Starlight (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Starlight was an early British
television
programme, one of the first regular series to be shown on the BBC Television Service
in the 1930s. Its first edition was broadcast on 3 November 1936 – the day after the service had officially opened – and it continued to be broadcast until the suspension of television for the duration of the Second World War in 1939.
Following the resumption of BBC television in 1946, Starlight was one of the few pre-war programmes to return, and it ran for a further three years until 1949. A variety show
, the programmes would feature comedians, singers, dancers and various other entertainment acts. One notable edition of the 1930s gave popular singer Gracie Fields
her first ever television appearance.
As with all other BBC
programmes of the time, Starlight was transmitted live
from the studios at Alexandra Palace
. The shows were not recorded, and no material other than still photographs exists for the series today.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programme, one of the first regular series to be shown on the BBC Television Service
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
in the 1930s. Its first edition was broadcast on 3 November 1936 – the day after the service had officially opened – and it continued to be broadcast until the suspension of television for the duration of the Second World War in 1939.
Following the resumption of BBC television in 1946, Starlight was one of the few pre-war programmes to return, and it ran for a further three years until 1949. A variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
, the programmes would feature comedians, singers, dancers and various other entertainment acts. One notable edition of the 1930s gave popular singer Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Dame Gracie Fields, DBE , was an English-born, later Italian-based actress, singer and comedienne and star of both cinema and music hall.-Early life:...
her first ever television appearance.
As with all other BBC
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...
programmes of the time, Starlight was transmitted live
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
from the studios at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
. The shows were not recorded, and no material other than still photographs exists for the series today.