THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
Rehearsals: 19th – 22nd October 1975 at The Sulgrave Boys Club, 287 Goldhawk Road, London, W12
1:30pm – 5:30pm
Walk-Through: 23rd October 1975 at Yorkshire Television Centre, Leeds
Recorded: 24th October 1975 at Yorkshire Television Centre, Studio 4, Leeds
Broadcast: Friday 7:30pm 19th December 1975
CAST
Leonard Rossiter – Rigsby
Richard Beckinsale – Alan
Don Warrington – Philip
Gay Rose – Brenda
Norman Bird – Vicar
David Rowlands – Curate (Gordon)
CREW
Creator/Writer – Eric Chappell
Producer – Ronnie Baxter
Director – Len Lurcuck
Designer – Colin Pigott
Music – Dennis Wilson
Casting – James Ligatt
Floor Manager – Mike Purcell
Stage Manager – Olive Simpson
Production Asst – Celia Sherman Fisher
Lighting – Peter Squires
Cameras – Arthur Tipper
Sound – Mike Naylor
Vision Mixer – Kay Harrington
Tech Supervisor – Gordon Quin
Wardrobe – Brenda Fox
Make-up – Viv Locklin
Prop Buyer – Fred Newall
Scenes – Bill Donnelly
Call Boy – John Heaton
Warm-up – Felix Bowness
Episode Review
Cold, mean and malice Rigsby informs Alan that the best films are on the telly and they’re very educational, mind you that is if you decide to go around with a stake in your trouser pocket! Rigsby’s macabre fascination sends Alan out into the dimly lit boardinghouse where his attempts to seduce Brenda can only be improved if a 60 watt bulb’s fitted on the landing.
The ‘Grey lady’, who inhabits these miserable dwellings, has chosen a less than favourable establishment to haunt and is waiting somewhere behind the heavy wallpaper but Alan and Philip have other ideas. Though she better not hang around too long or else Rigsby will start charging her rent!
Interesting to note:
- Production# 2776
- Fridays at 7.30pm, opposite repeats of The Wonderful World of Disney
- ‘Things That Go Bump in the Night’ – 7.25m (16th)
“…Leonard Rossiter as Rigsby, the passionately inquisitive landlord, forever hovering on the fringe of his tenants’ lives like an avaricious crow…”
Sylvia Clayton, The Daily Telegraph (8 November 1975)
- A 7 week break followed this episode before returning with the Christmas episode.
Did you know?
- A latex rubber monster mask, hairy glove and plastic vampire fangs were obtained for Leonard to wear.
- Rigsby’s house is shown to be #34 as previously shown in ‘Moonlight and Roses’.
- Rigsby can be seen reading a paperback edition of Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘Tales of Mystery and Imagination’ from 1908.
- Empty milk bottles were placed at the front door’s porch, Richard clumsily kicks them over on cue.
- For the grey lady, a grey dress and bonnet and suitable clerical attire, were provided by the YTV costume dept
- A short piece of atmospheric music was taken from YTV stock for use in the scene in which Rigsby and Alan bump into each other at the turn of the stairs.
- A strange scraping noise was also ‘fed in’ to represent what Rigsby believes to be a ‘psychic manifestation’.
- Alan’s mascot, a stuffed toy panda, features prominently in this story.
- The end credits were superimposed partly over the closing scene of the story, and partly over the “RISING DAMP” caption slide.
Dressing Rooms:-
Leonard Rossiter #12
Richard Beckinsale #11
Don Warrington #8
Gay Rose #6
Norman Bird #10
David Rowlands #7