Review marks the 40th anniversary of the first ever television play, an adaptation of Luigi Pirandello's The Man With the Flower in His Mouth, which was broadcast using John Logie Baird's television system. The surviving members of the original cast and production staff have been reunited, and - using copies of the original equipment - recreate the play, using the same techniques as they used on the 14th of July 1930.

James Mossman presents, and is joined by two of Baird's assistants - Tony Bridgewater and D R Campbell - who explain how Baird's mechanical television system worked, and why it was unable to compete with electronic television systems.

This is a fascinating television experiment, an incredible insight into the workings of the Baird system, and a testament to the ingenuity and skill of the people who created television on it.

Originally broadcast 4 April, 1970.


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