Showcasing the stars
Music show Thank Your Lucky Stars was bringing the hits to Brits 60 years ago
IT DID not matter that most of the performances on Thank Your Lucky Stars were mimed.
Viewers were prepared to overlook that little fact for the chance to see American stars like Oh, Pretty Woman singer Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers in action, alongside British bands and singers.
The music show launched 60 years ago and was ITV’s answer to Juke Box Jury on the BBC.
It was filmed in Aston in Birmingham at the Alpha Television Studios, a former cinema, with audiences sitting in the circle to watch the music acts in the studio.
The show attracted millions of viewers and featured one of the first TV performances of the Beatles singing Please Please Me, while the Rolling Stones made their UK debut on the programme with Come On.
Other music stars who stepped into the limelight over the years included Cliff Richard, Lulu, Billy Fury, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield and Adam Faith.
Keith Fordyce was the first presenter, before he moved on to front Ready Steady Go and Brian Matthew took over.
Carry On actor Jim Dale also presented the show for a time.
One of the most popular sections was the Spin-a-Disc feature in which a guest DJ and teenagers from the studio audience were invited to give their verdict on three new releases.
More than 2,000 music stars appeared on the show before it came to an end in 1966, but only a handful of the 248 episodes survive and many classic performances have sadly been lost.
Some snippets still remain including footage of the Rolling Stones performing hits such as Lady Jane and
Paint It Black.