大象传媒

Norman Collins (centre) Controller, 大象传媒 Television and Philip Dorte, Head of Television Outside Broadcasts and Films, chatting to one of the television cameramen (possibly Steven Wade) at the Empire Pool, Wembley, at the 1948 Olympic Games.

With the 大象传媒 Television Service barely up and running, following its wartime closure, covering the London 1948 Olympic Games posed a major challenge to the 大象传媒. Radio was still king, and televised events could not be seen outside the immediate London area. Producers, camera operators, and others recall how they coped with a tiny budget and pre-war equipment.

William Cave, Work Experience

William Cave was on Work Experience between University and National Service

Given almost free reign to try out any aspect of television he wanted, William was seconded to the London 1948 Olympic Games coverage when he was just 21. He was even allowed to operate the cameras!

Steven Wade, Camera Operator

Steven Wade was a Camera Operator. He recalls how new everyone was to working in television.

Duncan Anderson, Camera Operator

Duncan Anderson was a Camera Operator at the 1948 Olympics. In this archive clip, Duncan demonstrates some of the quirks of the pre-war cameras on which the London 1948 Olympic Games were televised.

Alan Chivers, Producer

Alan Chivers, Producer at the 1948 Olympics, recalls how TV coverage was surprisingly sophisticated, despite the lack of resources following the war, but it was not without its tense moments.

Seymour Joly de Lotbiniere, Head of Outside Broadcasts

Thought to be the only person in 大象传媒 history to have had the same role on three separate occasions in one career, Seymour Joly de Lotbiniere (known as 'Lobby') was Head of 大象传媒 Outside Broadcasts (OBs) from 1935 until the mid-1950s. A large part of his career coincided with post-war austerity, under 大象传媒 Director-General Sir William Hayley who was tasked with keeping 大象传媒 staff numbers down.

Working with Norman Collins, Controller, 大象传媒 Television Service, De Lotbiniere pulled off a feat of television production by staging the radio and television OB for the London 1948 Olympic Games. He had already established the art of sports commentary during his pre-war years, so was well placed to craft what was, for 1948, the most ambitious OB yet. De Lotbiniere was interviewed for the 大象传媒 Oral History Collection in 1975, by John Lane.