike Scott,

Programme Controller

Roland

Coburn

Film Editor, Granada, 1972-

2009

‘Sir Denis Forman’

Why Was Granada So Unique

?

Range of programmes:-

Dramas - Brideshead Revisited, Jewel In The Crown, Cracker, Coronation Street

Innovative current affairs - World In Action, Union World, Granada Election 500, What the Papers Say

Documentaries - Birmingham Six, Disappearing World, Seven Up

Music - Beatles, Johnny Cash, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Blues at Chorlton Station

Brian Trueman

Granada Presenter, 1957

until 1983

‘The Beatles and the

Rolling Stones’

Unearthing

talent

• Michael Parkinson

• Brian Trueman

• Paul Greengrass

• Lord John Birt

• Anna Ford

• Dame Margaret Beckett

• Jack Straw

• Michael Apted

• Sir Jeremy Isaacs

• Sarah Lancashire

• Richard Madeley

• Tony Wilson

Bonding

The Canteen (known as the

Cannie)

The Stables – a theatre, then

bar – later The Old School

Roland

Coburn

Film Editor, Granada, 1972-

2009

‘The Granada Canteen’

Trade Unions

Unions strong throughout commercial television sector

Everyone had to be a member – closed shop in most

areas

Strict demarcation rules and working practices

Employment

Practices Well rewarded – salaries,

expenses

Excellent training for technical staff but not production staff

Good promotion opportunities

Ethnic minorities hugely unrepresented

Gender – women in certain roles

Wallen

Matthie

Joined Granada 1981 as

a Researcher, left 1997

‘Numbers of ethnic

minorities’

Ann Lewis

Secretary, 1970-78

Now a journalist and

filmmaker

‘Sexism in the workplace’

Where Next?

Apply for further funding

Put together a team of

volunteers

Collect memorabilia

Collect photographs

Set up a dedicated website

Tony Wilson – a great

Mancunian

S

Granadaland

1956-1990Stephen Kelly & Judith Jones