Fifty years ago (corrected, thanks to Nicky Boy), The Old Grey Whistle Test was launched into late evening BBC2 schedules, with performances from Lesley Duncan and America. Today, the people running BBC Content on the tv front only seem to care about Glastonbury.
In the Radio Times for the launch week, the Saturday saw Shirley Bassey and The Roy Budd Trio on the Harry Secombe Show, leading up to the Last Night of the Proms, and followed by Pentangle on BBC1 Scotland, and Lena Martell for the rest of us. On BBC2 we had 50 minutes of Diana Ross with the Jackson 5.
On the Sunday, Songs of Praise was followed by Morecambe and Wise with the Kenny Ball Jazzmen. BBC2 had an hour with George Solti and Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Edinburgh Festival.
On Monday BBC1 had a late feature, The Anatomy of Pop, introduced by Michael Parkinson, featuring Tony MacAulay, Muff Winwood and John Peel. On Tuesday, the OGWT had no musical competition, and Wednesday was music-free.
Thursday brought 35 minutes of Top of The Pops; Friday evening started on BBC1 with The Partridge Family. In prime-time, a bizarre comedy starring The Bachelors as Irish labourers. Guitarist Paco Pena featured on the BBC2 arts show, Review.
I think you mean 50 years ago, as it finished in 1988 which is 34 years ago.
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