Teletext 50: The History of the first 50 years

Teletext50: The Stories

A Byte High No Limit / illarterate co-production

 

In 1974, a brand new technology called teletext was being rolled out. It would, over the next few decades, have far-reaching implications, not only in the UK but worldwide.

 

These are the stories of those involved in the production, restoration and art of the blocky medium that graced UK TV screens until 2012. You’ll hear from the pioneers, those who made teletext tick, and the newcomers keeping the medium alive 50 years after its inception.

 

This is a social record of teletext, and these are the teletext people.

Sonic credits

Sound effects courtesy Pixabay

“Seesaw” by Aretha Franklin, cover by Pixelblip

“Tip Toes” by Myuu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJKeIzPzrWE 

“Waltz For a Cat” by MondayHopes https://pixabay.com/music/introoutro-waltz-for-a-cat-8089/

“Wicked Annabella” by The Kinks, cover by Pixelblip

“Jumping Jack Flash” by The Rolling Stones, cover by Pixelblip

“The Ballad of Sir Clive Sinclair” by Mr Biffo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVnv1tVmmjk 

“The Wozniak Song” by Mr Biffo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZvoFHkmolk 

“Ambient Classical Guitar” by William King https://pixabay.com/music/solo-guitar-ambient-classical-guitar-144998/ 

“Dance Off” by All-rights-reserved https://pixabay.com/music/dance-dance-off-8843/ 

“Long Hot Summer” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, cover by Pixelblip

“Resistance” by Gvidon https://pixabay.com/music/beats-gvidon-resistance-170918/ 

“Orange Juice on the Table” by MondayHopes https://pixabay.com/music/bossa-nova-orange-juice-on-the-table-8024/

“Cognoscenti vs Intelligentsia” by The Cuban Boys (light mashup) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXJ5oaU940U 

“Road to Nowhere” by Grand Project https://pixabay.com/music/dance-road-to-nowhere-long-188064/ 

“A Villain’s Redemption” by Katzen Tupas https://pixabay.com/music/solo-guitar-a-villain39s-redemption-12976/ 

“Bossa Nova Dreams” by HD-Studio https://pixabay.com/music/bossa-nova-bossa-nova-dreams-182163/ 

“Clock Cracker” by Caboose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBcCts2nlbA 

“Road Rash” by Octosound https://pixabay.com/music/rock-road-rash-172665/

“Heroes” by David Bowie, cover by Pixelblip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_HzlaIxnHg 

“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” by Elton John, cover by Pixelblip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ_Ed-d2dD8 

 

The Teletext People

Carl Attrill (Episode presenter)

Mort Smith (Ceefax, Intelfax)

Julie Morton-Smith (Intelfax)

Ian Irving (Ceefax, Intelfax)

Colin McIntyre (Ceefax) - via archive interview from Channel 4

Steve Rosenberg (Intelfax, Russian Teletext, BBC)

Gareth Herincx (ORACLE)

Graham Lovelace (Cee