Hannah Howe
@hannahhowe.bsky.social
3K followers 850 following 8.4K posts
Mother, Welsh, European. Author of bestselling novels. Interests include vintage films & music, genealogy, social history & the Special Operations Executive. Chess addict. Anti-fascist. Sorry, I don’t reply to DMs on social media. https://hannah-howe.com
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
hannahhowe.bsky.social
Available this autumn, The Tourney, book one in my Adventures of Maid Marian series. Formats: print, eBook, audiobook and translations.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
For me, the Robin Hood series demonstrates that in the 1950s they were making television series that could stand the test of time.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
This looks good. Would be interesting to see the series.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
That’s quite a community you have there.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
Just been reading about him. Lots going on there too.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
He sounds like a “character”.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
So, Profumo’s mistake was his lover didn’t have a title.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
The Dorothy Macmillan-Boothby affair was common knowledge in “high society“, but it never reached the newspapers. However, the newspapers couldn’t get enough of the Profumo-Christine Keeler affair. What was the difference? Christine Keeler more photogenic than Dorothy Macmillan 🤔
hannahhowe.bsky.social
Many of Britain’s problems can be traced to Eton.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
79% voted in 1959.

60% in 2024.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
If the Dorothy Macmillan-Boothby affair had been public knowledge, would that have changed public opinion?
hannahhowe.bsky.social
With this majority the Tories must have thought that they were in for another ten years, at least.

The opinion polls (Wikipedia). Another lesson from the past for today.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
People tuned into the BBC out of habit/tradition? I suppose many relied on the radio for election coverage.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
The viewing figures dropped off considerably after midnight, not surprising because people were working the following day.

With most of the results known, and people busy, not a vast amount of interest on the Friday.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
I have the link - thanks 🙂
hannahhowe.bsky.social
That’s fascinating. Will comment after dinner.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
So, they were on an equal footing. May the best presenters win…
hannahhowe.bsky.social
Tories won most number of votes in Scotland, but Labour most seats.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
Only six seats for the Liberals though. When you think of where they were fifty years previously…
hannahhowe.bsky.social
In the election, Wales went mainly Labour with the Tories winning a few seats in the south and north, and the Liberals their traditional seats in mid-Wales.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
Watched the Welsh segment. The interviewer…Weeks? I recognise him, but can’t recall his name.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
Quarter-Final Draw:
M*A*S*H v The Muppet Show
Monty Python’s Flying Circus v The Good Life
Not the Nine o’Clock News v The Goodies
Fawlty Towers v Dave Allen at Large
hannahhowe.bsky.social
My Mastodon Favourite Television Programme of the 1960s and 1970s Poll

Humour. Last 16 Results:
Dave Allen at Large 69% v 31% Ripping Yarns
Dad’s Army 39% v 61% The Good Life
Not the Nine o’Clock News 73% v 27% Porridge
Fawlty Towers 70% v 30% The Addams Family
hannahhowe.bsky.social
Follow our election coverage, 1959 style 👇
gleanniucha.bsky.social
So people can dip in..

First off the BBC coverage

This is the same archive recording as on iplayer currently

youtu.be/bGhJr7V-M50
BBC Election 1959
YouTube video by David Boothroyd
youtu.be
hannahhowe.bsky.social
The “popularisation”…maybe this was a bad thing.

Politics should be dull and boring.

The news should be dull and boring, rounded off with the traditional British weather forecast, “sunshine and showers”.

The problem is, now politics and news are major parts of the entertainment industry.
hannahhowe.bsky.social
Were the voters better informed back then?

Did the truth and facts matter more back then?

Was this election even true democracy?

Some ”easy“ questions for a Wednesday afternoon…