BL
From memory James’ recollection of the evening is quite accurate.
You are probably correct, and that's what's been written into folklore (except on Wikipedia).
Though it's a classic example of the sort of thing that could be subject to the Mandela Effect
Though it's a classic example of the sort of thing that could be subject to the Mandela Effect
From memory James’ recollection of the evening is quite accurate.
IS
Even having a reporter at the theatre would have been unlikely. That's just not how news works
As I said up thread if it happened around the time of the first break then that was only 40 minutes before the bulletin. If they had a reporter spare on a Sunday night then even if they realised straight away that something significant had happened it's not long to get down there and do anything. News in those days didn't have the culture of 'pointless lives' then.
They might have sent a crew down later to get some shots of the theatre, that might be what Tarby was thinking of
I assume Tarby meant there was a reporter live at the theatre (which he may have misremembered) rather than the entire bulletin being a live-pres from the West End, which would be extremely hard to organise at the similar short notice today!
Even having a reporter at the theatre would have been unlikely. That's just not how news works
As I said up thread if it happened around the time of the first break then that was only 40 minutes before the bulletin. If they had a reporter spare on a Sunday night then even if they realised straight away that something significant had happened it's not long to get down there and do anything. News in those days didn't have the culture of 'pointless lives' then.
They might have sent a crew down later to get some shots of the theatre, that might be what Tarby was thinking of
Last edited by Inspector Sands on 22 July 2020 4:17pm - 3 times in total
MA
I read recently that there was argument whether Tommy died on stage or in the ambulance, it was said that if it was officially declared that he died on stage LWT or Her Majesty's Theatre might be liable, but why? It was a heart attack and not his first and he had other health problems as well.
MA
You can only go by what the death certificate says. Without getting too morbid, the moment of death isn't necessarily when the heart stops beating, because in some lucky cases resusatation can bring someone back minutes later.
I read recently that there was argument whether Tommy died on stage or in the ambulance, it was said that if it was officially declared that he died on stage LWT or Her Majesty's Theatre might be liable, but why? It was a heart attack and not his first and he had other health problems as well.
You can only go by what the death certificate says. Without getting too morbid, the moment of death isn't necessarily when the heart stops beating, because in some lucky cases resusatation can bring someone back minutes later.
PH
I do remember it happening live, but the cut away wasnt very quick from memory. What did stick was the laughter as he collapsed as if it was part of the act.
Just an awful part of history tbh.
Just an awful part of history tbh.
CO
No it wasn't (the cutaway that is) and there was considerable confusion at the time anyway. I recall that there were a couple of seemingly-aborted attempts to cut away from the programme early in the North East, as it appeared the transmission controller started to slowly fade the programme out but then stayed with the feed. I suspect there was quite a lot of panic behind the scenes - that fading isn't present on the YouTube footage.
I do remember it happening live, but the cut away wasnt very quick from memory. What did stick was the laughter as he collapsed as if it was part of the act.
Just an awful part of history tbh.
Just an awful part of history tbh.
No it wasn't (the cutaway that is) and there was considerable confusion at the time anyway. I recall that there were a couple of seemingly-aborted attempts to cut away from the programme early in the North East, as it appeared the transmission controller started to slowly fade the programme out but then stayed with the feed. I suspect there was quite a lot of panic behind the scenes - that fading isn't present on the YouTube footage.
DO
Why do you say that? Without the benefit of hindsight, would you have reacted any differently?
Everybody dies, Cooper's time came to a close in an unfortunately public manner, but I find it hard to criticise either the audience or any of the broadcast team for reacting the way they did as none of them would have been expecting what actually happened, and the nature of his act would introduce plenty of doubts as to what was going on. Because we know what is actually happening, the delays for people to react seem huge, but if you were side of stage would you really walk out and interrupt his act straight away? With hindsight, of course, but on the night?
There have been many examples of people being seriously injured and even dying on live television, in some cases with the production team making obvious (even at the time) decisions in what to show (Senna). I don't think this was one of them, therefore I don't think we can say this was an awful part of history because the same thing could easily happen today and still be acceptable.
Just an awful part of history tbh.
Why do you say that? Without the benefit of hindsight, would you have reacted any differently?
Everybody dies, Cooper's time came to a close in an unfortunately public manner, but I find it hard to criticise either the audience or any of the broadcast team for reacting the way they did as none of them would have been expecting what actually happened, and the nature of his act would introduce plenty of doubts as to what was going on. Because we know what is actually happening, the delays for people to react seem huge, but if you were side of stage would you really walk out and interrupt his act straight away? With hindsight, of course, but on the night?
There have been many examples of people being seriously injured and even dying on live television, in some cases with the production team making obvious (even at the time) decisions in what to show (Senna). I don't think this was one of them, therefore I don't think we can say this was an awful part of history because the same thing could easily happen today and still be acceptable.
HC
Plus, he slowly went away like how most comedian/entertainers would like to go.
On stage, with the sound of the audience laughing, thinking its part of the act.
On stage, with the sound of the audience laughing, thinking its part of the act.
FL
Why do you say that? Without the benefit of hindsight, would you have reacted any differently?
Everybody dies, Cooper's time came to a close in an unfortunately public manner, but I find it hard to criticise either the audience or any of the broadcast team for reacting the way they did as none of them would have been expecting what actually happened, and the nature of his act would introduce plenty of doubts as to what was going on. Because we know what is actually happening, the delays for people to react seem huge, but if you were side of stage would you really walk out and interrupt his act straight away? With hindsight, of course, but on the night?
There have been many examples of people being seriously injured and even dying on live television, in some cases with the production team making obvious (even at the time) decisions in what to show (Senna). I don't think this was one of them, therefore I don't think we can say this was an awful part of history because the same thing could easily happen today and still be acceptable.
I didn't read Phil's comment as critical of audience or crew. He wasn't calling any of them or their reactions awful, I think he just meant the simple fact that his death happened like it did - on stage and broadcast live on air - was a terrible event. As you say, any reactions in the moment were completely justified because of the confusion around what was actually happening.
Just an awful part of history tbh.
Why do you say that? Without the benefit of hindsight, would you have reacted any differently?
Everybody dies, Cooper's time came to a close in an unfortunately public manner, but I find it hard to criticise either the audience or any of the broadcast team for reacting the way they did as none of them would have been expecting what actually happened, and the nature of his act would introduce plenty of doubts as to what was going on. Because we know what is actually happening, the delays for people to react seem huge, but if you were side of stage would you really walk out and interrupt his act straight away? With hindsight, of course, but on the night?
There have been many examples of people being seriously injured and even dying on live television, in some cases with the production team making obvious (even at the time) decisions in what to show (Senna). I don't think this was one of them, therefore I don't think we can say this was an awful part of history because the same thing could easily happen today and still be acceptable.
I didn't read Phil's comment as critical of audience or crew. He wasn't calling any of them or their reactions awful, I think he just meant the simple fact that his death happened like it did - on stage and broadcast live on air - was a terrible event. As you say, any reactions in the moment were completely justified because of the confusion around what was actually happening.
LL
No it wasn't (the cutaway that is) and there was considerable confusion at the time anyway. I recall that there were a couple of seemingly-aborted attempts to cut away from the programme early in the North East, as it appeared the transmission controller started to slowly fade the programme out but then stayed with the feed. I suspect there was quite a lot of panic behind the scenes - that fading isn't present on the YouTube footage.
The reaction varied by region IIRC. I could be wrong but I think LWT cut straight to a break but some regions were left hanging on a black screen as they weren't prepared for a break at that point, leading to LWT having to phone around and tell the regions what was going on. I hadn't heard of any regions fading away by themselves, although I can see it happening, but I think this might invoke more concern and panic. If you were unaware he was having a heart attack, you could be forgiven for thinking it was a, for want on a better word, "slapstick" ending to his act that simply didn't land well. Granted it doesn't take much to know something is wrong with him, but I suppose it's also in the broadcasters' interests to reduce as much panic and upset as they can, even if it means trying to pretend something was intentional. Seeing Tommy collapse and then quickly cutting away would be much more jarring than having the band play out to a break, I think.
I do remember it happening live, but the cut away wasnt very quick from memory. What did stick was the laughter as he collapsed as if it was part of the act.
Just an awful part of history tbh.
Just an awful part of history tbh.
No it wasn't (the cutaway that is) and there was considerable confusion at the time anyway. I recall that there were a couple of seemingly-aborted attempts to cut away from the programme early in the North East, as it appeared the transmission controller started to slowly fade the programme out but then stayed with the feed. I suspect there was quite a lot of panic behind the scenes - that fading isn't present on the YouTube footage.
The reaction varied by region IIRC. I could be wrong but I think LWT cut straight to a break but some regions were left hanging on a black screen as they weren't prepared for a break at that point, leading to LWT having to phone around and tell the regions what was going on. I hadn't heard of any regions fading away by themselves, although I can see it happening, but I think this might invoke more concern and panic. If you were unaware he was having a heart attack, you could be forgiven for thinking it was a, for want on a better word, "slapstick" ending to his act that simply didn't land well. Granted it doesn't take much to know something is wrong with him, but I suppose it's also in the broadcasters' interests to reduce as much panic and upset as they can, even if it means trying to pretend something was intentional. Seeing Tommy collapse and then quickly cutting away would be much more jarring than having the band play out to a break, I think.