Small Time - The Complete History Researched by Malcolm Batchelor Independent Television’s 15-minue slot for the under fives broadcast from 1955 to 1966. Produced and Presented for the Network by Associated-Rediffusion Television. Part Three: The Complete Programme Index M-Z (Main details as printed in 'TV Times') THE MAGIC DOLL’S HOUSE Puppet series. Written and introduced by Gladys Whitred. Script by Gladys Whitred and Molly Gibson. Puppets animated by Molly Gibson and Audrey Atterbury. Designed by John Emery. First Transmitted 4th May, 1959. MAGIC PAINT BOX John Mills (left) and Whiffles have fun with paint and things. First Transmitted March 1963. THE MILLER’S TALE The adventures of Sammy the sea trout and his friends the millpond animals. Read by David Edwards and Olwen Griffiths (right). Animated drawings by Peter Firmin. Script by Robert Bolt. First Transmitted 22nd January, 1959. MR. HAPPY & TOBY AND TINA A Story with illustrations read by Alan Freeman. Drawn by Gordon Langmaid. Written by Mary Plumbly. First Transmitted 30th September, 1957. MR. HAPPY & TRIXIE Mr. Happy and Monday’s Child Trixie who is up to all tricks with her friends, Eric Spear and Chenerai. First Transmitted 16th September, 1957. THE MUSICAL BOX Open The Musical Box to hear songs and stories where traditional nursery rhymes are brought to life. Drawings by Peter Firmin. Programme editor Jenny Wilkes. First Transmitted Thursday, 11th December 1958. Notes: From 11th December 1958, stories told by Jill Adamson. In later weeks told by Jackie Moran, Joan Manning, Isla Cameron, Michael Garson. From 21st April 1959, told by Rolf Harris. From 12th August, 1959, songs and stories with Wally Whyton and Peter Firmin. From 30th March 1960, Joe Crow and Simon Scarecrow (right) joined Wally Whyton. Wally Whyton would talk to Pussy Cat Willum, later joined by Ollie Beak and Fred Barker. The end title song went: "A-B-C-D-E Goodbye from Willum and me. F-G-H-I-J We'll see you another day. K-L-M-N-O It's time for us to go. P-Q-R-S-T And the Cat went fiddle-I-dee, fiddle-I-dee, fiddle-I-dee....." MUSIC FAIRY Sheila Mossman tells some stories and sings some songs while Music Fairy dances. Murky tries to help. Puppeteer Anne Newell and Fiona Chapman. First Transmitted November 1961. MUSKIT & DIDO The story of two friends written and performed by Ivan Owen and Peter Firmin. First Transmitted September 1963. OAKTREE KITCHEN Hetty Houseproud is in the Oaktree Kitchen. Written by Edwina Coven. Adapted by Janet Nicholls. First Transmitted March 1960. OLIVER POLIP – The Octopus With Rolf Harris close at hand. Devised and written by John Myers. First Transmitted 19th September, 1957. OLLIE’S FOLLIES A junior variety show. Ollie Beak with Muriel Young (right) and Redvers Kyle. First Transmitted May 1961. PETER RABBIT STORIES By Beatrix Potter. Told by Oliver Postgate. First Transmitted March 1962. PETER’S PLAYMATES Muriel Young introduces the story of some of Peter’s rather unusual animal friends. Illustrated by Graheme Dangerfield. First Transmitted 23rd July, 1959. PET’S CORNER Illustrated and told by Muriel Young who shows some of her pets. First Transmitted June 1960. PICTURE THE WORD Tikki the toucan tells you about things. Created and devised by Roberta Leigh. First Transmitted September 1965. Notes: An episode listing can be found here. THE PINGWINGS Written and directed by Oliver Postgate. Told by Olwen Griffiths and Oliver Postgate. Music by Vernon Elliott. First Transmitted February 1961. Notes: This was Oliver Postgate's first stop-frame puppet film series, and was filmed at Peter Firmin's own farm in Kent. PIPPY’S PARTY With Larry Parker, Jimmy Scott and Pippy The Telephant. Editor Jenny Wilkes. Music by Andrew Fenner. First Transmitted April 1966. PLANS FOR A PARTY Muriel Young gets ready for Christmas with Pussy Cat Willum (right) and Ollie Beak. Animations by Elizabeth Shingler, Anne Newell and Hal Danby. Voices by Peter Hawkins, Ivan Owen and Edwina Coven. First Transmitted December 1960. PLONK The adventures of the little grey goose. Written and told by Jean Ford. Drawn by Neville Wortman. Music by Andrew Fenner. First Transmitted 15th September, 1958. RABBIT ROW By Janet Nicholls. Josephine played by Janet Nicholls. Voices by Peter Hawkins and Ivan Owen. First Transmitted March 1961. ROLF HARRIS WITH OLIVER POLIP - THE OCTOPUS Rolf draws some more pictures about Oliver’s adventures interrupted by Oliver himself. Produced by Pat Baker. First Transmitted 21st November, 1955. SARA & HOPPITY By Roberta Leigh. Directed by Frank Goulding. Produced by Roberta Leigh and Arthur Provis. First Transmitted 27th February, 1962. Notes: 52 x b/w 15 min episodes. THE SHOWBOAT CHILDREN Sally and Benedict live aboard a Showboat called the River Queen. Follow their adventures as the boat sails down America’s mighty Mississippi river. Read by Rita Stevens. Animated Drawings by Peter Firmin. Written by Penny Wootton. First Transmitted 28th October, 1958. THE SILLY BILLIES Talk to Jane Hayes about things in the country. Written by Peter Hayes. Voices by Roy Skelton (right). First Transmitted August 1962. SING A SONG Jean Ramsay sings some songs and Peter Firmin shows how to make some models. First Transmitted March 1962. SKETCH BOOK Muriel Young invites young viewers to meet Joan, Angelica and Jeremy the cat. Sketches and script by Muriel Young. First Transmitted 13th March, 1959. SNOOZY THE SEA-LION With Dorothy Smith (left). Devised by Woolf Goldberg and Dorothy Smith. Drawings by Woolf Goldberg. Produced by Pat Baker. First Transmitted 10th November, 1955. Notes: Dorothy Smith was best known as the storyteller for BBC's Listen With Mother - a post she held since 1951, and well into the 1960s. SQUIFFY & VIC Two small red squirrels and their adventures in Oak Apple Valley. Illustrated and told by Patrick Boyle. Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden. Programme Editor Jenny Wilkes. First Transmitted July 1966. STORIES FROM OTHER LANDS Told by Inn De La Haye. First Transmitted April 1960. STORIES WITH HANDS Told by Chin Yu assisted by David Williams (right). First Transmitted January 1961. STORIES WITH PICTURES An amusing time with Rolf Harris and Jean Ford, who tell stories and illustrate them as they go along. First Transmitted 24th October, 1955. STORY BOOK Oliver Postgate… reads a favourite fairy story and shows you the pictures. First Transmitted October 1960. Notes: Oliver Postgate first presented the show during 1960, and was followed by Muriel Young (1961-1963) and Barbara Brown (1964) SUSIE & HUG Written and presented by Jean Ford. Helped by Pan Wade. First Transmitted June 1961. Notes: The adventures of Susie the dog and her friend Hug the elephant. SUSIE & HUG’S STORY BOOK Written and presented by Jean Ford. Helped by Pan Wade. Pictures by Kathleen Corbett. First Transmitted July 1962. TABITHA (& FAMILY) Muriel Young tells some stories about Tabitha, Pretty Paws and Big Feet. Puppeteer Christopher Griffin. First Transmitted April 1960. TALES OF HIGGLY-PIGGLY FARM Told by Pamela Russell. Drawn by Neville Wortman. Written by Olive Dehn. First Transmitted 17th September, 1957. TALES OF OAKTREE KITCHEN Hetty Houseproud is in the Oaktree Kitchen. Written by Edwina Coven. Adapted by Janet Nicholls. First Transmitted March 1960. THEODORE The bashful rabbit, with Larry Parker. First Transmitted 1st November, 1957. THE THREE SCAMPIS The story of Bert Scampi and his animals Spikey and Basil. Written and performed by Howard Williams, Wally Whyton and Ivan Owen. First Transmitted September 1962. Notes: Bert Scampi was played by Howard Williams, Spikey (Spike McPike) was voiced by Wally Whyton and Basil (Basil Brush) was voiced by Ivan Owen. TOBY AND TINA A Story with illustrations read by Alan Freeman. Drawn by Gordon Langmaid. Written by Mary Plumbly. First Transmitted 30th September, 1957. TORCHY THE BATTERY BOY Written and produced by Roberta Leigh. Directed by Gerry Anderson (first 26 episodes). Directed by Vivian Milroy (final 26 episodes). First Transmitted 23rd February, 1960. Notes: 52 x b/w 15 min episodes. Torchy, a clockwork toy with a battery-powered light on his hat, travels in his space rocket to and from Topsy-Turvy Land, where all the neglected and mistreated toys live and come alive to join in his adventures. Other characters included Mr Bumble-Drop, King Dithers, Bossy Boots, Pom Pom, Flopsy, Pilliwig Sparky, Squish and Pongo. TOYBOX Doodle Bird. The gay adventures of a novel toy duck made from seven pieces of yellow wood which can be assembled in 57 different ways. Billy Boots. A play in which all the charactors are portrayed by pairs of boots and shoes (carved from wood). The principal character Billy Boots is a pair of boy’s shoes. Both Doodle Bird and Billy Boots are introduced by Susan Spear and devised by Eric Spear. First Transmitted 28th September, 1955. THE TRAVELS OF GORKI THE STRAW GOAT Written and introduced by Janet Nicholls. First Transmitted 12th March, 1959. TRIXIE Mr. Happy and Monday’s Child Trixie who is up to all tricks with her friends, Eric Spear and Chenerai. First Transmitted 16th September, 1957. TUFTY Muriel Young tells a story about Tufty the squirrel. Written by Peter Hayes from a story by Elsie Mills. First Transmitted January 1962. TUM Illustrated and told by Patrick Boyle. Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden. Music by Andrew Fenner. First Transmitted 16th October, 1959. TUM AT HIGGY’S COVE Illustrated and told by Patrick Boyle. Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden. Music by Andrew Fenner. First Transmitted July 1962. TUM AT HOME Illustrated and told by Patrick Boyle. Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden. Music by Andrew Fenner. First Transmitted February 1962. TUM AT TROTTON GALLOP Illustrated and told by Patrick Boyle. Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden. Music by Andrew Fenner. First Transmitted February 1963. TWO AT SEA Albert and Ricky go to the seaside for a holiday. Written and performed by Howard Williams and Ivan Owen. First Transmitted July 1964. Notes: The Two series (see further entries below) featured Ricky the Raccoon and Albert the Ostrich. TWO IN A TENT More fun for Albert and Ricky when they decide to camp out (see below). Written and performed by Howard Williams and Ivan Owen. First Transmitted October 1964. TWO IN TROUBLE Albert and Ricky do their best at school but generally land in trouble. Written and performed by Howard Williams and Ivan Owen. First Transmitted August 1964. TWO IN TUNE Barbara Brown has some fun with Ricky and Albert. Puppets by Howard Williams and Ivan Owen. Music by Roger Webb. First Transmitted June 1964. WILLUM’S PICTURE BOOK Illustrated and introduced by Neville Wortman. First Transmitted June 1960. WILLUM’S TEA PARTY By Janet Nicholls. Muriel Young and Wally Whyton have a special tea party for Pussy Cat Willum (right). First Transmitted September 1961. From September 1966 PLAYTIME Presented by Gwyneth Surdivell and Jennifer Naden. Gwyneth and Jenny invite you to join in the dancing, singing, games and painting in their magic park. Music by Glyn Hale. Designer Jim Nicholson. First Transmitted 26th September, 1966. From March 1967 DIDGERIDOO Rolf Harris with Sugar and Jerboa at Wambidgee. Programme editor Guy Rowston. Executive Producer Penny Wooton. Tyne-Tees TV Production. From June 1967 HATTY TOWN Created by Keith Chatfield. Storyteller Peter Hawkins. Drawings by John McLusky. Editor Meg Trace. From September 1967 FERGUS FISH Created and written by Harold Rottesman. Notes: The last notable Rediffusion production for young children in the Small Time slot. Creator Harold Rottesman had previously written stories for children about fish that had appeared in a nightly magazine programme - but when that ended, the producer disappeared with the puppets! So Rottesman enlisted the help of a 72 year old Dane called Ostergaard Hoeg, a retired mechanic with a hobby for wood-carving, to create puppets that blew bubbles when they spoke! With thanks to the TV Times and the British Newspaper Library. On to the Small Time Programme Schedule The Sara and Hoppity Website would welcome any information on Small Time for future updates.