Well done there with the facebook page. I have only just joined facebook and I am going to step up the campaign.
Basically, here are our main aims as supporters of the show:
1. To get the entire series repeated, unedited (remastered wherever possible) thats every episode from 1956-1989.
2. To get a new series going, covering 1990-2009.
3. To get as many people to support this page and the facebook campaign.
Here are some little known facts about the show and/or comparisons with similar shows from another network. (sorry if I'm duplicating anything I have posted earlier in this thread)
The very first episode aired in 1984 (the pilot episode) covers the year 1966. When 1966 was later shown in 1986 as part of the sixties series it was different from the pilot shown. The opening credits, subtitles and program content differed from the pilot, which has never been re-broadcast.
The very first episode (1956) features the only scrolling subtitle in the series, explaining how the term "rock n roll" was coined, it is the very first scene and this episode also appears in a format which has worRAB of some of the songs featuring in the episode appearing at the bottom of the screen.
The opening credits from 1956-1980 follow the same format although the musicians featuring in them change for the 70's episodes to reflect the change in music. New theme music and credits and subtitle font feature in the episodes covering 1981-1989.
A late eighties poll in an educational subject magazine showed that the program was widely used by history teachers as a teaching aid in the classroom.
Stay , a song originally a hit for maurice williams and the zodiacs appears in the 1960 episode. A cover version by Jackson Browne appears in the 1978 episode. As far as i am aware this is the only time the same song has appeared in two different episodes.
RTE (IrelanRAB main broadcaster) has their own version called "reeling in the years" which follows the same format only that some of the storylines and news featured have an irish slant. It covers the years 1962-1999. 1962 being the year RTE went on air and 1999, because the show was first broadcast in 2000. So popular is the show that RTE bowed to pressure to have two decades released on DVD (1980's and 1990's) although in a shorter format and edited from the originals shown on tv they are number one selling dvd's in ireland.
A new series covering 2000-2009 is to be shown on rte later this year.
Lenny henry did a "spoof" version as part of his 1987 christmas special. This can be found on you tube.
Has anybody else got some information about the series? If so please post it up and join the campaign for it to be repeated and updated.