How the campaigner tried to ban pop’s filthiest acts from our screens
MARY Whitehouse – the Midland campaigner dedicated to cleaning up television – was the media Marmite of the 1960s and 1970s.
In those decades, the former art teacher at Lichfield Road School, in Lichfield, was possibly the most lampooned figure in the liberal press.
But the group she formed in January 1964, with vicar’s wife Norah Buckland – the Clean Up TV Campaign – attracted thousands of devoted followers.
The pressure group was launched amid a swirl of activity at Birmingham Town Hall on May 5, 1964.
More than 2,000 were present that night. The audience included nuns, members of the clergy, WI groups and even schoolgirls in uniform.
The life and times of Mary Whitehouse, who died in November 2001, at the age of 91, have been chronicled by author Ben Thompson in his fascinating book, Ban This Filth.
It is a collection of letters – and replies – that Whitehouse sent with alarming regularity to TV mandarins.
It reveals how many things got Whitehouse’s goat. Even Michael Barratt, smooth anchorman of current affairs programme Nationwide, rens’ show Crackerjack.
Barratt felt fit to write a letter of clarification to Whitehouse: “I am most concerned that you should consider my ‘V’ sign on ‘Nationwide’ offensive. That’s the last thing it was meant to be. My intention, as a mildly amusing way of saying goodnight, was to give a Churchillian Victory sign.”
Nothing got her goat as much as popular music on the box – and of those permissive stars, no-one outraged the schoolteacher as much as Jimi Hendrix. His performance so offended Whitehouse that she attempted to take legal action. Here, courtesy of book Ban This Filth, are the “Whitehouse v Pop” letters: and child- Letter to director general of the BBC Sir Hugh Greene, November 5, 1968:
“You are probably aware of the press reports that we are taking legal action to discover whether broadcasting is covered by the Obscene Publications Bill following the screening last Sunday of ‘All Our Loving’ on BBC1
“The behaviour of Jimmy (sic) Hendrix in this programme was the most obscene thing I, at any rate, have ever seen on television. We were concerned, too, at the use of psychedelic and hypnotic techniques which build up frenzy and eroticism.” Mary’s letter to the chairman of the Independent Television Authority, Lord Aylestone, December 13, 1968:
“A number of people have spoken to me about the behaviour of Mick Jagger on the Frost on Saturday programme last week.
“They were affronted, not only by the obscenity of his actions – I am told that he used his microphone as a phallic symbol – but also by the reference to Jesus Christ in a song in such a setting. Since the, perhaps too simple, explanation for Mick Jagger’s behaviour is that he is an exhibitionist, could not the matter best be settled by him not being invited to appear again?”
Lord Aylestone’s response: “As you know, there is an unavoidable subjective element in any judgement on questions of taste. Certainly, the wild, sometimes extravagant, capers of young musical entertainers are not to everyone’s liking. But this is, I would suggest, a quite different thing from finding them actively offensive to decency and good taste in the way you suggest.” Letter to BBC director general Charles Curran, January 1, 1973:
“Now that the controversy over the pop record ‘My Ding-A-Ling has died down, we feel it important that you should understand our reasons for criticising the Top of the Pops presentation of the disc.
“One teacher told us of how she found a class of small boys with their trousers undone, singing the song and giving it the indecent interpretation which – in spite of all the hullaballoo – is so obvious.
“She was, by no means, the only one with experiences of this kind. Parents, too, were very upset by the stories their children were bringing home about the actions which were accompanying the singing of this song amongst their friends.
“We trust you will agree with us that it is no part of the function of the BBC to be the vehicle of songs which stimulate this kind of behaviour. Indeed, quite the reverse.” Reply from Sir Charles Curran: “My Ding-A-Ling begins with such a clear account of the contraption in question, including bells, that although the possibility of a double entendre was recognised, we decided that it could be broadcast at the discretion of producers Sir according to the context and character of their programmes.” Letter to BBC head of light entertainment, Sir Bill Cotton, August 21, 1972: “I am writing to express the gravest concern over the publicity which has been given to Alice Cooper’s Record, ‘School’s Out’.
“For weeks now, Top of the Pops has given gratuitous publicity to a record which can only be described as anti-law and order. Because of this, millions of young people are now imbibing a philosophy of violence and anarchy. It is our view that if there is increasing violence in schools during the coming term, the BBC will not be able to evade their share of the blame.” Letter Sidney 1968:
“We feel we must express to you our concern about the publicity Granada intend to give to the American group The Doors in the forthcoming Saturday spectacular.
“You will perhaps have seen Mandrake’s column in the Sunday Telegraph of this week and the report in today’s Guardian that this group was arrested in America for using obscene language and causing a riot.
“It is, in our opinion, highly undesirable that at this time publicity should be given to groups of this kind which have a strong political motivation.”
Reply from Sidney Bernstein’s brother, Cecil: “I wonder whether you have listened to the records made by The Doors which are on sale in this country and one of which is in the Top Twenty? I wonder, too, whether you are aware or not of the circumstances under which The Doors were arrested in America and of the nature of the charges and of the evidence.” to Granada Bernstein, TV chairman September 4,