THE EDITOR, SIR:WHY is there so much alarm now that tapes of programmes produced in our early years have been destroyed?
For too long we have disregarded the importance of our heritage and not placed any importance on preserving what is uniquely ours.
The National Library was formed to preserve this aspect of our heritage but because of the absence of any legal instrument that requires individuals and institutions to deposit their work there, we now have a major problem.
As a youngster, I grew up in the era of Ring Ding. I was fortunate to see Charles Hyatt, Mas Ran, and Miss Lou perform on stage. I still enjoy those memories.
Even though I now reside in the United States, those memories of times past still linger to remind me of how rich our heritage is.
I don't believe that it makes any sense at this time to lament the destruction of those items that are gone.
Salvage what we can but, most urgently, we need to move quickly to commence the preservation of what is now being produced.
We owe it to those who have gone before and those still alive who have worked very hard in maintaining our rich heritage.
I am, etc
ERIC MURRAY
hsmurray@hotmail.com
Via Go-Jamaica
THE EDITOR, SIR:I was a teenager in the 1960s, so I was fortunate to have heard each of the programmes mentioned in your article "CULTURE ERASED", and, without doubt, the acting talents and radio productions during this period were extraordinary.
It is sad to know that most of these productions are destroyed.
Ironically, two days ago I was listening to a CD of a live performance by Miss Lou, titled Yes M' Dear, and I was wondering if Lou & Rannie or Here comes Charlie were also available on CDs.
Well, your article which came as a shocker gave me the answer.
As an ex-electronic media worker in Jamaica, I suspect that the first set of Ring Ding television productions were done in the 2" video format at JBC.
Some of the JBC 2" tapes are stored at the Creative Production & Training Centre (CPTC) together with those for the Educational Broadcasting Service. Some of these tapes from JBC contain the Where it's At productions.
A year ago when I visited CPTC, the tapes were still there. (These tapes were produced before Jamaica converted to colour TV).
The drawback is that there is no workable 2" Video tape recorder in Jamaica, the 2" format is somewhat obsolete, and these black and white TV productions would have to be played on a 2" VCR in the English TV standard and then converted to the American TV standard in order to be used in Jamaica. All and all, this will be a costly venture.
So, in a sense, these 2" tapes are as good as the archives that don't exist anymore.
I am, etc
PATRICK G. MCLEAN
mclean33065@worldnet.att.net
7513 NW 40th Street
Coral Springs, Florida
Via Go-Jamaica
