Probably the best-remembered theme to Granada’s ‘Picture Box’ programme for schools, used from I think the mid-70s until the programme’s relaunch as part of Channel Four Schools in 1993.
The tune is called ‘Maneche’ and is by the French composer Jacques Lasry. It is played on a ‘cristal baschet’ (or crystal organ), a musical instrument that produces sound from oscillating glass cylinders.
Alan Rothwell was the presenter during the ‘Maneche’ era.
All copyrights dutifully acknowledged.
The opening titles were a bit like Tales of the Unexpected for kids. Eerie, menacing and instantly memorable.
As beautifully haunting as ever, love this piece of art.
This music was very scary indeed 😳
Sat crossed legged with fingers on lips whilst the teacher wheeled in the massive tv with optional sun visors!
Rumour going round at the time is that the glass jewelled box was in fact where they kept hitlers bollock and not as reported as in the Albert hall.
This would be ideal for a numbers station.
… the soundtrack to nightmarish trip through an abandoned Victorian ‘fun’ fair, whilst being stalked / pursued by a leering Trump-a-like decked out in a sort of silken boy-sailor’s suit.
Strawberry mivvi anyone?
Wtf making that weird ass sound ?? Used to shit me up as a kid this !!.
Well well well oh my supercalifragilisticexpialidotious gosh!!! Ahoy my fellow captain, O Captain my Captain! Thankyou so so jolly well mucho! I haven't heard this since age 5 and I am now 40 yes 40 and still not deaded yet. At last thyme travel is here hare here. Merci beaucoup mon ami! 🙂
Reminds me of Tales of the Unexpected.
I still have nightmares I'm 44 in may
Wooow takes me back.
Was this played with 'Babycham' glasses filled with varying degrees of water and the tune achieved by rubbing your finger around the perimeter of the popular '70s fake champagnes glassware?, maybe not.
School TV was shit!
Wagging school theme tune! Scary as hell.
This was an eery cold war tune .
Music is being played on a "Crystal Bachet". Very strange musical instrument involving glass, water, and some big amplifying horns! Fascinating and haunting sounds to give you goosebumps! And yes – I remember this from my childhood! 🙂
Weird and wonderful
01:13 WTF
Used to watch this on Monday morning as broadcast as school didn't have a VHS back then, always thought was an odd themed programme.
It is as a direct result of hearing this music as a child that in later life I ended up killing and eating three people.
I like this theme. What is the box in the middle – is it some sort of trinket box?Either way it Is beautiful.
https://vimeo.com/121550627
I remember this well. Looking at it now it seems really spookey and odd..almost "Clockwork Orange" like…thanks for posting.
This was performed by a 'group' known as Les "Structures Sonores" – which is who Verfity Lambert crited as how she imagined the Dr Who theme should sound like. One can see the similarity and it is interesting how the theme was eventually realised.
We had a top loading VHS at our school. Teacher pressed 'eject' and the tape deck would levitate mysteriously up with a whir, Kids would always go 'Ooooh'. God, we were easily impressed back then. 🙂
We actually had a "Televison Room" at our school where we all went to watch the programmes. ( and what's more, the TV had lockable shutters over the screen, so no chance of sneaking in to watch "PEBBLE MILL AT ONE or "BAGPUSS" in the dinner hour)…
The last time I saw the presenter of this program he was a taxi driver in Stockport.
Paedogeddon !
Alan Rothwell who previously played the role of David Barlow in Coronation Street presented Picture Box for ITV Schools.
this is very creepy music indeed hate to say how many kids this scared in the 70s