London: BBC, 1953

Manila folder, 'L.G. Smith' in ink to lower leading edge, containing typed schedules, itineraries, passes, coronation script and cue lists, many secured with staples to top left corners. A little edgewear and age-toning consistent with professional use and time, but a very well preserved collection.

AN EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE OF PRODUCTION DOCUMENTS, SCHEDULES, DIRECTORIES AND ACCREDITATION PASSES RELATING TO THE BBC TELEVISION COVERAGE OF THE CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN LONDON ON 2 JUNE 1953. THE COLLECTION OF MR. L.G. SMITH, A BBC SOUND ENGINEER, AND MEMBER OF THE CREW STATIONED AT STANHOPE GATE ON CORONATION DAY TO COVER THE PROGRESS OF THE ROYAL CARRIAGE.

Watched by more than 20 million people in the UK, the BBC's coverage of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953 was a landmark in British broadcasting. Cameras were allowed in to Westminster Abbey for the first time to record the Coronation ceremony itself, and units were placed all along the processional route to capture the royal carriage's progress to and from the Abbey, as well as the appearance of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The entire event was broadcast live for eleven hours, with relay stations erected all over the country to enable coverage to be transmitted across Western Europe. The spectacle -- and the BBC's phenomenal technical achievement -- secured the broadcaster's place in the hearts of the British public, and television's place in every home in Britain.

BBC sound engineer Mr. L.G. Smith, whose dossier this was, was stationed for the day at Stanhope Gate on the processional route. His paperwork includes scripts and cue sheets for the procession and for the Coronation itself; call sheets and timing lists for foreign correspondents; crew accommodation arrangements; and official accreditation passes. As well as bearing witness to the extraordinary technical demands of the event, the collection is a quietly moving connection both to the event itself, and to the coming of age of television

The dossier contains:

-- 2 press passes for the Coronation procession, one allowing access to Stanhope Gate, the other to The Mall. Printed cards, completed by hand, both countersigned by one B.P. Barker. With a pass allowing access to the refreshment tent at Stanhope Gate, and a chitty dated 26 May 1953 allocating a sleeping berth at Western House (now Wogan House, at Great Portland Street);

-- 10pp. mimeographed list of O.B. locations pre- and post-Coronation, listing personnel assigned to each position;

-- 2 copies of an 8pp. mimeographed list of O.B. locations and personnel for overseas broadcasters;

-- Copy of 1p. cover letter accompanying an overseas personnel schedule;

-- 37pp. mimeographed final European services plans for Coronation Day, with 2pp. mimeographed list of overseas broadcasters to be embedded in BBC commentary teams. TWO COPIES, ONE WITH UNDERLININGS IN BLUE PENCIL OF MANY BROADCASTING LOCATIONS, INCLUDING STAND 34;

-- 12pp. mimeographed document for crew distribution: Announcement and Cue Sheet for Domestic Sound Broadcast of the Coronation, June 2nd, 1953. Script for BBC commentators (including John Snagge, John Arlott and Raymond Baxter) covering the progress of the royal carriage both to and from Westminster Abbey;

-- 11pp. mimeographed commentator's script for the Coronation service, fully marked up with cues;

-- 3pp. mimeographed Standard O.B. Procedure, for distribution to all commentators, producers and team leaders;

-- 5pp. mimeographed timetable for foreign coverage;

-- Pages of mimeographed amendments to European liaison plans, with mimeographed cover note dated 14 May 1953, with one pencilled correction;

-- 7pp. Engineering Press Statement No. 180, discussing the technical arrangements for the sound and TV broadcasts of the Coronation. With a 1p. breakdown of facts and figures, and 2 printed maps of the BBC's sound and TV layout of commentary points, camera positions and control rooms.