IN LIFE AS IN THE DANCE : GRACE GLIDES

ON BLISTERED FEET.
---Alice Abrams

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Manic Monday - Miss

IS IT A HIT OR A MISS?

I grew up on TV. It was a novelty, a brand new fad. Would it fly? Would it be a hit or a miss?
Skeptics didn't think it would last.

When "The Hit Parade" came along and we had the Top Forty list, a TV show became very popular in the UK, called "Juke Box Jury," hosted by David Jacobs, but it got it's start here in the US with Peter Potter. I remember hearing the catch phrase, "Will it be a hit or a miss?" as the celebrities would listen to a new single and rate it as a "hit," or "miss." Of course, like any other show, we at home would often disagree with them and that made it fun to watch!

Since I was unable to bring the UTube video over, I have the URL to the very popular theme song that accompanied the UK show, which coincidentally, was produced by Peter Potter (boy, I would've changed my name!). It was extremely popular at the time and reminds me a lot of something by the Ventures. Enjoy the 45's hurtling towards you!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFAbKp4jsPE

The following paragraph is from "I LOVE 1960 TV."

I LOVE 1960 TV
Jukebox Jury - The show in which assorted celebrities rated new single releases a 'hit' or a 'miss' -
began on US Television in 1948 starring Hollywood DJ Peter Potter. It came to the UK in 1959, presented by David Jacobs, but only became a 'hit' itself in 1960. One of the highlights of the show's history was when The Beatles appeared on December 7th 1963. They rated songs by artists including Billy Fury, Elvis Presley and The Swinging Blue Jeans - all of which became hits.
On that night, seven of the Beatles' predictions were right and three were wrong.

17 comments:

Janna said...

LOL! Yes, if my name was Peter Potter, I think I would've wanted to change it too! :)

These sound like fun memories.
Thanks for doing Manic Monday! :)

Gattina said...

I don't know Peter Potter only Harry Potter,to whom you can't escape ! Although I am not interested at all !
I am glad that we had such good music and are from the Beatles and Elvis generation ! Everything you hear today is coming from that time !

Unknown said...

I think Peter Potter would be better than Peter Puller. I met a man with the Puller name once. It was hard to keep a straight face.

We didn't get our first television until around 1966. So I didn't get to see much of the early 60's television.

Good Post.

Nancy Lindquist-Liedel said...

Right now I'm appalled that the old Beatles tunes are being used to sell claptrap. The exuberance, joy and laughter in our collective memories are being replaced by car commercials and that's not good.

Ian said...

I remember a show on my local hard rock outlet called "Thrash it or trash it." I also remember Guns & Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" getting spun on that show for the first time.

Geez. Makes me feel old. Thanks for stopping by my MM!

Ian

Durward Discussion said...

Now that is one tv show I would love to see replayed.

Anonymous said...

This post? Defintiely a hit! :-D)

Crazy Working Mom said...

What an awesome post! :)
When you said Peter Potter, I thought of Peter Pepper...picking all of those pickled peppers. *LOL*

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

(sigh, there's that bestest load of crap spam again. i'm seeing it everywhere i go today. bobby! go away!)

sorry for the rant honey. wonder if peter had a son, maybe he named him harry?

smiles, bee

Anonymous said...

wow, I was a child of the 70's so we always had TV AND color.

Peter Potter--what a funny name. Have a wonderful week, Gracie.

Mo and The Purries said...

Peter Potter met his daughter going to the fair...
Isn't it funny how each generation has things they miss?
I'm having so much fun reading these "missives" this morning!
cheers,
mo

Sandee said...

I still have lots of LP's and 45's. This was great Gracie. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Have a great MM. :)

Linda said...

Believe it or not, I actually don't remember this but then again, I don't remember much early 60's TV at all. I think some of my first TV memories are Saturday morning cartoons!

This sounds like it would have been a fun show, though, and this post is definitely NOT a miss!

Unknown said...

You´re MM entry is definitely a hit, Gracie. I looooove The Beatles - and, although I missed them - the 60s. That´s what my next "Top50" will be themed: THE 60s! I´m already working on it since last Tuesday... interviewing my parents =)

Hope you won´t miss it ;)

Constance said...

I still love the Beatles music, Gracie !
I can't fathom WHY Paul married THAT woman....
Seems to me that he just missed Linda and go nabbed by the first schemer to come along...

Travis Cody said...

That is a little Ventures-esque, isn't it? My mom used to tell us stories of running home from school every day to catch American Bandstand and Mickey Mouse Club.

Great post my dear!

Alice (in BC Canada) said...

Good post... it brings back cool memories from my childhood and the new fangled TV, haha.


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