Radio Rewind - home page link

home

faq

sitemap

 
     

 

Radio 1 HomeHistoryPeopleShowsJinglesInteractive

 

 

 

 

OTHER SHOWS  LINKS

Breakfast Show  BBC Singles Chart  Radio 1 Club  Weeks Out

Top 100 - 1976  Fun Days  Show Theme Tunes  Show Trails

Roadshow; Later Years

 

Roadshow The Early Years

Later Years

 

Alan Freeman looks forward to the first show.

The idea of the Roadshow came from former Radio 1 controller Johnny Beerling. He felt that because Radio 1 was a national station it was often perceived by the UK wide audience as 'down there' or 'up there' in London. A natural successor to the Radio 1 Club, the Roadshow continued to give the opportunity for the station's DJ's to meet the audience.

 

The first was at Newquay, Cornwall on Monday July 23rd 1973 at 5pm, hosted by Alan Freeman, using a caravan built and hired by brothers John & Tony Miles. The show visited 45 venues each year, attracting thousands of people to make day-trips to coastal spots across Britain to see the station's DJ's and pop stars of the day. Some holiday-makers planned their breaks around the roadshow timetable.

 

 

First show, Newquay 1973.

Original trailers as used until 1976.

  

Original Roadshow crew; Johnny Beerling standing on the left and Alan Freeman behind the desk. - Click to enlarge.

nb - is that Pete Tong on the right !!

 

The Roadshow also visited inland destinations such as Mallory Park for race events and Longleat. A 'Goodie Mobile' accompanied each Roadshow selling Radio 1 mugs, stickers, t-shirts, hats, posters  and pens. The DJ's often made themselves available for autograph signings on the day. Fun games were invented, including 'Bits and Pieces', 'The Mileage Game'. Many shows included guest appearances by performing pop groups.

Noel Edmonds said in an interview that "the Roadshow was more like a holiday than work, and BBC bosses should provide tuition on dealing with hangovers!"

  

Early Roadshow caravan towed

by Range Rover (1975)

- Click to enlarge

 Roadshow poster (1975)

Smiley Miley from Bristol began as a roadshow driver and salesman and became tour manager. He invented the long running Mileage Game, where members of the audience guessed how far the team had travelled between venues.

Tony Blackburn 1976

    
  
 

1975 Roadshow at Steyne Gardens,

Worthing with Emperor Rosko.

- Click to enlarge

1977 Handbill for same venue

- Click to enlarge

 

 
 
STEYNE GARDENS, WORTHING, SUMMER 1979 (click to enlarge)

Goodie Mobile and Stage (background) arriving at Steyne Gardens, Worthing, 1979

 

Is this a good place

Parked and ready to set up

Stage kitted out

Cans at rest

Star of today's show - it's

Paul Burnett

 

Control desk - mixers, clock, jingles and carts

- plus records of course

She wants me to sign her what

 

 

"HOLIDAY, HOLIDAY TIME........."

 

 

RADIO REWIND AUDIO CLIPS

Please check Audio Help Page in case of difficulty downloading. You will need a username and password. Please register. Then you will be able to login.

Audio BBC

 

 

1970's Roadshow Jingles

On the Road

Here in your Town

Around the Coast

Follow the Sun

Holiday Time

Roadshow Bed

Mileage Time

Bits & Pieces

The Right Sound

Biggest & Best

 

 

See also on Radio Rewind...

Fun Days

Roadshow; Later Years

Goodies

 

 

 

Weeks Out

 

Rest in Peace

Steve Wright

Site design and text

Radio Rewind

Sitemap

About

If you wish Radio Rewind to continue..