People love this woman’s nostalgic monologue on the early days of television
When a reporter is sent out to gather some vox pops – opinions of the ordinary person in the street – it usually results in multiple soundbites or some choice refusals, but when this woman was asked about television, she provided a five-minute social history. Watch the clip and you’ll see why people are loving it so much.
#OnThisDay 1977: Thanks for the Memory – The Viewer's View asked people what they thought about television.
This woman was likely approached for a snappy vox pop, but ended up delivering something closer to a dramatic monologue. Fantastic stuff. pic.twitter.com/vzQTAe3ujz
— BBC Archive (@BBCArchive) July 31, 2019
“What’s so marvellous about Superman? He actually flew – not like today.”
Since the clip was reposted on its 42nd anniversary, the unnamed woman has achieved legendary status, and these comments show exactly why.
1.
This incredible woman, spontaneously giving her thoughts about television to a BBC crew in 1977, without break, pause or prompt, is one of the greatest bits of character work I've ever seen in my life. https://t.co/isHakW2f7t
— SĂ©amas It Ever Was (@shockproofbeats) July 31, 2019
2.
This is just SO lovely. And very #callthemidwife, albeit seventies. Oh, and all mums had headscarves in those days. All of them. 🙂 https://t.co/jolGBpQ5im
— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) July 31, 2019
3.
Sheer poetry. One for you, @alicelowe , I think… https://t.co/IfnqeYn4zZ
— Robert Popper (@robertpopper) July 31, 2019
4.
On TV: "It's like the eighth wonder of a world… it was so new some of the highbrow programmes, we accepted them but it aroused our curiosity." https://t.co/xMiHKnBY2e
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) July 31, 2019
5.
This is wonderful. What an accent. What a raconteur. https://t.co/RGDdlO72lQ
— Kit de Waal (@KitdeWaal) July 31, 2019
6.
Alan Bennett wishes he wrote this. https://t.co/XAvNCEX0wu
— Gary Dunion (@garydunion) July 31, 2019
7.
I like the bit where she says people were installing tv aerials on the roof when they didn’t actually own a television- to make them look more upmarket in the neighbourhood. That’s incredible. The drive to differentiate your status from the rest of the local herd is very powerful
— Reginald Iain de Crawford-Griffin (@regcrawford3) July 31, 2019
Actor, Owen Brenman, hit on something about her delivery.
This is fascinating. She is so articulate and succinct that it feels like she's been waiting for this opportunity for some time. https://t.co/R643aiWh5x
— Owen Brenman (@owenbrenman) August 1, 2019
If anybody knows who she is, we’d love an update.
Source: BBC Archive
