Coronation street

[Aclaret]

Never mind Emmerdale ! This is proper acting.
Happy birthday Corrie.

[timshorts]

Righto. I guess this must be a spurious fishing exercise, so:

Brexit is great.

The tories are great.

Trump is a superhero. Do I not hate orange?

Mrs brown is taking jobs from real women and it is no better than blacking up.

Is that enough to get the thread blocked.

[Steve1956]

Righto. I guess this must be a spurious fishing exercise, so:

Brexit is great.

The tories are great.

Trump is a superhero. Do I not hate orange?

Mrs brown is taking jobs from real women and it is no better than blacking up.

Is that enough to get the thread blocked.

Wrong!....he loves CS and hes showing that love!

[timshorts]

Oh, sorry, Aclaret. I misread the intent there.

[Aclaret]

We all love Corrie, don't we ?

[Bosscat]

We all love Corrie, don't we ?

No spoilers please ... just started watching tonight on catch up

[tiger76]

Never mind Emmerdale ! This is proper acting.
Happy birthday Corrie.

I admire your enthusiasm, but your slightly premature the official anniversary is Wednesday.

I haven't watched Corrie for a couple of years now, but it's a heck of a milestone to reach 60.

[Steve1956]

Last time i watched this absolute rubbish Steve McDonald was about 14...you guys really do watch some shite

[Aclaret]

" heck of a milestone to reach 60 " you're not kidding, I got there a few months back

[ClaretTony]

When Coronation Street first aired

Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister
It's Now Or Never by Elvis Presley was number one
Burnley were reigning league champions

[dougcollins]

I can remember Thelma Barlow being electrocuted by an iron plugged into the light socket.

[ClaretTony]

I can remember Thelma Barlow being electrocuted by an iron plugged into the light socket.

Nearly - it was Anne Reid playing Val Barlow. She eventually appeared in Dinner Ladies with Thelma Barlow who was Mavis Wilton in Corrie.

[Vino blanco]

I remember watching the first episode of Coronation Street 60 years ago. One of the scenes in the Barlow house showed Ken's dad, I think it was, fixing a punctured Tyre on an upturned push bike in the front room. I thought at the time that this was very realistic and actually happened in homes like ours. It was the kind of thing that you didn't normally see on TV at the time and I've got to say I watched the program regularly for many years after that.
I also thought they spoke with strong Northern accents, similar to mine and my friends and family, which again was unusual for TV at the time. I haven't watched it now for some 20 years or so, the whole thing became unbelievable and I now if I catch a glimpse of it for a short time I understand why I stopped watching it.

[ClaretTony]

I remember watching the first episode of Coronation Street 60 years ago. One of the scenes in the Barlow house showed Ken's dad, I think it was, fixing a punctured Tyre on an upturned push bike in the front room. I thought at the time that this was very realistic and actually happened in homes like ours. It was the kind of thing that you didn't normally see on TV at the time and I've got to say I watched the program regularly for many years after that.
I also thought they spoke with strong Northern accents, similar to mine and my friends and family, which again was unusual for TV at the time. I haven't watched it now for some 20 years or so, the whole thing became unbelievable and I now if I catch a glimpse of it for a short time I understand why I stopped watching it.

Remember watching that first episode with my dad and remember Frank Barlow repairing the pucture for his younger son David. Unlike you I still watch it. It's different now but I still enjoy it. On the theme of the northern accents, I have a friend in Ireland who calls me Corrie because he says I sound like them.

[Bosscat]

Wasn't that 1st episode all about a 10 bob note missing from Elsie Tanners purse.....

I was only 2 but am sure I remember it

[ClaretTony]

Wasn't that 1st episode all about a 10 bob note missing from Elsie Tanners purse.....

I was only 2 but am sure I remember it

Dennis had nicked it - also Florrie Lindley's first day at the corner shop. Ena went in for six fancies (no eclairs).

[Vino blanco]

Before Ena asked for her fancies, a woman called Elsie Lappin spoke the first ever words in Coronation Street to Florrie Lindley. I think it was her only ever utterances in the show: little did she know what she was starting.

[tiger76]

Plenty of Burnley-born actors in the cast down the years, including Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole) Irene Sutcliffe (Maggie Clegg) Julia Haworth (Claire Peacock) & Natalie Gumede (Kirsty Soames), I'm sure there's many more.

[Wile E Coyote]

it was positively Shakesperien when stan ogden was involved.

[Bosscat]

Plenty of Burnley-born actors in the cast down the years, including Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole) Irene Sutcliffe (Maggie Clegg) Julia Haworth (Claire Peacock) & Natalie Gumede (Kirsty Soames), I'm sure there's many more.

Burnley Fan Sam Astin (Chesney Brown in Corrie)

[Millertime v1.7]

Put the rod away Aclaret, you'll get a name for yourself. Leave the fishing to Tup and Morag on the banks of Loch Ness. They're trying their hand at fish and chips in the cafe now. The reviews are mixed.

[claptrappers_union]

Always preferred Corrie to the other soaps. I watched every episode.

I liked how they mixed comedy storylines with the serious ones, and how the comical subplots eventually grew into the serious ones months down the line. Lots of in-jokes if you spotted them too. It was quite ‘meta’ at times.

Then one day, for no particular reason about 5 years ago. I just stopped watching it.

[Aclaret]

Put the rod away Aclaret, you'll get a name for yourself. Leave the fishing to Tup and Morag on the banks of Loch Ness. They're trying their hand at fish and chips in the cafe now. The reviews are mixed.

Hope they can catch enough to sell in the cafe, maybe even the big one !
I guess that's what forums are all about Millertime v1.7....different reviews and opinions.

[toooldtobegrumpy]

"Jack, why don't you use Vera's vital statistics on your pools coupon?"
"Too much of a cluster in t' Scottish 2nd division."

[FactualFrank]

I've been watching CS for years, but now nothing happens and storylines are very poor.

Eastenders is the better of the 2, for me, but that's also gone downhill.

[ClaretTony]

Plenty of Burnley-born actors in the cast down the years, including Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole) Irene Sutcliffe (Maggie Clegg) Julia Haworth (Claire Peacock) & Natalie Gumede (Kirsty Soames), I'm sure there's many more.

Kirsty Soames was the one who was abusing Tyrone. She was at school with a member of this message board (jdrobbo) which was in Colne. Julie Haworth lived on Tod Road I think and she was married at St. Stephen's. Some of the Corrie cast were at the wedding including Fred Elliott, I saw Fred Elliott.

[Wile E Coyote]

there was an actress from tod road school as well, kathy Jaimson. shes married to someone from brookside in real life, corkhill was his character in brookside.she was supposedly the daughter of the bloke that ran the rovers with bet gilroy i think.

[ClaretTony]

there was an actress from tod road school as well, kathy Jaimson. shes married to someone from brookside in real life, corkhill was his character in brookside.she was supposedly the daughter of the bloke that ran the rovers with bet gilroy i think.

Kathy Jamieson was in for just a short time as Alec Gilroy's estranged daughter. She and her husband were killed in a car crash which led to their daughter Victoria moving to the Rovers, eventually marrying Steve McDonald.

She's married to John McArdle who played Billy Corkhill in Brookside.

[FactualFrank]

Kirsty Soames was the one who was abusing Tyrone. She was at school with a member of this message board (jdrobbo) which was in Colne. Julie Haworth lived on Tod Road I think and she was married at St. Stephen's. Some of the Corrie cast were at the wedding including Fred Elliott, I saw Fred Elliott.

Yes, Julia lived on Todmorden road, just down from Towneley Golf Club. I remember her parents telling me she'd got the part in Corrie a few weeks prior to appearing on screen as know them well. I think Julia also had her after-wedding gathering at Towneley Hall.

[ClaretTony]

Yes, Julia lived on Todmorden road, just down from Towneley Golf Club. I remember her parents telling me she'd got the part in Corrie a few weeks prior to appearing on screen as know them well. I think Julia also had her after-wedding gathering at Towneley Hall.

The only thing I remember of her wedding is it being at St Stephens and the not pretty view of Oxford Road when you leave the church. There were pics in the BE with Fred dominating them as Fred always did.

[Eyres_11]

Kirsty Soames was the one who was abusing Tyrone. She was at school with a member of this message board (jdrobbo) which was in Colne. Julie Haworth lived on Tod Road I think and she was married at St. Stephen's. Some of the Corrie cast were at the wedding including Fred Elliott, I saw Fred Elliott.

She was at primary school with me - apparently likes to tell people her home town in Manchester - rather than Nelson / Colne

[FactualFrank]

She was at primary school with me - apparently likes to tell people her home town in Manchester - rather than Nelson / Colne

Can't blame her to be fair

I know someone who has lived in Burnley for years, but when he went on Tipping Point and 15 to 1, also said Manchester as he was born there.

[Cirrus_Minor]

I remember my mum being well annoyed in the 60s when we were on holiday in Devon. She overheard some snobby southerners (her words) saying something along the lines of 'have you heard that common family, just sound they have come off Coronation street'.

I tend to see CS a lot since Mrs CM loves it. Some of the story lines are not too bad and the acting has improved over the years. Will not tolerate East Enders though, bloody awful.

[Vintage Claret]

Burnley Fan Sam Astin (Chesney Brown in Corrie)

Sure I remember reading somewhere that Sam Astin wanted to call Cheney's pet Great Dane 'Jensen' (or Beast, or Blake, anyway, some Burnley player) but the producers felt that 'Schmeical' would have more widespread appeal.

There used to be regular 'nods' to Burnley in the programme like the rota of doctors names on a noticeboard in a hospital scene being Austin, Elliott, Eli, etc and Amy McDonald wearing a Burnley shirt to school football practice.

[FactualFrank]

Sure I remember reading somewhere that Sam Astin wanted to call Cheney's pet Great Dane 'Beast' but the producers felt that 'Schmeical' would have more widespread appeal.

There used to be regular 'nods' to Burnley in the programme like the rota of doctors names on a noticeboard in a hospital scene being Austin, Elliott, Eli, etc and Amy McDonald wearing a Burnley shirt to school football practice.

Heard a similar story, but with him wanting to call the dog Jensen.

I remember the board in the hospital.

Burnley is also mentioned now again at the garage with Kevin or Tyrone saying they're picking a car up / call out, to Burnley.

[Bosscat]

Sure I remember reading somewhere that Sam Astin wanted to call Cheney's pet Great Dane 'Beast' but the producers felt that 'Schmeical' would have more widespread appeal.

There used to be regular 'nods' to Burnley in the programme like the rota of doctors names on a noticeboard in a hospital scene being Austin, Elliott, Eli, etc and Amy McDonald wearing a Burnley shirt to school football practice.

David Neilson (Roy Cropper) used to drop Leicester City hints in too (He is a Foxes fan)

[Vintage Claret]

Heard a similar story, but with him wanting to call the dog Jensen

Oh yes, you're right Frank, it was Jensen, cheers, have edited it now

[ClaretTony]

Sure I remember reading somewhere that Sam Astin wanted to call Cheney's pet Great Dane 'Jensen' but the producers felt that 'Schmeical' would have more widespread appeal.

There used to be regular 'nods' to Burnley in the programme like the rota of doctors names on a noticeboard in a hospital scene being Austin, Elliott, Eli, etc and Amy McDonald wearing a Burnley shirt to school football practice.

He wanted to call the dog Blake not Jensen but because it was a Great Dane they said no and went for Schmeichel.

[nil_desperandum]

I tend to see CS a lot since Mrs CM loves it. Some of the story lines are not too bad and the acting has improved over the years.

I really don't think that that's true. The original cast, and those that joined it in the 60s were - in many cases - the top pros of the time, and were very carefully selected.
Nowadays, with far more weekly episodes and consequently far more characters, the standard can be a bit uneven.
Of course, it's quite difficult to make comparisons over 60 years because acting styles and camera work have changed considerably, and don't forget that back in the 60s it went out "live".

[ClaretTony]

I really don't think that that's true. The original cast, and those that joined it in the 60s were - in many cases - the top pros of the time, and were very carefully selected.
Nowadays, with far more weekly episodes and consequently far more characters, the standard can be a bit uneven.
Of course, it's quite difficult to make comparisons over 60 years because acting styles and camera work have changed considerably, and don't forget that back in the 60s it went out "live".

They weren’t the top people back at the start. They were mainly unheard of actors.

[tiger76]

Always preferred Corrie to the other soaps. I watched every episode.

I liked how they mixed comedy storylines with the serious ones, and how the comical subplots eventually grew into the serious ones months down the line. Lots of in-jokes if you spotted them too. It was quite ‘meta’ at times.

Then one day, for no particular reason about 5 years ago. I just stopped watching it.

I used to watch all the soaps avidly, but over the last few years I've gradually found myself watching them less and less, and it's about a year or more since I've viewed any of them, I think part of the reason I feel out of the habit of viewing them was the number of episodes per week, 1-2 episodes a week would suffice, and in my view add to the quality, sometimes less is more.

And in Corrie's case as that's the theme of this thread, they need to return to the comedy more, I'm aware that they want to go for the big drama storylines to grab the headlines, but a lot of the classic Corrie stories revolved more around characters, and everyday situations we can all relate too.

It's only my opinion, but I suspect this is one of the reasons for the fall in ratings.

[nil_desperandum]

They weren’t the top people back at the start. They were mainly unheard of actors.

I respectfully disagree. They weren't well-known TV stars, since they weren't making programmes like this in the 1950s, but they were very experienced actors and actresses - and that was my point. People like Jean Alexander had been doing rep on tour since the 1940s, and the casting directors searched them out, auditioned them and eventually came up with a dream cast.
Doris Speed (e.g.) had parents who were touring performers, and she followed them on stage aged 3 in 1902. She was over 60 when Corrie signed her up.

[ClaretTony]

I respectfully disagree. They weren't well-known TV stars, since they weren't making programmes like this in the 1950s, but they were very experienced actors and actresses - and that was my point. People like Jean Alexander had been doing rep on tour since the 1940s, and the casting directors searched them out, auditioned them and eventually came up with a dream cast.
Doris Speed (e.g.) had parents who were touring performers, and she followed them on stage aged 3 in 1902. She was over 60 when Corrie signed her up.

Doris Speed was a nobody really. She’d worked in rep but had given it up and was working as a typist. Jean Alexander was given a minor part initially but again hadn’t done much.

The best known was Violet Carson who had been on radio with Wilfred Pickles as a pianist.

They were experienced but mainly at a very low level. Tony Warren knew just what he wanted for each part though, particularly the women. They were basically women he’d grown up with.

Corrie was and still is very much about the strong women. Back at the start it was Ena, the wonderful Elsie & Mrs Walker.

[SammyBoy]

I was trying to explain to my Brazilian Mrs the concept of Corrie the other week, and how hyped for “double Corrie” people used to get on certain days. Also gave her the run down on the Richard Hillman storyline which ended with about half the country tuning in

[Wile E Coyote]

strange how youth culture takes over these shows, coronation street had all the strong adult roles, elsie, ena , jack and annie, but as the years rolled by, the storylines had to include inane teen stories. the show lost a lot of its spark. it began copying dross like hollyoaks. puerile nonsense.

[ClaretTony]

Elsie was my all time favourite Corrie character followed by the brilliant Hilda.

[nil_desperandum]

Doris Speed was a nobody really. She’d worked in rep but had given it up and was working as a typist. Jean Alexander was given a minor part initially but again hadn’t done much.

The best known was Violet Carson who had been on radio with Wilfred Pickles as a pianist.

They were experienced but mainly at a very low level. Tony Warren knew just what he wanted for each part though, particularly the women. They were basically women he’d grown up with.

Corrie was and still is very much about the strong women. Back at the start it was Ena, the wonderful Elsie & Mrs Walker.

I don't think we are really disagreeing, just looking at it from a rather a different perspective.
I described them as "top pros" because in the early 60s the bulk of the work was still with the rep companies, not TV, and certainly not "soaps". (You choose to describe this as "low level", which is fair enough, but I would call them "old troupers". They had way more acting experience than most of those who get cast today - and that was really my point. So I was really referring to their professionalism and experience when I used the phrase "top pros", not meaning top"stars". (Should have phrased it better!)
Doris Speed (e.g.) had been working on and off and developing her craft for 60 years, and it is claimed that Tony Warren specifically wrote the role for her. That was what I mean't when I said that I didn't think that the acting had improved in recent years, which was what the other poster claimed.
These actors who had been playing to live audiences for decades knew their stuff / craft, and that's why they fit each character perfectly, and really that was why the early episodes were such a success.
And as I mentioned, the Friday episode went out "live" and the Wed episode was recorded "live" just 15 minutes later. I doubt the stars of today would be comfortable doing that week in week out. It was second nature to these actors / actresses
I really don't think it would have worked if they had tried to cast "stars" of the screen.

[ClaretTony]

I don't think we are really disagreeing, just looking at it from a rather a different perspective.
I described them as "top pros" because in the early 60s the bulk of the work was still with the rep companies, not TV, and certainly not "soaps". (You choose to describe this as "low level", which is fair enough, but I would call them "old troupers". They had way more acting experience than most of those who get cast today - and that was really my point. So I was really referring to their professionalism and experience when I used the phrase "top pros", not meaning top"stars". (Should have phrased it better!)
Doris Speed (e.g.) had been working on and off and developing her craft for 60 years, and it is claimed that Tony Warren specifically wrote the role for her. That was what I mean't when I said that I didn't think that the acting had improved in recent years, which was what the other poster claimed.
These actors who had been playing to live audiences for decades knew their stuff / craft, and that's why they fit each character perfectly, and really that was why the early episodes were such a success.
And as I mentioned, the Friday episode went out "live" and the Wed episode was recorded "live" just 15 minutes later. I doubt the stars of today would be comfortable doing that week in week out. It was second nature to these actors / actresses
I really don't think it would have worked if they had tried to cast "stars" of the screen.

I think we are agreeing. The fact is in 1960 there wouldn’t be many with much television experience. Corrie has gone on to launch the careers of some good actors over the years, usually women because they will always be the key characters.

[tim_noone]

Wasn't that 1st episode all about a 10 bob note missing from Elsie Tanners purse.....

I was only 2 but am sure I remember it

2 my ass...more like 22....